Gulf Insider August 2017

The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

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151

Issue

knowledge is power

+ Inside Savour La Dolce Vita Patek Philippe 5522A Supercars and Big Cats

Women Leaders of the Kingdom

Interviews with prominent women leaders in various fields

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Contents August 2017 Issue 151

34 12

18

12 Facebook Followers

290, 658

26

28

42

46

52

Simply unparalleled online presence that connects region’s most inspired communities.

58

Special Features

A Woman of Passion

Special Features

The Diamond Fish!

Events

Excitement mounts over BIDEC 2017

People

Interview with Majra.com CEO

Contributor

Deception in Cyber Warfare

Motors

Eye(sight) on the road

Telecoms

An Elite Mobile app

Last Word

The Art of Productive laziness

‌and many, many more

Comment...

Knowledge is power

Publisher & Editor in Chief

- Nicholas C. Cooksey

Editorial

- Ainne Frances dela Cruz

Regular Contributors

- Hugh Haskell-Thomas - Nicholas Cortes - Bill Daly

Guest Contributors

This month we interviewed various women leaders in Bahrain.

Each works in a different field. They shared with us their personal career journeys and offered great advice on careers and personal success.

- Sawsan Abu Omar - Mohammed Shukri - Ryan Ernst - Kyle Tyrell - Dhanyasree M

Layout Designs

- Dhanraj S

Admin & Finance

- Nikesh Pola

Photography

Of course there’s all sorts of other news and views in this issue, so we hope you take the time to sit back and enjoy our August issue’s contents.

- Shareef Panhatt - Yulia Trubnikova

Distribution Executives

- Mohammed Yousif - Muhammed Shareef - Rafnaj K P

Dear Reader, Welcome to another issue of Gulf Insider!

Please also visit us on our thriving website and Facebook page where you will find other features and relevant information not covered in these pages.

For Advertising Opportunities Call

We are happy to have you as a reader of Gulf Insider!

Published by:

Dhanyasree M

M. +973 3612 8111

Media

Wishing you a great month ahead!

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

The Insider Team!

Printed at Awal Press, Kingdom of Bahrain.

Distribution Bahrain: Al Hilal Corporation, Tel. +973 1748 0800 UAE: Jashanmals, Tel. +971 4341 9757

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151

Issue

knowledge is power

The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

KSA SR20

+ Inside

knowledge is power

150

Issue

The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

+ Inside

Savour La Dolce Vita

Amazing New Megaprojects in Dubai

Patek Philippe 5522A

Al Areen’s New Wellness & Retreat Programme

Supercars and Big Cats

Environmental Issues Bahrain

Women Leaders of the Kingdom

interviews with prominent women leaders in various fields

interview with

h.e. Dr. AbDulhussAin bin Ali MirzA

Established since 2004, Gulf Insider is the multi award winning Arabian business and current affairs magazine that also covers property and expat news, interviews, car reviews, travel features, even a bit of art and fashion.

The monthly print edition of Gulf Insider is distributed to Bahrain’s highest spending consumers and decision makers. There’s also limited distribution in other GCC states via airline lounges, duty free, ARAMCO in the KSA, and other strategic locations.

Minister of electricity & water

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interviews with prominent women leaders in various fields

Minister of electricity & water

Women Leaders

interview with

of the Kingdom

Arabia’s Intelligent Magazine

h.e. Dr. AbDulhussAin bin Ali MirzA

Registered with Ministry of Information approval no. TFI-431©. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. All Rights Reserved. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. *Articles by these correspondents are the copyright of Telegraph Media Group, 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0DT, England.

www.Gulf-Insider.com Issues Bahrain Environmental Retreat Programme

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Business Restructuring Development & Capital Advisory Strategy & Innovation Business Start-up Advisory

IQTESADI Consultancy W.L.L. Gulf Executive Offices, 9th Floor Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Phone: +973 13 655 111 Email: contact@iqtesadi.com

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Events

Day & Night Al Hawaj Clearance Sale

A Passage to Bollywood

When: 22nd- 26th August 2017 Where: Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre (BIECC)

When: 3rd August 2017, 8:00 -9:30 PM Where: Cultural Hall

The highly anticipated Al Hawaj Megasale is back! Stock up on perfumes, handbags, and electronic items at a drop-down price. Once again, an opportunity for serious shoppers to shop their hearts out!

For more information: Yousib A. Wahab Al Hawaj & Sons Co. WLL Tel.: +973 17230088

All the elements that make the Bollywood culture so unique come alive in one vibrant stage musical presented

by Ashley Lobo and the Navdhara India Dance Theatre. Seamlessly blending beloved old classics and modern hits with a gripping plot that runs the gamut from high drama and exciting action to passionate romance and colourful dance numbers make this experience akin to watching a live-action Bollywood film on stage!

International Conference on Advances in Business Management & Information Science When: 11th-12th August 2017 Where: Concord International Hotel The International Conference, organized by the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER), will cover areas like finance, economics and hedge funds, insurance and TAKAFUL, managing risk, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), accounting, banking control, and supervision.

For more information: ICABMIT 2017 info@theiier.org

For more information: Tel.: + 973 80008089

Youth City 2030 When: up to 24th August 2017 from 9AM to 9PM Where: Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre (BIECC) Organized by the Ministry of Youth & Sports, the Youth City is meant to be a place that will hold contemporary innovative ideas leading to encourage a sense of creativity amongst youth. On top of events agenda are workshops in scientific, artistic and technological fields; interior design; fashion design; drawing, sketching; illustration; sculpture and pottery-making.

For more information: General Organization for Youth & Sports Tel.: +973 1781 0000 8

Gulf Insider August 2017

People who love seafood are the best people!

Relish the fresh flavors of the Arabian Sea at The Diamond Fish Restaurant Tel: +973 1765 1400 Al Raya Mall | Building 517 | Road No 2408 | Block 324 | Al Juffair | Manama

Events

La Perle

Best of Dubai Here are our top picks in Dubai you would want to fly out for.

John C. Maxwell live!

The Big Clearance Sale

When: 7th August 2017

When: 24th- 26th August 2017

Where: Conrad Dubai

Where: Dubai World Trade Center— Zabeel Halls 1-3

Author John C. Maxwell delivers expert advice on leadership in this one day only talk. Maxwell has published three books which were all New York Times bestsellers, with over a million copies of each title sold. The event is expected to attract a substantial number of top-level management executives and decisionmakers from the region and around the world.

For more information: Tel.: +971 6 558 6808 www.l2s.ae

Awaaz Musical Fusion When: 10th August 2017 Where: The Music Room Start practicing your Bollywood moves because you won’t be able to stop dancing on 10 August when Awaaz, the India-Pakistan unity concert, comes to Dubai. This concert will appeal to Desi music fans with a love of Bollywood and hip-hop, and take place at The Music Room, an ideal venue for the progressive fusion beats.

For more information: +9714 359 8888 10

Gulf Insider August 2017

The Big Clearance Sale is the ultimate shopping spree offering major markdowns on hundreds of brands that will not be available in stores or other locations. With a long list of statement designer labels and beauty brands, this is a must to mark in your diaries.

For more information: Tel.: +971 600 55559 www.thebigclearance.com

When: 31st August- 31st December 2017 Where: Al Habtoor City Words will not do this show justice- it needs to be experienced. La Perle will take your breath away. Dubai’s very first resident show was created by the mastermind behind Las Vegas’s theatrical revamp, Franco Dragone, and features 65 artists performing staggering stunts and aerial antics above an on-stage pool filled with 2.7 million litres of water.

For more information: Tel.: +9714 437 0123 www.aperle.com/en/experience/theshow/

Telecoms

Women Leaders of the Kingdom

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Gulf Insider August 2017

Mona Almoayyed

12

Muna Al Hashemi

14

Zainab Ebrahim Ahmed

18

Alina Moore

22

Eman Al Manai

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Women Leaders in Bahrain

A Woman of Passion Mona Almoayyed, one of the most successful business women in Bahrain chronicles her life, passion, and ambition.

M

ona Almoayyed started working for the Almoayyed family business after graduating from university in 1974. She recounted how she took the first step in the career ladder by working in the accounts department for a few years, and then moving to the furniture department and working there for 5 years. After this time she was put in charge of the automobile, electronics, and building materials section of the company. When her father died in 1996, 20 years later,

12

Gulf Insider August 2017

she was well informed of all the details of the business. The board appointed her as the Managing Director of the trading company. Today the Almoayyed group is well-diversified and employs over 8000 employees. The interview below is a glimpse into the world of this successful woman who has been named as as the 3rd Most Influential Arab Woman in the Middle East in 2013 and was recently ranked 9th Most Powerful Arab Business Woman in the Forbes Power List for 2017.

As a young woman who grew up in the

70’s, what were the challenges that you faced in becoming a successful woman in your own right?

Bahrain was far different in those days. I must credit my father who broke all social barriers and encouraged us to work in the business during the summer months. When I graduated, he encouraged me to join the company even though it was normal in those days to recognize the sons more than the daughters. I had to work hard to prove to him that I was as good and hard working as my brothers.

Women Leaders in Bahrain

You’ve frequently spoken about the role of women in building a better society. Can you explain this thought to our readers?

We believe that as a Bahraini national company we should take care of our society. We created this culture of corporate social responsibility with projects such as the Mohammed Almoayyed Drug and Rehabilitation centre in 1987 and in 2003 the Yousif Khalil Almoayyed Kidney centre. We are now planning a bigger kidney transplant centre in Salmaniya Hospital. We allocate a percentage of our profit for charity. On a personal level I am the board member of the Child Care Centre for homeless children and the honorary chairperson of the Migrant Workers Protection Society, which protects lowpaid foreign workers in Bahrain.

How do you balance being a mother, housewife, businesswoman, and philanthropist?

My contribution comes on the board and committee levels. I do not interfere in the management of the business unless I see something is wrong.

My children are all grown up and do not need me except emotionally for support when they have any problems.

As a housewife, I have many duties but I am lucky because my husband Adel Fakhro is always encouraging me to do more socially and at work. On the business side, we have professional managers in all the departments. My contribution comes on the board and committee levels. I do not interfere in the management of the business unless I see something is wrong. I visit all our outlets once every quarter to talk to the employees and the managers of the different departments. Philanthropy is my passion and it comes naturally to me.

What advice would you give to young women entrepreneurs?

I advise women to work hard and never give up even if their boss ignores them. If they are good they will be successful. If they have their own business they should look at the business profitability by reducing expenses and using clever and effective marketing. They need to know their customers thoroughly in order to satisfy them.

Gulf Insider August 2017

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Women Leaders in Bahrain

Great Companies Focus

on What Their Customers Want!

Interview with Eng. Muna Al Hashemi, BATELCO Bahrain CEO

By Dhanyasree M you have seen in the telecommunications sector in the Kingdom?

E

ng. Muna Al Hashemi, the CEO of Batelco Bahrain, has been in the role of revolutionizing the communications sector in the Kingdom for more than two decades. She has been named on the Forbes Middle East’s list of the Top 100 Most Powerful Arab Businesswomen 2017.

Gulf Insider congratulates Eng. Muna Al Hashemi on her commendable achievements and sits down with her to gather glimpses of her journey with Batelco.

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Gulf Insider August 2017

We aim to follow that spirit in everything we do, and our customers are the core of our business.

You are with Batelco for a long time. Out of the 36 years since the beginning of Batelco, you are with the company for 22 years. What are the major changes that

I joined Batelco as a graduate trainee in 1994, right at the beginning of the mobile and internet journey.

Since then, we have seen a multitude of technological revolutions: In fixed telephony we witnessed a progression from slow dial-up, to ADSL, to Batelco Fiber with speeds up to 500 Mbps. In mobile communications we have seen an evolution from simple 2G mobile phones to modern mini smart-phone computers surfing at 4G speed. The upcoming 5G mobile networks will require significant investment but they will also bring about the next speedrevolution.

Going forward, constantly offering new and better services and technologies, with competitively low prices – and, thus, capital needed for investment – will be one of our biggest challenges. But we are, and will remain, one of the technology leaders in Bahrain.

After all these years, I still find the possibilities fascinating; this industry is without doubt the most exciting one to be part of.

You have been in different positions in Batelco. How do you think that helps you to ensure the welfare and better performance of your employees?

I began my career in the Engineering Department as a trainee. Over the years, I had the opportunity to experience various departments including Customer Services, Accounts, Product Marketing, Product Development and Customer Marketing.

Through hard work and the support of my superiors, I managed to become

Women Leaders in Bahrain

CEO of Batelco in Bahrain.

I have experienced the challenges first-hand. It is therefore my aim to give the opportunity to progress through hard work and the support of my management to all of our staff at Batelco. It is my personal pride when I see young staff succeed in having successful careers at Batelco. This is one of the keys to remain as one of the preferred employers in Bahrain.

Do you believe the initiative to empower women is strong and successful in the Kingdom? What are your plans to support women including those who seek a career in telecommunications?

Bahrain has stood out for the empowerment of women with a long established reputable education system.

The first school for girls was established in 1928! Also, HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women, has been very instrumental in developing the role of women in Bahrain.

I myself am a product of the Bahrain system: educated start-to-finish in Bahrain, I obtained a Master’s degree from the University of Bahrain. This is proof that in Bahrain we have a system that provides the necessary tools to attain the highest goals.

I am a member of the Board of Injaz, which offers great support and opportunities to all young Bahrainis.

Unsurprisingly, I encourage all girls to follow their dreams. My example shows that in Bahrain we can all be successful in any career we choose.

Batelco is an equal opportunities employer, and women and men have the same opportunities. We therefore equally encourage young girls and boys to excel at school and university and to join our Batelco family. We are also very proud of our continuous efforts and investments in our people which include in-house training and career development to help further the career aspirations of all.

What are Batelco Bahrain’s priorities in facing the ongoing competition in the local market?

We are the leading telecom company

in Bahrain, and our aim is to continue leading the market by focusing on our customers’ needs. There is a saying that “good companies focus on what the competition is doing, great companies focus on what their customers want”.

We aim to follow that spirit in everything we do, and our customers are the core of our business. If their experience is good, we grow. If we lose them, we fail. Our customers therefore determine what we focus on.

In order to prepare for upcoming challenges we are going through a number of transformative activities.

We plan investments in a better and more efficient network, the basis for all future offers. We already have the best coverage and speeds among mobile and fixed telecommunication lines in Bahrain. We will continue to invest in

maintaining our lead. 5G will be the topic to watch.

On top of that, we are building ICT capabilities for our enterprise customers and partners to enable them in their respective businesses. Promising industry verticals are health, education, big data and other cloud based services. We are currently investing in strengthening our role as Bahrain’s leading digital solutions provider.

We are revamping and extending our core and ICT offers for our consumers, while focusing on ease of use, value for money, and innovations that you won’t be able to get from our competitors.

All of this, however, cannot be achieved without improving the way we work internally: faster and better processes enable us to react quicker.

Our focus on developing our staff gives us the edge in attracting and retaining the brightest talent.

What are your future plans for Batelco?

We want to be the first choice as the telecom service provider for all people of Bahrain and a benchmark for the competition.

We want the best staff, and we will provide them an environment where they can thrive and grow.

Leading in network, enterprise, ICT, and next generation consumer services is our aim.

We are backing up our promises with a detailed investment and

transformation plan for the next 5 years.

The most important: our personal commitment to our self-defined priorities will ensure we will succeed.

Ms. Muna Hashemi has concluded the latest interview on a very confident note that promises a shining future for the telecommunications sector in the Kingdom. Gulf Insider along with others in Bahrain is waiting for these brilliant ideas to transform our everyday communications.

Gulf Insider August 2017

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Women Leaders in Bahrain

The Diamond Fish!

Interview with Ms. Zainab Ebrahim Ahmed

By Dhanyasree M

A

s I walked into the Diamond Fish, it took me sometime convince myself that I did walk into a seafood restaurant. There was no pungent waft of seafood which is inevitable in most seafood restaurants.

The calm and cool interiors were relaxing and I was greeted by Ms. Zainab Ahmed, Founder and Managing Director, with warm smile. She walked me to an artistically decorated table with Moroccan designs across a blue

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Gulf Insider August 2017

wall with the motifs of floating fishes.

Diamond Fish is a seafood restaurant located at Al Raya Mall in the Juffair District of Bahrain. The restaurant is a dream project of Ms. Zainab Ahmed, a culinary expert, a jewelry aesthetic, and a warm family person. Gulf Insider is happy to introduce Ms. Zainab and her ambitious plans to globalize the Bahraini Seafood cuisine through uniquely designed and carefully selected menu.

Her dream is to see Bahrain as the center of Gulf seafood industry.

What was your motivation to pursue a career in the restaurant business?

I always had a dream to become a business woman, who can be a role model to my children. Jobs are great however they limit your ability to innovate and grow, therefore I decided to pursue business on my childhood passion, that’s sea food.

As Bahrain is an Island, seafood has been an integral part of Bahraini cuisine for centuries. As a child, I always enjoyed family seafood gatherings.

Women Leaders in Bahrain

quality food and service.

As an employer, what do you look for in your employees?

Honesty and good manners are the most important elements that I look for in my employees. We can train them about any other skills, but we cannot seed honesty and good manners in employees.

Personal interview is major part of my hiring process as I don’t depend only on written CVs to hire new employees.

I spend several hours interviewing my employees before putting them in real life scenarios. During the interview, I focus on creativity, human interaction,

Fresh Food, Healthy Choices, Affordable prices, are the three elements that make us different than other seafood places in the Kingdom.

As I grew up, I enjoyed all aspects of seafood and learnt different cuisines and as continuation of this passion, I decided to open a seafood restaurant.

Why the name Diamond Fish?

Diamonds are the most precious Jewelry and it is well said Diamonds are woman’s best friends. When I decided to open this restaurant, I linked the fish to the most precious jewelry to reflect the true theme of this place, “Different in everything and precious” I like to mention the role of seafood in Bahraini Culture. Over the centuries, there has been a tradition where the Head of the family would bring fresh sea food from market, and mother would cook it while the whole family would sit around the table to relish the delicacies. These weekly family reunions created family bonding in our society. We, at Diamond Fish are trying

to reinvent this role of seafood where families can come and have reunions.

What are your day-today responsibilities as a restaurant owner?

Restaurant is the most sophisticated service business. Our customers are the center of our operation, and keeping that in mind, I take personal responsibility in all aspects of our operation. My roles start everyday with monitoring fresh sea food purchase, and meeting with chefs and staff to review customer feedback or operational issues from the previous day. We together make weekly cuisine schedules and plans for the whole week. To achieve operational excellence, I monitor all aspects of daily operation, including customer interaction, food quality, new menu, and growth plans. I do remote management even when I am away, to ensure customer experience with

Customer services and adaptation of new ideas.

What are your signature dishes?

We are a dynamic and evolving place.

Our sea food ‘Shrimp Maloccai’ is very popular amongst our customers.

Many of our customers have asked us to introduce Moroccan dishes which we recently added to our menu. “Chicken Taijan” is our Signature dish in the Moroccan cuisine.

I am working on our drink Menu and some of the recipes that we are developing will be among the best in the region.

How do you think that your restaurant stand apart from other seafood restaurants in the Kingdom?

Fresh Food, Healthy Choices, Affordable prices, are the three

Gulf Insider August 2017

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Women Leaders in Bahrain

elements that make us different than other seafood places in the Kingdom.

Our staff members are trained to identify fresh seafood and spend few hours every day at the Sitra harbor where fisherman come with their daily catch. We pick our supplies from the fisherman directly to guarantee the freshness of our dishes.

We use fresh greens and avoid using artificial colors, or fats. We make sure to contribute to the wellbeing of the Bahrain citizens by providing healthy food. Our cooking style is unique with specially prepared spices and ingredients. We have unique “Diamond Fish cooking style which is adopted from Bahraini Kitchen, Egyptian Kitchen and Western Kitchen.

We keep our prices very reasonable and lower than most other seafood restaurants.

So when you look for Fresh, Healthy, Tasty, and Affordable seafood there is no choice other than Diamond Fish Restaurant.

Do you have regular customers who come over for the delicacies?

Yes, I do. People come from all over GCC as they have heard of ‘Shrimp Moloccai’. We have regular visitors from US navy staff who make sure to attend our place for dinner during their stopovers in Bahrain. We are launching unique loyalty program for our regular customers. Through this program, we will be able to custom prepare our food for our regular customers. We 20

Gulf Insider August 2017

have introduced finger foods for our corporate customers who come here for light lunch and healthy seafood snack out of which ‘Grilled Shrimp on Sticks’ are quite popular. People also order our food after trying it once through the standard delivery services.

What is the greatest source for your success?

I should say that the greatest source for my success came from my father’s blessings and mother’s prayers. My husband is my backbone. He guides me in all aspects of business from ideas to improving the restaurant. My kids are my motivation. Bayader, Khalifa and Sultan encourage me to move further in my success.

I am proud and grateful that I am a Bahraini. The Government here is very supportive to entrepreneurs like me.

Without our Government, I wouldn’t have started a business at all, and I look forward to repay in my own ways to the country.

Finally, but importantly, my customers and those who love me play an integral part in my success.

What do you enjoy the most in this business?

I thrive to see happy customers enjoying quality food and spending good time my place. Of course, the restaurant is my world and I am happy with the team work and dedication of my staff and their passion for the place.

I enjoy compliments that I get from my customers which reflect our goal of providing healthy and tasty food in relaxing environment.

How do the restaurant business differ from the typical expectations?

I used to think that the business is a success, whenever I used to see a crowd in front of any restaurant.

But, when I entered the business I realized that it is quite competitive and challenging and the expenses are quite high. Due to the huge number of diverse restaurants in Bahrain, I face many challenges, including fluctuating sea food pricing, ever evolving customer preferences, and diverse choices available for our customers in the kingdom. We are people’s business and we have to continuously fulfill their expectations in a very dynamic way, which makes restaurant business a challenging business.

We end our discussion over the revitalizing glasses of Moroccan tea. I couldn’t fail to notice how Ms. Zainab instructs her staff on the height at which the tea has been poured. Ms. Zainab remembers from the previous day’s interaction that I don’t like too much sugar on your drinks. I couldn’t help but admire how she has noted the preference of a customer even with a single meeting. With her attention to the minutest details, passion and dedication, the Diamond Fish will successfully wade into dazzling waters.

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Women Leaders in Bahrain

AGORA Training Services Interview with Ms. Alina Moore

By Dhanyasree M

T

he UK based AGORA Training Services has been providing training solutions to different sectors in GCC for more than 6 years. With a new Brach opened in Bahrain one year ago, the slogan of AGORA is “Training today for a safer tomorrow.” AGORA Training Service’s Managing Director Ms. Alina Moore shares their ideas for the future projects in GCC with Gulf Insider Magazine.

How was the beginning of the AGORA Training Service-the name, concept etc.?

As a company, AGORA Training Services offers acclaimed internationally accredited training. Our clients can be assured that they will be gaining 22

Gulf Insider August 2017

the best training experience here.

Our concept is to provide high quality affordable training.

We don’t believe in providing training is only in the classrooms. Our clients will be receiving hands-on, real life training experience which will enable them to face any real life scenario.

AGORA in ancient Greek language meant ‘market’. It is where you go and find everything that you might require.

What we strive to become is the one stop-shop for all training services from health and safety to heavy machinery, from Oil & Gas to Hospitality. We don’t focus only on one division but every division will receive deserved attention that it might require.

How did you choose Kingdom of Bahrain as the country for your service?

We are UK based company which has operations in the GCC for more than 6 years. It makes sense for us to have a Branch in Bahrain due to Kingdom’s close proximity to the major markets in the GCC.

What are your greatest accomplishments in this field?

Our greatest achievement in the industry is ‘No Accidents, no causalities.” Over 16,000 people we have trained in the last 6 years, not even a single person has met with any accident. We are proud that people we trained take with them more than just a Certificate.

Women Leaders in Bahrain

GCC area for their FSR (Flowline Safety Restrain) System. We have launched the new training program for them.

Another good part of working in this area is that we can directly monitor the improvements that the training is doing for our clients. There is no better way to guide them other than the first-hand

passionate about, there won’t be any down sides. When you put your heart into what you are doing there won’t be anything to hard.

You provide services in four divisions. Can you tell which of the divisions that you give prime focus for?

We provide services in Oil & Gas, Construction, Hospitality and Industrial sectors. We give each division attention depending on the project that is running at that time. Our team works all around the clock and someone will be available over the phone 24/7 and 365 days in the year. It will never happen that our client’s calls will go unanswered.

We are working for so many industries, but most essentially for the oil & gas industry. Any situation might arise at any time. There should be someone to assist the needs of our clients.

What are the major challenges that you have faced so far?

Our clients approach us not only for the certificates but for the quality training that we provide them. The knowledge we impart enable not only to protect themselves but also others around them.

What do you enjoy the most in this business?

The best part of working in this industry is to meet with the new collaborators. Each new collaboration makes me feel successful. We have worked with MEPEX, recently signed an agreement with National Institute of Industrial Training and their partner VSA. We have recently signed an agreement with Weir SPM to be the only approved training provider in the

AGORA in ancient Greek language meant ‘market’. It is where you go and find everything that you might require. experiences for a better performance after the training.

What is your least favorite part?

Have to chase on each and everything (laughs). Leaving the joke aside, when you are doing something that you are

In these time of fluctuating markets, where the oil prices reached as low as 22 $ per barrel, the business is really challenging. However, many companies are utilizing the downturn to improve their teams skills through the use of our training. There is a great deal of legislation training going through planning stages or implementation in the GCC at the moment for all industries. We are looking forward for those laws to be reinforced to create the Health and Safety culture the GCC deserve

Who are your major clients?

We are working with Rowan Drilling, Halliburton, Weir-SPM, Petrogistix, ARKAD, Radisson Blu, Ritz Carlton, Singapore and Australian Shipyards just to name a few.

The best side of the business is that we get to travel a lot (Laughs.)

Our conversation is followed by a photo shoot for the interview. Ms. Alina proudly poses in front of the company logo. We wish her all the success in her endeavours which will definitely change the face of industries for a safer tomorrow.

Gulf Insider August 2017

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Women Leaders in Bahrain

The Unparalleled Journey in the Real Estate Industry!

Interview with Eman Al-Mannai

By Dhanyasree M

E

man Al-Mannai is a wellknown figure in the RealEstate sector of the Bahrain for more than a decade. Gulf Insider meets with Eman Al-Mannai, the General Manager of Royal Ambassador Premiere Residential Apartments, at her artistically designed office in the Fontana Towers. Eman Al-Mannai details her journey in the challenging sector during the evolving times.

How did you develop an interest in the Real Estate sector?

I was a student at the University of Bahrain when His Majesty the King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa had introduced

The Royal Ambassador Group selected me as their General Manager in 2013 due to my experience in the free hold investment. the ‘Free hold property rule’ in the Kingdom. It’s at the same time the real estate giant from Dubai, Pegasus introduced their first project, based on this rule, which is Abraj Lulu. I joined them as a trainee and during my tenure, I had the exposure to different departments in the real estate sector like administration, Sales, Accounting and legal. I realized that this is the field

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Gulf Insider August 2017

Women Leaders in Bahrain

for me since it wasn’t a routine job and I could meet new people on the course.

and the career?

I don’t think so! Women are gifted with multi-tasking. You just need to be focussed. If you are very well organized there is nothing to complain about! I am a single mother and I handle a huge business along with my studies.

On the other hand, your partner need to understand the importance of your career. He should realize that a woman’s career improves her self-esteem, financial security and happiness in life.

So, the first experience laid the strong foundation for your career!

Yes, I achieved the highest sales target by selling the most of the Abraj Lulu. The Group decided that they couldn’t let me go. I joined them and after four years, I became the first, youngest Female General Manager in the Real Estate sector of the Kingdom.

However, during the recession in 2008-2009, I resigned from my job.

There were no investments and my office which was once so busy, stood calm. That was something intolerable for me, even though my career path was successful.

How do you evaluate yourself as a General Manager?

I am a General Manager today, but life can turn me into a Secretary on the next day. You have to build a good relationship with people. My employees see me as a great supporter regardless of my position. My employees trust to approach me and never intimidated by me.

When did you join back the Real Estate Industry?

The Royal Ambassador Group selected me as their General Manager in 2013 due to my experience in the free hold investment. As I came for the interview, I saw the Group’s dedication to provide the high end luxury apartments for their customers and it matched with my zeal. I joined them without even looking at the offer.

The time was not good since, the sector was almost dead after the 2011 crisis. When I joined, I planned to launch the new project on 14-Feb2014. The prestigious Fontana Garden was launched on that date and within the next 4 years, I sold six towers with 2000+ apartments. I was in the newspapers as the “Young Bahraini who sold 6 Towers in 4 years.”

That’s a great achievement! Do you believe that women’s role in the real estate sector is well acknowledged in the country?

Every year, when I hear the theme of ‘Women’s Day’ celebration, I feel jealous (Laughs). I fear that “Women in the Real Estate Sector” will never be celebrated!

There are many women working in the real estate industry in different departments-Engineering, interior design, Sales, business development, legal accounting, Managers and Directors.

What is the greatest lesson that you have learnt from your career so far?

Every year, when I hear the theme of ‘Women’s Day’ celebration, I feel jealous . I fear that “Women in the Real Estate Sector” will never be celebrated!

I would like to request Her Royal Highness princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al-Khalifa President of the Supreme Council of Women to consider us, for the next year.

Do you think that women need to struggle more than men to balance the family life

This is a good question (Smiles).

Life will never give you something for free. You have to pay for it emotionally and through hard work. Set a goal, and make a daily plan to reach that goal. You can even do a yearly evaluation of what you have achieved so far. Regardless of anyone’s position, no one is having a perfect life. You have to enjoy each moment and believe that you can do things that you want.

I reached my position not in one day.

I worked so hard for it. I was degraded by others at many times, but I didn’t stop on my way. I closed my eyes and ears towards the negative people in my life and moved on. You should be able to get up and walk from where you fall.

Eman Al Mannai explained that her dream to serve the Kingdom regardless of her position. In a country, where the Government supports the people, she believes that she should do her role well.

To know more about her insightful views on the real estate sector and career prospects in the Kingdom.

Please visit: www.gulf-insider.com/eman-al-mannai/ Gulf Insider August 2017

25

Affairs

Excitement Mounts for

BIDEC 2017

The Bahrain International Defence Exhibition & Conference (BIDEC 2017) will be the first of its kind military expo in the country. land, sea and air but also to meet face to face with influential decision makers from within the international defence community including Defense and Security Ministers, Coastguard Commanders, and National Guard and Royal Guard Commands.

BIDEC is expected to attract a local, regional and international audience of key decision-makers from government, Army, Navy, Air Force and the defense industry.

Modern and Forward Thinking Armed Forces

Lockheed Martin is a gold sponsor of BIDEC 2017.

T

he inaugural BIDEC presents a brand new opportunity for exhibitors to showcase the latest military technology, equipment, and hardware across land, sea, and air. BIDEC 2017 will have a fully hosted international military VIP Delegation Programme that will include representatives from all over the world and it is expected that over 120 international manufacturers and suppliers of the latest military equipment, technology and systems will be present. With over 3000 international visitors expected to attend, there are a number of features & off-site activities to keep attendees busy. The Middle East Military Alliances and Coalitions Conference, addressing the biggest challenges facing the region, will also run alongside the exhibition. In addition,

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Gulf Insider August 2017

‫ﻣﻌﺭﺽ ﻭﻣﺅﺗﻣﺭ ﺍﻟﺩﻓﺎﻉ ﺍﻟﺩﻭﻟﻲ ﺍﻟﺑﺣﺭﻳﻥ‬

BIDEC Bahrain International Defence Exhibition & Conference

16-18 October 2017 | Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre

BIDEC will host unique features including Shooting Range Exercises, a Warship Display, Parachute Display and Military Vehicle Demos.

Over the course of the 3 day event, attendees will have the opportunity to not only peruse over 120 regional and international exhibitors from across

HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Commander of the Bahrain Royal Guard and Chairman of BIDEC 2017 said, “We look forward to developing a world-class defence exhibition and conference that will highlight the nation’s aspirations of a modern and forward thinking armed forces. We hope that more Bahraini companies will participate in this event, showing their support for an initiative that will support the Bahrain Defence Force and will facilitate important partnerships and the sharing of technology and inventions in this sensitive and highly critical area. ” Held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, the event will take place on 16-18 October 2017. It is fully supported by the Bahrain Defence Force and is being organised by Clarion Events, the largest organizer of Defense and Security events in the world, with over 200 other events across different sectors.

Under the Patronage

His Excellency Dr. Abdulhussain Bin Ali Mirza Minister of Water & Electricity

Solar, Technology, Energy & Environment in Bahrain Expo 2017

Be a part of STEEB 2017 First International Investment Forum and Exhibition 2017 in Bahrain www.steeb2017.com

People

GLOBAL SHAPERS COMMUNITY MANAMA

Manama Shapers Interview with Mahmood Zeyad, Co-Founder/ CEO, Majra.me

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ell us about the inspiration for Majra and how you are partnering with workplaces to get people to the jobs that they enjoy.

It all started with a conversation with my co-founder Najma about how frustrating job hunting can be, where every job site out there only has the title of the job and some information about the requirements, with no details about the company or what it would be like to work inside the company. So we asked ourselves what if we were able to help companies share what a day at their office looks like? What if we gave young people the chance to find companies that match their personalities, and their career ambitions? That’s where the idea of www.majra.me was born, and the rest, as they say, is history.

From working in Majra, what are the recruitment trends that you find in Bahrain? Do you think this is true in the GCC and in other places?

I have been noticing a bigger interest in the concept of organizational cultures, and working on enhancing and making it more millennial-friendly. It’s definitely a wake-up call for a lot of companies as

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Gulf Insider August 2017

they struggle to attract young talent and retain them in their workspaces, and I’ve been seeing organizations like Zain Bahrain or startups such as Malaeb take active effort in making their cultures inclusive and engaging. This is bound to happen across Bahrain and the entire GCC, especially with millennials and the Generation Z entering the market.

Millenials are known to go from job to job on an average of 1.5 years per job. Why do you think this is so? Do you think Majra can help millennials with job retention?

The concept of a career ladder is almost not existent anymore, which some might view as a negative thing, however, I personally believe it demonstrates the purposeful drive of millennials. They hop from job to job until they find a place where they see themselves growing, contributing, and most importantly doing something meaningful. We’re hoping to help increase retention by matching them with the right places from the start, and giving the room to explore what a job at a company would look like even before applying for that job.

How does Majra help people find not just jobs but careers? How does Majra help

people fulfill their human potential?

One of the key things we believe in is that the CV is an outdated format for self-representation, and it’s a format that a lot of young people try to fit themselves in but fail at because it’s very restraining. What we do is enable young people to create personal profiles on Majra, profiles that reflect not just their experience, but their personalities, and their ambitions. This is something we update on a regular basis from the feedback we get from job seekers, but it’s been one of the strongest tools we’ve used to match people to places that they can grow in.

Why did you join Manama Shapers and what’s next for you?

Other than the great network, and the great people inside the hub that challenge you and help you grow, I joined the Shapers to work on social issues. The fact that young people can collaborate and work on projects that impact and shape their societies is a unique opportunity, and we’re lucky to be able to do that in our hub.

In terms of what’s next, I’m looking to focus on making Majra better as a platform, and making it accessible for everyone across the MENA region.

People

In 2015, we became a member of Adam Global (AG). AG is an international network that has 120 offices around the world. Its members provide corporate services and consultancy to international businesses. Partnering with Adam Global has given us access to 120 cities and made it easier to provide global services to our clients.

What were the challenges you faced when starting out?

International Company, Local Understanding An interview with Wassim Al Sayegh, Co-founder of Iqtesadi.

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lease tell us about your company and how it started.

IQTESADI was founded in 2013, as a Worldwide Corporate Services provider that delivers international business solutions focusing on Company Incorporation (Onshore/Offshore), Business Start-Up Advisory, Business Plans & Feasibility Studies, Foreign Market Entry, and Immigration & Citizenship. When we started out, we found that most local providers are only focused on the local market. We wanted to do a one-stop shop for investors and be the first consultancy firm that provides international solutions. We don’t just establish companies, we give start-ups a business study and guide them to opportunities available for them

outside of Bahrain. Maybe they want to establish another business in India or Dubai. We can help them with that too.

We also provide other services related to company set-up such as trademark registration to protect and build the brand. Another service that we offer is second citizenship through investment for High Net Worth Individuals. Due to the political issues in the MENA region investors from certain nationalities are finding it more difficult to travel, and are now looking for a second passport to be able to travel and conduct their businesses easier. We help these investors to obtain second citizenship through investment programs; whether it is through investing in real estate, government bonds or donations. We have those programs in almost 25 countries.

The challenges we faced are the same as every startup which is financing issues. We had to depend on ourselves for almost all the investment.

The first six months were very nerve wracking, with no income at all. It was very difficult to manage operations while keeping our expenses in check, but, since we established our company with an opening for the international markets, that enabled us to provide unique services and helped us break even in the first eight months.

We also received additional support from Tamkeen, “a semi-government authority” supporting Start-Ups and SMEs in Bahrain. Tamkeen helped us to build our brand and finances all our marketing materials. There is no other country that provides such a support so we were lucky to start here in Bahrain.

So please allow me to say thank you to Tamkeen.

What advice can you give to young entrepreneurs?

For a start, I’m not really a fan of the word ‘young’; it implies that only people of a certain age can set out on an entrepreneurial journey and that’s simply not true. If you are an entrepreneur, whatever your age, you must seize the moment. Time is the key to success, it’s not how much money you make, it’s how you spend your time. Do not try to be the richest, but try to be the best at what you do. Never compare yourself to others, just keep challenging yourself, take pride in what you do. Don’t over polish your product to make it look better, be proud of what you have. Ask for help, look for the skills that you don’t have and learn from your mistakes.

Gulf Insider August 2017

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Travel

Savour La Dolce Vita

(sweet life) on the heel of Italy David Jeffery CD at 50°E Bahrain goes native in Gargano.

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f you flew in a straight line between Naples and Dubrovnik you’d eventually look down upon the Gargano peninsula pointing towards Croatia from the eastern coast of Italy, a hinterland of highlands blanketed by the ancient Forest Of Umbria. In bygone times, this headland was once an island. This is noticeable as you approach from Bari Airport. Our adventure began via an undulating vineyard fringed highway. Upon reaching what must have once been the ancient Gargano Island shoreline,

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Gulf Insider August 2017

the road rapidly narrows, climbs and then snakes along the coast. A twisting roller coaster journey, along a road stereotyped by directors filming cliffhanger car chases or supercharged car commercials. We are heading for Vieste. Our hotel is the charming family run Hotel Le Ginestre. In the garden between pool and reception lies a lily pond, where, come sundowner time a choir of frogs serenade the arrival of dusk. Languid is the best way to describe the setting.

Vieste town has a split personality.

On one side a labyrinth of narrow streets. Faded, pastel houses where lethargic laundry languishes on balconies. I noticed some interesting varieties and sizes of sun-dried underwear. Everywhere kids lark about, pensioners parlay and dogs dream. The scene punctuated by the occasional street vendor proclaiming his wares. Pure, true and real Italy.

This gives way to posh Vieste located in the ancient quarter. Smart Gelato parlours serve home made ice cream. We ate at a charming

Travel

Upon reaching what must have once been the ancient Gargano Island shoreline, the road rapidly narrows, climbs and then snakes along the coast.

Trattoria overlooking the bay, my octopus was plump and tasted like it had jumped from bay to plate, merely steaming itself out of courtesy enroute. Delicious. For anyone interested in history, Vieste port was frequently attacked by pirates in the Middle Ages.

In 1554 the Turks executed over 5,000 inhabitants, presumably for refusing to serve Kebabs. Nowadays, a festival described as a summer “Halloween” pays homage to the massacre. Quite fortunately we missed it.

Next day, we set out for Vico del Gargano - the “city of love”. Nestled in the Umbria Forest, Vico is an ancient walled city. The buildings all appear to be constructed from one huge block of stone seamlessly butted together.

The city architects perhaps started

with a lump of damp clay, wielding a palette knife they whittled and carved out homes, castles, churches and squares then handed their sculptured “clay city” to a stonemason to re-work from rock. St Valentine is Vico’s Patron Saint. Legend has it, that the city’s narrow alleys served as an excuse for clandestine pass and kiss encounters.

Via a shoulder width alley we came across a tiny damp square with a kissing bench. The city holds a “Love Fest” in July. Unlike the Vieste festival we unfortunately missed this homage to love.

With the forest playing such a huge role in the scenery of the region we booked a room in the hilltop, tree fringed Oasi Agrituristica ranch.

The assent was via a dappled sunlit meandering road bordered by an impenetrable wall of oak and beech trees. The ranch is idyllic. Apart from no electricity. Consequently, we decamp to Monte St. Angelo deciding to return when power resumes.

Monte St. Angelo city is perched atop a rugged rocky outcrop. Pilgrims from all over the world visit the sanctuary of St. Michael. The story began 1500 years ago with three successive appearances of the Archangel Michael on Mount Gargano. St. Michael must have valued his solitude because he has not put in an appearance since. The sanctuary is a natural cave, now an underground cathedral. National Geographic rates the shrine as amongst the ten most beautiful sacred caves in the world.

Steeped in so much history visitors Gulf Insider August 2017

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Travel

whisper reverently and look in awe.

Equally praised is the local bread. White and soft crumb protected by a thin crust. Loaves are enormous and look like a baked moon.

Electricity resurrected we return to the ranch. Our host, a genial farm hand, with a personality akin to a Fawlty Towersish Italian Manuel. “I am-a Lorenzo from-a San Marco” Gargano replacing Barcelona. We gesticulate and mime conversations. His blank expression inevitably breaks into a broad smile. One evening we inadvertently lock ourselves out of our cottage.

Lorenzo springs into action appearing with a bunch of keys the size of which would have done the jailer at Alcatraz proud. No joy. Losing patience, he proceeds to shoulder butt the unyielding door. He leaves dejectedly. Returns with a credit card “voila” he slips the lock, we are inside in seconds – why the fiasco with the keys, Italian yokel theatre? Who knows?

Next morning we hike. The views of the distant coast mirage in a heat haze.

Traversing flower filled meadows, we 32

Gulf Insider August 2017

National Geographic rates the shrine as amongst the ten most beautiful sacred caves in the world. discover an abandoned farm for our picnic lunch. Wandering homeward it appears Lorenzo has taken revenge for the lockout incident and released several herds of menacing long horned bulls. They all look poised to charge. We skirt their paddocks carrying sticks and stones to fend them off. Nearing the ranch we relax only to be panicked by a passing family of wild boars. Papa is hairy, huge, and formidable. Boring he isn’t! Lorenzo serves us dinner created from farm produce, including what I believe were wild boar sausages.

Our final stop is the coastal port and

regional capital Manfredo. A bustling city, seems like every inhabitant promenades along the corniche at sunset - generations intermingle and gossip vociferously, greeting passing friends, relatives and even buddies on overlooking balconies. You suddenly realize the root of Italian operas!

The manager of our hotel, the Regiohotel, who once headed-up the local tourist authority, recommended the Sunday boat trip along the coast.

We book. A jolly crew awaits, turns out it is a birthday cruise. Everyone is full of bonhomie. From the sea Gargano offers a different perspective. Hidden coves, secluded beaches we sail into vast subterranean grottos and snorkel in a crystal clear ocean. Wonderful, on docking fizzy Prosecco is uncorked and we toast to whoever’s birthday it is. Or, maybe it was just an excuse for a Manfredo day out. That’s the joy of Gargano - made in Italy - by Italians - for Italians plus the odd Bahrain ex-pat.

David flew to Bari airport with Turkish Airways via Istanbul.

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Style

Patek Philippe 5522A Limited Edition Pilot’s Calatrava

42mm stainless steel limited edition – there’s only 600 of them!

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Gulf Insider August 2017

Style

The power reserve is 45 hours.

T

his is very much a pilots watch and uses the same blue lacquer dial from the 5524G with applied Arabic numerals in 18K white gold with luminous coating. The hour and minute hands are in blued steel with luminous coating – the seconds hand is aluminum, also with luminous coating.

The 5524 is 42mm in diameter by 9mm thick, a large diameter by most accounts in the world of Patek Philippe, though a relatively thin one. Powering this time-only watch is the caliber 324 S, the benchmark Patek self-winding movement that you’ll find in the 5711 Nautilus. You can see it through a sapphire caseback engraved “PATEK PHILIPPE NEW YORK 2017.”

The Patek Philippe pilot’s Calatava reference 5522A will be a limited edition of 600 pieces (yes, 600 pieces!) at a price of $21,547. This watch must be ordered through the U.S. as all 600 pieces will be allocated exclusively to U.S. retailers.

The strap on the steel 5522 is a vintage style brown calfskin with contrast stitching and steel “clevis” style buckle.

Gulf Insider August 2017

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Affairs

Bahrain MPs proposal

to ban expats aged 50+ is rejected

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ahrain’s parliament has rejected a controversial proposal from some MPs that expats aged over 50 be banned from working in Bahrain. The proposal had already been highly criticized by Bahrain’s Labour 36

Gulf Insider August 2017

Regulatory Authority, Health Ministry, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Unions Federation.

The proposal had drawn widespread criticism. It was submitted by the National Partnership Parliamentary Bloc, which claims employees become

Affairs

‘The MPs are going crazy over the GDP and economy.

They should use their brains not propagandas to rob expats.

They can’t claim expats won’t be working as they should because expats, like other human beings, can perform very efficiently at that age.

less efficient as they get older. Similar measures have been proposed in Kuwait, but the suggestion has sparked a backlash on social media and has been branded as “shocking”, “unfair” and a form of “discrimination” by those who oppose it.

Migrant Workers’ Protection Society (MWPS) chairwoman Marietta Dias said she suspected it was simply a ploy to reduce the expat workforce.

“I don’t agree with the proposal,” she told the GDN. “Fifty years is not

considered old by any standards and, according to international standards, 55 is the age for retirement. “They can’t claim expats won’t be working as they should because expats, like other human beings, can perform very efficiently at that age. “If they want to ban expatriates from working then they should say that directly, without making such claims.”

Bahrain Chamber for Commerce and Industry’s Bahrain Asian Traders Committee chairman Mohammed Sajid described the proposal as “shocking and unfair”. “This is very shocking and unfair for many people who have given their golden age to the country to get a punishment like this,” he said. “This is against human rights. “There are so many people at 50 and even above 60

working as chief executives and holding high posts, so it’s wrong to say that people of this age don’t work the best.

“If so, then Bahrainis above 50 will also be incapable of doing their work too.”

He said the country would face problems replacing qualified and experienced expats who would be forced to leave Bahrain when they turned 50. “There is no doubt that Bahrainis are a priority – there is no compromise in that,” Mr Sajid added.

“But sometimes the skills you need in a specific sector are unavailable in locals, which leaves us with no choice but to recruit people from outside Bahrain.”

American Chamber of Commerce Bahrain president Qays Zu’bi suggested that if any age cap was imposed on working, it should be across the board.

GDN readers have responded angrily to the proposed age cap for expats, posting the below comments on our Facebook page: Gloria Here ‘Never in my life have I seen such discrimination! I think these MPs need to take a course on discrimination and once again, the expats are being targeted. 50s and 60s (are the) best times for many people, kids grown up, out of the house and it is not old! Actually (it is the) best time and (they) make (the) best employees – no attachments! In the US, companies welcome people 50 and over because of this and their work ethics, MPs should learn from this instead of discriminating.’

‘Honestly, I am so appalled by this and myself can do rings around these ‘younger’ MPs who don’t have a clue, shame on them’. Ahmed Baqer ‘I believe they should ban any Member of Parliament or minister above 50 too’. Abu Qais ‘The MPs are going crazy over the GDP and economy. They should use their brains not propagandas to rob expats. If they implement (the law) they should do on both parties (Bahrainis and expats) without discrimination.

Plus, if you are implementing taxes, give the expats nationality, provident funds, retirement plans and funds.

Why pay tax if you aren’t a national?’

Meghan McCabe ‘There goes the entire knowledge base’.

Gulf Insider August 2017

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GCC Review

Bahrain Shura’s family draft law to improve legal status of women and families

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he upper chamber of Bahrain’s bicameral parliament has endorsed a unified family law draft that aims to improve the legal status of women, one week after the

lower chamber approved it.

The bill covers the rights of people from both the Sunni and Shiite sects.

Currently, Sunnis and Shiites have their separate Sharia courts that deal with personal law issues and family matters.

The draft law won approval following a series of arguments in which lawmakers highlighted the scope of its provisions in protecting family bonds and strengthening the larger social fabric.

Bahrainis scared of lizards

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ahrain’s municipal councils and MPs are demanding health inspectors eradicate “the menace” of lizards in the kingdom during the hot summer. One MP described lizards as being more “terrorizing than terrorism” and a municipal councilor said citizens would “be happy to see armed police shooting lizards”.

“Women have every right to be afraid” said environmental committee chairman Hamad Al Dossary. “The idea of one touching the skin of a woman sends shivers down her spine”, he added. “If people think terrorism is a threat, just see how terrorizing lizards are when someone spots them in their home – or even on a building wall… the whole neighbourhood takes up arms to simply kill one lizard.”

A representative from a pest control company reassured the public that most lizards in Bahrain are harmless.

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GCC Review

Bahrain: MP calls for traffic signals to be updated to reduce accidents & violations

T

he traffic signal systems in the Kingdom need to be updated by implementing new techniques that aims at reducing accidents and traffic violations at crossroads, MP Mohammed Al Maarifi has said.

The MP submitted an innovative proposal to this effect to adjust traffic signals so that it would “blink” several times before changing from

green.

The MP, who also head the Human Rights Committee in the House of Representatives, said that traffic lights should be adjusted so it would flash five times while on the green colour before changing to yellow than red to notify drivers that they have to stop soon.

“This proposal is aimed at maintaining traffic safety and reducing accidents and violations near junctions,” Al Maarifi said.

His proposal comes few months after the government rejected a similar request from the parliament to install countdown timers at traffic signals for the same reasons and similarly to fellow GCC countries.

Meanwhile, Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry, which is in charge of road planning in the Kingdom, said the “timers are not efficient and create confusion near intersections”.

Construction firm sacks half its Bahraini staff

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ash-strapped G.P. Zachariades Civil Engineering & Contractors, popularly known as GPZ, has terminated 99 Bahraini

employees.

The construction company was in focus recently as a group of workers organised a public protest in Sanad last month, demanding pending salaries.

“The company is facing a lot of difficulties in paying salaries for workers and dues for contractors. It’s mainly a cash flow problem. Nearly BD30 million dues has to be paid to the contractors,” Labour Ministry Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Affairs Dr Mohammed Ali Al Ansari told DT News.

“If the ministries release BD2 million for the projects they did for different ministries, the company could easily be able to make the payment for the workers,” he said.

“We do know about the issue and the company is now in a process of restructuring and downsizing.

The company employs nearly 1000 expatriate workers and 190 Bahraini workers,” he said.

“We urge workers to be patient as we are negotiating with other organisations to provide workers equivalent jobs and salaries,” he said.

Gulf Insider August 2017

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Contributor

LAUNCHING YOUR STARTUP? PR TIPS & TRICKS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS

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ne of the most noticeable trends in 2017 is the strive towards becoming your own boss. There is nothing more satisfying and rewarding than fulfilling your passion and achieving your desired goals and

dreams.

However, whether you are a freelancer or launching your own startup, success can’t be reached without a little push from PR. Public Relations plays a big role in the promotion and publicity of any business, brand, people, and startups. And when done right, the results are astounding and success is inevitable.

Just like any campaign, certain steps must be taken in order to execute your PR plan that is customized for your freelance business or startup. First of all, identifying your target audience (and media) is a must.

You can’t promote your business without specifying your potential clients and people of interest. Secondly, creating an attractive and lucrative pitch is a must.

After knowing your target audience, tailoring a pitch that fulfills their needs and wants is the natural next step. Don’t forget to also practice your “elevator pitch” for when you are casually asked the famous question “So what do you do?” (Tip: Do NOT use clichés).

Make sure that you are available and active across different social media platforms. Sharing news relevant to your industry and to your business is important. Data and analysis, as well as showing knowledge and expertise in your field is essential.

Blowing your own trumpet every once in a while to showcase your achievements is acceptable.

Testimonials from clients prove to be very helpful too. Media relations will always play a vital role in the success of any PR activity; make sure that you are always in touch with key reporters, and to pitch to them well-written stories and press releases to publish in their media outlets. And the most important tip of all: Network, network, network! Always make sure to attend events, conferences and business gatherings, and engage and network with major players in the market and the industry, which will get you leads, and help you take your first steps towards business success.

Sawsan Abu Omar, MCIPR PR & Communications Professional www.sawsanabuomar.com contact@sawsanabuomar.com

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Gulf Insider August 2017

A full service law firm for Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman, founded in 1995 by Mr Ali Al Jabal

Ask

Each month we will be putting a legal problem to consultant Ali Al Jabal to answer.

This month - Goods Delivery AJ Question: I have been purchasing fertilizer from a manufacturing company for some time now. In the past I had always used a top brand, but was hoping to find something cheaper. Based on the manufacturing company’s recommendation I was advised to purchase their ‘XXXXX’, which was considerably cheaper than all the other brands in the stock. I followed their advice and purchased the ‘Quick-Grow’ fertilizer.

The due date for delivery was on 1/1/2017. I paid the entire amount. However, the company delivered the fertilizers after two weeks from the due date, i.e., 15/1/2017 and the delivered item was damaged and my business was affected terribly due to the defectiveness of the fertilizer & delay. What can I legally do in this situation?

AJ Answer: As per the Bahrain Civil Code 2001, it is the duty of the vendor to deliver the goods on the agreed upon date and in acceptable quality which shall be in conformity with the terms of the contract. The vendor is bound to deliver the things sold to the purchaser in the state it was in at the time of the sale and to deliver thereto the relevant papers and documents.

In addition, if the thing sold is deteriorated before the delivery for reasons beyond the control of the contracting parties, the purchaser shall have the right to reduce the price to the extent of the reduction in the value of the thing sold. The purchaser has the right to dissolve the sale, if the destruction or damage is so great that the sale would not have taken place had the destruction or damage happened before the contract was concluded.

Moreover, if the destruction or damage is attributed to the vendor, the purchaser shall have the option to either dissolve the sale or to reduce the price to the extent in the reduction of the value without prejudice to the right to claim compensation.

You may further make a claim for a loss of profit for the delay of goods which affected your business badly.

To contact: Ali Al Jabal at Al Jabal Consultancy Attorneys and Legal Consultants , Tel: +973 17 530 400 E-mail: info@aljaballaw.com, www.aljaballaw.com

Hotel

Rotana celebrates 25 years of success and growth Taking its hotel portfolio from 1 to 100 and counting, Rotana has evolved over the last quarter-century into one of the biggest homegrown success stories in the region.

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ounded in 1992, Rotana started its journey with the opening of Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi the following year - the first in a series of modern, sophisticated hotels launched by the group that would transform the face of the region’s hospitality industry by bringing a level of comfort and elegance superior to what was available at the time.

A pioneering player in the regional hospitality industry, Rotana has several breakthrough achievements to its credit.

It was one of the first hotel brands in the Middle East to introduce an “all-suites” concept, which was rebranded in 2008 to Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana. Rotana was also among the first in the region to introduce a 3-star affordable lifestyle hotel with the launch of Centro Hotels by Rotana in 2006. The company also operates the world’s second tallest hotel – the 72-storey Rose Rayhaan by Rotana in Dubai.

“It has been quite a journey these past 25 years, and a deeply rewarding one at that,” said Nasser Al Nowais, Chairman of Rotana. “Rotana today is the result of a shared vision and many years of tireless effort and commitment towards that vision. Beyond the pride of having our brand evolve into one of the largest and most reputable hotel operators in the region, what gives us the greatest sense of accomplishment is that we were able to become who we are today by holding firmly to our values, beliefs and the standards that we set for ourselves when we first started our journey all those years ago.”

U.S. Hotel Chain enters Bahrain Hotel Market Loumage Hotels & Resorts partnered with Group Gulf Diwaniya Hotel Management (GDHM) to open three new properties in Bahrain.

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oumage Hotels & Resorts LLC, announced the signing of franchise contracts for three Group Gulf Diwaniya Hotel Management (GDHM) hotels

by Loumage Hotels together with a prospective management contract for another luxury hotel with GDHM in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The signing demonstrates Loumage’s commitment in expanding and deepening its collaboration with the management group as a business partner.

Loumage is an international hotel chain that was founded in 2014 and is incorporated in New York, United States of America and registered as LLC by Delaware USA Corporate Services Inc. The team of Loumage Management represents a collection of diverse international expertise in the hospitality industry. In addition to Bahrain’s expansion plan, Loumage pipelines also include 120 room hotels in Atlanta, Georgia; and 200 room hotels in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

This business partnership represents a key initiative to underpin the combined ambitions of GDHM & Loumage U.S.A, to further its expansion within the GCC hospitality market. Dr. Mohammed Rafeeq, the Chairman of GDHM and M.F. Ossmann, C.E.O. of Loumage Middle East inaugurated their business collaboration at a contract signing ceremony held in Florida Hotel, Bahrain on the 12th of July, 2017.

The three franchised GDHM properties in Bahrain are Aspire Tower Suites in Juffair, Sea Scene Tower in the Diplomatic Area, and Florida Deluxe Four Star Hotel in Manama City. The franchised properties total 246 rooms.

Gulf Insider August 2017

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Contributor

Petya: Deception in Cyber Warfare “All warfare is based upon deception.” - Sun Tzu, The Art of War

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etya, the global cyber-attack launched weeks after the WannaCry ransomware, appeared at first as a new variant of the original 2016 ransomware of the same name.

However, security researchers soon identified significant differences prompting security firm Kaspersky to rename the malware “NotPetya.” Suspected motivations for the attack shifted from ransomware’s traditional financial gain to politically motivated destruction.

Ukrainian companies suffered the brunt of the attack with disruptions reported in banking, energy, and transportation industries. The attack infected numerous international companies spanning 64 countries.

Shipping giant Maersk and subsidiary APM Terminals with container operations in seventeen ports were reportedly impacted. APM Terminals Bahrain announced services at Khalifa Bin Salman Port were “operating close to normal” within days of the outbreak.

Microsoft confirmed instances of the malware originated from a software update initiated by the legitimate tax preparation program, M.E.Doc. It only takes one compromised computer to infect an entire network. NotPetya leverages credential theft and two allegedly stolen NSA hacking tools to spread. The malware’s payload overwrites the Windows bootloader, encrypts files while restarting the computer, then displays a typical ransomware note demanding payment.

However, infected companies were unable to regain their encrypted data as the email address provided by the attackers was shutdown within hours of the attack. Ransom payment was later proven to be useless as NotPetya is unable to decrypt data due to the manner in which it was coded. Antivirus provider Eset posted the M.E.Doc update was first pushed to users six weeks before the attack. M.E.Doc is considered the standard application used by companies conducting business with Ukraine. The attack was unleashed on the eve of the Ukrainian holiday Constitution Day fueling speculation of political motivations behind the attack.

The lack of ransom collection capability falls well short of the level of sophistication and military precision orchestrated in this attack. NotPetya demonstrated deception by masquerading as ransomware in what appears to be a singularly purposed malware engineered for destruction.

In direct response to NotPetya, NATO announced cyber warfare attacks can invoke the collective defense Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty which states an attack on one member of NATO is considered an attack on all. NATO then extended cyber defense support to Ukraine raising suspicion of a possible state-sponsored attack.

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human capital management for organizations

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mployees. Individuals who spend the best part of their day contributing towards the success of an organization are its most crucial resource. Employees can either make or break an organization, truly making them an organization’s lifeline. Human Capital Management is essential for hiring, managing, training and retaining talented and high performing employees. Human Capital management plays an important role in the recruitment process. It ensures that human resource professionals hire individuals who really deserve to be in the organization. Recruiting the right talent is of utmost importance. An individual who is not fit for a particular role will not be able to contribute much in the long run.

It is essential for employees to upgrade their knowledge with time to cope with changing situations. Human Capital Management helps in training employees and making them indispensable resources for the organization.

Motivate employees to take up special courses or online programs, which would help them in their job. Employees who do not brush up on their skills from time to time find it difficult to survive in the long run. Inculcate the habit of reading. The internet is also another great option to keep abreast with the latest developments.

Human Capital management plays an important role in increasing the efficiency of employees. Individuals are in a position to contribute more towards the system, eventually increasing the overall productivity of the organization.

Ryan Ernst - Affectionately known as the

“Tony Stark of Bahrain” is an Enterprise Security Consultant at Sword & Shield.

Khalid Al Quod is the CEO of Al Quod Enterprises, a public speaker, and a philanthropist.

www.sworshield.com

www.khalidalquod.com

Affairs

STEEB 2017 Solar, Technology, Energy and Environment in Bahrain (STEEB) 2017 Exhibition & Investment Energy Forum to Accelerate the Kingdom

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he First Energy Investment Forum and Exhibition, organized by Arab Gate Expos (AGE) and under the patronage of the Minister of State for Electricity and Water Affairs, H.E Dr. Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza, will be held from the 17th to the 19th of September, 2017 in the Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Centre, Kingdom of Bahrain.

This event is held in cooperation with the Solar Energy Unit and the Tamkeen Labor Fund.

Eng. Amira Al - Hassan, CEO of Arab Gate Expos said in a media statement: “The geopolitical changes taking place in the entire world necessitate the Arab countries to pay attention to energy sources; especially alternative energy, which is the most important element of strategic security of the pillars of development.

We should be proactive in the search to discover alternative and safe sources of energy and activating them.

Exhibition advisor of Arab Gate Expos Mahesh Bhatia said, “We are having

We are having this exhibition because the government is keen to promote solar energy and sustainable development in this country. this exhibition because the government is keen to promote solar energy and sustainable development in this country.

Bahrain has an advantage because we have huge markets around us such as Saudi Arabia.”

“The event will be a great opportunity to educate the public about solar energy and sustainable development and why sustainable development is necessary.

We will be having 20 speakers, many of

them international speakers,” he added.

“Big companies will be attending the conference and since we have an investment forum we will see investments to Bahrain as well as Bahraini companies making deals with the visiting companies. This is going to be an annual event, after this year’s edition, the next event is going to be in April 2018. This is a much needed conference and this is the right time to do this because the government is also working towards sustainable development,” he said.

The Ministry of Electricity and Water Affairs concentrates on the use of renewable energy, similar to the major countries that have adopted this approach because of its economic importance. This forum is part of the ongoing partnership between the national companies and Tamkeen to support entrepreneurs in order to achieve the desired economic development that the Kingdom of Bahrain is seeking to translate into a desired reality through the application of the Economic Vision 2030.

Gulf Insider August 2017

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Contributor

The Enlightened Entrepreneur

I’m Back!

WALKING WITH GIANTS

t’s official: Garbine Muguruza (a Spaniard) is the 2017 Wimbledon champion. A few days before that, however, Venus Williams advanced to meet Gabrine in the finals. Newsrooms were taken by surprise: after 20 years, the five-time Wimbledon champion is back. People say she should be at home with her children, but Williams surprised everyone by making the decision that proves she is not just a tennis champ, but also a leader in sports.

That reminded me of an old colleague of my retired father whom we met a few years ago, during my father’s treatment in India. When I asked him “What are you doing now?” He looked down and said “Nothing! I simply can’t outrun or outrace my fellow citizens here at home. They’re just too young, smart and fast for me”. As right and realistic as he (thought) he was, I couldn’t buy it.

“I’m back!” I shouted, in the first lines of my championship speech during the 2006 Toastmasters World Championship finals in Washington DC. However, I lost the trophy. Or, that’s what I thought!

Ten years later, I did “come back”, but in a different way. I discovered my experience was a precious commodity for many professionals and speakers. And as they were winning their audiences’ minds and hearts (and trophies), I was winning too.

Venus Williams knew that the number of years that passed since her last feat was irrelevant. She’s back!

I now know that the number of games I lost is not proportional to the amount of experience I gained. I’m back!

And my father’s colleague knows he’s never too old to be of service or significance in someone’s life, wellbeing or success (which is, I believe, the core definition of “business”). Did I mention that he was the sole reason we got access to the best doctor for my dad’s successful surgery?

What about you? Have you given up on the greatness you can bring to this world with your indispensable expertise and knowledge? Or are you surprising the world with your “I’m back!” story?

aintaining an adequate level of security and safety preparedness is a responsibility many of us fail to fulfill.

When we find ourselves in danger the all-too-frequent response is to call the Police.

What many of us fail to consider is response time…in other words the gap between calling the Police and them arriving “on the scene” to render us assistance. Average Police response times in the US are said to be around 7 minutes and in the UK are in excess of 11 minutes. The unfortunate reality is that in most jurisdictions Police response time is increasing under the weight of burgeoning crime and decreased policing budgets!

Now, if you’ve ever been in a serious violent incident you will know that things happen very quickly and one minute, let alone eleven, feels like a lifetime! The lesson here is that you cannot depend on the Police arriving in time to save you or your loved ones. Your security and safety is your personal responsibility!

“Great” I hear you say, “so what do I do??…the answer is simple you need to invest time and resources into being prepared.

Firstly, educate yourself. Know the most likely threats for you and your loved ones in the area that you inhabit and don’t forget to consider natural disasters like flooding, fire and cyclones.

Secondly, upskill. Learn a reality based self-defense system, be proficient at basic first aid and the treatment of traumatic injury, maintain a good level of fitness and practice Situational Awareness. Thirdly, equip yourself. As a minimum, have the emergency services number programmed into your phone, maintain charge on your phone, carry a first aid kit in your car, carry a Tactical Pen and have a small flashlight in your everyday carry. Most importantly do not succumb to living in fear, the whole point of being prepared is to increase your confidence as well as your capabilities.

When we are adequately prepared we are not only fulfilling our responsibilities to ourselves and our loved ones, we are also living our lives boldly and with confidence. Be prepared and get in to the world…walk with giants!!

I

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M

Mohamed Shukri – Author, corporate consultant, award winning speaker.

Kyle Tyrell is a retired Lieutenant Colonel and is the Chief Executive Officer of Vanguard Global.

mohd.a.shukri@gmail.com

www.vanguardglobalct.com

“A -S

The Bahrain based lifestyle and luxury magazine with style and editorial flair that is enjoyed by affluent customers both Arab and Expats.

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KUWAIT KD2 OMAN RO2 QATAR QR20 UAE DHS20

176 Issue

The Best in Bahrain

Fashion by Georges Chakra Complimentary Copy

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Georges Chakra Fashion by

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www.bahrain-confidential.com

Motors

Eyes(ight) on the Road!

The new Subaru XV is equipped with Eyesight technology making it one of the safest vehicles ever made.

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he XV is a crossover which combines a compact body with SUV capability based on Subaru’s distinctive Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system and rugged yet sporty design, offering versatility in both urban areas and the countryside. For the first redesign since launch in 2012, the XV was built on Subaru’s completely revamped Subaru Global Platform architecture, significantly enhancing the body and chassis rigidity and strength.

With its sportier and more surefooted driving characteristics, the Subaru XV represents a fresh approach to design embodied in an adventurous spirit

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Gulf Insider August 2017

by the Japanese car manufacturer.

Enhanced all-around safety, upgraded interior space, packaging and driving dynamics and improved torsional rigidity make the XV a force to be reckoned with. It carries a new direct fuelinjection two-liter Boxer horizontally opposed engine that is 12kg lighter than the previous unit and is now capable of 115kW at 6000rpm and 196Nm at 4200rpm.

The new XV has also been dubbed “a testament to the significant improvement in Subaru interior styling” after winning the brand a place in the Wards Auto Top 10 Best Interior Design awards for the first time. The interior

Motors

panels are finished in mixes of black and silver, as are switches, steering-wheel, and door inserts, and orange stitching runs throughout the cabin from the seats to the steering-wheel, gear-shifter, and centre stack.

The second-generation XV also comes with a new X-Mode, a pushbutton system said to enhance off-road ability and, a suite of “world-class”

safety and hazard-avoidance features that includes Subaru’s EyeSight driving assistance system.

EyeSight acts as a ‘second pair of eyes’ for drivers by employing stereo colour camera technology to monitor the road and traffic ahead for potential hazards. EyeSight’s two colour cameras are located on either side of the rear view mirror to detect the presence of vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and other hazards up to 110 metres in front.

Subaru analysed a range of traffic

accident data involving the company’s vehicles from 2010 to 2014, and found that vehicles equipped with EyeSight had 84% fewer rear-end collisions than those without, when measured in terms of accidents per 10,000 vehicles. The adoption of EyeSight resulted in 62% fewer vehicle-to-vehicle collisions and a 49% reduction in vehicle-to-pedestrian crashes.

EyeSight features five technologies to maximise safety: Pre-collision Braking, Pre-collision Throttle Management, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure & Sway Warning and Lead Vehicle Start Alert.

The Subaru XV will be available at Motorcity showrooms starting August 2017.

For more information: Motorcity, Tel. +973 17736222.

Engine is 12kg lighter than the previous unit and is now capable of 115kW at 6000rpm and 196Nm at 4200rpm.

EyeSight acts as a ‘second pair of eyes’ for drivers by employing stereo colour camera technology to monitor the road and traffic ahead for potential hazards.

Specifications Engine Type

16 valve 4 cylinder

0-100 km/h

10.4 seconds

Transmission Continuously Variable automatic Power

148hp@6200rpm Gulf Insider August 2017

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Motors

Supercars and Big Cats From falcons to cheetahs and even pet lions, wild animal collecting and hunting have become a status symbol in the Middle East—sometimes to disastrous results.

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rivate jets, Lamborghinis and magnum champagne bottles, the super-rich have it all - but how can they possibly take it to the next level? Those with enough cash can really show off their wealth by boasting a pet collection that includes big cats and exotic animals.

Ownership of exotic pets has long been considered a status symbol across the Gulf country. Wealthy owners have been spotted walking their tigers on public beaches in the UAE, and often post pictures on social media flaunting their exotic animal collection.

Some owners have showcased their cheetahs in front of luxury cars, while others have gotten up close and personal with the dangerous animals.

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Gulf Insider August 2017

The lions, cheetahs and tigers in question have been illegally taken from their natural environment and smuggled into the Middle East.

Wildlife: easy to purchase Lots of online websites in the UAE carry ads offering to trade a whole range of big cats, from pumas to lions.

Recently cheetah importation along with other big cats and wildlife species has been banned in the country due to illegal and ill-informed purchases of animals like these.

However, many people in the Middle East still take to social media flaunting their big cat collection. An example is Shahad Al Jaber, a 32 year old Kuwaiti followed by more than 15,000 fans

on Instagram. She bought Mark and Shahad, two cheetahs through an illicit network that smuggled them from Africa in April 2013 and February 2014, respectively, for a little more than $3000 each. While proudly showing off her big cats on Instagram, she claims she spends an average of $350 a month to feed and care for them.

While owning exotic wild animals is illegal in Kuwait, Jaber is not afraid of the authorities because she has wasta, a popular term in Arab countries meaning “influence”.

A Lucrative Trade Illegal wildlife trade is regrettably widespread and constitutes one of the major illegal economic activities,

Motors

Recently, a Saudi man also got mauled by a lion proving that though domesticated wild animals can never be tamed. comparable to the traffic of drugs and weapons. Worldwide, wildlife trafficking represents - after drugs, people and arms - the fourth most lucrative smuggling business, valued at over $20 billion.

Wildlife trade is a serious conservation problem, it has a negative effect on the viability of many wildlife populations and is one of the major threats to the survival of vertebrate species. It often includes the trade of living individuals of wildlife species as companion animals (exotic pet trade) or for zoological institutions. These animals are sometimes semi-domesticated or bred in captivity for the purpose of trade.

They are then usually mistreated, chained up in unsuitable cages, and later when their upkeep proves too laborious, they are often abandoned -- leaving private individuals, such as Jasim Ali, to care for the neglected animals in wildlife parks backed by the government.

Troubling Implications Ali, who runs a makeshift refuge for animals in the UAE, explained that the cultural implications of owning a rare species as a pet are powerful and troubling. “If someone buys a very expensive animal, he is boasting that he has enough money to get anything he wants,” Ali said. “If he has a tamed wild animal like a lion, he is trying to show off that he is brave.” At the end of 2014, the lion of a popular owner of exotic animals in Kuwait mauled a Filipina maid that died from her wounds a few days later. Her death provoked outrage across Kuwait. Recently, a Saudi man also got mauled by a lion proving that though domesticated wild animals can never be tamed.

In January 2016, the UAE outlawed the private ownership of exotic wild animals, including cheetahs and tigers, after mounting pressure from animal welfare groups. Penalties include jail for up to six months and a fine of up to $136,000. In October of that year, five tigers were captured on video running on the beach near Dubai’s Burj al-Arab hotel.

Animal rights activist Hanan al-Saraf, 39, is frustrated with this situation. “I do not know how these people can still post on Instagram photos of their exotic animals without getting in trouble with the authorities. I have given them numerous cases with addresses, telephone numbers and other information, but they [the authorities] have never acted on it,” asserts the Kuwaiti activist.

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Motors

Car News Lexus recalls cars in UAE for safety reasons

Bahrain new car sales crash by 41% Bahrain had the worst record for new car sales among Gulf states in the first three months of the year, with volumes down a whopping 41%, according to Autodata estimates. The consultancy reckons that Saudi Arabia saw a 38% dip during the same period while UAE’s was by 28% “This decline in activity resulted in dealers and distributors holding too much stock of both new and used cars,” Autodata reports. “By the end of Q1 (first quarter), we saw the increase in consumer offers as the industry tried to generate showroom traffic.

“The manufacturers increased their financial support on new cars which then put pressure on their certified pre- owned car pricing which made them uncompetitive.”

Luxury car maker Lexus has issued a notification to car owners in UAE, recalling their vehicles from UAE roads.

While the reason for the recall is not known, Al Futtaim Motors mailed a notification to its customers with the following message – “If you are an owner of any of the following vehicles, your safety could be at risk.

Lexus has issued a safety recall. To see if your vehicle is affected, please call 800 LEXUS (53987) today and select Option 4.

The message further says that the recall work is free of charge, including parts and labor. The models which have been recalled include RX2011, CR200h (2010-2012, SC 430 (2001-2003), IS (2006-2011) and ES (2006-2012).

Bugatti Chiron supercar races from Oman to the UAE Celebrated British motor show Top Gear has filmed an episode that saw host Chris Harris race a Bugatti Chiron at 236 miles an hour from Oman to the UAE. The test drive of the supercar that costs approximately $3 million began on the mountainous roads at the border of Oman, before moving onto a runway in the Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai. “[It] takes all of about 400 yards of driving in the Chiron to realize this is a profoundly different car to a Bugatti Veyron. I suspected and feared it would just be another Veyron with more power. In other words, a car that would be immensely impressive in a straight line and high speed but didn’t really like corners. This car loves corners. In fact, on this road, it demolishes most other cars. And that’s in part [because] the steering is superb,” said Harris while driving on Oman’s mountainous roads.

“The Chiron is no engineering revolution, but it’s an arresting set of numbers designed to pass every usability and drivability test expected of a Volkswagen Group product. And that is mind scrambling,” he added.

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Gulf Insider August 2017

Al Jabal Consultancy Attorneys and Legal Consultants A full service law firm for Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman, founded in 1995 by

Mr Ali Al Jabal

Mohamed Al Wasti

Khadija A. Al Hussain

Partner

Partner

Saleh Al Nashabh Lawyer

Mohamed Ismael Lawyer

Areas of Specialisation: Manal Mohammed Lawyer

Banking & Finance Bankruptcy & Corporate Restructuring Corporate & Commercial Litigation Dispute Resolution Intellectual Property Rights Insurance Mergers & Acquisitions Private Equity

Project Finance Property & Real Estate Oil & gas Maritime Aviation Debt collection Legal drafting & Contract Reviewing Telecommunication Law

Office No. 703, 7th Floor, Diplomat Tower, Diplomatic Area, PO Box 11455, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: +973 17 530 400 E-mail: info@aljaballaw.com Website: www.aljaballaw.com

Telecoms

An Elite Mobile App Elite Hospitality Group launches Mobile App.

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lite Hospitality Group held a special ceremony to mark the launch of its mobile App. The event was held on July 5th, 2017 at Elite Crystal Hotel in Juffair. It was attended

by Elite Group’s senior management, Media and press representatives, and

by Arab celebrity guests including the famous Bahraini TV personality Hassan Mohammad, and the popular Bahraini star Marwa Khalil.

During the event, Elite Hospitality Group App’s features were presented to the guests, with a real time download and a booking made through the App. On this occasion, Sarosh Aibara, Chief Operating Officer of Elite Hospitality Group said: “Elite Hospitality’s mobile app is developed to encourage our loyal and regular guests to book directly and easily, and to engage with them regularly. It shall provide unique offers and packages and tailor-made personalized deals for our guests, who will also be able to book and order various services and requests directly

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Gulf Insider August 2017

Elite Hospitality Group’s App is available to download now on Android and IOS. from this App which is in Arabic and English. This App not only assists our guests to book rooms, order food and

request for services but also check on what’s interesting in Bahrain and if any special events are on. We partnered with Easy Stay from Spain to get all these features active and will continue to upgrade this App.” Elite Hospitality Group’s App is available to download now on Android and IOS. It also provides local city highlights, driving directions and updates on local events. It is truly a very helpful tool for all visitors heading to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

People

Two Key Positions for

Bahraini Lawyers Ali Al Jabal and Hasan Al Ajooz bring pride to the country.

Ali Al Jabal

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he International Association of Lawyers (Union Internationale des Avocats, UIA) has appointed Lawyer Ali Al Jabal as the UIA’s Regional Secretary for the Gulf States (Middle East 2) and Lawyer Hasan Al Ajooz as the National Representative in the Kingdom of Bahrain for a period of two years.

Lawyers Al Jabal and Al Ajooz were nominated at the executive committee meeting of the association held in Geneva, Switzerland last month, in the 1st of June. They are both members of the UIA governing board and will be attending board meetings on September 9th in Tallinn and on October 27th in Toronto.

Whereas AlJabals’ responsibilities include organizing and building national committees in each country, electing National Presidents and officials, encouraging National Representatives in their tasks, providing an introduction for

Hasan Al Ajooz

Lawyers Al Jabal and Al Ajooz were nominated at the executive committee meeting of the association held in Geneva, Switzerland last month. incoming representatives and keeping contact with other Regional Secretaries in the adjoining regions to enhance an exchange between regions; Alajooz’s responsibilities include establishing

contacts with the Bahrain Bar Society and other local or regional organizations and to represent UIA in the media.

Al Jabal and Al Ajooz will both be responsible for attracting local and GCC lawyers to become members of the association and providing workshops and presentations for members and potential members.

The UIA is the world’s oldest international organization and has more than 200 bar, federation and association members from more than 110 countries. It’s open to all the world’s lawyers, both general practitioners and specialists. Its members also include legal professionals, judges, law students and teachers. Since 1971, the UIA has benefited from its special consultative status in the United Nations and the European Council.

The UIA’s membership has extensive expertise in legal matters, which allows the organization to initiate high-level legal debates within its technical commissions and working groups, as well as adopts resolutions on current problems faced by the legal profession throughout the world.

Aljabal is the first Bahraini lawyer to become a member of the UIA and he has been appointed to several positions previously including being Bahrain’s national representative for the past two years. Alajooz has been qualified as a lawyer and started his profession in 2010 having obtained his Master’s degree with merit in International Commercial and Business Law in the United Kingdom. Alajooz is also a member of the Bahrain Bar Society and a certified Arbitrator by the GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre.

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Art

beautiful mosques around the world

Jama Masjid, Delhi This striking red sandstone and marble mosque, with three domes and two minarets, was built under the rule of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656. In 2006, two bombs were set off after Friday prayers in the mosque’s courtyard, which left several people injured, and in 2010, two tourists were injured after gunmen shot at a bus stop near the mosque’s third gate.

TajulMasajid – Bhopal, India With a name that translates as “Crown among Mosques”, this place of worship in Bhopal has a pink façade, two 18storey high octagonal minarets with marble domes, and a doublestoreyed gateway. All of which mean it is not surprising that this is India’s largest mosque, with enough space for 175,000 worshippers.

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Art

Masjid Sultan Qaaboos, Oman

Great Mosque of Samarra, Iraq

Its position next to a motorway in Muscat might not be conducive to calm, but once guests are inside the Sultan Qaaboos mosque’s gardens, thoughts of the tarmac pummelled by white 4x4s outside will be gone. With peaceful sahn (courtyards), elegant riwaqs (arcades) and mesmerising muqanas (vaulted panelling), this place of worship is one of the most impressive buildings in this Gulf country. Its central minaret is 91.5 m (300 ft) tall, and the main prayer hall has a Persian carpet that took 600 women four years to weave.

This unique 9thcentury mosque near Baghdad in Iraq was built when Samarra was the capital of the Abbasid Empire, but was destroyed in 1278. Its idiosyncratic “Malwiya” minaret remains, however, with its ascending spiral conical design, 52 metres high and 33 metres wide at the base. It was damaged by an explosion in 2005, and is currently on Unesco’s list of endangered world heritage sites. The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Iraq.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi This brilliant white place of worship in the UAE’s capital is home to the world’s largest handknotted carpet, crafted by 1,200 artisans, and a 12tonne crystal chandelier. Combining Mamluk, Ottoman and Fatimid styles, it is described by Rosemary Behan, Telegraph Travel’s Abu Dhabi expert, as a “landmark building” that is worth visiting “for the architecture alone.”

Gulf Insider August 2017

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Society

what’s happening

An Elite App

The Elite Hospitality Group launches its first ever mobile app.

A Luxurious Launch Asia Jewellers re-opens at Bahrain City Centre.

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Gulf Insider August 2017

Society

Go Tropical

Guests enjoyed the island vibe at the Gulf Hotel’s Tropical Friday Night by the Pool.

Who’s Who Directory Launching

The latest directory of Gulf Who’s Who was launched at the Gulf Hotel Bahrain.

Gulf Insider August 2017

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