Gulf Insider June 2017

The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

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149

Issue

knowledge is power

+ Inside Best Deals this Ramadan Is the internet destroying us?

Saving the Seas

interview with

Prof. Ghassan Fouad Aouad President, Applied Science University (ASU) Follow us on

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Gulf Financial Insider

Contents June 2017 Issue 149

26 12

18

46

26

28

Facebook Followers

30

180,231

38

46

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

52

Style

Shirt & Tie Combinations

Travel

Things to do in Saudi Arabia

Hotel

Step inside the Arabian Nights

Hotel

An Elite Ramadan

Dining

Elements Diners Club

Education

Building Future Leaders

Motors

Porsche Milestone

Telecoms

Is the internet destroying us?

‌and many, many more

Comment...

Dear Reader,

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

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

Layout Designs

- Dhanraj S

Admin & Finance

- Nikesh Pola

Photography

- Shareef Panhatt - Yulia Trubnikova

Distribution Executives

- Mohammed Yousif - Muhammed Shareef - Rafnaj K P

Ramadan Kareem and welcome to another issue of Gulf Insider!

This month, we present to you our carefully curated list of what to see and what to do inside and outside the country. We also take a look at the education sector, as it strives to build a more competitive nation and economy. As always, our Motors section is filled with news and information on the latest and hottest cars. 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

Dhanyasree M

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

M. +973 3612 8111

Wishing you all a great month ahead!

Published by:

The Insider Team!

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

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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149

Issue

knowledge is power

The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

KSA SR20

148

knowledge is power

Issue

The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

+ Inside Best Deals this Ramadan Is the internet destroying us?

Saving the Seas

+ Inside Walt Disney World Fraud is out of control The Volvo XC90

interview with

Prof. Ghassan fouad aouad President, applied science university (asu)

GOLDEN AGE FOR BAHRAIN’S TENANTS?

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.

BAHRAIN’S TENANTS? GOLDEN AGE FOR

The Volvo XC90

*Articles by these correspondents are the copyright of Telegraph Media Group, 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0DT, England.

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Prof. Ghassan fouad aouad

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.

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.

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President, applied science university (asu)

Arabia’s Intelligent Magazine

interview with

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Fraud is out of control Walt Disney World

+ Inside Saving the Seas Is the internet destroying us?

Best Deals this Ramadan

W

W

L A I RomanceECyour Valentine P S in Links ER M M U S

BUY 4 GET 1 FREE on any lunch buffet or meeting package Parties • Meetings • Weddings • Engagements • Conferences • Workshops To book your first event, contact Kelly Stapleton on k.stapleton@theroyalgolfclub.com.

Offer may not be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion.

Offer valid for events for 15 - 100 guests held between 1st June and 30th September 2017.

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

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Gulf Insider June 2017

7

Events

Day & Night Ramadan at The Domain When: 1st to 24th June 2017 Where: Figs & Olives

Eid al Fitr at Downtown Rotana

This Ramadan, Figs & Olives is transformed into a glorious indoor tent for an extraordinary Iftar experience.

Celebrate the spirit of Ramadan with their sumptous buffet offering both Arabic and International favorites.

Pricing is BD12++ per person. Buffet is served from sunset till 9:00 PM.

When: 24th to 27th June 2017 Where: Al Maha Tent Gather with your beloved ones at Downtown Rotana and celebrate Eid Al Fitr at the grand Al Maha Tent! Share 3 days of Eid Al Fitr bliss with a vibrant and friendly ambiance together with a wide selection of dishes in a lavish buffet for only BD 13.

For more information: Tel: +973 1600 000 Visit thedomainhotels.com

For more information: Tel: +973 1311 9999 Visit rotanatimes.com/downtownrotana

Animania 2017 When: 30th June 2017 Where: Bahrain International Circuit The biggest anime and gaming convention in Bahrain is back in 2017 with a lot of surprises, giveaways, and competitions. The first anime convention in 2010 proved to be one of the biggest and most successful events held in Bahrain that year. This year aims for a bigger and better Animania with a lot more fans, and loads of surprises and gaming competitions.

Visit animaniaevents.com 8

Gulf Insider June 2017

Ramadan at The Ritz Carlton When: 1st to 26th June 2017 Where: Al Khayma Tent Al Khayma Tent brings the Ramadan experience to a whole new level every year. This year, the exquisite Ramadan buffet takes the guests on a gastronomic journey around the world, with an extensive selection of juicy dates, Tagines, Majboos, roasted lamb, succulent mixed grills, saffron rice and falafel rolls.

For more information: Tel: +973 17580000 Visit ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/middleeast/bahrain

Events

Old Dubai Iftar Walk

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

Ramadan Night Market 2017

PSA Dubai World Series Finals

When: 1st to 10th June 2017

When: 6th to 10th June 2017

Where: Dubai World Trade Centre

Where: Dubai Opera

The whole family will enjoy the Ramadan Night Market made more memorable with activities for the whole family. In addition to fashion, personal care and handicrafts, you can also find home appliances, electronics, medical, toys and baby items on offer at this shopping fiesta. Non-shoppers in the family can enjoy the food court, grand majlis, ‘play & win area’ where families can compete as one team against another as well as kid’s play area.

The PSA World Tour is made up of seven qualifying tournaments played across five countries. Only eight deserving male and female finalists make it through to the knockout matches and truly earn their spot in the finals. Playing at the highest level, the best of the best in squash will fight their last battle for the championship title in the new courts built with stateof-the-art glass at Dubai Opera.

For more information: Tel: +971 4 388 5191 Visit RamadanNightMarket.com

For more information: Tel: +971 4 440 8888 Visit worldseriesfinals.com

Ramadan in Dubai When: up to 25th June 2017 Where: citywide The city of Dubai obliges later operational timings and an extra emphasis on charity and quality time with loved ones during Ramadan. Activities peak in the evening as observers break their fast with their families, and Dubai’s plethora of eateries come to life with dedicated menus and even purpose-built marquees with special food and entertainment. Even for those not fasting, this is a wonderful time to learn more about Emirati culture and traditions.

For more information: 10

Gulf Insider June 2017

Visit visitdubai.com

When: up to 20th June 2017 Where: Al Ras Metro Station During Ramadan, Dubai’s food scene comes alive after sunset, as communities gather together and break their daily fast with cheer.Experience with your own eyes and camera the quiet streets before the evening adhan, and watch them transform with activity as the prayer call marks the end of their fast. Enjoy an Iftar snack and traditional tea with locals before tucking into a sumptuous feast at one of the neighbourhood’s Afghan restaurants.

For more information: Visit unseentrails.com/Ramadan

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Style

Shirt and Tie Combinations

From our favorite classics, to the unconventional choices, we give you some ideas for your next shirt and tie pairing.

12

Black Shirt

Blue Shirt

Another classic pairing, the black shirt and black tie combo will always be a favorite; but you can spruce up your black shirt with a gray tie for a still elegant but punchier combo. This would also be a good time to wear your patterned ties as the black shirt will make patterns and colors stand out.

Blue shirts can take patterns nicely so try a patterned deep-blue tie against a light blue shirt. You can also try a striped purple or a striped red tie for a little bit more flair. A green or a yellow-green tie would also work with a blue shirt.

Gulf Insider June 2017

Style

Men’s

Gray Shirt

Striped Shirt

White Shirt

Gray is a great neutral color with lots of color combinations that can team with it. For subtle sophistication you can opt to go for a darker gray tie against a lighter gray shirt or a pinstriped tie with a solid or patterned shirt. Possibilities are endless!

The striped shirt is an iconic piece of men’s clothing that can work with many other things in your wardrobe.

For a dapper look, try pattern on pattern with a striped or diamond patterned tie to offset your shirt. If you want to go more conventional try a solid tie in a dark color, a neverfail combo!

The classic white button-down shirt is classic for a reason: it goes well with almost everything. We said almost because pale colored ties would virtually disappear when placed against a white shirt. Go for contrasts and try a black, navy, or patterned red tie.

Gulf Insider June 2017

13

Health

Extra weight a risk factor for arthritis Researchers at the University of California in San Francisco found that being overweight can make arthritis, gout, lupus, fibromyalgia, and other joint diseases and conditions worse. “Weight plays an important role in joint stress, so when people are very overweight, it puts stress on their joints, especially their weightbearing joints, like the knees and the hips,” says Eric Matteson, MD, chair of the rheumatology division at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota though losing even 1% of body fat can ease the pressure on joints.

High blood pressure can hurt the brain too High blood pressure isn’t just a heart risk—uncontrolled blood pressure can hurt your brain too, according to new research presented at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting.

People with persistent high blood pressure (140/90 mm Hg or above) after age 55 were nearly twice as likely to develop dementia than those with healthy readings. They also discovered that those with normal-to-low BP in middle age who experienced a steeper decline in their reading as they aged were also more likely to develop dementia.

Men’s Improve your brain health by running Studies by British scientists found that people with brains who appeared older were more likely to die early and were generally in bad physical and mental health.

They also found that it’s possible to turn back the clock. Running, even just for 30-minutes reduces alcohol-induced brain damage.

And to repair blood vessel flow in the brain and keep your mind sharp as we age? A cup of hot chocolate. The flavonols from cocoa and proteins from milk make for a brain fixing beverage.

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Gulf Insider June 2017

Blueberries can drop Blood pressure in 2 months One of the best antidotes to high blood pressure can be found in a supermarket shelf! A handful of blueberries has been found to knock blood pressure down by 6% which can take you from a risky 138/79 to a safe 131/75. Researchers say this is caused by the fruit’s ability to increase the nitric oxide levels in the body, which widens and relaxes blood vessels, maintaining a healthy heart.

Health

Ramadan

Nutrition Tips Nourish your body, mind, and spirit with these health tips for the Holy Month.

Savor your soup

Count your Carbs

Pack up the Protein

Fill up with fiber

Starting your Iftar meal with a warm soup comforts the stomach after a long day of fasting, replenishes your body with fluids and help prepare the digestive system for this blessed meal.

Complex carbohydrates are foods that will help release energy slowly during the long hours of fasting. Complex carbohydrates are found in grains and seeds, like barley, wheat, oats, millets, semolina, beans, lentils, wholemeal flour, basmati rice, etc. Eating these foods will ensure you have energy for the fast.

Meats, legumes, eggs and dairy products are rich in proteins. Ensure you have at least one of these sources in every Ramadan meal since proteins are very important for your body cells. They also increase your feeling of fullness thus reducing the temptation for eating sweets.

Fiber-rich foods are also digested slowly and include bran, cereals, whole wheat, grains and seeds, potatoes with the skin, vegetables such as green beans and almost all fruit, including apricots, prunes, figs, etc.

Fiber is always good to eat year round, but especially in Ramadan, eating these foods will keep you going during the long hours of fasting.

Gulf Insider June 2017

15

Travel

Things to do in

Saudi Arabia

Mada’in Saleh What: Archaeological site Cool Factor: Saudi Arabia’s first World Heritage Site Mada’in Saleh is popular among tourists as it evokes comparison with Petra, in Jordan. Apparently, the civilization that created Petra (Nabatean), also created Mada’in Saleh. Steeped in myths and legends, this site is even mentioned in the Quran.

Saudi is opening up its doors to tourists, and here are some things you can see and do there.

Al Tayibat City Museum for International Civilization

Najran Fort

What: Privately owned museum

Cool Factor: Self-sustaining military base

Cool Factor: Known as Jeddah’s Louvre

The Najran Fort in the town of Najran, features local architecture up to and including the white trim on the forts.

Inside the fort is a 60-room complex, a mosque, a restored well, and a two-story princes’ palace in the center. Najran was a focal point of the historical Incense Route.

Inside this miniature castle, you will find an astonishing collection that ranges from pre-Islamic artefacts, exquisite Islamic manuscripts, old coins and weaponry, to stunning furniture, pottery, and traditional Saudi dress.

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Gulf Insider June 2017

What: Historic fort

Travel

Wadi Hanifa What: A valley (or wadi) and nature preserve Cool Factor: Great place for a hike and/or barbecue The Wadi Hanifa is a spectacularly beautiful place with water springs and green trees. Good for a hike and/or a day out with family, there are also places where you can have a barbecue. This valley was completely rehabilitated by the Saudi government and won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2010.

Al Balad

Royal Saudi Air Force Museum

What: Historic center of Jeddah

What: Museum containing Saudi Air Force artifacts

Cool Factor: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Cool Factor: Special display on Prince Salman (the first Saudi in space)

Al Balad is the second largest city of Saudi Arabia. Balad can literally be translated as “The Town”, being the historic center it has lots of well-preserved old houses, mosques, and souks (most famous of which is the Souk Al-Alawi) which you can explore and photograph to your heart’s content.

The museum also houses aircraft engines and weaponry, uniforms, insignia, and decorations and a special display on Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the first Saudi in space.

Gulf Insider June 2017

17

Travel

New ideas. New York.

David Jeffery, Creative Director at 50°E Bahrain judges big advertising ideas in the Big Apple.

David waves the Bahrain flag in the Big Apple.

M

y first day in New York and the Big Apple’s in a car wash. Drenching weather. A real “Singing In The Rain” kinda day. Umbrellas along 5th Avenue are quilted together in a jostling seamless black canopy. In the trees above the Scientology Celebrity Centre a trapped plastic sheet billows in the breeze like a discarded parachute. Perhaps Tom Cruise dropped in, descending from John Travolta’s Gulf Stream. That’s the thing about New York; the city conjures up cinematic images on every street corner. I am en-route to Mc Sorleys Tavern, founded in 1854; men only until 1970 and land lorded over by the same

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Gulf Insider June 2017

Irish family since opening. A shrine to consistency in this ever-changing world.

There are two choices; either dark or light ale. A chipper novice enters and in a plumby accent orders “ Two G&T’s and a Cab Sav” paddy barman’s jocular reply is priceless “Would you care to come back in say another 160 years when we may have gotten around to stocking some“. Following refreshments – some culture -Irving Penn’s retrospective at the Met. Irving set the style for 20th Century fashion photography, influencing generations including hip 60’s celebratory snappers.

David Bailey for sure followed in Irving’s footsteps. The exhibition serves as a fitting entree to judging the

Caples Awards, which always includes influential, groundbreaking media ideas from around the world.

This is my second year of judging.

Last year I was surprised by the influence technology, especially web based, is having on communications.

This year it was a necessity to success.

My personal favourites are: “Meet Graham” a car accident awareness campaign from Australia.

Instead of the conventional “Speed Kills” style of approach, the advertising team created a humanoid figure illustrating how the human body would need to evolve to survive a low impact crash. Trauma specialists and safety engineers working from decades

Travel

of injury data collaborated with a sculptress to give birth to a life size 3D model named Graham. Google Tango technology allows viewers to see below the skin at the skeletal and muscle evolution required to withstand impact.

The result is an unforgettably eerie character. Over a quarter of a million people have visited Graham in the flesh.

On line, 10 million visits and 33 million campaign views plus numerous TV appearances. Graham is now part of the school curriculum positively influencing future generations of drivers.

“Cognitive Dress” every year on the first Monday in May the Met Gala hosts fashion’s biggest night. IBM has created a cognitive program called Watson that allows interactions based on emotions.

To ambush the Gala for IBM, Watson was firstly fed historical data on dress styles and their emotional feedback.

Watson went on to design a dress.

Then, a multi colour system of LEDs were stitched into this dress. These LEDs were programmed to react in colour waves in “real time” as viewers tweeted in their feelings. Rose=joyful, Aqua=excited, Coral=passionate. The results were staggering, over 57 million social media mentions $8 million dollars worth of earned media. On fashion’s big night, IBM gained more exposure than fashion’s big brands.

“X Ray Casts” Over 59 kids a day break an arm in New Zealand, So Anchor Milk joined forces with emergency rooms across the country to create X Ray Casts allowing kids to print there X Ray as a sticker for the outside of their cast. The sticker has a bar code to facilitate free milk. The campaign spread like wildfire over 3,000% traffic increase to Anchor’s web site. And kids proudly shared images of themselves wearing their cast on social media.

Google Tango technology allows viewers to see below the skin at the skeletal and muscle evolution required to withstand impact.

“Ghost Busters” When Sony Pictures released the film in Spain they took a unique approach. Audio technicians wired up subway stations with a speaker system that broadcast the sound of a train approaching.

Passengers readied themselves to climb aboard, latecomers even rushed to the platform on hearing the approaching train. But the train didn’t stop. In fact, it didn’t appear. It was pure sound. A ghost train. Then the Ghost Busters theme was broadcast as the destination board showed the Ghostbusters logo and opening date. Filmed and broadcast on social media and shared over 77,000 times - media for nothing.

These are my top four entrants. There are many more. Why not judge for yourself, I have a USB containing all the submissions that I am willing to share.

The work is global, stimulating, ground breaking and impossible to see all at once. Except that is for two days in New York each year.

If you are interested, contact david@50degreese.com Gulf Insider June 2017

19

People

GLOBAL SHAPERS COMMUNITY MANAMA

Manama Shapers

Interview with Dr. Ali Adnan Ibrahim World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and Founding Curator of Manama Hub

W

hat does being a World Economic Forum (WEF) Young Global Leader entail? How did you get this opportunity?

Being a Young Global Leader means that you are passionate about contributing positively and impactfully to the world around you. It also means that you do so with humility and maximum generosity. I was selected by the WEF in 2013 among an exhaustive first list of nominations for the position. We went through professional screening at multiple levels where our impact, achievements, and other leadership attributes were closely compared. I am honored to be selected as the process was very stringent.

You have also served as Co-Chair and Senior Adviser of the Islamic Finance Committee of the American Bar Association. What were the challenges you faced in this position?

The American Bar Association is the main industry association of the legal profession in the US. The practice of law in the US varies in every State, and how each State regulates these issues that impact the Islamic finance transactions; 20

Gulf Insider June 2017

so the Committee provided a platform to discuss these issues and what support and strategy could be relevant to explore.

Why did you establish the Manama Hub of Global Shapers?

Global Shapers is an outstanding

I have been particularly impressed by the brilliant young leaders in their twenties, how they think, act and what values they uphold. initiative by the WEF and it is part of Professor Klaus Schwab’s vision to facilitate active participation of young leaders in responding to and shaping our response to current and future challenges.

Bahrain has been home for me and my family for over 8 years. I have been particularly impressed by the brilliant young leaders in their twenties, how they think, act and what values they uphold. I found them to be intellectually sharp and highly energized with the desire to give back and contribute. I was particularly impressed by their action oriented and respectful approach to addressing socio-economic challenges.

So when WEF asked me to help set-up the Hub I was excited as I thought Bahrain has just the right talent that Professor Schwab had envisioned.

What future projects are you planning?

As a Young Global Leader (YGL) and with the support of several other YGLs and Global Shapers, I am leading a global initiative on developing a new investment mechanism for sustainable economic development. The initiative seeks to incentivize private investors to invest in economic development projects in return for tax-adjustable Social Credits, which will be issued to such investors. I hope we could pilot the initiative and then seek to scale it up globally.

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

Hotel

Step Inside

the Arabian Nights Are you ready for a fantasy Ramadan?

A

l Areen Palace & Spa will create a memorable event during the Holy month of Ramadan, with a One Thousand and One nights’ theme at Al Qasr tent.

With cultural festivities and live cooking stations featuring the best Arabic and international cuisines and sweet dishes this Ramadan, Al Qasr will become your Ramadan culinary destination. The festivities will have an Arabic atrium setting, offering a medley of spaces for families, friends, corporate guests and VIPs. Discover the exquisite Iftar and Ghabga buffet of Arabic and International cuisine with live cooking stations for everyone’s delight. It will also include various live

22

Gulf Insider June 2017

counters and BBQ stations. A special traditional Bahraini cuisine section will be displayed as a proud representation of our local culture. Live entertainment will happen daily from 10:00PM to 1:00 AM and there will be weekly prizes for guests to look forward to.

Iftar Buffet Weekdays BD 15++ Weekends BD 17++ (Thursday and Friday) Daily – from Sundown to 9:00PM

Ghabgha Buffet Weekdays BD 12++

Weekdays BD 14++ (Thursday and Friday) Daily from 9:30 PM to 2:00 AM and to 3:00 AM on weekends *Price per person is inclusive of lavish buffet, Arabic sweets and Ramadan juices.

Children Policy *Up to 6 years old, free of charge *7-12 years old 50% discount *Special group rates upon request

Eid Al Fitr Brunch (BD 15++) On the second day of Eid, enjoy a family-friendly brunch including Arabic

Hotel

and International dishes plus live cooking stations at Al Qasr Tent in Al Areen Palace & Spa from 12.30PM – 4.00PM. There will be live band entertainment, face painting, henna, mascots, a kids’ corner, and many

more. Diners will have access to the swimming pool during brunch as well as a ticket to The Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park. Guests also stand a chance to win in the Grand Raffle Draw.

Hospitality

Desert Pool Villa Package

Room Packages

A. Basic Package

The room packages in Ramadan are also fabulous and filled with lots of exciting amenities. A booking in a room package gives you complimentary access to the kid’s club, indoor and outdoor pool, gymnasium, Wifi, Al Areen Wildlife Park, as well as 50% discount on Lost Paradise Of Dilmun Water Park tickets. There’s also a complimentary fruit basket upon arrival as well as the option for an early (11:00 AM) check-in or a late (9:00 PM) check-out subject to availability.

(BD 130 ++ on weekdays, BD140 ++ on Thursday and Friday) The Desert Pool Villa Package for two also includes Iftar, or ghabga, or breakfast as well as 30% discount on the spa.

B. (BD 150 ++ on weekdays, BD 160 ++ on Thursday and Friday) –includes 30 minute massage treatment.

C. (BD 175 ++ on weekdays, Bd 185 +++ on Thursday and Friday) –includes in-villa barbecue and 30 minute massage treatment.

Health and Wellness Ghabga with Spa Retreat (BD58 net) Celebrate the holy month with Al Areen’s Ghabga packages. Pamper yourself with the spa’s special treatments and continue your Ghabga at Al Qasr tent.

The package includes day use of Spa and Health Club facilities, water therapy garden, steam and sauna.

There’s also a choice between a 45 minute Hammam Maghrabi or foot massage and a choice of a 60 minute massage with Oud or Argan oil. Afterwards relax and be refreshed with herbal tea and fruit.

Spa operation hours are from 12:00 noon to 12:00 AM. Ghabgha at Al Areen Ramadan Tent is served from 9:30 pm until 2:00 am on weekends and 9:30 pm until 1:00 am on weekdays. Day use of spa and health club facilities is open following the spa operation hour.

Exclusive Membership at Al Areen Spa Sign up for an exclusive membership and start a healthier lifestyle that relaxes your body, mind, and soul. On top of that, you can get additional Prepaid Spa benefits for your personal pampering plan!

Platinum - BD 900 + 200 Spa Top Up Gold - BD 500 + 150 Spa Top Up Silver - BD 300 + 100 Spa Top Up

For info and reservations, call Tel +973 1784 5000 info@alareenpalace.com Gulf Insider June 2017

23

Hotel

An Elite Ramadan Looking for the perfect place to take your family and friends in Ramadan?

Look no further than the Elite Resort and Spa in Muharraq.

E

lite Resort & Spa boasts a lavish and grandiose display during Ramadan. From the moment you walk into the poolside, overlooking the Ocean, there’s a designer walkway decorated with lights, which puts you in a festive mood (and is also a great Selfie spot with the family). The Noor tent is exquisitely luxurious. No detail was spared in making this a unique and enjoyable affair. The Iftaar buffet is lavish and lacks nothing with all the traditional Arabic dishes, plus some new creations put together by the team of Elite chefs to further tempt us to succumb to the luscious food. In addition, lush Oud sounds come from the singerguitarist duo who serenaded the crowd throughout the night, which is a gentle

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Gulf Insider June 2017

Beautiful decorations, massive crystal chandeliers, and a feeling of being inside an Arabian Nights fairytale makes this a welcome retreat and a great social gathering point during Ramadan.

reminder of the serenity and peace which will pervade the Holy Month.

The Noor tent is considered the largest and most regal Ramadan tent in Bahrain, and we can see why.

Beautiful decorations, massive crystal chandeliers, and a feeling of being inside an Arabian Nights fairytale makes this a welcome retreat and a great social gathering point during Ramadan. Over the years this tent has developed the reputation for being the most friendly and best value for money Iftaar buffet on the island.

This is also the island’s largest buffet so friends and family will have a lot to choose from. This year, the chefs have prepared an even larger spread than the year before, with added flavors from across the region and a larger choice

Hotel

of grills, seafood, and dessert. There is a multi-cuisine selection of salads, a large spread of Lebanese mezzes, and a host of authentic Bahraini dishes as well as a live grill and shawarma station.

Dates are an intrinsic part of Ramadan and Elite serves a variety of dates from across the GCC as well as Date Pie, Date Cake, and Date pudding.

From Futoor to Suhoor at Al Noor Sarosh Aibara, Chief Operating Officer of Elite Hospitality Group said “The massive success of Ramadan Festivities at Noor Tent-Elite Resort & Spa Muharraq during the past years, has

encouraged us to make tremendous improvements to the tent decor and buffet offering to not just delight approximately 700 guests every day during the Holy Month but also to create an atmosphere of friendliness and celebration--which is the essence of Ramadan. The team at the Noor tent strive to create memorable experiences for our guests who get to taste authentic Ramadan delicacies and the Islands largest buffet as well as breathtaking views of Muharraq Bay. I am sure this year we will create a new benchmark of buffet setting--frankly it’s not a buffet, it’s a food market.”

As the sun sets, Al Noor—Iftaar buffet shall open against the backdrop

of Bahrain Skyline across the bay under the changing nighttime sky. In addition to music, large screens showing matches, backgammon, chess, cards, and sheesha help friends and families connect and relish the setting till Suhoor.

Iftar: 9.900 ++ Ghabga: 9.900 ++

Corporate and individuals can make their reservations now and receive special deals by calling Elite Resort and Spa 3888 4415.

Gulf Insider June 2017

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Dining

any details on the events, the chef talked about things like whiskey & food pairings, as well as chic and evocative ideas for said events. The actual value for membership is BD160, so members are getting a very good introductory offer on the deal.

Ultimately, Chef Paul said that he wants to develop a sense of community with regular customers who can be part of the club’s social fabric. And it all starts with the food, because food brings people together like family. Chef Paul says that he and his cool team have a lot of big plans for the restaurant outlets this year.

The plans include new menus which

One of our long term goals is to develop our restaurants and to generate more members through events, a good network, and of course good food.

Executive Chef Paul Gindra

Elements Diners Club Good food, good friends, good fun starts here.

F

or only BD90 a year, members of the Elements Diners Club receive a wealth of fabulous benefits like discounts in all the Royal Golf Club’s restaurants, access to a Members only area during Ramadan, vouchers for free and discounted items, and much, much more.

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Gulf Insider June 2017

Talking to Executive Chef Paul Gindra about recent developments he said “One of our long term goals is to develop our restaurants and to generate more members through events, a good network, and of course good food. We are planning four complimentary events per year, exclusively for our Elements members”. Although not yet disclosing

will be unveiled on all the outlets by the first week of July. The chef and his team of culinary experts have worked hard to create the new menus that highlight how good the epicurean pleasures are at the Royal Golf Club.

They are also looking at refurbishing the restaurants in a hip and trendy way.

The launch of Masbah, the casualdining poolside restaurant is another testament to the dedicated team of culinary experts who are seeking to make the Royal Golf Club a dining destination in Riffa. Chef Paul hopes to double the existing membership through the new Elements Diners Club offer.

Dining at the Royal Golf Club is definitely an experience with five different dining options well-suited to any mood and occasion. In addition, they provide free transportation for groups of 8 or more guests.

Dining

Members Lounge

Links

Masbah

Links Links is one of Bahrain’s most popular, upscale restaurants offering great food, superb service, and amazing views. The re-introduction of the Jazzy Friday Brunch made this already well-known outlet even more popular. Guests can always look forward to live performances by some of the more famous and/or up and coming artists in Bahrain.

Aside from the Jazzy Brunch, Links is also popular for its Vine & Dine Evenings (every Thursday from 7:00 -10:00 PM), Traditional Roasts (Fridays & Saturdays from midday till late), Happy Hour (Saturday to Thursday from 5PM to 8PM, 30% off on a wide range of beverages) and the Businessman’s Lunch (only BD8 per person).

Repartee Coming into Repartee, feels like coming home with its cushy cigar chairs, expertly stocked bar, and light yet delicious food offerings. There’s also an outdoor terrace for those wishing to chill out and relax under the stars. Guests come in droves to enjoy Repartee’s Happy Hours, with 30% off in house spirits, glasses of vino, and selected beers and ciders between 5:00 and 8:00 PM daily from Saturdays to Thursdays.

Café T Café T is a social meeting point for golfers and non-golfers alike. Situated in the grounds, you get a good view

Café T

Repartee

of the golfing green and also psych yourself up for a little putt around the greens. Testament to the restaurant’s social nature is Café T’s unforgettable signature dish—the RGC Bacon Butty (once the all-time favorite of the regulars at the former Riffa Golf Club.

Café T also serves a tasty selection of burgers, salads, fresh and ready-made sandwiches, freshly baked pastries, fruit juices, milkshakes and frozen drinks, all ready within minutes either to eat in or take away to the course with you.

with seating where members can enjoy the panoramic view.

A separate games room means that members and their guests can relax over a friendly game of darts or pool. A fully-stocked bar and a delicious menu make this the ideal place to enjoy some refreshments with friends while reminiscing over your last round of golf.

Ladies can also look forward to Ladies’ Happy Hour every Friday from midday to 2:00PM where they can enjoy selected wines, sprits, and soft drinks, absolutely free!

Members Lounge

Masbah

The exclusive Members Lounge (which is open to Elements Diners Club members) is located on the top floor of the Club House and boasts stunning views across the Montgomerie course through its floor to ceiling picture windows. The lounge has been furnished in a traditional “club” style with comfortable armchairs and also boasts a large semi-circular bar area

This casual-dining poolside restaurant is light and airy and will be renovated to serve exciting new dishes and interesting culinary options. Definitely something to look forward to!

For more information: Royal Golf Club Tel. +973 1775 0777

Gulf Insider June 2017

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Style

Asghar Ali Perfumes’ Aesthetic RAMADAN TRADITION

T

he perfume bottles are not mere bottles but they also hold memories to cherish for the future. This is because the beautiful role played by our olfactory senses to bring back memories that are powerful.

Asgharali Perfumes since their inception in 1924, is committed in making life fragrantly beautiful through continuous research and development of blending essences and oils. The fragrance house with its fine signature of traditional Arabian, Oriental and Western perfumes is a master in the art and technique of extracting pure oils from natural substances. Being able to make extravagant varieties of Oriental and Western perfumes, oils, oud, skin series and toiletries, other accessories and gift items, Asghar Ali has become a synonym of aesthetic experience in the perfumery world.

Asgharali has also been the home of famous renowned perfumes. The AL

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Gulf Insider June 2017

Asghar Ali has become a synonym of aesthetic experience in the perfumery world.

FAIROOZ SPRAY which was launched in 2010 has been one of the customers’ favorite till date thus leading to the relaunch of the product. Al Fairooz spray, the elegant long lasting fragrance with an amazing fragrance of Oriental floral fruity that transcends to a feminine intensity as it refreshes the mood and uplifts the spirit. The fragrances comes to life with refreshing top notes of fruity scent and heart notes of roses, while the base are composed of oriental ambry accords.

This holy month, Asgharali has

launched a new series of fragrances, just in time for the Ramadan season which is known for the tradition of Gift giving and sharing. In line with the use of bakhoor during Ramadan, Asgharali has a wide variety of a scented bakhoor for the festive season.

When Asghar Ali’s scented bakhoor, burned with charcoal burners will revive and enlighten the mood and provide relaxation for the whole family to relish their bonding times together.

Hand crafted ornamental packing in sync with traditional culture and values, touches the heart and carries sentimental value as domestic antiquities.

Asgharali claims an unparalleled position in the perfumery market with over 120 retail and franchised outlets in the Middle East and South Asia.

With over 50 distributors in regions from Eastern Europe to South America, Asgharali spreads the fragrance of the Arab culture worldwide!

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

Arab and Expats.

The Best in Bahrain The Best in Bahrain

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Business

Innovation and Intellectual Property Bahrain World Trade Center Still a leader in sustainable architecture in Bahrain.

B

ahrain World Trade Center (BWTC), the iconic landmark building that every visitor to Bahrain is sure to capture on their cameras, is more than just a beautiful building. It is a powerful visual emblem of Bahrain’s investment in sustainable energy. Thousands of images taken of the building have spread across the world, thus giving a strong message of leading environmental sustainability that is spearheaded in the country.

The BWTC is the first skyscraper in the world to incorporate wind turbines into its commercial building.

This has become the landmark building in the country that is an integral part of its destination branding strategy, akin to Dubai’s use of the Burj Al Arab as an icon. Having such a building in the skyline has significantly raised Bahrain’s profile within the region and internationally. The unique modern design and the pioneering environmental aspect of the project that focuses on sustainable architecture of the future have contributed to Bahrain becoming a forerunner of the same in the region.

The BWTC towers use wind energy in real time harnessed by three massive turbines suspended between the two towers. The sail silhouettes of the two towers funnel the onshore breeze between them, further accelerating the wind rate between the twin structures. Vertically, the sculpting of the towers is also a function of airflow dynamics: as they taper, their reduced width aims to allow the culmination of an equal amount of wind velocity on each of the three turbines. This phenomenon is one of the successes of incorporating the world’s first integration of turbines within a commercial tower structure.

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Gulf Insider June 2017

A way to fast-track economic and intellectual growth.

T

he Bahrain Economic Development Board, in association with Tamkeen, locally based IT company Technobay, and Silicon Valley based VajraSoft Inc. from the USA, hosted a seminar for local Intellectual Property (IP) and Innovation professionals right across the public and private business spectrums.

Entitled “Leveraging Innovation, IP Management to Fast Track Profitable Growth”, the seminar was held on Monday 15th May 2017 at The Capital Club in The Bahrain Financial Harbour. The main objective of the seminar was to focus Bahrain’s professionals on the Management of IP as a means of accelerating innovation from lab to market and safeguarding its monetization.

Attendees were introduced to “IPMationTM,” the new software that will be marketed and implemented in Bahrain by Technobay as a cornerstone to establish Bahrain as the “IP Management Hub” for the GCC region and potentially the wider Arab world.

Founded in 2004, Technobay is no stranger to bringing innovative software to the Bahrain market having successfully implemented a range of solution driven ‘etask’ Enterprise Resource Planning software programs for over 200 clients in Bahrain and across the GCC. “We want to deliver simple yet innovative solutions to our clients which allow them to grow; we see IPMationTM as an effective, affordable way for companies and organisations to leverage all their assets for the benefit of commercial growth and profitability,” said Mr. Sajeev D’Costa, Chief Operating Officer of Technobay.

Business

Saving the Seas Reef Arabia, a homegrown environmental agency that deploys artificial coral reefs to selected marine habitats, wants to help save our seas, one reef at a time.

I

n 2012, Reef Arabia was commissioned by the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) to undertake the country’s largest ever artificial designed reef project.

The aim was to partially mitigate the loss of marine habitat arising from coastal development but also to support national fisheries’ interests. The project was deemed a great success and demonstrated how artificial reefs can be used as an important tool within fisheries management. Now 4 years since Gulf Insider last spoke with Reef Arabia, we visited company owner Halel Abdulrahman and General Manager Michael Arora to see what they have been working on.

The attributes of the units were recognised by the international clients and 200 units will be sold in Qatar.

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Gulf Insider June 2017

When we last met you had recently completed the Bahrain project, what has been the focus of your work recently?

The Bahrain project was a massive project and we continue to be surprised with the progress of the reefs deployed.

It was always our hope that we would see corals naturally recruiting on the units and so when we saw numerous natural recruits of Favid corals it was the icing on the cake. One of our goals is to try and facilitate the growth of corals within Bahrain’s seas and so our efforts over the past few years have really focused on trying to increase environmental awareness, further develop and refine our reef units to support coral growth and also to set up a small-scale test coral nursery.

What do you do to make people aware of these efforts?

We’ve been lucky to have the support of many organisations in the past including DHL, Entrepreneur’s Organization Bahrain, Young President’s Organization Bahrain, Rotary Club of Salmaniya and The Muharraq Sewage Treatment Plant but more recently we were approached by the British School of Bahrain who were keen to introduce their pupils to what we do.

How have they been involved ?

For starters a number of students have visited our casting facility and have had a firsthand experience in making their own reef units. We have

Business

Prince Charles and the Crown Prince Salman has congratulated Halel Engineer on this initiative also visited their school and had the opportunity to talk with the pupils about a number of marine ecological related issues. To be honest we found the kids really responsive and keen to ask questions. We were very impressed when they donated some of their savings to deploy reef units in the sea and to support us with our coral nursery project.

Any future plans?

We have been working very hard on a new artificial reef unit called the Majfara. The unit has been designed to mimic natural cave and rock formations and which provide a great habitat for bottom dwelling fish such as the hammour. We spent quite a bit of time and money developing a mold from which concrete units could be cast and finally succeeded. The attributes of the units were recognised by the international clients and 200 units will be sold in Qatar, and we have also had a number of enquiries from the United States and South Africa about said units. An international patent is currently being filed.

What’s so special about it you ask?

Well, the units were designed not only to accommodate fish but also to support coral relocation efforts. Such works are increasingly common with Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia frequently commissioning such projects.

Some research suggests that artificial reefs can be bad for the environment, what are your thoughts on this?

Yes you are right. Apart from using non-suitable materials which may

either contaminate the waters or be unstable on the seabed, creating a reef without effective management and protection can be detrimental to the ecological ablance. We often see fishermen sinking automobile bodies to create their own reefs. In effect this attracts fish and makes the process of catching them easier. The Bahrain reef project initially worked in the same way by attracting fish and Reef Arabia frequently sees fish traps deployed on the reefs and even scuba divers spear-fishing. Putting aside the fact that spear fishing is banned in Bahrain, many of these ‘recreational’ fishermen exhibit a selfishness and callousness which is hard to imagine. We saw one boat completely loaded with hammourr, shari, fasca, parrot fish, you name it and all from one reef. We simply do not understand why some people are so greedy and unable to control themselves, I mean are they going to eat all that fish or simply show off to their friends!

Where do you see Reef Arabia in the coming years?

One thing that we are keen on is to

further our relationship with the schools and kids as to be honest they show a much greater interest and passion than most adults (says a lot doesn’t it!). Our sister company is now in possession of a marine tourism licence and we are starting small scale marine ecotours so that we can give our guests a firsthand experience of Bahrain’s marine life. Again the British School have shown great interest in this and once the weather gets a bit better we hope to be taking a group out guided by our in-house marine biologists.

We would also love to get involved in creating a large artificial reef for recreational purposes. We think that there is a direct synergy between environmental awareness and getting people to actually engage with the marine environment. If people have more passion for what they believe in then perhaps there is a greater chance to protect what resources we have left and possibly create new ones!

For more information: Reef Arabia Tel. +973 1753 3259 reefarabia.com Gulf Insider June 2017

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Education

FOLLOW YOUR PASSION at Applied Science University

Gulf Insider sits down with the President of the Applied Science University in Bahrain to discuss their foothold in education as well as the achievements of the institution.

A

pplied Science University, founded on 2004 is one of the first private universities in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The university’s relevant programmes, ‘state-of-the-art’ campus,

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Gulf Insider June 2017

By Dhanyasree M well experienced and qualified staff, and geographical position attract students from all areas.

Gulf Insider talks with Prof. Ghassan Fouad Aouad, the second President of the Applied Science University. A

cheerful leader, Dr. Ghassan is proud to discuss the achievements of the University and the pinnacles that they reached among the Kingdom’s Educational institutions.

Education

Prof. Ghassan Fouad Aouad, the President of the Applied Science University.

What are the major steps taken by ASU in building future leaders of the Kingdom?

We are committed to equip our students with skills and knowledge required for the local as well as global market.

Our Founding President Professor Waheeb Al-Khaja, believed from the very outset, that university education is a strategic option for developing the human capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain. With this vision, we have tried to outreach the global market by introducing specialized programmes from well-recognized educational institutions.

We are committed to equip our students with skills and knowledge required for the local as well as global market. Therefore, we have introduced and developed a modernized teaching methodology including state of the art facilities to meet the international educational standards.

With the deep understanding that the future of the global business community relies on the present student community, we provide the opportunity for our students to familiarize with the future potential market expectations.

Can you explain in detail the collaboration with the foreign universities?

We took a major step in introducing specialized programmes by launching the new college of Engineering in partnership with the British University of London South Bank (LSBU) which help with the exchange of experiences

between the two universities in the field of Engineering. We will start the first two programmes this academic year 2017/2018 with: Civil and Construction Engineering and Architectural Design Engineering.

ASU also collaborated with Cardiff Metropolitan University, launching their new programmes in Management and Business Studies & Accounting and Finance. Those unique Programmes will enable our students to navigate through the challenges of the evolving business environment and adapt into the everchanging realm of the financial sectors.

What are the biggest opportunities/ challenges ASU have at present?

We are one of the leading private universities meeting the quality and standards specified by the regulatory bodies. Our intention is to be recognized among the major corporate sectors to be referred as the first option for their employment and scholarships programmes.

ASU is committed to offer an exciting education to academically competent students of Bahrain, the Gulf and beyond.

What are the major educational reforms happening at ASU to attract more overseas students to ASU? To ensure that our students will Gulf Insider June 2017

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Education

receive a globally acclaimed education, we have recruited instructors from more than 20 nationalities and from various educational backgrounds. We nurture our students in the interactive educational system. More than 20% of our staff are fellows or senior fellows of the Higher Education Academy in the UK. Our students will venture into the 21st century labor market with great expectations. This is because, we provide our students with an actual job experience through the specialized internship programmes that help them to cope with the labor market. We also support our students by providing insights into their career development, therefore empowering them to wisely choose their career.

Who are your greatest supporters?

Our greatest supporters are our stakeholders – Ministry of Education, the Higher Education Council, and BQA. Our partners from the Capital Governorate, Business Women Society, Social Media Club, Bahrain SMEs are amongst many others who are supporting us.

The British Embassy, the British Council, the Department of International Trade, UK and the Economic Development

We provide our students with an actual job experience through the specialized internship programs that help them to cop up with the labor market.

Board in Bahrain are also giving us every support we need.

Our greatest strengths are our students and staff members.

It is worth noting that we cannot complete our mission without the collaboration of our media partners like you.

The Board of Directors chaired by Mr Sameer Nass and the Board of Trustees chaired by Prof Waheeb AlKhaja provide us with the right directions to move forward.

Do you work with Bahrain Business community to ensure better placements for your graduates?

As I said earlier, we are launching highly specialized programmes in order to help our students find relevant placements with businesses that we are engaged with.

What is your message to the new students who are enrolling into graduate programs?

“Follow your passion” and above everything, you should recognize the difference between having a job or a career.

You should wisely choose the Programme and area you are interested in. Our goal is to help you plan and visualize your aspirations that will enable you to progress far.

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Gulf Insider June 2017

Admissions Open For 2017/ 2018

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15% off tuition fees for foundation year only Applied Science University Contact us:

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This advertisement has been issued as per the approval of the General Secretaries of Higher Education Council. Approval No (1202-17)

Education

Building Future Leaders of the Kingdom Gulf Insider talks with some of the leading institutions in the Kingdom of Bahrain to get their insight on their prime role in building the future leaders of the Kingdom.

A

s Education forms the key part of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, the education and training institutions in the country are at the centre of attention in the business world.

Bahrain has the oldest public education system in the Arabian Peninsula. The first tertiary institution to open in Bahrain was Gulf Technical University in 1968. In 1984, several other educational institutions joined with Gulf Technical University to form the University of Bahrain (UOB). UOB

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Gulf Insider June 2017

reveals some of their upcoming plans in preparing their students for the 21st century job market in Bahrain.

“The job market of the twenty first century is a very dynamic and different one to only a few years ago.

Job markets are heavily dependent on economic conditions and in particular private sector growth as the engine for job creation in Bahrain. The University of Bahrain therefore has to be aligned with the needs of employers to understand the employment patterns in several key economic sectors.

A Rigorous Foundation “This coming academic year UOB will be bringing in over ten new academic programs that are required by industry, a new and rigorous foundation programme will also be introduced that also contains ICT and maths. Our close partnership with industry is also helping our programmes to become more skillsbased and allow our students to gain valuable experience through internship s both locally and internationally,” Professor Riyad Y. Hamzah, President of the University of Bahrain told GI.

Education

In addition, the Bahrain Higher Education Council has improved their educational strategy for 2014-2024 in multiple ways by increasing the number of post graduate programmes, professionally qualified teaching staff and the enrollment of more students into the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.) sector.

This is to ensure that more number of students are getting into the right sectors for the future growth of the economy. This is quite challenging since a few students in the Bahraini higher education are registered for STEMbased courses.

“The needs of the labor market constantly fluctuate, and higher education institutions are required to monitor the trends of the labor market and update their curricula as a result.

We ensure that we keep meeting these needs by working closely with our industrial partners, guaranteeing that our graduates have the appropriate knowledge and skills to meet the demands of the employers.” Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, CEO of Bahrain Polytechnic University told the GI.

In House and On the Job Training

Dr. Ebrahim Mohammed Janahi CEO, Tamkeen

Job markets are heavily dependent on economic conditions and in particular private sector growth as the engine for job creation in Bahrain.

The Government increased the allotment for the education industry in the last decade accounting for 8.8% of the total budget. The Government training fund Tamkeen, established in 2006, is intent on encouraging employers to place Bahrainis into inhouse or on-the-job training schemes.

“Tamkeen supports all businesses in the kingdom including Educational and training institutions, as these enterprises have the right to apply for the grants Tamkeen provides to develop their businesses, including the financial solutions, the training and wage support, professional certifications and “Taqdeer” scheme.

At Tamkeen, we consider the Educational and training institutions as partners in the developmental process, as most of these institutions provide the necessary training to the Bahraini workforce” said Dr. Ebrahim Mohammed Janahi, CEO of Tamkeen.

Gulf Insider June 2017

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Education

Dr. Jeff Zabudsky CEO, Bahrain Polytechnic University

As Bahrain moves from oil based economy to non-oil based one, and the government drives for more Bahrainization, each step that the educational institutions take is vital.

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Gulf Insider June 2017

Professor Riyad Y. Hamzah President, University of Bahrain

Professional Certification “For example, up to date Tamkeen injected more than BHD14.4 M as part of its investments on the Professional Certification scheme since its launch in 2012,” added Dr. Janahi.

Bahrain’s Higher Educational Council and the British Accreditation Council collaborated in 2015 to build a national university accreditation system.

The University of Bahrain, Bahrain Polytechnic, and the Royal University of Women were the first educational institutions to receive the first accreditations. There was an increase in the collaboration of foreign universities with Bahrain since then. London’s Southbank University and Cardiff Metropolitan University partnered with Applied Science University by the

end of 2015. The University of Salford became the first British institution to open its campus in the Kingdom with the partnership of the Government.

As Bahrain moves from oil based economy to non-oil based one, and the government drives for more Bahrainization, each step that the educational institutions take is vital.

With many reforms in the education sector, more and more students from other parts of the GCC have started to enroll in Bahrain educational institutions.

The next decade will be crucial to assess which of the reforms bring forth a promising result in response to the globalization requirements. With the success of these implementations, Bahrain may even become the center to build the future leaders of the entire Arab world.

Contributor

Go Out

I

t’s a simple daily routine. I drop my son at school, take a walk in the nearby park, and leave my car parked while it’s being washed.

This time, the car wash man, asked me to park my car very close to the school itself, instead of the usual spot where I park my car—200 meters away.

I did. But after my walk, I had to ask him “Why?”The young skinny Asian answered with a wide smile: “Simple sir. Early morning, teachers are going in the school, and I want them to see me washing cars, and give me more cars to wash!”

It hit me! Why didn’t I think of that?

I decided to give this concept a test. I have this public speaking workshop for juniors which I usually run indoors, and I decided to shift the coming program to a more public place; a small arts café.

That made all the difference. There was more attention and interest in what we were doing, and passers-by got interested in the program and the solution it gives to their children’s expressiveness issues.

Some of them even signed up for the “next batch”.

That car wash guy taught me an important lesson in business and marketing. If you want your customers to be interested in your products and services, reach out to them, instead of waiting for them to reach out to you. Show them – instead of telling them – what you can do.

And instead of hiding behind glowing digital ads, go out and solve people’s problems with your unique services and solutions.

Go out!

Mohamed Shukri

Young Brit Delays WannaCry Outbreak

L

ast month we discussed the theft of an alleged spy agency’s cyber weapons and their active exploitation in the wild. A short while thereafter, criminals weaponized one of the exploits named ETERNALBLUE to infect computers with ransomware, malicious software that holds files hostage through encryption until the attacker’s demands are paid. Utilizing what can be best described as a “shock and awe” strategy, an unprecedented attack was launched on a global scale ringing the death knell for over 100,000 computers on Friday, 12 May 2017.

Infected computers lay useless across Asia, Europe, and North America. The WannaCry ransomware plagued over 150 countries during just its first two days. Among the many victims, critical information systems were shuttered in several hospitals and general practitioner surgeries within the UK’s National Health Service. The “body count” of compromised systems continued to rise and would have been far greater if not for the heroic efforts of one cyber security professional.

Marcus Hutchins, a British 22-year-old self-taught ethical hacker who goes by the alias MalwareTech, became famous by accidentally uncovering the Achilles heel of the initial strain of WannaCry ransomware. He found a “kill switch” embedded inside the malicious code that, when activated, stopped the malware from infecting computers. The young cyber expert enabled this kill switch thereby restricting the spread of the worm; a self-replicating malicious program able to autonomously infect additional computers.

Hutchins dried up the first stream of WannaCry by registering a new web domain for a mere £8 and using it as a sinkhole to block malicious web traffic. He performed this heroic act inside a makeshift malware lab he pieced together from computer scraps rummaged from the trash behind a supermarket. Marcus is a regular guy who is active on social media with posts that include a trip to Las Vegas, champagne, pizza, and driving supercars in the desert. Definitely my kind of chap!

Whether you represent a large corporation or you’re a private computer owner, the best way to protect against WannaCry ransomware and similar malware variants is to apply free Microsoft patches to Windows operating systems. Microsoft recommends setting Windows Updates to occur automatically. It’s also cheap insurance to routinely backup your important files to offline storage; For example, copy files onto a flash drive then remove it from the USB port until you need to access them.

Ryan Ernst - Affectionately known as the “Tony

– Author, corporate consultant, award winning speaker.

Stark of Bahrain” is an Enterprise Secuirty Consultant at Sword & Shield.

mohd.a.shukri@gmail.com

www.sworshield.com Gulf Insider June 2017

41

Contributor

GCC REVIEW

THE INFLUENCER PLAGUE

I

f you want to know how hard this “influencer” obsession has hit us, it is clearly stated in the bio of an Instagram user I came across by sheer coincidence in which they call themselves “Future Social Media Influencer”. Another one is a joke that has been circulating lately: “I’m so jealous of those social media influencers. They go out and when they come home they find so many gifts awaiting them. When I come home, all I find are bills waiting to be paid.”

Social media has proved to be both a blessing and a curse. Many people have associated the number of likes and followers with how successful they are; the higher the numbers the more popular you are, the more events you will be invited to, the more gifts and perks and pampering you will be “awarded” with. Thus, you will find many so-called influencers buying followers, likes, and even views for their stories, trying to fool brands and companies into thinking they are worth investing in.

Unfortunately, this influencer “business” – and I use the word business loosely- has been used and abused so badly that brands and companies are now skeptical about it. Instead of utilizing a promising channel, it has been exploited to the point that some of us lose their minds whenever they hear the word “influencer” and want to jump off a bridge

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Gulf Insider June 2017

when they are introduced to someone who proudly calls themself an “influencer”.

In my humble opinion, a real influencer is someone who can make a genuine impact on their real-life community in a certain specialty. Someone who is passionate about what they are doing and is knowledgeable about it to the point that people around them are directly affected and consider this person a reference, and follow the footsteps of that person, who is ideally called a Thought Leader. Also, don’t get hung up on numbers. You can have 5,000 followers and have a greater, more positive impact on them than an influencer with a half million followers, paving the way for what is now called “microinfluencers”.

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

Bahrain’s king on first ever state visit to Malaysia Bahrain’s King Hamad was accorded a full-fledged state welcoming ceremony at Parliament House on May 1 and held talks with Sultan Muhammad V followed by a state banquet at Istana Negara.

Bahrain’s Information Affairs Minister Ali Bin Mohammad Al Romaihi said the visit was “a great impetus for the growing political and economic partnership between the two countries built on bonds of friendship, mutual respect and constant keenness on supporting just Islamic issues”.

Bahrain also looked forward to closer economic cooperation with Malaysia and to benefiting from its highly successful international experiences through motivating joint ventures, increasing the volume of trade exchange and promoting eco-tourism.

Saudi king orders that women no longer need permission to travel, study, or make a police complaint A move by Saudi Arabia to give women more control over their life choices by relaxing a controversial male guardian system has been welcomed as another small step for women in the conservative kingdom. Saudi Arabia is well known to be one of the world’s most gender-segregated nations, where women live under the supervision of a male guardian, cannot drive, and must wear head-to-toe black garments in public.

But King Salman has issued an order allowing women to benefit from government services such as education and healthcare without the consent of a male guardian. This means women could, in some circumstances, study and access hospital treatment, work in the public and private sector and represent themselves in court without a guardian’s consent, according to Maha Akeel, a women’s rights campaigner and a director at the Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The order made by King Salman is the latest in a series of steps to include more women in the workforce to help diversify the country’s economy and reduce its reliance on oil.

GCC Review

Manama ranked 5th most expensive city in Middle East

Bahrain’s foreign currency reserves fall 11% in 1 month

The Worldwide Cost of Living (WCOL) 2017 index compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit ranks Amman as the most expensive city in the Middle East with a ranking of 29. Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Istanbul are placed on 62nd place, while Bahrain is ranked 86th.

According to the Index, the five costliest cities across the MENA region are: 1. Amman, Jordan (World ranking #29) 2. Dubai, UAE (World ranking #62) 3. Abu Dhabi, UAE (World ranking #62) 4. Istanbul, Turkey (World ranking #62) 5. Manama, Bahrain (World ranking #86) The index ranks 133 global cities, comparing more than 400 individual prices across 160 products and services. These include food, drink, clothing, household supplies and personal care items, home rents, transport, utility bills, private schools, domestic help and recreational costs.

Bahrain’s foreign-currency reserves tumbled 11% in February, extending a decline that has fueled speculation that the island kingdom would either tap international bond markets soon or seek financial support from other Gulf Arab monarchies.

Bahrain has been more vulnerable to slumping oil prices and regional political instability than richer Gulf Cooperation Council states. With authorities expected to maintain the dollar peg, Bahrain “will likely either tap international markets or receive support from other GCC governments,” said Carla Slim, a Dubai-based economist at Standard Chartered.

When oil prices tumbled, the budget deficit soared, reaching almost 18 percent of gross domestic product last year. The oil price the government needs to balance its budget remains over $100 a barrel, the highest in the GCC, according to IMF estimates.

Starting May 1st drivers flouting yellow boxes to be fined Drivers who flout traffic laws and cause traffic jams at road junctions by blocking traffic and ignoring yellow box rules will be fined BD20. Traffic police have announced that from this date they will begin to enforce the law relating to yellow boxes at key intersections throughout Bahrain.

Yellow box junctions are criss-cross painted boxes on the road. The signify that drivers should not enter unless their exit is clear, even if the light is in their favour. Their purpose is to stop bottlenecks when impatient drivers pull across junctions but then cannot get out because of other traffic blocking the exit.

“These boxes are aimed at keeping the flow of traffic moving and the junction clear and are place at junctions that have a history of traffic jams” said a traffic police spokesman.

Red light jumper jailed then deported A lorry driver who has jumped red lights 11 times will be deported after serving a two-month sentence, a judge in Bahrain has ruled. The court said that the driver would also pay a fine of 500 Bahraini Dinars for his reckless driving.

He was summoned by the police and he argued that his speed did not allow him to bring the loaded lorry to a full stop on time and avoid the red light. However, the traffic police showed him that he was doing 46 kilometres per hour and that the lorry was not carrying any goods at the time and that he could have stopped the lorry.

He was initially sentenced to three months in jail, but a second trial reduced the term to two months to be followed by his deportation from the island kingdom. Bahrain last year adopted a very strict traffic code that included an extensive use of speed and traffic light cameras.

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Opinion

Ask

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

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

This month - COPYRIGHT OF AN ARTIST AJ Question: I have gained much success over the years as a photographer in Bahrain and one of my most lucrative pieces was a picture I took of two children holding a line of kittens in a row. However, a renowned Bahraini artist (whom I cannot name for legal reasons) saw the image and used it to create a set of sculptures based on the image.

The artist has now sold several of these sculptures making a significant profit. I strongly believe that he has stolen my idea and image. Could I sue said artist for copyright infringement?

AJ Answer: It is clear that you have a copyright over the image as held under Article 2 of the Bahraini Protection of Author’s Rights and Attendant Rights Law 2006, states that “the law provides protection to literary, artistic

and scientific works upon its creation, without the need for any procedural formality regardless of the value of such works or the purpose of creating them”.

Protection shall extend to photographic works, therefore you are entitled to prevent the misrepresentation or distortion of your work by virtue of Article 5(D) of the Bahraini Protection of Author’s Rights and Attendant Rights Law 2006.

In addition, Article 6 (A) & (F) provide that “An author shall have the exclusive financial rights with regards to reproduction and presentation of the original as well as copies of his work to the public in any manner.”

On this basis, due to the artist creating a set of statues based on your image and idea and obtaining financial gain through it; this can be held as copyright infringement.

Therefore, you have two legal remedies. Firstly, you may seek a court order for precautionary measures, such as cessation of the infringement and prohibiting their export as per Article 63 of the foregoing legislation. You can further claim compensation for the damages sustained including profits procured by the infringer.

Secondly, you may file a criminal complaint according to the rights held under the above-mentioned legislation.

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

Celebrity: But not as you know it

T

eaching was never top of my list as a child. I never sat on the carpet, listening to my teacher tell a story and think, “Wow, that looks like a

cool job!”

20 years later, and I’m sure those little faces staring up at me aren’t thinking the same thing. It doesn’t mean they won’t become a teacher; it just means they have bigger dreams. Dreams of fast cars, big houses and celebrity status.

We reach a certain age and realise that we need a career, a life for ourselves. Our parents won’t be around forever after all. It’s not an easy decision but it’s one which will shape the rest of our lives.

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Teaching is a noble, honest and crucially, vital, profession. It doesn’t matter where in the world you are, children need to be taught. Taught to read, write, count, add, subtract, divide, multiply; the list could go on forever. But it isn’t just these fundamental learning aspects. A teacher is a role model, a support mechanism, a parent and a friend. They are the person you spend 5 days a week with, the person who helps you to do your best and supports you to achieve your goals and ambitions.

It’s not fashionable but it’s worth it.

To see ‘your’ children walk to and from their parents each day with a smile on their face is much more important than a big house and fast car. And to these kids, you are a celebrity!

Sporting enthusiast, part time writer and full-time teacher @michoughton

Motors

INSIDER

MOTORS Automotive News and Reviews

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Motors

Porsche Milestone One-millionth 911 rolls off the production line.

T

he Porsche 911 established a new category and remains at the pinnacle of the premium sports car segment. In 2016 alone, 32,365 vehicles were delivered worldwide. Nevertheless, it has maintained its exclusivity over the decades and has become a coveted collector’s item. The quality of the 911 is legendary and as such, over 70 per cent of all 911s ever built are still ready to drive today. In addition, it can consistently be found at the top of quality rankings such as the “Initial Quality Study” from the US market research institute J.D. Power.

One significant factor in this success is the production site at the headquarters in Zuffenhausen, where all 911’s are manufactured. Today, all twodoor models – 911, 718 Boxster and 718 Cayman – and their various derivatives are handled on one assembly line thanks to a sophisticated production approach. The assembly workers are experts in up to 200 different tasks and, with their passion and knowledge, they ensure that each Porsche is delivered

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The quality of the 911 is legendary and as such, over 70 per cent of all 911s ever built are still ready to drive today. in the quality that is typical of the brand. Uwe Hück, Chair of the Group Works Council of Porsche AG, says: “I cannot imagine the success story of the 911 without our Porsche employees, who are truly out of this world. The construction of the Mission E at the Zuffenhausen site underlines Porsche’s viability for the future, and it is clear that if we are to make it a success, we will need our highly qualified and motivated employees”.

Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Porsche AG, who has been a part of the

development of the 911 since Day One said “54 years ago, I was able to take my first trips over the Grossglockner High Alpine Road with my father. The feeling of being in a 911 is just as enjoyable now as it was then. That’s because the 911 has ensured that the core values of our brand are as visionary today as they were in the first Porsche 356/1 from 1948”.

An Iconic Car The 911’s mythology has been cultivated by countless motorsport successes. Designed for both the road and track, no other sports car embodies the thrill of the road like the 911. Over half of Porsche’s 30,000 race wins can be credited to the iconic car.

It is the archetypal sports car for everyday driving, and a style icon that is unmistakable as both the face and heart of the Porsche brand. In Zuffenhausen, the one-millionth model rolled off the production line – a Carrera S in a special “Irish Green” exterior colour, with numerous exclusive features to emulate

Motors

the first 911 models from 1963. The two-door, rear-engine car remains the most strategically important model in the product range and makes a huge contribution to maintaining Porsche’s position as one of the most profitable automotive manufacturers in the world.

The one-millionth 911 will start its journey at Porsche AG, before then moving on to enrich the collection at the Porsche Museum, followed by a world tour that will include road trips in the Scottish Highlands, around the Nürburgring, the USA, China and beyond.

Redefining the Sports Car Porsche has never strayed from the founding concept of the original 911. “But we have continued to enhance the technology of the 911, refining and perfecting the sports car”, says Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, “that’s why it remains a state-of-the-art and technically innovative vehicle. We have also been able to expand the model line very successfully through derivatives”.

Porsche 911 Specifications Horsepower: 420hp 0-100 kph : 3.3 seconds Top speed: 300 km/h Gulf Insider June 2017

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Motors

Best Deals this

Ramadan

Motorcity launches special Ramadan offers for its full range of passenger and commercial vehicles.

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M

otorcity’s automotive biography has been shaped as a result of years of success since its establishment in 2005. Today, the company represents various, worldrenowned automotive brands in both passenger and commercial segments.

As a pioneer in the motor industry, Motorcity was among the first to provide the public with three showroom, three easyaccess facility centers and a unified service center for its brands.

Motorcity, the distributor of a wide range of passenger and commercial vehicles in the Kingdom of Bahrain,

Motors

announced the launch of its Ramadan campaign, which will run until the 28th of June. The promotion allows customers to select deals up to BD1000 in value, in addition to special discounts on each brand. A range of other deals are also available for both passenger and commercial brands, including special discounts, service packages, free insurance and registration, window tinting and rust-proofing, and after sales vouchers.

The promotion allows customers to select deals up to BD1000 in value, in addition to special discounts on each brand.

Special Discounts Motorcity Senior General Manager, Bijan Majidi said: “This year, besides special discounts, passenger car customers can choose from two packages out of the four available, which include service packages, free insurance and registration, window tinting and rust-proofing, and after sales vouchers. These are available for the

Subaru, Volvo, Citroen, BAIC, Chery and SsangYong brands. For the commercial vehicles, such as Hino, Isuzu, CMC, Maxus and King Long, customers can select one package from among the same four.”

In addition, customers can purchase pre-owned vehicles. A pre-owned vehicle from Motorcity protects customers from unnecessary expenses as the company’s certified pre-owned vehicles are products that run through 100 points inspection and evaluation.

These evaluations are conducted by professionals specialized in the vehicle’s technical and cosmetic aesthetics.

Authorized service technicians conduct all repairs and services using only genuine parts.

In terms of after sales service packages, the company does not disappoint. The service package typically covers materials, lubricants, and labor as specified under the respective manufacturer. In addition, each car from Motorcity comes with a manufacturer warranty and extended warranty for total peace of mind.

Customers can be confident as well, that they will be supported in the event of a breakdown. Motorcity also offers regular maintenance with inspection and checking that are performed by their qualified technicians.

For more information on Motorcity’s Ramadan offers, visit or call the Motorcity showrooms in Sitra - 17736222, Sanad - 17621162 and Nuwaidrat – 17702111.

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Motors

Car News Which nationalities most involved in accidents in Ramadan?

Ramadan specific lifestyle has physical effects on people’s body especially when coinciding with the hot summer season. Fasting can result in dehydration and low blood sugar, which in turn can limit attentiveness, concentration, vision and reaction. In addition to fasting, the unusual eating and sleeping patterns can cause fatigue, exhaustion, impatience and distraction.

Thomas Edelmann, managing director, RoadSafetyUAE said that it is of utmost importance to know how the Ramadan lifestyle can affect people’s behaviour and the behaviour of other traffic participants.” Indians have topped the list of accidents and claims during Ramadan in the UAE, according to a new report.

The report also found 11 percent of the accident/claims were made by Emiratis, seven percent by Egyptians and four percent by Jordanians. Thirty-one percent of the motorists who were involved in accidents during the holy month of fasting were over 40 years, followed by drivers in the 30-to-35 age bracket. Eighty-two percent of claims were made by male drivers, compared to just 18 percent by female drivers.

People in Oman unite in condemning viral video incident Both citizens and residents of Oman have reacted strongly to a viral video showing a car driver drenching a cyclist in a wadi while trying to seemingly overtake him. “The police would like to confirm that the driver of the vehicle has been arrested, and legal proceedings have been initiated against him,” the Royal Oman Police (ROP) tweeted.

People are calling for lessons on courtesy on roads, and perhaps making it part of the school curriculum. “Such arrogant drivers need to be taught a lesson of life.

They need to respect others on the road, salute to the ROP,” said Dainesh Sampat, a resident.

Stephen Robson, an expat, agreed that motorists sometimes disrespect other drivers on the road by violating basic rules. “100 per cent agree, stop using slip roads to undertake queues of traffic, slow down to allow merging traffic to move into the lane, observe other road users and follow the code of the road, i.e. stop sign means stop, giving way means give way and no entry means no entry, and disabled parking spaces are for the disabled and not an excuse to park nearest to the shop entrance.”

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Saudi women are a captive market for Uber and Careem NASHMIAH Alenzy, a doctor in Saudi Arabia’s conservative Qassim region, uses ride-hailing apps at least two or three times a week, and sometimes every day, to get to work or to run errands. Before she started using these apps last year, every journey needed to be planned well in advance as she negotiated getting a lift with her husband, her brother, or a private driver.

Barred from driving in a country with non-existent public transport, Saudi women are a profitable prospect for ride-hailing companies. Careem, a firm valued at $1bn that is based in Dubai and operates across the Middle East, north Africa and South Asia, set up shop in 2013. Uber followed in 2014.

Both see the Saudi market as one of the most lucrative in the region. Around four-fifths of their respective customers are women.

Both firms are directly backed by the Saudi state. In response to falling oil revenues, the government’s “Vision 2030” programme seeks to diversify its sources of income. In June last year its sovereign-wealth fund ploughed $3.5bn into Uber; and in December Saudi Telecom, which is controlled by the same fund, took a 10% stake in Careem.

Telecoms

Telecom Selfie landed 3 women in trouble in the UAE A woman in Sharjah was left with a broken thumb and bruises after a fight broke out over a selfie. According to Sharjah Police, the recent incident occurred at a salon when three Arab women took a selfie.

The three women were attending a friend’s wedding later that night, and visited the salon to get their make-up done. The customers were so happy with the results that at the end, they took a selfie with the three of them in the picture.

However, little did they know that unwittingly, a GCC national woman had also been captured in the selfie. The GCC national asked the women to delete the photo but her requests were denied. Taking a photograph of someone without their permission is regarded by the law as an invasion of privacy.

Police were finally called in after the salon’s owner was unable resolve the dispute, and the injured woman was transferred to Al Qasimi Hospital for treatment.

Cyber attacks to intensify warn experts in Oman Oman should brace for more ransomware attacks; the Sultanate’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) and specialists in the country have said. “The reason cyber-attacks will intensify is because the attackers tend to underestimate countries in the Middle East,” said Dr. Saqib Ali, associate professor at the Sultan Qaboos University’s Information Systems Department. “They think the countries here are soft targets because their security systems are not as developed as those in the United States or Europe.

“There needs to be a culture of awareness towards cyberattacks, because they can really harm businesses, almost irreversibly,” said Tim Marjason, managing director of Marjason Consulting and Training, a company that advises business on enforcing the right security measures.

Arnold Santos of the Systems Department at the Military Technology College of Oman said, “In Oman, a large section of the population is below the age of 30 and they use the internet indiscriminately,” he explained. “People here are not aware of the effects of ransomware, and they tend to panic and comply with the attackers’ demands because they are scared and don’t know the consequences.

Dubai police introduce robocops Dubai’s first Robocop, which will eventually be used to chase down suspects and nab parking fee dodgers, joined Dubai Police on Sunday. The aim is for about 25 per cent of the force to be robotic by 2030, to enable police to focus on crime prevention.

After interacting with visitors at the Gulf Information and Security Expo and Conference, Robocop’s first job posting will be malls and tourist attractions where people can tap a touchscreen on his chest to report a crime, pay traffic fines or chat in Arabic or English.

“We are not going to fire our police officers by replacing them with this tool but with the number of people in Dubai increasing, we want to relocate police officers so they work in the right areas and can concentrate on providing a safe city,” Brig Al Razooqi said.

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Opinion

The 50-Year-Old Business Book

You Need to Read

There aren’t a lot of business books from a half-century ago that have stood the test of time, but Peter Drucker’s The Effective Executive is one of the select few. or delegate any activity that doesn’t require their direct attention.

To identify the unnecessary timesucks in your day, Drucker suggested jotting down everything you do in real time. Even better, these days you could get a time management app.

Then, examine your activity entries and, for each one, ask yourself, “What would happen if this were not done at all?” If the answer is nothing (and it often will be, according to Drucker), stop doing it. If the task needs to be done, ask yourself if it could be done by somebody else. If so, delegate it.

Repeat every few months to make sure you’re still spending your time wisely.

2. Focus on contribution

Economics professor Peter Drucker

I

n 1967 Drucker declared, “The executive is, first of all, expected to get the right things done. And this is simply saying that he is expected to be effective.”

Drucker is still relevant today due to his approaching the study of business like a surgeon. His clarity of thought and language was like a scalpel, which he used to dissect every aspect of management until he had revealed its essence. In The Effective Executive, Drucker applied that scalpel to leadership.

Drucker was convinced that leaders are made, not born. He described five practices that can make you a more effective leader:

1. Manage your time “Time is the scarcest resource,” 52

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Train yourself to focus on strengths instead of weaknesses by concentrating on what employees can do rather than what they can’t do. wrote Drucker, “and unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed.” Successful execs know how they spend their days, and they dismiss

Effective executives hold themselves “accountable for the performance of the whole,” wrote Drucker. By that he meant that they weren’t solely focused on their job performance or their own careers. Instead, the most effective leaders are team players who work hard to realize the strategic goals of their organizations.

To direct your focus to what you can do to maximize your contribution to your company, Drucker had some pithy advice. He said to start by “asking other people in the organization, [your] superiors, [your] subordinates, but above all, [your] colleagues in other areas: ‘What contribution from me do you require to make your contribution to the organization?’”

3. Build on strengths Drucker preached a strength-based approach to talent decades before it

Opinion

became a corporate buzzword. Effective executives drive team productivity and results, he wrote, by building on “available strengths--the strengths of associates, the strengths of the superior, and one’s own strength.”

Train yourself to focus on strengths instead of weaknesses by concentrating on what employees can do rather than what they can’t do, advises Drucker.

Seek out only the best-qualified people, instead of those who play well with others or who appear to have no flaws (they invariably do). And don’t forget to apply this practice to yourself--identify your own strengths and use them to improve your performance.

4. Prioritize and concentrate Long before we were all tethered to our smartphones, Drucker was warning leaders about the dangers of multitasking. He said that effective executives focus all their faculties on one achievement at a time. Why? “The

more one can concentrate time, effort, and resources,” Drucker wrote, “the greater the number and diversity of tasks one can actually perform.”

To make the most of your concentrated effort, first prioritize your tasks. Prioritization is key, said Drucker, because if you’re only working on one thing, you must make sure it’s the right thing. “Effective executives do first things first,” he wrote, “and they do one thing at a time.”

5. Make decisions systematically Finally, Drucker said that effective leaders make sound decisions--that means no on-the-fly calls or going with your gut. Sound decisions, he said, come from using a repeatable, consistent process with clearly defined elements executed in a distinct sequence.

How should you approach decision making?

Drucker offered these tips: Determine what kind of decision is required. If the issue is ongoing, you’ll need to develop a policy; if it’s a one-off situation, make the call and move on.  Define the decision’s “boundary conditions”--that is, its objectives, minimum goals, and the conditions it must meet--before you make it.  Shoot for the ideal outcome to start. Save the inevitable compromises for later, when it’s time to implement the decision.  Define the actions necessary to implement the decision in the decision.  Don’t chisel your decisions in stone. Allow for postimplementation feedback and adapt the decision when needed. 

GCC family businesses must keep pace with digital innovation

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he digital age presents particular opportunities and challenges for family businesses when the very real creation of a successful business in a matter of years might seem at odds with the family business orientation, where leaders traditionally plan in generations – or at least decades. In the Middle East, families own approximately 67 per cent of businesses, and more than half of GCC family businesses are currently planning succession from the second to the third generation. For these companies, finding leaders who can keep up with the pace of change, embrace innovation and manage the pressures of the times, makes the transition to the next generation ever more critical and challenging.

In order to keep innovating, enable a successful transition, and

set the foundations for the family business to continue to thrive, these companies must make succession more collaborative and open. This will allow the next generation the space to contribute and test their ideas,

according to experts speaking at a Capital Club event in Bahrain hosted

by Charles Russell Speechlys (CRS).

CRS also argued that family businesses must create a framework to introduce potential next generation leaders to the business, and manage the complex legal and emotional issues involved in transition.

The event centred around the latest research report by Charles Russell Speechlys, The Connected Generation: Rebooting family business succession for the digital age. Leading family enterprise academic, Professor Morten Bennedsen, from INSEAD said that the challenges are very real for family businesses “Because of changing social patterns and changing ways of interacting through digital, the number of family transitions will probably reduce.”

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Art

Assemblage Art

German-born Eva Graf started at the age of 14 to create her own artistic designs in furniture, jewelry, sculptures, and paintings.

H

er love for creating the unique accompanied her throughout her life in a number of different opportunities and positions – ranging from multimedia designer, conservationist technical assistant to a curious filled artist, interested in exploring and experimenting with a variety of exciting art forms in Cuba, Venezuela, and Brazil. Catch her art exhibit this June 12 at her studio and gallery in Jannusan.

For more information: www.EVA-GRAF.com, Tel: +973 3414 3258 54

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Art

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Society

what’s happening

Tamkeen’s Graduation Ceremony

The Graduation Ceremony of Tamkeen-Mowgli Mentorship Experience was held at the Diplomat Radisson Blu.

Lexus LC 500 Launch

EK Kanoo announced that the Lexus LC 500 and LC 500h model are now available in the showroom.

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Society

Bahrain Jewellery Centre

BJC launches Graff Diamonds private show at The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain.

Arrival of the new Mercedes-Benz E Class Coupe

Al Haddad Motors revealed the all new Mercedes-Benz E Class Coupe.

AZERA Test Drive

Hyundai’s All-New Azera was tested at the Bahrain International Circuit.

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Last Word

Great Advice Richard Branson Entrepreneur Lewis Howes Entrepreneur on goal setting: on taking vacations: “As an entrepreneur or business leader, if you didn’t come back from your vacation with some ideas about how to shake things up, it’s time to consider making some changes.”Branson says you need to refrain from answering emails or logging on when vacationing.

Although these quick jobs won’t kill you, they might take your attention away from other things that could inspire you. Instead, you should consider leaving your smart devices at the hotel room. This isn’t just about relaxation and recuperation. Branson says it’s also about how the people you meet and the places you go can affect you if you allow your head to be free from the daily grind.

“I make sure that I disconnect by leaving my smartphone at home or in the hotel room for as long as possible — days, if I can — and bringing a notepad and pen with me instead. Freed from the daily stresses of my working life, I find that I am more likely to have new insights into old problems and other flashes of inspiration. When this happens, it’s important that I jot everything down on a piece of paper.”

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“In my 20s I started writing my goals down, assigning each a date that I would achieve them by. I was amazed when I started reaching these goals by the date I had listed on them.” Focus on the present and strive to be a better person every day.

Fred Kofman Executive coach on meetings: “The only goal for a meeting is ‘to decide and commit.’ No other objective is worth meeting for.” Kofman says this will cut your meeting time by 90%. This means that there is no point in meeting to discuss, review, report, evaluate, or consider ideas. The only time you should have a meeting is to make a decision and commit to it. Kofman says that you will have to meet to discuss and review in order to make a decision, but you should combine all of these tasks into one meeting. “Unless the meeting may lead people to act in a different way they would have acted had they not had the meeting, its value is zero — no matter how efficiently it is run.

Nathan McNeill Co-founder of Bomgar, an IT support company, on choosing the right company to work for: “When you’re considering a new career opportunity, evaluate the people with whom you’ll be working in addition to the job itself. Whether you love your job is closely related to whether you like the people with which you’re working.”

McNeill says that the secret to success is creating a culture of camaraderie. When employees generally get along with one another, the focus can be placed on challenges of growing a company rather than wasting energy dealing with internal politics. “I truly believe that if what you’re doing isn’t worth celebrating, and if the people you work with aren’t people you want to celebrate with, your job will be far less rewarding. So whether you’re a recent college grad or simply seeking a new opportunity, don’t overlook the importance of camaraderie in your search.”

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