Gulf Insider November 2017

The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

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154

Issue

knowledge is power

+ Inside Raising the Steaks Subaru WRX STI Gulf Expat Insider

interview with

Asrar mirza baig Visionary CEO, CTM360

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Contents November 2017 Issue 154

20 10

Bahrain

14

44 Facebook Followers

300,400

18

28

32

36

38

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

48

Diversity is a way of life

Luxury

A Timeless Legacy Hotels

The grass is always greener

Money & Business

At last, a parking app!

Property

Saudi Arabia’s Great Makeover

People

The Rebirth of Poetry

People

Interview with ASU President

Expats

Expats and Taxes

…and many, many more

Comment...

Knowledge is power

Dear Reader,

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 - Ryan Ernst - Dhanyasree M - Angela Acosta

Business Development

- Charlie Cooksey

Layout Designs

- Dhanraj S

Admin & Finance

- Nikesh Pola

Photography

- Rafnaj K P

Distribution Executives

- Mohammed Yousif

Welcome to our November issue of Gulf Insider!

For Advertising Opportunities Call Charlie Cooksey Dhanyasree M

M. +973 3652 0004

M. +973 3612 8111

Published by:

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

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

Wishing you a great month ahead!

Printed at Awal Press, Kingdom of Bahrain.

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

The Insider Team!

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Issue

+ Inside

+ Inside

Ice Cube Pure by Chopard

Raising the Steaks

Review of Porsche Panamera

Subaru WRX STI

Domain’s Friday Brunch

Gulf Expat Insider

visionary CeO, Ctm360

stephen hevrilla General Manager, royal Golf Club

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visionary CeO, Ctm360

interviewShareef with Panhatt

Coverhevrilla Image: stephen General Manager, royal Golf Club

Kevin Okun interview with

nukolandphotography

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

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

interview with Complimentary Copy

interview with

AsrAr mirzA bAig

153

knowledge is power

Issue

154

knowledge is power

The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

KSA SR20

Complimentary Copy

The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

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

Events

Day & Night Open Track

Brave 9

When: 11th November 2017, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Where: Bahrain International Circuit

When: 17th November 2017 Where: Khalifa Sports City

Open Track experiences offer a thrilling trackside experience for all drivers and riders alike. It is as close as it gets to real drag racing. All cars need to be in road-worthy condition to take part, with no leaks or body damage.

Brave Combat Federation is the first ever Bahrain-based Mixed Martial Arts promotion and will be back to the Kingdom for its ninth edition, with multiple title bouts and a stacked fight card. Watch out for crowd favorite Hamza Kooheji and other fighters!

For more information: Bahrain International Circuit Tel no: +973 1745 0000 info@bic.com.bh

For more information: Brave Combat Federation Tel no.: + 973 1663 1663 www.bravefights.com

Jewellery Arabia 2017 When: 21st November to 25th November 2017, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM Where: Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre Jewellery Arabia is the largest and most prestigious jewellery exhibition in the Middle East, showcasing world famous names and unique designers from across the globe. Since its inception in 1992, it has provided international jewellery houses with unrivaled direct access to trade buyers and private collectors from throughout this important economic sector.

For more information: Jewellery Arabia 2017 Tel: +973 17 550033 www.jewelleryarabia.com 6

Gulf Insider November 2017

Light Festival (B-Light) When: 23rd November – 2nd December 2017 Where: Bahrain Bay An exciting showcase of lights and colours await tourists and residents as the ‘Bahrain Light Festival’ opens at Bahrain Bay. The outdoor festival will introduce the latest innovations in lighting by international contemporary artists and it will include technical artistic dynamics in addition to remarkable artistic performances.

For more information: Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority Tel. no.: +973 17558800 www.bahrainexhibitions.com

Mark your dates for the coming festive season at ART Rotana, where we have pulled out all the stops to bring you a full month of joy and cheer.

With the best in traditional festivities and choice menus full of familiar festive flavours, you can rest assured of a fabulous Christmas and New Year Celebration like no other. please contact us via email at fb.art@rotana.com or call 16000111.

P. O. Box 50949, Amwaj Islands, Bahrain, T: +973 16000111, art.hotel@rotana.com

Events

Runway Dubai 2017

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

Super Sports Mena Mile Open Water Swim

Chamber Orchestra of Europe playing Mozart

When: 11th November 2017 Where: Barasti Beach

When: 2nd November 2017 Where: Dubai Opera

Join in a fun swim challenge this November – the Super Sports Mina Mile Swim Series. This event is ideal for serious swimming enthusiasts ready to dive in. The swim series has four openwater races to choose from: 200m, 400m, 800m and 1.6km.

Mozart’s Magic Flute Overture, Violin Concerto No. 3 and Symphony No. 40 will be performed by the Chamber Orchestra of Europe at Dubai Opera.

Deemed by BBC in 2011 as “the finest chamber orchestra in the world”, this ensemble of musicians upholds musical perfection, and together they set the benchmark in orchestral excellence.

For more information: Dubai Fitness Challenge www.dubaifitnesschallenge.com

Dubai Design Week 2017 When: 13th to 18th November 2017 Where: Dubai Design District Pushing the boundaries of form, function and aesthetics, international and regional designers across a range of disciplines descend on Dubai Design District (D3) to showcase how design impacts our lives in myriad ways.

For more information: Dubai Design Week Tel.: +971 4 563 1426 www.dubaidesignweek.ae 8

Gulf Insider November 2017

For more information: Dubai Opera Tel: +971 4444 08888 www.dubaiopera.com

When: 8th to 10th November 2017 Where: Sofitel The Palm Calling all fashionistas, trendsetters and designers: Runway Dubai Season 5 is gearing up for a whole new season of style, haute couture and fresh faces.

The spotlight will shine once again on the fashion industry, showcasing design and modelling talent from around the region.

For more information: Runway Dubai Tel: +971553035005 www.runwaydubai.com

Bahrain

King Hamad

Diversity is natural way of life in Bahrain

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Gulf Insider November 2017

Bahrain

K

ing Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa said that Bahrainis were happy and comfortable living in a multicultural and multifaith society as they have, for centuries, grown up with neighbours of all faiths, all cultures and all ethnicities.

Such a background has enabled them to recognise diversity as a natural and normal way of life in Bahrain, King Hamad said in an opinion piece published by the Washington Post last month.

“Our noble ancestors began this Bahraini tradition of churches,

consultation with Sunni and Shiite scholars, along with Christian clergy and Jewish rabbis, including our friend, Rabbi Marvin Hier of Los Angeles’ Simon Wiesenthal Centre.”

The declaration was launched in Los Angeles amid global commitment to fostering peace and stability across the world.

“As Bahrainis, we drew from our national heritage as a beacon of religious tolerance in the Arab world during a time when religion has been too frequently used throughout the world as a divine sanction to spread hate and dissension.”

synagogues and temples being built next to our mosques, so there is no ignorance about others’ religious rites or practices,” he wrote. “We all live together in peaceful coexistence in the spirit of mutual respect and love, and we believe it is our duty to share this with the world. We believe ‘ignorance is the enemy of peace,’ and that true faith illuminates our path to peace. For this reason, we decided to compose the Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration, calling for religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence throughout the entire world.”

King Hamad added that some people might find such facts surprising, but not the hundreds of millions of peace-loving Muslims around the world.

“We composed the declaration in

In the Arab world, we need not fear religious pluralism, and the non-Arab world need not fear us.

However, in Bahrain, religious diversity is seen by Bahrainis as a blessing.

“We welcome our Catholic, Orthodox and evangelical church communities.

We are proud that our Hindu nationals can worship in a 200-year-old temple

complete with their images, just around the corner from the Sikh temple and the mosques.

We celebrate our small — but precious — Jewish community, who feel free to wear their yarmulke and worship in their own synagogue, which, we are informed, is the only one in the Arabian Peninsula. In fact, our Jewish community plays a very active role at the highest levels of society, including an ambassador from Bahrain to Washington in 2008, the first Jewish diplomat to the United States from an Arab country. We wanted to protect our religious pluralism for future generations, so we have enshrined this in law, which guarantees everyone the right to worship unhindered in safety and to build their houses of worship.”

Hoda Nonoo made international history when served as the Bahraini Ambassador to the United States from 2008 to 2013. No Jewish ambassador represented an Arab country in the US before her.

King Hamad said that Bahrain is stronger thanks to its diversity.

“I believe our world will be more secure and more prosperous when we learn to recognize the beauty of these differences and how they can teach us many lessons, including the lesson of religious tolerance. Religious freedom should not be viewed as a problem but rather a very real solution to many of our world’s biggest challenges and especially terrorism, which knows no religion and threatens all peace-loving people.

We firmly believe this evil can only be eradicated by the power of true faith and love, and this is what compelled us to write the Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration as a serious document calling for pluralism, which “unequivocally rejects” compelled religious observance, and condemns acts of violence, abuse and incitement in the name of religion,” he said.

“In the Arab world, we need not fear religious pluralism, and the non-Arab world need not fear us. In fact, we need one another, and we must meet one another along a path of mutual respect and love. Perhaps, only then will we find the elusive path of peace we seek.”

Gulf Insider November 2017

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Bahrain

Bahrain MPs

to debate penalty for cross-dressers

A

bill to award harsher penalty for cross-dressing will come up for discussion in the House of Representatives last month.

The bill will be put to vote on amending Article 350 of the Penal Code to award imprisonment and a higher fine on imitators of the opposite sex, despite the reservations on the matter by a some authorities in the Kingdom.

Aimed at awarding higher penalties for “imitating the opposite gender”, the proposed bill, which was presented by MP Jamal Dawood in 2015, introduces a fine of up to BD1,000 and jail term of not more than one year for women who publicly dress and behave like men and vice versa.

Article 350 of the Penal Code reads, “A prison sentence for a period not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding BD100 shall be the penalty for any person who commits in public an indecent act. Any person who commits an act of indecency with a female shall be liable for the same punishment, even though such act is not committed in public.”

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Gulf Insider November 2017

A fine of up to BD1,000 and jail term of not more than one year for women who publicly dress and behave like men and vice versa.

The proposal comes to amend the existing text with, “A prison sentence for a period not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding BD1000 shall be the penalty for any male or female who publicly imitate the opposite gender or publicly appear indecently in a way that contradicts with public morals and the traditions of the Kingdom.”

The proposal was recently passed for the second time by the Foreign

Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee in the House of Representatives after it was returned by the council last March.

The committee reviewed the proposed bill with several authorities that included the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR), the Supreme Council for Women (SCW), Interior Ministry and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.

In its reply to the committee, NIHR and SCW had reservations concerning not specifying the crime or the behaviour of imitating the opposite sex in the proposal, requesting the House of Representatives to rephrase it as “it lacks clarity”.

Dawood and the other presenters of the proposal previously referred to a similar law enforced in Kuwait in 2007 to criminalise cross-dressing. However, the Kuwaiti legislation that the MPs referred to didn’t receive much welcoming from the international community, citing that it “leads to torture and arbitrary arrests”.

Luxury

A Timeless

Legacy

Interview with Thierry Stern, President of Patek Philippe SA Geneve.

P

atek Philippe has been creating luxury timepieces to the most exacting standards of excellence and class since 1839. Gulf Insider sits down with Thierry Stern, president of Patek Philippe and the fourth generation of the family to run one of the world’s most prestigious luxury watchmaking company.

Upon choosing to become part of the Patek Philippe family like his father and grandfather before him, Stern decided to excel and learn this industry starting from the ground up. After completing his business studies, he enrolled at the Watch Making School of Geneva for an accelerated two-year course to gain a deeper understanding on the intricacies of mechanical watchmaking. When asked why he chose to spend two years doing this, he replied that it is essential to have an in-depth knowledge of the product. It is also vital in maintaining credibility within the company as well as upholding respectful relations with 14

Gulf Insider November 2017

A Patek Philippe watch is not made just to know the time – it is in itself, a piece of art. the watchmakers and their clients. By knowing the intricacies of mechanical watchmaking, one learns the process along with the challenges a watchmaker faces during creation.

Stern said that takes a lot of passion in watchmaking as it is a very intricate creative process involving long hours and tiny pieces of machinery. He also added that it was hard to recruit a quality craftsman as it takes years of thorough training and experience for them to achieve the level they need for Patek Philippe.

When asked about the character of a watchmaker, he laughed and said “stubborn”, adding “quiet” and “openminded” which sounded like strange requirements for a watchmaker. Stern went to elaborate that evolution is essential in the art of watchmaking.

Patek Philippe is at the forefront of sparking innovations and Stern believes that it is vital for watchmakers to not just rely on traditions in order to produce watches that will last long term. “Fine watchmaking isn’t just about tradition. It is also about innovation”, he added. With that said, he shared with us that he’s currently looking way ahead for Patek Philippe. As Chairman of the group, Stern is expected to have a ten-year vision but he confided that he’s looking far beyond that; in fact, to the year 2032.

Patek Philippe remains to be one of the oldest independent familyowned watch brands in the world.

Stern said that the greatest advantage of being a family-owned business is

Luxury

the freedom and independence in the sense that there is no pressure from any shareholders. He added that family ownership provides liberty from the demands and quarterly profit/ loss statements. Belonging to a large group can result into a watch brand’s loss of identity, according to him.

Independence allows Patek Philippe to have creative freedom and full control in everything they do.

When asked about the threat of technology to watchmaking companies, Stern is not concerned and did not seem to consider it as a danger at all. He said that a fine timepiece is something that is loved, kept and passed through generations – from father to son. “That’s not going to happen with an Apple watch”, he added.

Many see that these computerized wristwatches are the biggest rivals to mechanical watches but luxury watch companies like Patek Philippe are in a different position. Patek Philippe’s timepieces are created and designed to be worn for decades and by generations. A Patek Philippe watch is not made just to know the time – it is in itself, a piece of art.

Patek Philippe has recently expanded its branch in Moda Mall.

For more information: Patek Philippe Tel: +973 1752 0055 www.patek.com

Gulf Insider November 2017

15

Hotels

Concerts @

The Domain Domain Privé launch the 3rd edition of their series of live concerts.

L

ast month Gulf Insider experienced an evening of elegance and cultural indulgence as the Domain Bahrain continued their acclaimed live concerts, this time offering a British experience.

During the evening, guests enjoyed the musical skills of celebrated concert pianist Michelle Miles and British operatic singer Erika Nottingham Rawles, while relaxed on sofas. We indulged at least three of our senses: Sound – we listened to the music of some of England’s greatest composers.

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Gulf Insider November 2017

Taste – we sampled canapes especially prepared for us by the Domain’s Master Chef.

Sight – beyond the elegant surroundings of Domain Privé we viewed the lights of Manama from the Domain’s awe inspiring 36th floor viewpoint.

Michelle Miles has performed many piano concertos with orchestras around the United Kingdom and in Chamber concerts with member of the prestigious City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. In 1998, Michelle

moved to Bahrain where she has continued her teaching and performing career both here and in other areas of the GCC. Erika Nottingham Rawles, on the other hand, is a British Born Lyric Soprano currently living in Bahrain who performs here and in Europe.

She has performed in front of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa in 2014 and has played the role of Donna Anna for Baedeker Leisure’s Bahrain production of Don Giovanni in 2011.

This year, she was proud to be part of Bahrain’s Spring of Culture events performing at La Fontaine.

Hotels

Everyone in the audience appeared to have a fantastic time. Frank Normann Eikeland, the Domain’s General Manager, and sommelier Chad Cloete were present throughout. British Ambassador Simon Martin along with his wife Sophie were also present.

The concert was followed by a fabulous 3-course dinner of English Fayre at Le Sauvage, Level 34. The gastronomical delight started with Slow Poached king crab salad followed by fine mandarin and chili sorbet.

Guests chose between richly flavoured Pan Seared Red Deer Loin and Beef Wellington. For dessert, Granny Smith Apple Tart and Cinnamon Ice Cream was offered.

Celebrated English musicians Michelle Miles and Erica Nottingham Rawles performed music by renowned English composers with an aweinspiring backdrop of Manama.

The next Concert @ The Domain is Thursday 16th November The theme will be French Doors open at 7PM, concert starts at 7.30PM sharp Dinner and concert for BHD 30++ (includes one welcome drink)

The food was utterly exquisite, and guests could chose to be seated at larger tables if they wanted to be in groups, alternatively there were smaller tables for couples seeking intimacy or a romantic evening.

The Domain never fails to deliver high standards. We were moved by an emotional fusion between elegant music and remarkable cuisine. Overall, a wonderful way to spend an evening out in Bahrain.

For details call +973 1600 0000

Gulf Insider November 2017

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Hotels

THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER @ RGC

A

s we approach the winter season in the Middle East, it signifies the start of the peak golfing season here in Bahrain. The Royal Golf Club, Bahrain will undertake its annual winter overseed maintenance procedure to plant our winter grass for the season ahead to ensure peak playing conditions for the golfers that come to play our Championship course.

The reason we undertake this procedure is due to the summer paspalum grass that will go dormant

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Gulf Insider November 2017

in the winter months due to the cooler temperatures experienced this time of year. This will seriously affect the playability of the course with divots and pitch marks not recovering throughout winter due to the lack of growth and the overall aesthetics and appearance will not be to the standard of our world class facility.

Unlike any other golf course in the Middle East, the Royal Golf Club will plant winter grass on all areas of the golf course from the tees, rough, fairway and greens. We are the only

golf course that performs this to all grassed areas. The course will close from Sunday 22nd October and will take 12 days for the process to take place.

When the Championship Course opens on Friday November 3rd, we will have one of the best conditioned golf courses in the Middle East.

We advise all golfers to take advantage of this unique golfing experience. We perform this process to both the Championship Course and the Wee Monty Par 3 Golf Course. All levels of golfing ability are welcome

Hotels

Over 800 rounds played by more than 100,000 golfers in more than 50 countries throughout the year.

Unlike any other golf course in the Middle East, the Royal Golf Club will plant winter grass on all areas of the golf course from the tees, rough, fairway and greens.

to enjoy this unique sporting facility.

Our best available rates can be booked online via the club website on http:// theroyalgolfclub.com/. Bookings made outside of 10 days online will also receive a Bhd.10 Golf Shop Voucher.

To celebrate the golf course opening on November 3rd, the Royal Golf Club will be hosting the opening event of the world’s most renowned amateur golf tournament – The Audi quattro Cup Golf Tournament. This year it will be celebrating its 28th anniversary with over 800 rounds played by more than 100,000 golfers in more than 50 countries throughout the year. This event will be open to both members and visitors. There will be a further 5 qualifying rounds played during the coming months with the final of the tournament set for early 2018.

The series winners of the Bahrain tournament will have an opportunity to go forward and compete in the World finals of the Audi quattro Cup, which this year will be held at the prestigious Quivira Golf Club in Cabo San Luca, Mexico, during 2018.

For those of you that are new to the game, we have a variety of golfing tuition packages on at our Golf Academy with 3 PGA Professionals that can guide you along the way. This world class facility is welcome to everyone in the region.

Please come on down this November to the Royal Golf Club to sample our unrivalled experience. For further details, please contact us on +973 1775 0777.

Gulf Insider November 2017

19

Dining

Raising the Steaks ART Rotana’s Southern Smoked BBQ Night at Flames Restaurant.

F

lames Restaurant at the remarkable ART Rotana serves the most amazing modern contemporary cuisine featuring the finest prime cuts of beef from Australia, America and other parts of the world, seared to perfection on the grill, in addition to seafood specialties. Just recently, Gulf Insider indulged in the Southern Smoked BBQ Night and it did not disappoint us!

The Flames restaurant team in ART Rotana have gone out of their way to make this night happen. An entire evening detected to smoking all kinds

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Gulf Insider November 2017

of meat you can think of, starting with lamb, beef and pork to corn fed chicken and fish. Carved straight from the smoker and served to your plate while you enjoy all you can EAT from the smoked items, country style sides and lip-smacking dessert.

The interior of the restaurant was oozing with a classy yet homey decadence. We were seated along with the best view of the pool and had a nice relaxed atmosphere for dinner.

The rustic ambiance and smoky scents will have you all hypnotized and asking for more. It is an ideal place for a family affair and even better for a romantic

dinner. The ambiance was ethereal and the service was one of the best we’ve seen in a long time.

Each meat cut we tried was very tender, tasty and beautifully seasoned.

The steaks were cooked perfectly; medium rare and was still tender and moist whilst having a chargrilled skin. Other cuts were never anything less than the highest quality and the highly professional staff served each dish with confidence. What stood out from the rest is their Wagyu beef – rich and sweet without being greasy.

With each bite, the beef melted in our mouth. The steaks were accompanied

Dining

by a decadent spread featuring types of special sides and spices. We also indulged in the most amazing salmon, definitely a stand out!

After we had made our way through the main, we decided to try the desserts. From the look and scent of the dessert section, we knew that it was going to be of a high standard but we didn’t expect for every single sweet to be just as divine! Truly, Flames Restaurant is outstanding course after course.

What’s even more exciting is that the restaurant offers a very good selection

of grape from around the world. There’s no denying the Flames Restaurant is working on an award-winning formula – impeccable service, excellent wine and implausibly good steak!

The Southern Smoked BBQ night is available every Wednesday from 7pm to 11:30pm at Flames Restaurant. The offer is priced at BD 20++ per person.

For info and reservations, call Tel. +973 1600 0111 fb.art@rotana.com

There’s no denying the Flames Restaurant is working on an award-winning formula – impeccable service, excellent wine and implausibly good steak!

Gulf Insider November 2017

21

Life

ON Verge Of

Divorce

I Was On Verge Of Divorce, until One Simple Question Changed Everything

BY Josh Starling

F

or years, my wife and I struggled. I’m not exactly sure what initially drew us together, but our personalities didn’t quite match up. And the longer we were married the more extreme the differences seemed. Our fighting became so constant that it was difficult to even imagine a peaceful relationship. We were on the edge of divorce.

One day things came to a head. We had just had another big fight on the phone and my wife had hung up on me. I was frustrated and angry. I had reached my limit.

As much as I hated the idea of divorce, the pain of being together was just too much. I was also confused. I couldn’t figure out why marriage was so hard. Deep down I knew my wife was a good person. And I was a good person.

So why couldn’t we get along? Why wouldn’t she change?

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Gulf Insider November 2017

The next morning I rolled over in bed and asked, “How can I make your day better?”

In the depths of my despair powerful inspiration came to me. I can’t change her. I can only change myself.

That night, as we lay in our bed, inches from each other yet miles apart, the inspiration came. I knew what I had to do.

The next morning I rolled over in bed and asked, “How can I make your day better?”

She looked at me angrily. “What?”

“How can I make your day better?”

“You can’t,” she said. “Why are you asking that?”

“Because I mean it,” I said. “I just want to know what I can do to make your day better.”

She looked at me cynically.

“You want to do something? Go clean the kitchen.”

She likely expected me to get mad.

Instead I just nodded. “Okay.”

I got up and cleaned the kitchen.

The next day I asked the same thing.

“What can I do to make your day better?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Clean the garage.”

I took a deep breath. I already had a busy day and I knew she had made the request in spite. I was tempted to blow up at her. Instead I said, “Okay.” I got up and for the next two hours cleaned the garage. My wife wasn’t sure what to think. The next morning came.

“What can I do to make your day better?”

“Nothing!” she said. “You can’t do

Life

To have a partner in life is a remarkable gift.

Then my wife began asking, “What do you need from me?

How can I be a better wife?”

anything. Please stop saying that.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “But I can’t.” I made a commitment to myself. “What can I do to make your day better?”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because I care about you,” I said. “and our marriage.”

The next morning I asked again. And the next. And the next. Then, during the second week, a miracle occurred.

As I asked the question her eyes welled up with tears. Then she broke down crying. When she could speak she said, “Please stop asking me that.

You’re not the problem. I am. I’m hard

we maybe just spend some time together?”

I smiled. “I’d like that.”

I continued asking for more than a month. And things did change. The fighting stopped. Then my wife began asking, “What do you need from me?

How can I be a better wife?”

The walls between us fell. We began having meaningful discussions on what we wanted from life and how we could make each other happier. No, we didn’t solve all our problems. I can’t even say that we never fought again. But the nature of our fights changed. Not only

to live with. I don’t know why you stay with me.”

I gently lifted her chin until she was looking in my eyes. “It’s because I love you,” I said. “What can I do to make your day better?”

“I should be asking you that.”

“You should,” I said. “But not now.

Right now, I need to be the change. You need to know how much you mean to me.”

She put her head against my chest.

“I’m sorry I’ve been so mean.”

“I love you,” I said.

“I love you,” she replied.

“What can I do to make your day better?”

She looked at me sweetly. “Can

were they becoming more and more rare, they lacked the energy they’d once had. We’d deprived them of oxygen.

We just didn’t have it in us to hurt each other anymore.

I not only love my wife, I like her.

We’ve learned how to take care of each other, and, more importantly, we’ve gained the desire to do so. To have a partner in life is a remarkable gift.

I’m not saying that what happened will work for everyone. I’m not even claiming that all marriages should be saved. But for me, I’m grateful that my family is still intact and that I still have my wife, my best friend, in bed next to me when I wake in the morning.

Gulf Insider November 2017

23

Money & Business

Dependable Security as a Service

Interview with Mirza Asrar Baig, CEO and Founder of CTM360

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Gulf Insider November 2017

Money & Business

C

TM360 has a vision for the future—that the dynamics of managing enterprise security will rapidly evolve.

We talked to Mirza Asrar Baig, CEO and founder of CTM360 and asked how this would impact how security is implemented within organizations.

Baig led us through a short history of the GCC market — how the whole economy of the region is driving towards diversification across industries.

“There is a whole “Let’s Build” mentality; things have changed so much in recent years. That’s why at the moment, there’s so much potential for startups. We used to be just consumers and now things are happening—it’s a virgin land. Additionally, if you have an entrepreneurial mindset, you can seize opportunities and strive to create value.”

Such a drive has resulted in CTM360, a cyber security startup that is based in Bahrain and holds global aspirations.

As Baig notes, CTM360 offers subscription-based cybersecurity from the cloud, an offering which detects and mitigates security threats in a comprehensive manner using a variety of sophisticated methods and resources.

CTM360 has channeled years of experience and R&D into developing its suite of services specifically in the cyber security field; the company has built fully integrated service modules, capably backed by a 24 x 7 x 365 cyber analyst team.

CTM360 has established a Cyber Threat Management Community platform that leverages the 3C’s of communication, collaboration, and coordination. The company strives to deliver clear and measurable value for all their partners, including customers, regulators, vendors, and employees.

Baig said that CTM360 was formed from the same strategy of “3 Cs” – “As a provider of “Dependable Security as a Service,” we are always eager to promote greater interaction and facilitate dialogue within our industry.

Our goal is to elevate the region into a global benchmark for cybersecurity excellence”.

Collective Action Baig believes that diversity and collective action create better policies and effective action plans.

This is not the first time that Baig has created a security startup. He recalls back in 1998, when the internet was new to the Arab world, and the Love Bug virus had wiped out all the hard drives. Before that, he was an active proponent of anti-virus, but was not taken seriously at the time. After the incident, everyone was trying to set up their systems with anti-virus. He

Our goal is to elevate the region into a global benchmark for cybersecurity excellence. was both in a good and bad position; good—because he was selling security solutions quickly, bad—because some people thought it was him who unleashed the virus!

This was, he says the start of the journey for security. In this region,

when big things happen, people react but are not really preventative in terms of managing their security issues. But, he says, slowly the environment is maturing. Already in the financial sector a lot of banks are hooked up to cyber security. But CTM360 goes beyond ordinary cyber security and offers an ability to preempt an attack before it impacts an organization. When asked about it, Baig says “When we see threats on the internet, we don’t wait for them to materialize into an attack.

We immediately look to contain any

threat”. He adds that the price point of their business is a major advantage as they have a price ceiling and manage threats—be it on mobile apps, or in data—collectively, without frequent price changes or revisions. This is mainly driven by a desire to deliver true value to the end-user.

Research and Development Baig added that he would like to develop a R&D company and be an incubator for new startups.

One of the main problems that Baig faces is that people are not really aware of what cybersecurity is. Sometimes people confuse cybersecurity with IT Security or Information Security, which are quite different. Baig used Gulf Insider November 2017

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Money & Business

a simple metaphor to illustrate the difference. He says that IT security, much like the police, needs to allow end users (e.g. employees) specific scope to work within the confines of rules and regulations. In turn, Information Security teams have a different objective, i.e. to protect information assets, much like how the military acts to protect the perimeter from information or data losses; in contrast to these two functions, and an independent role, the Cyber Security function operates outside the firewall and looks to identify and neutralize all threats - similar to how an intelligence agency acts.

In terms of prevention, CTM360 advocates a logical framework: know your own assets in cyberspace. For this purpose, the company offers a Digital Risk Management framework that includes cyber footprints of all assets through a cyber asset register, domain registration audit system and real-time vulnerability assessments. Simply put, CTM360 captures large volumes of data about any organization in an automated manner, then categorizes

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and audits in real-time. Known as the whitelist, this information ensures that CTM360 effectively counters all emerging threats, known as the blacklist. Overall, CTM360 takes on the same view as any attacker, with no installations or access to infrastructure required.

BreachDB Corporate Credentials in Hacked Accounts Database

What is BreachDB? Baig recently unveiled BreachDB at GITEX 2017 and proudly claims that this database has collected 4.5 billion hacked records from the internet. Requiring large resources to operate, BreachDB is CTM360’s attempt to highlight how even the smartest and most secure organizations may be exposed in hacking campaigns globally. After all, humans remain the weakest link in the security chain and ultimately may be the root cause of a security lapse, through negligence, incompetence or lapses in judgment. With increased levels of social engineering in

targeted attacks, it is necessary for an organization to build staff vigilance.

Tracking hacked or leaked credentials is a good starting point.

Leveraging from its position of strength and experienced at tackling a range of cyber threats, CTM360 seeks to become the cyber security department of any organization, irrespective of industry or geography.

Following regional success, the company is now focused on its global expansion plans.

For more information: CTM360 Tel: +973 77360 360 info@ctm360.com www.ctm360.com

Awards and Nominations: • Forbes - Top 100 Start-ups in the Arab World 2017 • Red Herring Top 100 Asia Award 2017 • Managed Detection & Response Provider - Security Advisor Awards 2017 • Network Middle East (NME) Awards – Most Innovative Cybersecurity Company - 2017 • Cybersecurity Company of the Year Award - MEETICT - 2017 • Visionary CEO of the Year Award Future IT Summit - 2017 • Special Contribution to the Banking & Financial Sector as a Cybersecurity Provider - IFM EMEA Awards - 2017 • Cybersecurity Excellence Awards • Most Innovative Cybersecurity Company - Finalist - 2017 • Cybersecurity Excellence Awards - Fastest Growing Cybersecurity Company Finalist 2017 • Services Provider of the Year Arab Technology Awards Finalist 2016 • Security Solutions Provider of the Year - ICT Achievement Awards - Finalist - 2016 • Bahrain Tech Award • Forbes Innovator Award

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Money & Business

At last, a Parking App for Bahrain!

Gulf Insider meets Omar Salah Al-Khan, Managing Partner of ParkPoint Parking Solutions, to discuss his latest innovations in parking technology.

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Gulf Insider November 2017

Money & Business

T

his young entrepreneur introduced the first valet parking to the island a decade ago. Now he’s set to introduce the first mobile parking app to the country.

So what does ParkPoint offer? Put simply; Aside from being the first valet parking company in Bahrain to provide 5-star service, they provide parking management as well. ParkPoint provides its valet parking services to a number of locations on the island such as Bahrain City Centre, Seef Mall, Adliya’s Block 338, as well as numerous hotels and restaurants. ParkPoint also provides parking management to a number of parking lots.

By the end of 2017 all the company’s operations will be fully automated, integrating and cataloguing parking locations through a centralized system.

“In the future”, Al-Khan says, “all parking transactions will be smart, and we want to be ahead of the game”.

Inspired by a desire to revolutionize parking technology, Al-Khan launched ParkPass, a membership scheme to provide both convenience and savings to its members.

ParkPass is not just limited to valet parking. The membership scheme also works for paid parking locations and managed paid parking lots (whether operated by ParkPoint or another service provider).

Omar Salah

ParkPass Membership is free for individuals. To join, simply sign-up online at www.park-pass.com, email info@park-pass.com, call +973 3888 8231, 66779955 or speak to any ParkPoint valet attendant.

Members receive a ParkPass barcode sticker, which can be placed either on the vehicle’s windshield or inside the driver’s door panel, and a membership card which can be scanned by valet attendants to buy or redeem points – 10 pints = 1 dinar.

Frictionless Experience ParkPass Members save money when they pay for tickets using points and can redeem their points for services from City Centre, Seef mall, and Adliya block 338. The company is currently adding more valet parking and parking locations to Parkpass. Al-Khan says “The cash transaction is currently the most inconvenient part of valet parking, which normally takes place at the customer’s departure time, so we wanted to eliminate that”.

Parkpass offers a frictionless parking experience, with all the convenience of valet parking without the hassle of cash or card transactions afterwards.

It offers members more convenience

and more savings. Customers enjoy discounted rates depending on their tier of membership--Blue, Silver, or Gold, with Gold being the tier with maximum discount.

The Parking Mobile App Parkpass Parking Mobile App will be launched in the first quarter of 2018.

It will enable members to navigate and pay for their parking, while saving money through using the service. The app will be available for paid, valet, and free parking; so the benefit of finding a parking spot will not be limited to those who want to pay for parking.

Al-khan adds, “We want the app to be useful to everyone, and we want every driver to download our app” Al-Khan looks forward to revolutionary, hassle-free parking experiences for his App users; “Uber changed the way people look for transport, Expedia changed the way people travel, and Talabat changed the way people order food; I want to change the way people park, look for parking, as well as pay for it.”

He elaborates “You will often see cars parked at the front of a shop, blocking the road. They may not even be aware that there’s a perfectly good car park available at the rear. The app will allow all users, whether they are ParkPass members or not, to access information about available parking areas – that’s got to be a good thing in terms of easing traffic congestion and solving parking issues.”

Al-Khan is now in discussions with several banks interested in making ParkPass available to their card holders. He is also optimistic that card companies, airlines, real estate developers, car dealers, telecoms and other corporations will find it beneficial for their own staff and as part of future customer packages and benefits.

“We want to revolutionize the parking industry, we want to change the behavior of people looking for parking”, he tells us, adding that there is an exciting innovation coming with the mobile app that he is going to announce soon.

For more information: Parkpoint Parking Solutions | www.park-pass.com | www.park-point.com | info@park-pass.com Gulf Insider November 2017

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“I will return Saudi Arabia to moderate Islam” says crown prince

“W

hat happened in the last 30 years is not Saudi Arabia.

What happened in the region in the last 30 years is not the Middle East” said Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, who has vowed to return the country to “moderate Islam” and asked for global support to transform the hardline kingdom into an open society that empowers citizens and lures investors.

In an interview with the Guardian, the powerful heir to the Saudi throne said the ultra-conservative state had been “not normal” for the past 30 years, blaming rigid doctrines that have governed society in a reaction to the 30

Gulf Insider November 2017

Economic transformation is important but equally essential is social transformation.

Iranian revolution, which successive leaders “didn’t know how to deal with”.

Expanding on comments he made at an investment conference at which he announced the launch of an ambitious $500bn independent economic zone

straddling Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt, Prince Mohammed said: “We are a G20 country. One of the biggest world economies. We’re in the middle of three continents. Changing Saudi Arabia for the better means helping the region and changing the world. So this is what we are trying to do here. And we hope we get support from everyone.

“What happened in the last 30 years is not Saudi Arabia. What happened in the region in the last 30 years is not the Middle East. After the Iranian revolution in 1979, people wanted to copy this model in different countries, one of them is Saudi Arabia. We didn’t know how to deal with it. And the problem spread all over the world. Now is the time to get rid of it.”

Property

Earlier Prince Mohammed had said: “We are simply reverting to what we followed – a moderate Islam open to the world and all religions. 70% of the Saudis are younger than 30, honestly we won’t waste 30 years of our life combating extremist thoughts, we will destroy them now and immediately.”

The crown prince’s comments are the most emphatic he has made during a six-month reform programme that has tabled cultural reforms and economic incentives unimaginable during recent decades, during which the kingdom has been accused of promoting a brand of Islam that underwrote extremism.

The comments were made as the heir of the incumbent monarch moves to consolidate his authority, sidelining clerics whom he believes have failed to support him and demanding unquestioning loyalty from senior officials whom he has entrusted to drive a 15-year reform programme that aims to overhaul most aspects of life in Saudi Arabia.

Central to the reforms has been the breaking of an alliance between hardline clerics who have long defined the national character and the House of Saud, which has run affairs of state. The changes have tackled head-on societal taboos such as the recently rescinded ban on women driving, as well as scaling back guardianship laws that restrict women’s roles and establishing an Islamic centre tasked with certifying the sayings of the prophet Muhammed.

The scale and scope of the reforms has been unprecedented in the country’s modern history and concerns remain that a deeply conservative base will oppose what is effectively a cultural revolution – and that the kingdom lacks the capacity to follow through on its economic ambitions.

The new economic zone is to be established on 470km of the Red Sea coast, in a tourist area that has already been earmarked as a liberal hub akin to Dubai, where male and female bathers are free to mingle.

It has been unveiled as the centrepiece of efforts to turn the kingdom away from a near total dependence on oil and into a diverse open economy. Obstacles remain: an

entrenched poor work ethic, a crippling regulatory environment and a general reluctance to change.

“Economic transformation is important but equally essential is social transformation,” said one of the country’s leading businessmen. “You cannot achieve one without the other.

The speed of social transformation is key. It has to be manageable.”

Alcohol, cinemas and theatres are still banned in the kingdom and mingling

fail. “This is about giving kids a social life,” said a senior Saudi royal figure.

“Entertainment needs to be an option for them. They are bored and resentful.

A woman needs to be able to drive herself to work. Without that we are all doomed. Everyone knows that – except the people in small towns. But they will learn.”

In the next 10 years, at least five million Saudis are likely to enter the country’s workforce, posing a huge

between unrelated men and women remains frowned upon. However Saudi Arabia – an absolute monarchy – has clipped the wings of the once-feared religious police, who no longer have powers to arrest and are seen to be falling in line with the new regime.

Economically Saudi Arabia will need huge resources if it is to succeed in putting its economy on a new footing and its leadership believes it will fail to generate strategic investments if it does not also table broad social reforms.

Prince Mohammed had repeatedly insisted that without establishing a new social contract between citizen and state, economic rehabilitation would

problem for officials who currently do not have jobs to offer them or tangible plans to generate employment.

The economic zone is due to be completed by 2025 – five years before the current cap on the reform programme – and is to be powered by wind and solar energy, according to its founders.

The country’s enormous sovereign wealth fund is intended to be a key backer of the independent zone. It currently has $230bn under management. The sale of 5% of the world’s largest company, Aramco, is expected to raise several hundred billion dollars more.

Gulf Insider November 2017

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Saudi Arabia’s

great makeover can’t afford to fail this time

V

isitors to Saudi Arabia could be forgiven for thinking the country just got a dynamic young new king. Images of him holding babies, drinking coffee with soldiers or meeting the world’s most powerful rulers are all over television. On National Day last month, a giant picture of him was projected onto a Riyadh skyscraper.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin

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Salman, 32, has emerged as the unrivaled leader of the kingdom, now better placed to steer it through a transition no nation in history has managed to pull off: converting a major economy reliant on petrodollars into one that can survive in a post-oil 21st century.

The grand remake involves investing in new industries and creating jobs for the young Saudi population. It will all

be underpinned by the sale of a stake in oil giant Aramco, which is now facing possible delay, and the creation of the world’s biggest sovereign wealth fund.

But almost two years since the start of the reform drive, officials are grappling with crucial questions of how to save money and speed up social change without crippling the economy and clashing with one of the world’s most conservative religious

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establishments. Before the government declared it would lift the long-standing Saudi ban on female drivers last month, security services rounded up independent clerics and other critical figures.

“This is a huge challenge for the country, and it has great implications for the world,” Goldman Sachs Inc. Chief Executive Officer Lloyd Blankfein said at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum in New York in September. While there should be urgency, there’s also a case for caution so the change needed for “stability in the long run doesn’t produce instability in the short run,” he said.

Failure to find the right answers risks leaving the kingdom in limbo: an absolute monarchy with diminishing resources to fund an unsustainable version of state capitalism. Saudis will get more restless and the economy, already ground to a halt, could get worse. Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan told Bloomberg last month that cuts to energy subsidies may be more gradual and the government might take longer to balance its budget, softening the impact on society.

Interviews and conversations with more than two dozen investors, analysts, executives, diplomats and government advisers in Saudi Arabia and abroad show businesses are still reeling from government spending cuts following the collapse in the oil price.

Some regard the war in Yemen and the showdown with neighboring Qatar as costly sideshows.

“All of the regional problems—Qatar, Yemen, Syria, Iraq—all are a distraction,” Turki Al Rasheed, a Saudi businessman, said at his sprawling home in an upscale Riyadh neighborhood as he leafed through notes on the kingdom’s continued dependency on oil. Failing to achieve sustainable development is “the real threat,” he said.

Al Rasheed hasn’t given up hope that the plan, called Vision 2030, could work.

Yet he can’t help but remember past attempts that ended in failure. Among the most recent was “The Future Vision for the Saudi Economy: 2020” from about 15 years ago. “We had 400 workshops,” he recalled.

The latest attempt at an overhaul was triggered by a sharp drop in oil revenue in 2014 and prices have halved since then. To avoid what the prince and his advisers saw as a catastrophic rundown on savings, they canceled projects deemed unnecessary, cut costly subsidies, and halted payments to contractors.

While austerity was seen as necessary to reduce a ballooning budget deficit, the impact on the economy was unmistakable: non-oil

What the private sector has seen is that the government doesn’t know everything, that some decisions that were made have had to be retracted. growth stagnated, consumer spending dropped and unemployment increased among the 20 million Saudis, threequarters of whom are under 40.

In Riyadh, Thaer al-Oteibi, 36, owner of three coffee shops and two restaurants, is struggling to save his company. Sales have tumbled 35

percent, he said, despite offering free desserts with every meal. “We’d like the government to help us,” he said.

“But I have no idea how.”

Official data show non-oil gross domestic product, the engine of job creation, barely expanded in the first two quarters this year. The construction industry, squeezed by public spending cuts, has contracted for six quarters in a row since the start of 2016. And for all the talk of diversifying revenue, the narrowing of this year’s budget deficit

so far has been driven by higher income from oil exports.

If history is anything to go by, the non-oil Saudi economy could be staring at years of stagnation. The rise in non-oil GDP struggled to keep up with population growth during the 1980s and 1990s.

Unlike the past, however, the possibility of an oil price rescue appears to be slim, so Prince Mohammed needs businesses to expand and take on more Saudi workers away from the bloated public sector, said Emily Hawthorne, Middle East and North Africa analyst at Texas-based advisory firm Stratfor. “It’s such a critical moment for them that they have to make something work for the private sector.”

Saudi authorities also told the IMF they plan to introduce a support program to help selected industries adjust to higher energy and water prices. And there’s the Public

Gulf Insider November 2017

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Property

Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund that will spearhead a drive to invest in industries from manufacturing to entertainment to mining and defense.

In a televised interview in May, Prince Mohammed said the PIF will spend at least half of the money from Aramco’s initial public offering on domestic investments. How much money that raises and when is in question, with the Saudis considering delaying the

government appears willing to learn from mistakes instead of papering over them. Ali Alireza, the managing director of Haji Husein Alireza & Co. Ltd., which sells vehicles from dump trucks to Aston Martin cars, said there have been meetings between businessmen and government officials to “formulate a proper plan.”

“What the private sector has seen is that the government doesn’t know

international portion of the sale until at least 2019, people familiar with the situation said last week.

The PIF said on Oct. 9 it would set aside $1.1 billion to support small- and medium-size enterprises. It’s also announced a string of domestic mega projects, such as a $2.7 billion company to invest in local entertainment—a plan that is seen both as a way to open up society and retain some of the money spent on trips by Saudis to Dubai and elsewhere.

Others point to the fact that the

everything, that some decisions that were made have had to be retracted,” he said.

In April, King Salman restored bonuses and allowances for state employees seven months after a decision to cut the public-sector wage bill. The measure had hurt consumer spending and exacerbated the pain in the economy.

The government at the same time is trying to push Saudis toward privatesector jobs. More industries are being restricted to citizens and a fee on

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expatriates and their dependents went into effect in July, making it costlier for companies to hire foreigners.

An advertisement for the ‘Vision 2030’ program in Riydah features a photograph of King Salman.

Photographer: Tasneem Alsultan/ Bloomberg Mohammed, 40, a sub-contractor, said having failed to find Saudis to do welding and other manual jobs, he faked contracts, paying a couple about 1,500 riyals a month while they stay at home so he can meet his quota.

On National Day, scores of Saudi men and women danced in the streets of Riyadh to pulsating lights and a DJ blasting electronic music—until recently an unimaginable scene in a city where restaurants either separate “single men” from mixed-gender groups or don’t allow women inside at all.

When King Salman visited Russia, part of the program was a rare screening of three Saudi films, including winner of Best Film at the Dubai International Film Festival.

For Ayman Jamal, a 45-year-old filmmaker and former banker, Vision 2030 is a “golden era” for the nascent movie industry. “The vision has created opportunities, new models and sectors but it has also created challenges for the old schoolers, either in their business model or large margins,” he said.

That sort of optimism shows how after initial resistance to the prince’s ideas, Vision 2030 was “getting more and more believers,” said Yasir AlRumayyan, the investment fund’s managing director and a key member of Prince Mohammed’s inner policy-making circle.

People

Do you think people are born poets, or can they be trained to become one?

It is a combination of both factors.

My generation, those born in the 50s and 60s, were born into poverty because of the socio-economic crisis.

We had to work to earn a living.

Many did not have the luxury to study literature and poetry at the academic level. Nonetheless, for those of us who had an aptitude for poetry, we were able to excel in it. Despite the hardship, I was fortunate to come from an educated and religious household, which could afford to give me an official education. Regardless of our background and challenges, we appreciated the life we experienced.

I’d like to think that the challenge with modern poetry lies with the audience.

It is a small group within a limited audience.

The Rebirth of

Poetry

By Alexander Woodman

I

n Bahrain, one individual, Qassim Haddad, is a global poet extolled by locals. I had an opportunity to discuss poetry with this legendary Arab poet in his homeland. The journey I had with him was a peaceful experience into the soul of humanity.

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Gulf Insider November 2017

How significant is the role of poetry in our life?

Poetry is a way of life. Poets view the world with a sense that differs from most people. They use their poetic sensuality to interpret their interactions with everything in their environment.

Do you think universities should offer poetry classes, or is it up to the individual to develop this skill? From your own experience, you developed your skills through a self-taught process. Should those who are interested follow your lead, instead of relying on a traditional academic institution?

I’d like to think that the challenge with modern poetry lies with the audience. It is a small group within a limited audience. Notably, the audience learns about poetry within the confines of their homes. It is passed from one generation to the next. Basically, the educational infrastructure does not reflect, or represent their cultural roots and identity. Therefore, most students tend to neglect and ignore modern Arabic literature and poetry. While

People

the advancement in the publishing industry has made some inroads to improve, disseminate, and promote poetry, the readers and audience of modern poetry leave a lot to be desired.

Although, globally, some people show interest in poetry, especially in the English language, they are unlikely to be interested in Saudi poetry.

collaboration of writers, actors, painters, musicians, and illustrators. They eventually developed into communities specific to the artists’ professions.

In what ways would you use Saudi Arabia -- as a country, a heritage, and an

new generation are two fold. Firstly, academic institutions (universities) tend to focus on poetry and literature of the old rather than modern poetry and literature. Consequently, this generation believes there is nothing to seek, because the subject is irrelevant

What makes Arabic poetry/literature unique in comparison to Russian, Persian, or other ethnic poetry?

I have read many forms of poetry from many different cultures. I read either the translated or transcribed forms. I observed that the Arabic language is unique. Unlike the Latin languages, it has not changed. The language has maintained its original form carrying with it the Arabic heritage, as it coursed its way from one generation to the next. The Arabic language is profoundly descriptive and melodious by nature. It is suitable for poetry, because this art requires a colorful, rhythmic, and an extensive vocabulary to express itself. Due to the language, Arabic poetry has been mistaken for music by listeners abroad.

In general, do you think Saudi Arabia has produced quality literature and writers within the past few generations?

Like poetry, the new movement in literature is comforting because it shows that the new generation is not willing to settle for more of the same thing. It is especially pleasing to see the new generations showing and developing an interest in filmmaking.

The art of filmmaking is an enriching and far-reaching visual experience. It is a wonderful and highly influential tool of story telling. The Middle East is known as an active society since the olden days. We learn about things through seeing them from an up-close and personal perspective. It allows us to excel at arts and crafts. For example, we learn about literature through oral tradition, prior to the advent of the written tradition.

In the late 20th century and beyond, the entire Arabic community began moving towards new forms of cinema and theater. These forms began with the

identity as symbols in your poetry? What description would you assign to it?

It is not easy to personify Saudi Arabia. However, if I had the chance, it would be helpful to see a human experience living in the Arabian Peninsula. Nonetheless, I would symbolize Saudi Arabia as a misunderstood human being, who is fully capable of communication and self-expression. However, the individual is sadly inaccessible to the rest of the world.

How does the new generation, especially the 20 and 30 year old Bahrainis, feel about poetry? Do you think they care about it, or are they more interested in social media?

to them. Therefore, they seek online sources. Unfortunately, these sources are of average quality; they lack professionalism. This is a far cry from the poetry currently available.

Alexander Woodman graduated from the University of California Los Angeles, (UCLA) with high honors. His research interest is in global health, international health policy development, transnational and trans-cultural health politics as well as visual culture in the Middle East.

Currently, he is a faculty member at Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University in Saudi Arabia.

The problems with the readers of the Gulf Insider November 2017

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The First International Conference on

Sustainable Futures Interview with Prof. Ghassan Fouad Aouad, President of Applied Science University.

By Dhanyasree M

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Gulf Insider November 2017

he International Conference on Sustainable Futures (ICSF) will be conducted on November 26-27, 2017 by Applied Science University (ASU) and London South Bank University (LSBU) at the Kingdom of Bahrain. Prof. Ghassan Fouad Aouad, President of the ASU shares the details of the unique event with the readers of the Gulf Insider Magazine.

Can you tell us more about International Conference on Sustainable Futures (ICSF)?

International Conference on Sustainable Futures (ICSF) is first of its kind in the Kingdom. The event will take place under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Majid bin Ali Al-Nuaimi, the Minister of Education in Bahrain. Applied Science University is proud to be the organizers of the event in association with London South Bank University (LSBU), UK. The event has been supported by Nass Group, Higher Education academy, The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), AARU and other Univrsities.

Mr Sameer Nass, Chairman of the Board of Directors, ASU and Professor Waheeb AlKhaja, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, ASU will be the Conference Honorary Chairpersons and I will hold the Conference Chairperson position with Professor Charles Egbu, Dean at London South Bank University, UK. The CEO of The Chartered Institute of

People

Building (CIOB) will be the Chairperson for the session covering sustainable buildings and infrastructure.

The conference will address some topical issues related to energy, alternative energy, and sustainable futures like green buildings, sustainable education, sustainable finance, sustainable banking and sustainable planning. The conference will address the topics on how our future world would look like by reducing carbon emissions and carbon footprints.

You have mentioned that International Conference on Sustainable Futures (ICSF) is first of its kind in the Kingdom.

The keynote speakers will be coming from UK, Italy, Australia, Ireland, Turkey, South Africa, Cypress and other parts of GCC making this a truly international research conference. The number of participating speakers and research scholars indicate the importance of the topics that the conference covers!

The Conference has a session on sustainable education and there will be attendees from other universities and schools in Bahrain. This is essential since the session is expected to increase the awareness in s the future generation. They will be educated about the importance of the environment and energy consumption.

execute the event from the point of getting approvals, inviting papers, finalizing papers, finding the venue, arranging visas and accommodation for the international invitees, ensuring logistics etc.

Who should attend this event?

Students, researchers and teachers from the educational institutions and decision makers from the public and private sectors should attend this event.

In fact, whoever is interested in the topic are welcome to attend the event.

They can register for the event at our website conference.asu.edu.bh

The conference will address some topical issues related to energy, alternative energy, and sustainable futures like green buildings, sustainable education.

What was the inspiration behind organizing such an event?

In the time of environmental issues and increasing energy prices, people will need to turn to alternative sources of energy. Bahrain is a region blessed with the sunlight and solar energy is a form of cleaner energy too.

The conference will bring forth ideas from many researchers and scholars in this area on the recent developments in the sustainable energy. It will cover some important topics on the developments in the sustainable energy related to technology, environment and economics.

We have around 60 papers submitted for this event from around 15 countries.

The Conference has the support of Higher Education Council as it aims to make Bahrain as the knowledge hub in the GCC. The conference is expected to attract more investors and researchers with practical knowledge in the field to Bahrain, and which will be beneficial for the Kingdom as well as the entire Gulf region. The research papers and findings discussed during this conference is expected to help GCC and oil dependent economy countries to look into alternate energy sources and to cope with difficult economic conditions.

How long the planning and preparation of the event took place?

We have allotted special discounts for the students since they are the ones to be educated and take the topic to the next level.

Those who haven’t submitted the papers or got selected can observe the conference this year, and learn to participate for the next conference.

The conference will be a forum for international researchers and practitioners to discuss, share and exchange their latest research findings in the area of sustainable futures.

This will develop and promote a network of like-minded people who are passionate about the future and its sustainability.

It has taken a year to plan and Gulf Insider November 2017

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GLOBAL SHAPERS COMMUNITY MANAMA

Manama Shapers Interview with Lucy Wozniak, Head of Learning Enrichment and Psychologist, Mns Bahrain.

W

hat inspired you to become an educational psychologist?

I decided to pursue a career in education to have a direct positive impact on society.

I trained as a primary teacher and taught for eight years. After teaching various children with special educational needs, I decided to pursue my Masters in Child Psychology and Development at UCL, as I saw how parents struggled to gain support in specialized child and educational psychological services in the region.

Completing my masters also allowed me to systematically explore an underdeveloped area of research in the GCC in which I am extremely passionate about: Autism Spectrum Disorder.

In many places children and adults with special needs are still stigmatized. How do you help to educate the public on these issues?

Originally I hoped through my academic research and my work to help overcome the important social challenge of integration of people with special needs in the community. Surprisingly, the stigmas that have always been assumed are not necessarily present 40

Gulf Insider November 2017

here as the Bahraini community is very inclusive and accepting. I currently work at the only private fully inclusive school in Bahrain, and seeing how wonderfully the other students accept atypical children and treat them just as any other typical child, is incredibly encouraging and positive.

That being said, there are still cases of stigmatisation, but I strongly believe

My goals as a Shaper are to raise awareness on challenges faced by individuals with special educational needs in our region. that the existence of inclusive schools, and awareness campaigns will lift the remaining barriers. Hopefully in the future, we will see ‘autism friendly’ events, such as cinema nights and airport ‘autism’ friendly areas for families.

Why did you join the Manama Shapers?

I originally became a shaper with the goal of helping to overcome some of the challenges faced within our society.

In particular, I wished to contribute to the further enhancement of the special educational needs education and research in Bahrain. My first proposal involved a project to obtain vocational training and then jobs for Bahraini young adults with autism. I also joined the shapers as I wished to develop myself and learn from other like-minded individuals.

What are your goals as a Shaper?

My goals as a shaper are to raise awareness on challenges faced by individuals with special educational needs in our region, to participate in research on this topic and to develop a network of health professionals for parents of children with special educational needs.

Do you still have free time? If so, what do you do with it?

I like to read, cook, and practice yoga.

I also enjoy spending weekends helping out at the local animal shelter, BSPCA: Bahrain Society for Protection and Cruelty against Animals, walking the dogs or brushing the cats.

Contributor

The Enlightened Entrepreneur

Vancouver

MOLDING A STRONG PERSONAL BRAND

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ohamed Shukri, a Bahraini international award-winning speaker, was one of the top 8 keynote speakers in Toastmasters International 86th Annual convention held this year in Vancouver BC, Canada. The convention is the pinnacle of in the organization’s yearly calendar. Thousands of Toastmasters members from across the globe attend and participate in what is known to be one of the biggest leadership and communication events in the world.

The convention consists of a variety of key events that were anticipated year long by the attendees. The World Championship of Public Speaking, international keynote speakers, leadership elections and outstanding educational sessions were some of the key features of the convention.

Mohamed Shukri was the first Arab who ever made it to the World Championship finals back in 2006, in Washington DC. This year, he was selected out of hundreds of international experts to be one of the eight main keynote speakers in the Vancouver convention, to become, again, the first Arab who is given this key role in the organization’s biggest event.

Mohamed’s keynote was titled “The Life In Your Speech” in which he revealed a model for authentic speaking, helping speakers create deeper impact by sharing experiences that touched them the most, giving practical tips to identify those particular experiences.

ach and every one of us has a personal brand, but most of us don’t know it or simply don’t realize it. And then there are others who do know what their personal brand is all about, but fail to exploit it correctly to gain the success they are striving for.

Personal branding consists of marketing yourself and your career the way you would do a product or a service; instilling a specific image of how you want your brand to resonate in the minds of your clients, potential clients, and other stakeholders.

One of the benefits of investing time and effort in your personal brand is that you will get many opportunities where people and companies will look for you whether for work, speaking engagements, media appearances, etc.

You will be sought after rather than fishing for opportunities yourself. Also, a strong personal brand will get you a higher chance of being noticed and hired. It goes without saying that most of hiring managers depend on social media in their hiring process and decision making. Therefore, your resume alone is no longer enough; you have to work on your social media presence, and most importantly, your personal brand.

One tip for building a successful personal brand is writing thought leadership articles, which will strongly establish your credibility. Another very important tip is focusing on building a strong online presence as mentioned earlier.

Having your own website has a bigger impact than social media only. Also, make sure to always Google your name to see how well you are doing and what reviews say about you. You have a long and bumpy road ahead of you, but your goals can be reached with effort, dedication, as well as constant monitoring and tweaking and continuous improvement.

A final note: It is important to understand that the key to building and establishing your personal will always be authenticity. Nothing good comes out of pretending or being fake. People will be able to see through you sooner or later and this will cause more harm and damage to your personal brand than good.

Sawsan Abu Omar, MCIPR Mohamed Shukri – Author,

corporate consultant, award winning speaker.

PR & Communications Professional www.sawsanabuomar.com contact@sawsanabuomar.com

mohd.a.shukri@gmail.com

Gulf Insider November 2017

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Contributor

Et tu, Brute?

T

he infamous quote from William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar depicts the ultimate betrayal when the great Roman Dictator was assassinated by a group of senators including his friend and protégé, Marcus Junius Brutus. The tragedy of Julius Caser is a reminder to be watchful of that to which we trust in the most.

The greatest of threats come not from outside capital walls, but from within their very gates.

Sound cyber security advice has always included the use of anti-virus software. The most visual line of defense, anti-virus is our confidant in computer security and is granted unrestricted access to email, files, and trusted system processes.

Unfortunately, a recent events demand we take a second look at our old friend, anti-virus, and question the degree of control afforded the software in the name of security.

Actus Primus.

Starting in mid-August, software updates distributed from anti-virus company Avast included an embedded malicious payload. Cisco Talos, a cyber threat intelligence team, reported the attack after nearly a full month of the update’s release. The malware was a Trojan backdoor hidden inside a digitallysigned package and downloaded over two million times. Supply-chain attacks, like this one and the NotPetya attack earlier this year, are difficult to detect and bypass many protective mechanisms under a cloak of false legitimacy.

This Trojan reported system profiles of infected host computers to the attacker’s Internet-residing command and control server. Targeted computers of interest then received follow-on advanced malware to perform yetunknown industrial espionage activities.

At least 40 computers were confirmed 42

Gulf Insider November 2017

to have received the advanced malware and all belonged to technology companies including Intel, Sony, and Samsung.

Cisco Talos assessed the malware as “very well developed” requiring extensive funding and programming expertise to produce. Security researchers noted the code bears similarities with malware used by a suspected nation-state hacking group.

A clean software update was quickly pushed by Avast. However, the extent of the breach, to include if any sensitive information may have been taken, remains unknown.

Actus Secunda.

In a series of articles last month, the Wall Street Journal alleged that Kaspersky Lab anti-virus software, installed on a U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) contractor’s computer, aided nation-state sponsored hackers in 2015. Information obtained from the hack included “details about how the NSA penetrates foreign computer networks, the computer code it uses for such spying, and how it defends networks inside the U.S.” Keyword searching is not a routine anti-virus function prompting accusations the modifications to the anti-virus software was only possible with Kaspersky Labs knowledge and not hackers exploiting a bug in the software.

Kasperky denied any direct involvement issuing the following official statement, “Kaspersky Lab was not involved in and does not possess any knowledge of the situation in question, and the company reiterates its willingness to work alongside US authorities to address any concerns they may have about its products as well as its systems.”

Kaspersky anti-virus is used by more than 400 million computers globally and is generally viewed favorably by the security community for their active

efforts to thwart cyber attack. The allegations of wrong-doing by Kaspersky have yet to be backed by hard evidence made available to the public. The use of Kaspersky software or services was prohibited on U.S. Government computers but it remains to be seen how these claims will further affect Kaspersky software sales.

Epilogus.

Detecting anti-virus misuse is best accomplished by employing defensein-depth; the use of several security products to mitigate seams in protection between them. Unfortunately, this technique is often reserved for mediumto-large businesses as it is costprohibited for the small businesses and consumers. Perhaps a better solution is for ethical anti-virus companies to develop self-regulating methods to justify continued consumer trust in their products.

Julius Caesar failed to heed the soothsayer’s grim warning, “Beware the Ides of March!” and his death forever changed the history of Rome. So too has the warning been cast to not overtrust installed security products.

Finis.

Ryan Ernst - Affectionately known as the Tony Stark of Bahrain” is an Enterprise Security“ Consultant at Sword & Shield www.sworshield.com

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Motors

Subaru WRX STI An Athlete’s Soul. A Champion’s Heart. A High-Performance Legend

F

or fans of motorsport worldwide, it takes just three letters to spell thrilling performance: STI. The WRX STI offers fresh styling, but the bonnet scoop and dramatic, downforce-generating rear spoiler leave no question about what it is, or what it’s built for. Beneath the surface, it generates performance

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Gulf Insider November 2017

that is more focused and more invigorating than ever.

Helping drivers to get the best from the STI’s engine, the six-speed manual gearbox has been revised to provide an even shorter, quicker shift between gears. The new WRX STI is powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged version of Subaru’s iconic, horizontally-opposed four-

cylinder Boxer engine which produces 300PS at 6,000rpm and 407Nm toque at 4,000rpm, delivering keen throttle response and vigorous acceleration.

Subaru estimates a 0-60 time of 5.1 seconds for the STI and has fitted the WRX STI with 12.4-inch vented discs and two-piston calipers up front, and 11.3-inch solid discs with single-piston callipers in back. A larger master

Motors

The new WRX STI is powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged version

The WRX STI returns with the luxury of leathertrimmed upholstery, an 8-way power driver’s seat and power sun roof.

cylinder and a more responsive booster are intended to improve brake feel.

A significant range of modifications and enhancements has been made to the body, chassis, interior and packaging of the new STI. Sporting an all-new exterior, the body and chassis have been significantly stiffened to improve torsional rigidity, while the latest iteration of Subaru’s Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) with Active Torque Vectoring allows for maximum control and driver engagement.

The WRX STI returns with the luxury of leather-trimmed upholstery, an 8-way power driver’s seat and power sun

Dynamics Control and a Brembo® Performance Brake System with Super Sport ABS. The WRX STI is equipped exclusively with a flat-bottom, leather-wrapped tilt/telescoping steering wheel that integrates switches for audio and Bluetooth. The STI Design electroluminescent gauge panel integrates a 3.5-in. central LCD screen that displays various functions such as windshield washer fluid and the selected gear.

The Subaru Intelligent Drive (SIDRIVE) powertrain management system allows the driver to tailor the car’s

roof. Blind Spot Detection is included, plus Keyless Access and Push Button Start with PIN Code Access. Soft touch materials are used in key areas, new STI dials and carbon-effect and metal trim are employed for a sporty feel and higher quality ambience and there’s a new, smaller-diameter D-shaped steering wheel for better feel.

The WRX STI features a rally-bred drivetrain and Multi-Mode Driver Controlled Centre Differential (DCCD) Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive that is exclusive to this model. Standard handling technologies include Active Torque Vectoring, Multi-Mode Vehicle

driving characteristics by choosing from three selectable modes – Intelligent, Sport and Sport Sharp – using a rotary dial on the centre console.

SI-DRIVE alters vehicle performance characteristics by regulating the engine control module and by fine-tuning the electronic throttle control system.

The Subaru WRX STI is exclusively available at Motorcity Sitra.

For more information about Subaru, visit the showroom in Sitra (Opposite Sitra Mall), visit the website: Motorcity.com. bh/subaru/ or call the showroom on 17736222.

Gulf Insider November 2017

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Expats

Gulf Expat Insider

Expats and taxes

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ith the decrease in oil prices, their main source of income, GCC states have been pushing for economic reforms and for new sources of income to help deal with deficits in budgets that are often largely dependent on the oil sector and that have reached unprecedented highs.

New measures adopted by Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates included raising fuel prices, increasing service fees and reducing subsidies of basic supplies that are costing the states billions of dollars.

Saudi Arabia, with a total population of more than 31 million that is larger than that of the other five GCC countries combined, was hit the hardest.

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Gulf Insider November 2017

Economists have sounded the alarm about the need to diversify the economy since the second half of the 1980s following the major fall in oil prices.

However, only those who heeded the call then branched out into tourism, logistics and financial services.

Bahrain mulls making expats pay for more services Bahrain was among the first to opt for diversification after the country almost ran out of oil options.

The kingdom which prides itself on successfully “managing to adapt to new economic realities” has identified five non-oil industries expected to drive its future growth -financial services, industrial and manufacturing, logistics, tourism and information communications technology (ICT).

However, lawmakers have been pushing for adopting measures that would make the 610,510 expatriates, slightly more than half of the total population, pay more for services, mainly in the health sector.

This year, the government had to step in strongly to resist a motion by lawmakers to make foreign students pay 400 Bahraini dinars each annually to study at state schools.

Several businessmen cautioned against making decisions that would affect the status of the expatriate communities whose contributions to the national economy should not be overlooked.

“I am confident that we will pull through the decline of oil prices in the Gulf,” Khalid Esmail, a businessman, said.

“There should be no panic and we

Expats

will overcome it with the minimum of losses. At the same time, there has to be a reconsideration of some not-soessential projects that could be delayed or even cancelled. We may have a gradual introduction of some taxes on some companies, but the expatriates, the most vulnerable link in the chain, must not be abused by populist or not carefully studied decisions.”

Businessman Darweesh Al Mannai ruled out that foreigners would leave as a result of the increase in fees and costs resulting from the drop in oil prices.

However, he said that people should appreciate that the imposition of taxes and the increase in fees and prices were inevitable.

“There is a deficit in the state budget

commodity prices and service fees.

“It is not easy for me like it was before, but I do not complain,” he said.

“I wish they would not take further decisions that would make it difficult for us to stay like in other countries. So far, I have not heard of friends who wanted to leave and go back home, but if there are new hikes, then that possibility, no matter how painful it may seem at first, cannot be ruled out.”

and it needs to be addressed as we go through very difficult times in the region,” he said.

The businessman predicted that several companies would focus on lowering their expenses and finding new ways to boost their productivity instead of increasing their prices and reducing their competitiveness edges.

Latheef, an Indian who has been working in Bahrain for 25 years, said that he felt the pressure of mounting

of financing.”

However, for several lawmakers, the easiest solution is to reduce the number of the expatriates who make up more than two thirds of the population, and to make those who stay pay taxes and higher fees for all services.

Lawmakers argue expats are taking jobs from Kuwaiti citizens, draining public resources and taking money away from social spending meant for Kuwaitis.

Kuwait lawmakers eye cut in number of expats In Kuwait, Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad has called for “speedy and serious economic reforms to diversify the economy and to find new sources

Dr. Khaled M. Batarfi is a Saudi writer based in Jeddah. He can be reached at kbatarfi@gmail.com. Follow him at Twitter:@kbatarfi

New dependents’ tax in Saudi Arabia In Saudi Arabia, home to almost 11 million foreigners, the new dependents’ tax implemented from July 1 has many of them contemplating their future in the Kingdom.

For many expatriates, this is the only home they have known and cherished for decades — in some cases more than their home country which may seem foreign and distant. The thought of going back never crossed their minds — until now.

“I was born here, schooled here, worked here and married here. This is the only place that feels like home.

Although, we visited India every year on our two-month summer holiday to meet our relatives, we yearned to come back here,” said 40-year-old Amal Hussain, a resident of Makkah.

She added: “Even my parents were born and brought up here (Makkah).

Most of my relatives are also here. This place never seemed foreign to us. In fact, we feel foreign when we go to India.”

Pakistani national Hira Zulifiqar, a resident of Jeddah, said that she’s not visited her motherland in years.

“I visited Pakistan a few times with my parents and siblings, but we never adjusted with the lifestyle there for even few days. We would always return before our scheduled departure.”

The thought of leaving Saudi Arabia is nothing less than a nightmare for most expatriates. “The mere thought of leaving this place makes me cry,” said Hussain.

With the recent implementation of the dependents’ taxes this year from July 1 onwards, expatriates have been left at their wits end. According to the directives issued by the Ministry of Finance in Saudi Arabia, the fee for each expatriate is SR(Saudi Riyal)100 (Dh98) for each dependent per month this year, SR200 in 2018, and SR300 and SR400 in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

Gulf Insider November 2017

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Expats

Gulf Expat Insider Thus for the sole breadwinner with a family with three dependents the tax would amount to SR3,600 in 2017, SR7,200 in 2018, SR10,800 in 2019 and SR14,400 in 2020.

With the annual salary for a lower middle class family averaging around SR60,000, the new taxes make it tough for breadwinners with large number of dependents — especially as salaries are not increasing.

The new tax — combined with the cost of rent, electricity, schooling and groceries — has many families resorting to some serious number-crunching.

For most expatriates, their future in the Kingdom is now in limbo.

“The taxes have made our future quite uncertain. My father can manage to pay the tax for only a year for my four siblings, my mother and I. Next year, we may have to go back to Pakistan if my father doesn’t make enough in his business,” said Zulfiqar.

“We came here to give our two children a better lifestyle to and save for their future, as my husband had better work opportunity here. But, since his company won’t pay family tax, we don’t know what to do,” said Rashmi Desai, who moved to Jeddah 10 years back with her husband after marriage.

Some expatriates whose children study in international schools have planned to leave for good after their children’s school year comes to an end.

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We will have to live on a tight budget if we plan to stay here.

How much it will help, I don’t know.

They say the going is tough with the dependents’ tax, which has led to a hike in school fees and inflation in the prices of basic commodities.

“I am just waiting for my children to finish their final exams in March next year, and then we have planned to leave. The taxes are increasing every year and everything has become expensive. Even these few months are quite difficult,” said Umm Zahrani.

“The dependents’ tax and costly education forced us to leave,” said Iman Wajih.

Kashif Mirza, a father of seven, said has arranged for his family to move back to Pakistan in the next few days. “I respect the laws of the Kingdom, and I feel our time here has come to an end.”

Umm Danyal, a mother of five children, also echoed similar sentiments. She and her husband, however, are thinking of migrating to Canada or Australia for their children’s future because they don’t prefer to live in Pakistan.

On the other hand, in a desperate bid to stay in the Kingdom, some expatriates are moving into smaller houses and admitting their children into low-fee schools. Zeeshan Aslam, a father of two children, said that if his family wants to live here, they would then have to compromise their lifestyle in every aspect.

“We will have to live on a tight budget if we plan to stay here. How much it will help, I don’t know.”

“We are thinking of sharing apartments with another family from our country. With the high school fees, we don’t have the luxury to live independently,” said a Filipino national, who didn’t wish to give his name.

For those who wish to stay in the Kingdom, the dependents’ tax has to be paid before Iqama (residence permit) renewal. Those expatriates who plan to leave for good will have to pay the tax for the remaining year before they are given the final exit approval.

Dependents include wife or wives, children, parents, domestic worker or any person registered as sponsored by the expatriate worker.

Sadiya is a freelance journalist based in Jeddah. With inputs from Bahrain Bureau Chief Habib Toumi

Expats

Bahrain best country for expats in the world: Survey

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early nine in 10 expats (87 per cent) said they are happy with their lives in Bahrain, a country that offers them everything they need, Expat Insider 2017 Survey Report said.

“More than 12,500 respondents representing 166 nationalities and living in 188 countries or territories answered our questions, providing unique insights

into what it means to be an expat in 2017,” said Expat Insider, one of the largest surveys worldwide offering an in-depth analysis of expat life across the globe.

“The country ranks first for family life in general and fourth for the friendly attitude towards families with kids. Compared to 2016, there was a significant improvement in the quality of education (from 22nd place to sixth),

and the availability of childcare and education (from 32nd place to 11th),” the study said.

“With such glowing reviews, it is no surprise that almost a third of expats (32 per cent) see themselves staying in Bahrain for more than five years, and 11 per cent say they might stay forever.”

Source Credit: Bahrain News Agency

Saudi expat levy hits property market

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esearch by consultancy JLL shows rents and sales prices of villas and apartments in the capital Riyadh have been falling by 3 per cent on an annualised basis, continuing their slide since oil prices collapsed in 2014. In the Red Sea port of Jeddah, rates for new office rental deals struck in the second quarter were down by 9 per cent year-on-year, the consultancy says. JLL expects further declines over the next year.

New regulations also loom over the market, such as the introduction in July of levies on expatriate workers and dependents that could encourage the departure of many. The expat levies are initially set at 100 Saudi riyals

($26) a month per dependent. They will incrementally increase over the next three years and are predicted to generate around $700m in government revenue in their first year.

The system of levies that favours Saudi workers over foreigners is one of many radical reforms intended to bolster state finances and prepare nationals for a world beyond oil.

But Saudi Arabia’s attempts to reduce its fiscal deficit have weakened growth across an economy that is traditionally reliant on government spending. In particular, the squeeze threatens the government’s ability to deliver 1.5m new units to Saudis on the government waiting list.

Gulf Insider November 2017

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Expats

Gulf Expat Insider

Kuwait MP calls for imposing of exit visas on expats

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n MP in Kuwait has called for the imposing of exit visas on expatriates in the latest of a string of measures against the country’s foreign population proposed this year. MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei submitted a draft law that would mean expats working in the private sector would need to obtain a permit from the country’s public manpower authority to leave the country.

The permit would require approval from the expat’s sponsor in a similar manner to the system in Qatar, which has been repeatedly criticised by human rights groups. The proposal would place more power in the hands of companies, which have been banned form holding on to the passports of employees.

The draft law comes amid calls from some MPs to reduce the number of foreigners in the county, who make up 70 per cent of the 4.4 million population. Earlier this year, MP Safa Al-Hashem called for a 10-year limit on foreign workers staying in the country, the doubling of charges for recruitment and restrictions on dependent visas.

Charge expat motorists KD1,200 a year, says Kuwait MP

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Kuwaiti lawmaker has called for imposing an annual fee of 1,200 Kuwaiti dinars on all expatriates who have driving licences. Foreigners already pay KD12 annually as municipality fees, which is incorporated into their water and electricity bills.

MP Khalid Al Otaibi said the fees would help stem the growth in the number of vehicles on Kuwaiti roads.

Under his suggestion, only family drivers should be exempted from the annual fee.

In other suggestions targeting foreigners, MP Saleh Ashoor said expatriates should be made to pay fixed fees for public services.

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Expats

Plan to cut power charges for Bahrainis and pass cost to expats rejected Non-Muslim expats can now register inheritance wills

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special office has begun functioning to register inheritance wills for nonMuslim expats. The Non-Muslims Wills Office, which started operating in August this year, was set up by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) to look into matters of inheritance for non-Muslim residents. So far, 50 wills have been registered by the office from August to October 19, according to figures provided by the Non-Muslim Wills Office.

“The office receives the written will from the resident and all documents of properties listed in the will. The documents are checked first for approval and then the person is given an appointment to appear to the office and sign his or her will,” said Hamed Hasan Al Ayadaroos, administrative manager of Notary-Public and Authentication at the Judicial Department.

Ali Al Abadi, an Abu Dhabi lawyer said the special office for non-Muslim wills is to benefit many people. “The new wills office gives nonMuslims chance to distribute assets and allocate where their properties should go after they have died,” said Al Abadi. “Registering a will prevents disputes among the deceased’s family.”

P

lans to slash domestic electricity charges for Bahrainis by a third and pass the burden onto expatriates and the private sector were vetoed by the Shura Council last month. Parliament in May approved reducing the electricity tariff for Bahrainis from 3 fils to 2 fils per unit, despite government warnings that it would undermine a national austerity drive.

MPs’ amendments to the 1996 Electricity and Water Law would have seen one fil added to the annual increase in electricity charges for businesses and expats over four years, meaning they would end up paying 33 fils per unit by 2019–with Bahrainis paying just 2 fils per unit for the same service.

The government in March last year increased electricity rates for expats in the private sector, in a move which will eventually see the cost gradually rising to 29 fils per unit by 2019. The new power rates already being implemented are expected to save the government BD290 million over four years, while new water rates for expats and the private sector will save BD145.4m.

Impose BD600 annual fee on expat drivers in Bahrain says MP MP Ghazi Al Rahma has presented a bill to impose monthly fees not exceeding BD50 each month on non-Bahrainis who are holding driving licenses and those who own more than one vehicle.

Gulf Insider November 2017

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Expats

Gulf Expat Insider

UAE: 10th best place for expats to live (HSBC)

The richest Indian expats in the UAE Shamsheer Vayalil, Kerala

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he United Arab Emirates has moved up two places to rank as the 10th best country in the world for expatriates, according to HSBC’s latest Expat Explorer survey. YouGov, on behalf of HSBC, surveyed 27,587 expatriates from 159 countries in March and April. There were foreign nationals from the UAE who participated in the survey. A minimum sample 100 respondents and at least 30 parents were required for a country to be included in the league tables.

The report described the UAE as offering expatriates “exceptional quality of life, with modern accommodation and medical facilities, good international school and a highly developed infrastructure.” It said the UAE ranked 5th for safety, 35th for property and 19th for integration.

In describing “working in the UAE,” the research found the UAE earned high rankings for disposable income, wage growth and career prospects. However, it placed last among the 46 ranked countries for the “overall cost of children.”

A doctor by profession and a businessman by genetics, Shamsheer Vayalil worked in Abu Dhabi before opening the first ever Life Line Hospital (LLH) in 2007, at the age of 30.

Divyank Turakhia, Gujarat Still in their thirties, Divyank Turakhia and his business partner and brother, Bhavin Turakhia founded Media.net which was bought by a group of Chinese investors for about $900 million in 2016. The start-up was owned by Directi UAE, run by the brothers, with operations in the UAE and New York.

Micky Jagtiani, Sindhi Micky or ‘Mukesh’ Jagtiani, born in Kuwait to Indian parents, has a most inspiring story. Working as a mini-cab driver in London. What now may seem as a pittance for an entrepreneur, he left for Bahrain with US$6,000. He put all he had into a small baby garments store, the first of his ventures, which then burgeoned into what today is the Landmark empire.

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Gulf Insider November 2017

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

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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

Society

Lexus NX Launch EK Kanoo unveiled the new Lexus 2018 NX Turbo at the Lexus Showroom in Sitra.

what’s happening

Launch of McLaren Showroom Kanoo Motors S.P.C., inaugurates the new McLaren showroom and service facility in Tubli.

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Gulf Insider November 2017

Society

Brave Combat Federation

A press conference to announce the launch of the Brave Combat Federation event in Bahrain was a smashing success.

Patek Philippe Boutique Bahrain Jewellery Centre reopened the Patek Philippe Boutique at Moda Mall.

ASU 10th Graduation Ceremony

ASU hosted their 10th Graduation Ceremony under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed bin Ibrahim Al Mulla.

Gulf Insider November 2017

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Last Word

Pyramids west of Jebel Barkal, Sudan. North group.

Sudan Pyramids Egypt isn’t the country with the most pyramids – Sudan has approximately 255 of them.

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he area of the Nile valley known as Nubia, which lies within present-day Sudan, was home to three Kushite kingdoms during antiquity.

The first had its capital at Kerma (2600–1520 BC). The second was centered on Napata (1000–300 BC). The last kingdom was based around Meroë (300 BC–AD 300).

Kerma was Nubia’s first centralized state with its own indigenous forms of architecture and burial customs.

The last two kingdoms, Napata and Meroë, were heavily influenced by Egypt culturally, economically, politically, and militarily. The Kushite kingdoms, in turn, competed strongly with Egypt in economic and military terms.

Around 255 pyramids were constructed at three sites in Nubia over a period of a few hundred years.

They served as tombs for the kings and queens of Napata and Meroë.

This can be compared to approximately 120 much larger pyramids that were constructed in Ancient Egypt over a period of 3000 years.

The physical proportions of Nubian pyramids differ markedly from the Egyptian edifices. They are built of stepped courses of horizontally positioned stone blocks and range from approximately 6–30 metres in height,

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Gulf Insider November 2017

but rise from fairly small foundation footprints that rarely exceed 8 meters in width, resulting in tall, narrow structures inclined at approximately 70°.

Most also have offering temple structures abutting their base with unique Kushite characteristics. By comparison, Egyptian pyramids of a similar height typically had foundation footprints that were at least five times larger and were inclined at angles between 40–50°.

All of the pyramid tombs of Nubia were plundered in ancient times. Wall reliefs preserved in the tomb chapels reveal that their royal occupants were mummified, covered with jewelry and laid to rest in wooden mummy cases.

At the time of their exploration by archaeologists in the 19th and 20th centuries, some pyramids were found

to contain the remains of bows, quivers of arrows, archers’ thumb rings, horse harnesses, wooden boxes, furniture, pottery, colored glass, metal vessels, and many other artifacts attesting to extensive Meroitic trade with Egypt and the Hellenistic world.

The pyramids were further damaged in the 1830s as the Italian doctor-turnedexplorer and treasure hunter Giuseppe Ferlini blew the tops off about 40 tombs during his quest for treasure.

A pyramid excavated at Meroë included hundreds of heavy items such as large blocks decorated with rock art and 390 stones that comprised the pyramid. A cow buried complete with eye ointment was also unearthed in the area to be flooded by the Meroë Dam, as were ringing rocks that were tapped to create a melodic sound.

Pyramid of the 4th century BC at El-Kurru, southwest of Jebel Barkal, North Sudan.

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