Gulf Insider April 2018

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Contents April 2018 Issue 159

46 Lifestyle

12 Facebook Followers

314, 169 Simply unparalleled online presence that connects region’s most inspired communities.

12 15 18

Redefining Luxury

Money & Business

29

10 Benefits of Social Media Marketing

People & Culture

40 46 49

Happy Koningsdag!

Luxury Island Living Big Changes in Breitling

Rhythm of Life Live Well Challenge

Car News & Reviews

54

Ford Expedition 2018

...and much, much more!

Last month, the US national debt reached another major milestone, soaring past $21 trillion for the first time ever. That is an enormous number… it’s larger than the size of the entire US economy, which is incredible.

But what’s even more important is how fast the debt is growing.

In the span of a SINGLE DAY last month, the debt grew by $73 BILLION. In a DAY! That’s larger than the size of most major companies such as General Motors and Ford.

In February the US national debt grew by an astounding $215 billion.

And it has grown by more than $1 TRILLION just in the last SIX MONTHS. Where did they spend all that money? Was there a major economic crisis that required massive fiscal stimulus? Nope. It was just business as usual. In fact the economy has supposedly been doing ‘better than ever’ over the last six months.

Debt growth is VASTLY outpacing GDP growth.

At the end of 2008 the size of the US economy was $14.5 trillion.

A decade later it is $19.7 trillion, which 36% greater. Over the same period, the national debt has grown from $9.4 trillion to over $21 trillion-- a growth rate of 123%!

- Nicholas C. Cooksey

Editorial

- Ainne Frances dela Cruz

Contributors

- Sawsan Abu Omar - Ryan Ernst - Dhanyasree M - Hugh Haskell-Thomas - Nicholas Cortes - Bill Daly

Business Development

- Charlie Cooksey

Layout Designs

- Dhanraj S

Admin & Finance

- Nikesh Pola

Photography

- Aneesh Mathew - Rafnaj K P

Distribution Executive

- Mohammed Yousif

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159

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+ Inside

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Issue

THE MAY BE TROUBLE AHEAD

Publisher & Editor in Chief

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Comment...

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Guide to New York Personal Finance Insider Tech & Telecoms Insider

These facts seem to be ignored by those in politics, finance, and the media.

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And yet I don’t see how this can end well for America, and by extension, THE WORLD!

+ Inside EDUCATION REVIEW

trends and ChallenGes

GCC property 2018

CONSUMER TEST

Government agencies encourage the public to contact them online, so we did… with ‘surprising’ results Follow us on

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Porsche Cayenne 2018 Where coffee began Subaru WRX STI

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Events

Day & Night Carlos Santana When: 6th April, 2018 Where: Bahrain International Circuit The Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) is proud to announce that ten-time GRAMMY® winner Carlos Santana is bringing his celebrated Divination Tour to Bahrain International Circuit on Friday, 6 April 2018. Santana is a legendary voice of world music and his ground-breaking Afro-Latin-blues-rock fusion transcends musical genres and generational, cultural and geographical boundaries.

For more information: Bahrain International Circuit Tel: +973 1745 0000 info@bic.com.bh

International Fire Operations Conference When: 10th- 12th April, 2018 Where: The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) is proud to present the first conference dedicated to fire operations in the Middle East as well as the first IAFC conference in collaboration with Saudi Aramco. You will hear from expert speakers from the United States, Europe, Africa and the Middle East on overall fire operations during this extraordinary event.

For more information: International Fire Chiefs Association www.iafc.org

The 2018 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix When: 6th April, 2018 Where: Bahrain International Circuit Formula 1’s favourite night race is back and Bahrain International Circuit is happy to host another brilliant spectacle under the desert stars. “The Home of Motorport in the Middle East” will be front and centre once again on the international stage, with the 2018 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix grabbing the global spotlight from April 6 to 8 this year.

For more information: Bahrain International Circuit Tel: +973 1745 0000 info@bic.com.bh 8

Gulf Insider April 2018

Bahrain Tower Running When: 6th April, 2018 Where: Bahrain Bay Defying gravity, the vertical ascent up a city tower has literally taken the world by storm. Originating in the late 70s, the sport of ‘Vertical Marathons’ (also called ‘Tower Running’) has now spread to every continent, with the Bahrain’s capital set to join the list of world’s iconic towers. This one of-its-kind event in the GCC region will take place on Friday, 6 April 2018. Entrants will start at the base of the tower and make their way up to the finish line located on the 50st floor.

For more information: Bahrain Tower Running Tel: +973 1655 5250

Events

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

Middle East Film & Comic Con 2018 When: 5th to 7th April 2018 Where: Dubai World Trade Centre The Middle East Film & Comic Con returns for its seventh edition from 5-7 April. It’s the largest pop culture event in the Middle East, and visitors will find a host of brands and celebrities from the worlds of film, television, comics, and more.

For more information: Middle East Film & Comic Con www.mefcc.com

Paul van Dyk at Zero Gravity When: 5th April 2018 Where: Zero Gravity, Skydive Dubai Drop Zone The German DJ and producer Paul van Dyk returns to Zero Gravity on 5 April.

Van Dyk has sold more than 3 million records worldwide, and was named the World’s No. 1 DJ by DJ Magazine in both 2005 and 2006.

For more information: Zero Gravity, Skydive Dubai Drop Zone Tel: +971 4 399 0009

Night of the Masked Ball 2018 When: 27th April 2018 Where: The St. Regis, Dubai On 27th April, the Night of the Masked Ball is set to take place at The St. Regis Dubai in Al Habtoor City. The Baroque-themed masquerade ball will welcome 300 guests, all wearing costumes and masks for a night of unforgettable experience.

For more information: Night of the Masked Ball /nightofthemasked/ 10

Gulf Insider April 2018

Disney on Ice - Passport to Adventure When: 4th to 7th April, 2018 Where: Dubai World Trade Centre Arena Disney On Ice returns to Dubai in April with a brand new show. For four days, the Dubai World Trade Centre Arena will be taken over by some of your favourite Disney personalities. Join Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy as they visit characters from films including Frozen, Peter Pan, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid.

For more information: Disney on Ice www.Disneyoniceme.com

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Life

Style insider

Gulf Insider August 2017

48

Lifestyle

Luxury Island Living Gulf Insider sat down with Darryl Marsden, General Manager of Reef Resort.

R

eef Resort is a unique development enclosed within its own island, a peaceful haven of calm and luxurious fine taste within clear sight of bustling Manama.

General Manager, Darryl Marsden, who has over thirty years’ experience in the hospitality industry, told us that he is excited to welcome guests to the new property. He says the resort was personally created by worldclass jeweller Robert Mouwad as his personal project; “Everything, from the restaurants to the living spaces, reflect Mr. Mouwad’s artistry and style.

We have 102 chalets and Mr. Mouwad has put a lot of attention and detail into each, personally handpicking the furnishings, fabrics and carpets”.

A personal tour of the resort reveals how this seafront property is cleverly designed so that space is used in interesting and unique ways. The rooms and chalets are all very different, creating a unique, personal touch to each of the living spaces.

The resort is still in its soft opening phase and has begun welcoming guests, mainly from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. When asked how people in 12

Gulf Insider April 2018

Tokyo Reef - Japanese sushi counter featuring dishes depending on what’s in season.

Fine Café – a modern European style restaurant.

Shisha Lounge – serving Arabic style mezzes, shishas, and fantastic views.

Darryl Marsden Bahrain can enjoy this new resort, Marsden tells us about the facilities that are open, from its health club and spa to restaurant facilities. He says that each new development provides competition to the already established properties in Bahrain, stimulating inventiveness and innovation.

The Resort has started to offer private memberships. Benefits include access to sports and leisure facilities including the pool, and discounts to the spa and dining outlets which include: Lobby Lounge - a chocolaterie with an exquisite selection of cakes and pastries.

Sunset Saloon - cigar and wine lounge overlooking lagoon, with an Asian style tapas menu.

Pool Delight - all day buffet dining featuring Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine.

This is a resort with a lot of water features, and perhaps the ultimate water feature not just for this property, but for Bahrain, is the swimming pool with its own softly sanded beach feature. A first in Bahrain!

From here, you can’t help but look across the lagoon to busy Manama. So near, and yet so far from the tranquility of this Resort.

For more information: Reef Resort Tel: +973 1311 0110 Website: Reef-Resort.com

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Enjoy

Lifestyle

Banquets at Elite Designed for a wide range of functions, the multi-purpose rooms and conference halls at Elite provide a touch of sophistication to your event.

Khaymat Noor @Elite Resort & Spa Muharraq An elegant poolside venue with open sea views, Khaymat Noor is ideal for weddings, receptions, corporate dinners, parties and authentic traditional gatherings during Ramadan.

For more information: Elite Resort & Spa Muharraq Tel: +973 1731 3333

Amber @Elite Grande Hotel

E

lite Hospitality Group offers a wide choice of banqueting services with halls to accommodate different numbers of distinguished guests, positioned in various vital locations in the kingdom of Bahrain.

Perfect for weddings, celebrations and corporate events, each banquet hall is designed and fully equipped with stateof-the-art audio-visual facilities as well as spectacular views of the city or bay.

Al Omaraa @ Elite Crystal Hotel Designed for high-profile meetings, the two conference rooms are stocked with all the business essentials you 14

Gulf Insider April 2018

will need for the perfect business conference.

For more information: Elite Crystal Hotel Tel: +973 1736 0360

Summit @Elite Resort & Spa Muharraq Located on the 15th floor, Summit I and II conference rooms enjoy panoramic views of the Central Business District and Bahrain Bay. Designed for versatility, they can be used to conduct trainings, seminars, product launches, wedding receptions and parties.

The elegant Amber hall is situated on the 11th floor and is ideal for receptions, corporate parties, and/or seminars.

For more information: Elite Grande Hotel Tel: +973 1756 5888

Confluence @Elite Seef Residence & Hotel Able to fit up to 40 guests, Confluence is a multi-purpose conference hall specially designed to host meetings, seminars and other corporate functions.

For more information: Elite Seef Residence & Hotel Tel: +973 1758 3388

Lifestyle

Redefining Luxury Crowne Plaza Hotel’s renovated rooms now offer modernized, convenient features with a contemporary feel to provide a relaxing and productive stay.

Relax & Rejuvenate With rest and relaxation in mind, the newly renovated exclusive club guest room and club lounge are sleekly designed to inspire guests and create homey feeling through peaceful color tones and chic décor. After going through an extensive redesigning on one of its hotel wings, each of its 140 rooms and suites now highlight new guestroom furniture, bathrooms featuring hansgrohe’s state-of-the-art iBox universal thermostatic solution (first of its kind in Bahrain), superior mattresses and bed linens, an energy saving light and thermostat system, and enhanced amenities like 43” smart televisions and media hub.

Deluxe rooms come equipped with state-of-the-art amenities on top of a stunning city, garden or pool view. In addition to these improvements, the hotel now has included stylish deluxe rooms with inter-connecting rooms that can cater to families and small groups.

In addition to the smart renovations

The hotel recognizes the need of tech-savvy travelers to connect in real time. and guest enhancements, the hotel has introduced a brand new club lounge facility to its Club room and Suite guests. The all-new Club Lounge has been designed with the modern concept expressing professionalism, efficiency and performance, as well as comfort, warmth and restoration.

The General Manager of Crowne Plaza Hotel Mr. Gilles Nicolas stressed that the aim of the comprehensive renovation of the hotel rooms is to keep pace with the market and the strong competition that is witnessed, especially with the entry of new hotels, adding that the management of the

hotel is always seeking to maintain the hotel’s status as one of the leading fivestar hotels in Bahrain.

He added, “the world of work is changing and so is our guest – today’s modern business traveler craves a hotel experience that blends work and restoration; they want to boost their productivity and feel inspired in the process”.

The hotel recognizes the need of tech-savvy travelers to connect in real time; thus, all guestrooms are equipped with complimentary in-room Wi-Fi access for more than one device, smart TV and a media hub to stay connected.

“We are excited to welcome guests to our refreshed product as we continue to redefine true hospitality with a touch of Bahraini warmth,” said Mr. Gilles Nicolas, General Manager.

With a distinctive design that evokes a comfortable and classic sensibility, what are you still waiting for? Be one of the first to experience Crowne Plaza Bahrain’s new hotel rooms!

Gulf Insider April 2018

15

Lifestyle

Ananda

in the Himalayas Travel & Lifestyle editor Christine Warren-White finds inner peace in the foothills of the Himalayas.

A

s I step, refreshed from my Jet Airways flight from Mumbai, into the tiny Dehradun airport I’m greeted by my lovely personal driver and a stunning view of the Himalayas. Having never been to India, I’ve no expectations, I’m already captivated by the wonderful sights, sounds and colours as we wind our way up into the mountains in a luxury 4x4. Happy smiling faces, painted in bright powder colours for Holi day walk alongside cows—who always have right of way. Monkeys scamper up and down trees, and goats watch inquisitively as we wind our way up the mountain. The higher we climb the more breathtaking the view, I’m amazed at how green

16

Gulf Insider April 2018

it is and beautiful the trees are. I’m also amazed I’m not freaking-out as the roads are organized chaos; like a choreographed driving dance that’s at once utter madness, yet polite and calm. Not one for liking heights, or manic motoring, nevertheless I find myself smiling along with everyone else, completely mesmerised by this wondrous place.

Climbing around 4500 feet, we arrive at Ananda nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas. A majestic Maharaja’s Palace resplendent before me, I can hardly contain my excitement at the overwhelming beauty surrounding me.

Located on a 100 acre former Maharaja’s Palace Estate, Ananda is encased by graceful Sal forests

and overlooks the spiritual town of Rishikesh home to International Yoga Festivals, famous Ashrams and the Ganges river valley. Welcomed by a spiritual cleansing ritual from the warm and friendly staff, a sense of serenity pervades me and I know this will be a transformative experience.

Designed in the colonial hill architectural style, Ananda’s 78 rooms, suites and villas blend seamlessly into the lush landscape. Before being taken to my deluxe Garden View room, I’m warned to lock my balcony door as the intelligent monkey population is waiting to steal apples. My room is stunning.

Serene, luxurious with a gorgeous view overlooking Rishikesh and the river Ganges. My perfectly appointed

Lifestyle

bathtub means I can take a sumptuous soak whilst taking in the picturesque panorama.

Ayurvedic Diagnosis First up, an appointment with one of Ananda’s doctors who checks my blood pressure before I eagerly fill out a questionnaire to see which dosha I am—Pitta, Vata or Kapha. Ayurveda states the body is made from fire, water, earth and space; understanding this helps with balance. I’m Kapha and my spa treatments and diet is tailored accordingly. My goal is to detox

Rishikesh View body, mind and reconnect to myself.

My bespoke plan includes two detox spa treatments a day, yoga classes and the state of the art gym, outdoor temperature-controlled swimming pool and luxurious hydrotherapy facilities are at my disposal.

Forgoing yoga and gym for meditation, breathing, chakra cleansing, cranial sacral therapy and reiki it’s time for my meal plan.

Detox Delights As Kapha, I need to incorporate warm foods, eat three meals a day, no snacks.

I’ve chosen to become teetotal, so a new eating plan will compliment. I meet Ananda’s executive chef who promises a mix of Kapha elements, detox and weight-loss plates, big on flavour, low on calories. Spoilt with Michelin-starred feasts, I hope he delivers. He does.

Amuse bouche, for every meal, is watermelon juice and detox tea. Baked asparagus wrapped in filo pastry with almond, apricot and rosemary relish (23 calories) bursts with flavour; followed by hearty and rich, steel cut oat and vegetable soup (70 calories). Main course is whole wheat spaghetti, soy bolognaise, tomato essence and grilled aubergine tasting of Italian summers (223 calories). The food is sensational.

Perhaps chef is a wizard with a brigade of magicians as pudding is pannacotta, defying its 90 calories. Detoxing never tasted so good!

Cheeky monkey!

Sensational Spa I enter the spa for my first treatment and instantly see why Ananda’s received numerous accolades and global recognition for health and wellness. With 24 treatment rooms, spread across 25000 sq. ft. and more than 80 body, beauty and wellness experiences, I’m delighted I have a bespoke plan. Abhyanga, a four-handed detox massage begins with a spiritual prayer is both relaxing and exhilarating.

Next up, meditation and chakra cleansing cleared my mind giving me a wonderfully calm energy. A Himalayan Honey and Rose Facial is simply the best I’ve ever had. My skin is radiant and glowing.

After five gloriously uplifting and joyous days of embracing and enjoying all my treatments; learning about Ayurvedic concepts; discovering detox

foods can taste good, it’s having the guidance to connect with my self that has affected me most. Being in Ananda is spiritual in itself. Friendly with attentive, and discreet, staff in wonderfully tranquil surroundings.

I’m told that Ananda means peace and whilst I’m leaving Ananda lighter, brighter, rejuvenated and reconnected, Ananda isn’t leaving me as I take its spirit with me, carried in my heart.

Namaste.

Sensational Spa

Ananda in the Himalayas The Palace Estate, Narendra Nagar Tehri - Garhwal, Uttarakhand 249175, INDIA Reservations: +91 124 4516650 / reservations@anandaspa.com www.anandaspa.com Jet Airways With ten years of operations from the Gulf, Jet Airways is India’s premier international airline which operates flights to 64 destinations, including India and overseas.

Jet Airways operates 4 weekly flights from Bahrain to Dehradun via Mumbai and daily flights during peak season Reservations: +973 17205050 / bahraininfo@jetairways.com www.jetairways.com Gulf Insider April 2018

17

Lifestyle

Big Changes at

Breitling

Gulf Insider meets Breitling’s new CEO, George Kern... he’s making big changes.

L

ast month, Gulf Insider was invited to meet Breitling’s new boss, Georges Kern, and his team in Dubai on the final stop of their world tour to promote the brand.

They had been meeting up with dealers, suppliers, and various media in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Zurich, Munich, New York, and London.

Now they were concluding their tour in Dubai - after which they were all no doubt looking forward to going home for a well-deserved rest.

18

Gulf Insider April 2018

Kern has created some controversy among Breitling fans for the changes he’s bringing.

A year ago Breitling, one of the few major Swiss watch companies still in family ownership, was sold to private

equity group CVC Capital Partners in a deal reported to value the company at around $900m.

Kern was recruited to take the brand forward. Previously chief executive of IWC, in his 15 year tenure there he transformed the company from relative obscurity to one of the top performing brands of Richmont Group, the Swissbased luxury goods company.

Both IWC and Breitling are recognised for their strong aviation heritage. But similarities end there. The image of IWC is a refined as Breitling is brash - big

Lifestyle

The New Navitimer 8 Collection

distinctive watches with busy dials and polished cases.

Add to this Breitling’s equally distinctive style of marketing. Kern says he’s dropping what many described as ‘sexist’ imagery. Using ‘pin-up girls’ is a style of marketing outdated and no longer acceptable in today’s social climate, Kern says.

Kern has created some controversy among Breitling fans for the changes he’s bringing. When questioned on this he simply answers that if Breitling wanted to continue as it has been there would have been no need to have been brought him in to run the company.

Kern has big plans for Breitling. He looks to expand the brand substantially in China where it’s relatively unknown compared to Europe and North America – it’s the fourth biggest luxury watch brand in the US based on volume of sales.

While continuing to offer the brand’s most popular products he’s appealing to a new customer base both in the established markets of the US and Europe, by offering additional choices that are classic and simple in design, as well as to new Asian customers recognizing that big watches are less popular for them due to their smaller wrists.

A new collection of unisex watches are being introduced to appeal to ‘strong women’. This includes a 38mm edition of the iconic Navitimer pilot’s watch.

Kern’s first collection for Breitling all use the name Navitimer 8, and are a variety of vintage inspired models, but with less busy dials than is traditional.

The collection consists of five watches - B01, Unitime, Chronograph, Day & Date, and Automatic.

He emphasizes that the range does not replace the existing Navitimer, but is an extension of both the line and the Navitimer name. The ‘8’ is taken from Breitling’s Department 8, set up in 1938 to produce cockpit instruments designed to have 8 days of power reserve.

Kern has also changed Breitling’s current logo, reverting to the more simplified logo used from by the company from the 1940s to 1980s, and has just announced a partnerships with Norton, the iconic British motorcycle company.

A lot of things are changing at Breitling, and they are changing fast.

But it’s good to see much that makes Breitling special, that makes the company what it is, is staying as it is.

Traditional Navitimer

Gulf Insider April 2018

19

Lifestyle

5 Luxury Men’s Watches editor’s choice Montblanc 1858 Automatic Chronograph This 1858 Automatic Chronograph takes advantage of the hype created by the previous (and relatively expensive) limited editions. Its case measures 42mm and shows a combination of brushed surfaces and some polished details.

Montblanc 1858 Automatic Chronograph Price starting from: BD1,500 - BD2,000 Montblanc Boutique City Centre Bahrain Tel: +973 1717 9696

Panerai Luminor Due 3 Days Automatic Acciaio 38mm There isn’t any watchmaker that contributed more to the oversized watch trend than Panerai.

But tastes have shifted in the last few years, so Panerai released a range of 38mm timepieces, the smallest Panerai watches ever.

Panerai Luminor Due 3 Days Automatic Acciaio 38mm Price starting from: BD3,300 (to be launched in June/July 2018) Officine Panerai Moda Mall Tel: +973 1743 1166 20

Gulf Insider April 2018

Lifestyle

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph Classic Polaris styling and an in-house caliber 751 movement. With its 42mm case, this watch has the feel of a midcentury sports watch.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph Price Range: not yet released—watches will be available in Bahrain by May/June 2018 Boutique Jaeger-LeCoultre Moda Mall Tel: +973 1752 0052

IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Big Date Edition ‘150 Years’ A big 46.2mm case with a closed caseback, though there is a little window so you can check the power reserve. The Big Pilot’s collection is one of the foundational product ranges for IWC.

IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Big Date Edition ‘ 150 years’ Price starting from: approximately BD5,000 (watch will be launched in Bahrain on October 2018) Asia Jewellers Tel: +973 1753 4444

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver, in New Colours With a 42mm stainless steel case, automatic caliber 3120, and available in a choice of 4 ‘fun’ colours. Audemars Piguet have changed the bright neon colours on the Offshore Diver with more neutral beige and khaki, while keeping turquoise and purple.

Audemar’s Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver Price starting from: BD6,950 Audemar’s Piguet Boutique Tel: +973 17131100 Gulf Insider April 2018

21

Lifestyle

Samsung Galaxy S9 v iPhone X:

which is best?

Samsung and Apple each offer fantastic specs and performance from their respective smartphones. But which one is best for you?

B

oth displays are stunning, and the best on the market today. Samsung’s panel wins for colour vibrancy and saturation, while Apple’s feels more comfortable on the eyes with its warmer hues. Apple’s True Tone tech alters the colour temperature of the display according to the surrounding the environment.

The Galaxy S8 can survive depths of 1.5 metres for 30 minutes, whereas the iPhone X can manage only 1 metre for the same time.

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Gulf Insider April 2018

Lifestyle

The glass back on the iPhone X means that it supports wireless charging – also supported by the Galaxy S9. The iPhone X has no headphone jack, so you’ll need to use a Lightning adapter, but the headphone jack remains with the Galaxy S9.

The speakers on the iPhone X are better – sound is richer and doesn’t

distort at high volumes – but the S9’s speakers offer a huge improvement over older models.

Both phones feel quick in day-to-day use and can handle every single app in their respective app stores. We do, however, feel the iPhone X is reliably smoother.

The iPhone X is equipped with

3GB, whereas the Galaxy S9 packs in 4GB. iOS and Android handle RAM differently, so a bigger number doesn’t necessarily equate to better performance in this case.

Both phones come with either 64GB or 256GB of built-in storage, but the Galaxy S9 sees the return of a microSD slot, which supports cards up to 400GB. This offers a much cheaper way to expand storage.

Cameras Having both a wide and zoom lens affords greater freedom when framing shots; resorting to a digital zoom often reduces image quality. The large f/1.8 aperture on the iPhone X allows it decent low-light performance.

The Galaxy S9 has only the one lens (unless you choose the Plus model), and less zoom versatility. But the S9’s clever trick is a variable mechanical aperture between f/1.5 and f/2.4. Like a lens on a DSLR, it can open or close its diaphragm to let more light reach the sensor. The f/1.5 aperture will provide more light than the iPhone X’s f/1.8, for example.

Both phones take very good photos.

Detail across both is great and the focusing systems are fast and accurate.

We think the iPhone X captures the better picture. Just. However, where the S9 does impress is in the sheer number of options and features packed into the camera app. It shoots 960fps slow-motion video (the iPhone X caps at 240), has a full ‘Pro’ mode for granular control, and plenty more. Both phones can shoot 4K UHD video at 60fps.

Comparison

iPhone X

Galaxy S9

Screen

5.8-inch OLED

5.8-inch Super AMOLED

Display

2436 x 1125 (458ppi)

2960 x 1440 (570ppi)

Aspect ratio

16:9

18.5:9

Rear camera

12-megapixel wide-angle, f/1.8, OIS | 12-megapixel telephoto, f/2.4, OIS

12-megapixel, f/1.5-f/2.4 variable aperture, OIS

Front camera

7-megapixel f/2.2

8-megapixel f/1.7

Chipset

Apple A11 Bionic

Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 or Samsung Exynos 9810

RAM

3GB

4GB

Storage

64/256GB

64GB/256GB

Battery

Not stated

3000mAh

Waterproof?

IP67

IP68

Fingerprint scanner?

No

Yes

Face/Iris scanner?

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Headphone jack?

No

Yes

Data port

Lightning

USB-C

iPhone X

BD000

Wireless charging?

Qi

Qi/PMA

Samsung Galaxy S9

BD000

MicroSD slot?

No

SDXC up to 400GB

Weight

174g

163g

Verdict The S9 wins on price – although both are expensive – and sheer number of features (microSD, headphone jack, USB-C), but we think the iPhone X has the better camera.

Bahrain prices

Gulf Insider April 2018

23

Lifestyle

Attacking the User

W

hat’s the easiest way to break into a computer?

Reformed hacker Kevin Mitnick said it best, “Social engineering bypasses all technologies, including firewalls.” Businesses too often focus funding towards pricy security systems while neglecting to properly train their employees. And it’s not just employees who are being targeted by social engineering attacks.

Anyone with a social media account or email address has likely received one of these attacks. Cyber criminals use a variety of social engineering tactics to steal sensitive information or gain unauthorized access to computer systems. They do this by tricking people into giving them important information, for instance passwords or bank account numbers. Another tactic is to fool computer users into opening malicious file attachments or clicking on a link to a compromised website. Sometimes they even call an intended victim on the phone to con them into giving them what they want.

‘Phishing’ is a commonly used tactic in which a carefully crafted message is

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Gulf Insider April 2018

‘Phishing’ is a commonly used tactic in which a carefully crafted message is disguised as a trustworthy entity. disguised as a trustworthy entity. Quite often phishing emails lure their intended target to a fake website nearly identical to a legitimate one. The user attempts to logon with their credentials which are then stolen. The victim doesn’t even realize they’ve been scammed.

‘Spear phishing’ is a more sophisticated version of a phishing attack and targets specific companies or individuals through intelligence collected from social media or Internet searches.

In rare cases, personal information is obtained from “dumpster diving” activities to capitalize on discarded bank statements or letters thrown in the

trash. The tailored aspect is the reason why the vast majority of successful cyber attacks begin with spear phishing.

It’s important to realize the intended victim must first perform an action in order for a social engineering attack to be successful. Social engineering tactics can be avoided through awareness training. Always ask yourself, “Was I expecting to receive this message or call?” If not, it’s suspicious and you should proceed very cautiously.

Time is on your side, so slow down and think rationally before clicking or responding.

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

Telecoms

money &

business insider

Gulf Insider August 2017

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Money & Business

Gulf Insider interviews Rahul Bhalla, Chief Executive of Invita about the company’s drive to constantly expand and innovate as well as their plans for the next few years.

G

ulf Insider had the pleasure of interviewing you during Invita’s 10th year anniversary. Can you please tell us of the developments within the company from November 2016 to date?

A Passion for

Innovation

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Gulf Insider April 2018

Invita’s strategy to expand and diversify has brought us success and we will continue to build on this strategy. We have been exploring the horizon for new ventures and offerings and we are keen to explore opportunities across the GCC, especially with Saudi Arabia.

Our long term goal is to expand and diversify the company and its offerings thus we are continuing our development of Social Media Management—as we believe that this has and will continue to revolutionize the marketplace.

We have been carefully monitoring the trends of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Bots and the dynamics of how they enter into the Customer Service domain. We are working on harnessing the capacities of AI for ourselves and our clients.

In addition, we have renewed our partnership with the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA). This is the best testimony of our commitment to our clients and a good win for our company.

Previously, we managed the EWA Contact Centre from mid 2010 to mid 2015.

Back in 2016, we were the first BPO in Bahrain to receive the ISO 9001

Money & Business

Certification. Now, we are the first and only PCI-DSS v3.2 certified BPO in Bahrain. In addition, the Ministry of Labor recognized us for achieving 94% Bahrainization.

How does the company plan to expand or innovate within the next couple of years?

We are constantly on the lookout for new opportunities and one of the things that we have capitalized on is launching Bahrain’s first motor Third Party Administrator (TPA)--ICMC. We have already established partnerships with key providers in the market.

We also want to replicate our success stories across the region. After a lot of due diligence, we found strong partners in Impulse International in Kuwait and Invita Kuwait was formed.

We own 60% of Invita Kuwait which is a purely BPO company catering to banks, ministries, and other public and private organizations. With this venture, it seems that our perseverance as shareholders is paying off well.

You’ve mentioned a new line of business which is artificial intelligence and robots—a first in Bahrain. Can you share with us some details?

We are looking at software robots or bots—the latest revolution along with AI in the field of Customer Service, especially Self Service. How many times have you opened a website and found a multitude of links and thought what if there was a way of instantly accessing the information you’re looking for? Now

type in—and being able to offer you the information you require or guide you to the right place. This will automate a lot of inquiries and save people a lot of time and companies a lot of money. We are looking at utilizing bots and AI into Financial Technology (FinTech).

How do you see Invita in 10 years time?

From our humble beginnings, I am proud to see that we have come this far and we want to continue on this journey

As a contact center facility, Invita is already at the forefront of Customer Contact Services. Please tell us about your plans of becoming a Third Party Administrator.

TPAs have been popular in the medical insurance field in Bahrain. We have been studying the market and have had numerous discussions with multiple insurance providers on the possibility of establishing a partnership on Motor TPAs. We have been successful in creating said partnership and we have already been licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain to process motor insurance claims.

Economies of scale is the key philosophy behind this venture—bringing together claims management operations for multiple insurance companies under the same roof will ensure greater synergy and better value for our clients, vendors and end customers.

During our study, we realized that there was an opportunity for digitizing the processes. Hence, we will be launching Mobile Apps, which will facilitate easier access to our services and more efficient processing of claims.

We have been carefully monitoring the trends of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robots and the dynamics of how they enter into the Customer Service domain. imagine you visit a website and you are greeted by a Chatbot—which will try to figure out and anticipate what you need based on the questions you

I want Invita to be synonymous with outsourcing, innovation and quality customer contact operations. In the past 11 years, as part of our business, we have worked diligently on training our resources on different skills required in our domain. We have touched the lives of 4,200 Bahrainis by providing training and offering them better prospects. Through our partnership with Tamkeen, we have created 300+ jobs for Bahrainis. We have gone ahead and setup a training center so that we can reach out to more Bahrainis, and we hope we can continue with upskilling Bahrainis for the job market in the years to come.

In the future, I envision Invita to be a Pan-GCC brand, continuously investing into dynamic new solutions, people development and forming strong value-added partnerships across the region.

Gulf Insider April 2018

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Money & Business

Introducing

Cash 360

TM

A unique end-to-end cash management solution.

for large sums of cash to be exposed in business premises, reducing the risk of theft and misappropriation of cash by employees. In most cases, cash deposits made today will reflect in your bank account tomorrow**.

Benefits of Cash 360 Peace of mind Convenient transactions (daily deposit credit**)  Round the clock protection  Full insurance coverage**  Deposit value guaranteed  Improved cash-handling efficiency  No more late banking  Drive your business further  

D

rive your business even further with improved cash handling. Cash 360TM is a new, cash management solution created by the team of G4S. Stop worrying about your cash, transact conveniently and save time (no more late banking!)—with Cash 360TM.

What is it?

Cash 360TM is a multiple benefit solution that provides essential cash management, banking* and security protection to safeguard your cash.

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Gulf Insider April 2018

Deposit guarantees and insurance cover are included (subject to minimum security requirements) The Cash 360TM smart safe system is designed to provide the most effective protection to secure cash at your business premises. Fast cash counting speed and real time deposit data transparency provide increased security and visibility of your cash collection.

How it Works Cash 360TM deposits can be made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. This eliminates the need

G4S Security Solutions—the only multinational security solutions company in Bahrain-- provides not only a complete management solution but also in-depth training, installation and activation of Cash360TM.

*Minimum security requirements apply **Subject to respective banks’ T&C. For more information: G4S Tel: +973 17716577 Website: www.g4s.com.bh Email: security@bh.g4s.com

Money & Business

10 Benefits Of

Social Media Marketing Social Media for Business - Insider Advice No. 1 View all our Insider Advice FREE by visiting Fabianca.com 1. Increased Brand Recognition.

Social media make you easier and more accessible for new customers, and makes you more familiar and recognizable for existing customers.

2. Improved brand loyalty. Brands that engage on social media enjoy higher loyalty from their customers.

3. More Opportunities to Convert.

When you build a following, you’ll simultaneously have access to new customers, and old customers, and you’ll be able to interact with all of them.

4. Higher conversion rates. Studies show social media improves trust and credibility in a brand. Simply building your social media audience can improve conversion rates on your existing traffic.

5. Brand Authority. The more people talking about you on social media, the

more valuable and authoritative your brand will seem to new users.

6. Increased Inbound Traffic.

Without social media, your inbound traffic is limited to people already familiar with your brand. The more quality content you post on social media, the more inbound traffic you’ll generate = more leads = more sales.

9. Competition. Don’t let your competitors reap all the benefits while you stand idly by.

10. Potential Losses Are Insignificant. You don’t have anything

to lose by getting involved in social media. The amount of time and money it takes is usually minimal compared to other marketing channels.

7. Better Search Engine Rankings.

SEO is the best way to capture relevant traffic from search engines, but the requirements for success are always changing. If you want to rank for a given set of keywords, having a strong social media presence could be almost mandatory.

8. Improved Customer Insights.

Social media gives you an opportunity to gain valuable information about what your customers are interested in and how they behave.

Fabianca is a Bahrain based digital marketing specialist. For a FREE 30 minute digital strategy session for your business visit Fabianca.com or call +973 36 188 100.

Gulf Insider April 2018

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Money & Business

Gulf jobs on the rise, driven by higher oil prices – Report

T

he Gulf job market is set to grow at an average rate of 9% this year, according to research conducted by GulfTalent, one of the region’s leading online recruitment portals.

The results are based on GulfTalent’s survey of over 1,100 CEOs and executive managers of firms across the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

According to survey findings, the biggest factor driving employment growth is the recent rise in oil prices and resulting upturn in business optimism. The price of crude oil, which had been in the 30 to 50 US dollar range for much of 2016 and 2017, has been averaging over 60 US dollars in the past six months.

Kuwait is set to have one of the fastest rates of job creation, with a net 18% of firms increasing headcount. The country, which has the region’s highest dependence on the oil & gas sector, is witnessing a boom thanks to higher oil prices. According to the IMF, it is expected to have the region’s fastest economic growth this year.

In the UAE, a net 13% of firms are reporting an increase in personnel, driven by a recovering oil sector in Abu Dhabi as well as growth in Dubai’s non-oil sector, including the impact of

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Gulf Insider April 2018

infrastructure spending for Expo 2020.

The Saudi job market is shrinking this year, with a net 2% of firms reporting a reduction in headcount, mainly due to the government’s enforcement of stringent Saudization policies. While the policy has boosted employment opportunities for Saudis, some firms are seeking to achieve mandatory Saudization ratios by simply reducing their expatriate workers. Overall, more expats are leaving the job market than the Saudis being hired.

Jobs growth in Oman at 2% has been similarly weak. Limited oil reserves have curbed the upside of oil price recovery, while strict Omanisation policies are limiting companies’ ability to hire expatriates.

Sector Trends Bahrain and Kuwait are the region’s most female-friendly countries, with roughly one woman hired per two men.

In Saudi Arabia, where the workforce has been historically male-dominated, there has been an acceleration in female hiring. Some Saudi employers surveyed even stated a preference for female employees, citing higher efficiency and lower salary expectations as compared to their male peers.

Following substantial downsizing over

the last 3 years, the oil and gas sector is now witnessing the region’s fastest headcount expansion, with a net 39% of firms expanding their workforces to take advantage of new projects and business opportunities.

The healthcare sector also continues to expand, thanks to a growing domestic population and a regulatory push to increase health coverage.

Construction continues to underperform, with very few firms growing headcount. While improving business sentiment and infrastructure investment in the region are favourable factors, payment delays are posing serious cash flow challenges for construction firms.

FMCG is another weak sector, registering only 6% growth in headcount. Consumer demand in the region has taken a hit from the introduction of VAT in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, excise taxes on certain goods such as carbonated drinks, reduced subsidies hitting disposable incomes, and the declining expatriate population in some countries.

In terms of demand for skills, the largest upsurge is for finance professionals, thanks to the introduction of Value-Added-Tax (VAT) and the need to update finance processes and systems.

Money & Business

Dubai Property

Rebound Fails to Materialise

M

ore landlords are accepting that they have to lower their sights, and for every one still holding out for a longanticipated market rebound, plenty of others are willing to take what they can right now.

Dubai has seen predictions of a property rebound miss the mark again and again over the last two years.

Optimism about a recovery in 2017 has given way to quiet resignation that the slump may persist for two to three years after oil price increases, key to the Persian Gulf sheikhdom’s economy, failed to spark an expected jobs boost.

“The amount of property bought for investment purposes and now listed on the secondary market is quite substantial,’’ said Mohammad Kamal at Arqaam Capital Ltd., one of many analysts who had expected a big pickup in home ownership demand last year.

“That suggests that buying right now won’t result in a resale later and that’s keeping people away.’’

Residential rents fell 10 percent to 15

percent last year, according to various estimates, while selling prices declined at a slower pace. A recovery isn’t likely before 2020, when Dubai is set to host the World Expo, S&P Global Ratings said in a report in February.

Transactions of completed homes last year were 24 percent below the 10-year average, according to Phidar Advisory.

Despite developers’ attempts to delay the delivery of properties already sold, supply growth is outpacing demand for rentals. Less than half of the properties sold in advance by developers were delivered in the three years through 2017.

“After a bad 2016, the hope was that the economic situation would get better,’’ said Sanyalak Manibhandu, an Abu Dhabi-based equities analyst at Fab Securities LLC. “The macro situation didn’t get any better and the oil price improvement didn’t feed through to the rest of the economy.’’

There are no predictions that the slump will resemble the city’s property crash a decade ago. Policy makers have since restricted mortgage lending

and forced buyers to commit more hard cash up front since then, helping cushion the market from a drop. Still, sales of homes ahead of construction fell 36 percent in January from a year earlier.

Local residents, who helped lift Dubai from a crash fueled by buyers from abroad, are holding off on purchases as they wait for prices to hit bottom.

Foreign investors from Russia to Saudi Arabia are also being deterred by unfavorable currency movements, austerity measures at home and concerns about political risks that surfaced after a spat with Qatar chipped away at the Gulf’s status as a beacon of stability in a tumultuous region.

Dubai developers still enjoy profit margins that would be envied by their global peers, mostly because they can use free or cheap land provided by the state. However even that will come under pressure as local buyers balk at the kind of prices that had been readily paid by foreign investors.

Gulf Insider April 2018

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Money & Business

Bahrain set to be removed from EU tax haven list

E

uropean Union states are set to remove Bahrain, the Marshall Islands and Saint Lucia from a list of tax havens next week, leaving only six jurisdictions on it, an EU document shows.

The latest decision was taken by the EU Code of Conduct Group, which includes tax experts from the 28 member states, according to an EU document seen by Reuters.

EU finance ministers are expected to endorse the proposal at their regular monthly meeting in Brussels on March 13.

The jurisdictions that remain on the blacklist are American Samoa, Guam, Namibia, Palau, Samoa and Trinidad and Tobago.

Bahrain, the Marshall Islands and Saint Lucia are to be delisted after they made “specific commitments” to adapt their tax rules and practices to EU standards, the document says. Those commitments are not public.

In the last cut, EU governments decided to remove Barbados, Grenada, South Korea, Macau, Mongolia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Panama.

Qatar Airways ‘suffers huge loss’

Q

atar Airways will suffer a large loss because of restrictions imposed by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, its chief executive officer said.

Akbar Al Baker, speaking at the annual tourism fair in Berlin, said Qatar Airways will suffer a “very large loss” for the year ending April 1. The airline will need to find new streams of financing to survive since it has no access to the equivalent of US Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Qatar Airways has had to scrap shorthaul routes it once flew to the states that imposed the embargo for supporting extremists and funding terrorism.

Swapping to longer routes using widebody aircraft is driving up costs and at some point, the company will seek to recoup its losses, Al Baker said.

Qatar Airways is also being denied entry into airspace over the countries, causing diversions that extend flying times and add to the fuel bill.

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Money & Business

Bahrain included in top 10 countries

for expat women careers

percentage points less than among men (13%).

1. Mexico - Higher salary level abroad: 29% - Satisfaction with career prospects: 68% - Weekly full-time working hours: 45 h 2. Myanmar - Higher salary level abroad: 46% - Satisfaction with career prospects: 70% - Weekly full-time working hours: 45.5 h 3. Cambodia - Higher salary level abroad: 33% - Satisfaction with career prospects: 63% - Weekly full-time working hours: 42.4 h

M

ore than half the women working abroad (51%) are satisfied with their career opportunities.

But at the same time, one-third of them (33%) state that their income abroad is lower than what they would make in a similar job back home, compared to only a quarter of men (25%) stating the same, as InterNations, the world’s largest network for people who live and work abroad, reveals.

Based on the insights of close to 7,000 female expats living in 168 countries in its annual survey Expat Insider survey, the social network compiled a so-far unpublished ranking of the best countries for women to pursue a career.

Key stats 



Mexico, Myanmar, Cambodia, Bahrain, and New Zealand offer the best career prospects for women.

51% of women working abroad are happy with their career opportunities, with 13% even very happy.



Most women who move abroad for work-related reasons found a job on their own (47%).

Moving Abroad for Their Career: Women vs. Men Although almost a quarter of women (24%) move abroad for work-related reasons, this is still 16 percentage points less compared to men.

Especially among expats sent on foreign assignments, women are still much rarer than men: while only 7% of female expats were sent abroad by their employer, male expats are more than twice as likely (15%) to name the same reason for moving abroad. This is also the case for expats being recruited by a local company (4% women vs. 9% men) and those who wanted to start their own business abroad (1% women vs. 3% men).

However, when it comes to being more self-motivated, women are close to catching up: eleven percent of female expats state to have found a job abroad on their own as their main reason for moving abroad, which is only two

4. Bahrain - Higher salary level abroad: 65% - Satisfaction with career prospects: 65% - Weekly full-time working hours: 40.9 h 5. New Zealand - Higher salary level abroad: 53% - Satisfaction with career prospects: 61% - Weekly full-time working hours: 41.8 h 6. Kazakhstan - Higher salary level abroad: 62% - Satisfaction with career prospects: 67% - Weekly full-time working hours: 45 h 7. United Kingdom - Higher salary level abroad: 51% - Satisfaction with career prospects: 67% - Weekly full-time working hours: 41.1 h 8. USA - Higher salary level abroad: 62% - Satisfaction with career prospects: 64% - Weekly full-time working hours: 43 h 9. Kenya - Higher salary level abroad: 36% - Satisfaction with career prospects: 60% - Weekly full-time working hours: 46.4 h 10. Ireland - Higher salary level abroad: 51% - Satisfaction with career prospects: 63% - Weekly full-time working hours: 41 h Gulf Insider April 2018

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Money & Business

I

t is now understood that all six GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) have signed the agreement, paving the way for the introduction of VAT throughout the GCC in 2018.

Research shows that online purchases from local retailers may still be a good option even after the introduction of 5% VAT in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

In fact, online shopping seems to be growing in these countries as online payment platforms are expanding to the region, the latest being PayFort, owned

by Amazon.

PayFort registered a new wholly owned company in Saudi Arabia to expand its business there.

Why is online shopping in these countries still attractive?

Local vs international online shopping

Is online shopping still a good option with 5% VAT?

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Gulf Insider April 2018

A study by The National says that VAT may prevent UAE citizens to opt for international online orders but not local ones.

It said that ordering products online from abroad is no longer a good option because buyers will have to pay, in addition to the recently imposed 5% VAT, delivery charges, handling fees or additional tax from the country of origin.

However, people will resort to local online platforms since they will pay anyway the 5% VAT whether they buy the product online or from a retail store but at least they will be saving customs and delivery charges.

More appetite for pre-loved goods According to EZheights, a Dubaibased e-commerce portal, UAE residents are increasingly turning to e-commerce to buy and sell used goods, and the introduction of VAT will further fuel that drive. “The introduction of VAT across the GCC region will drive consumers and businesses to embrace money-saving options such as by making second-hand purchases,� Adham Saleh, Managing

Money & Business

Since they will pay anyway the

5% VAT

whether they buy the product online or from a retail store

Director of EZHeights.com, was quoted as saying.

A report by the portal suggests that a higher monthly outgo thanks to increasing levels of consumer debt in the form of credit cards, personal loans and mortgages are prompting a growing number of the UAE’s expats to re-think their lifestyle spending patterns and rein in their outgoings.

“One way they’re achieving this is by opting to buy goods second-hand – as well make a little bit back by selling

e-commerce market in the Middle East and Africa has the potential to grow at small double-digit rates in the next five years, with the B2C segment forecasted to account for close to one-third of the total online sales in the region.

“Driven by improving Internet penetration, rising ownership of mobile devices and payment cards, online retail in these countries is set to boom in the near future,” the report adds. yStats.com says the UAE is leading the region in this domain. “This country has the highest Internet, mobile device and payment card penetration, which all contribute to making the UAE the market with the largest B2C E-Commerce sales,” it states.

Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s e-commerce market is set to more than double to $22 billion by 2020, the second-highest in the Middle East, according to a recent report by PayFort.

The wider Middle East’s e-commerce market is set to more than double to $69 billion.

Increased competition

Research shows that online purchases from local retailers may still be a good option even after the introduction of 5% VAT in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

some of their own unwanted items,” according to the portal.

“We’ve seen a noticeable surge in the number of locally-based buyers who are using our popular classified section to purchase a wide variety of second-hand items – everything from cars, electronics, household appliances and toys to pre-loved designer name clothing and handbags,” it added.

Inviting eco-system A study by Emirates 24/7 reveals that tech-savvy UAE residents are fast getting comfortable with paying online for their purchases.

“Coupled with an improving internet penetration, rising smartphone ownership and declining cost of transaction and delivery, they are flocking to online sales platforms like never before,” it said.

A recent report by intelligence provider yStats.com said the

Shoppers in the region are in luck to witness a fierce competition among e-commerce platforms aimed at offering them the best offers, promotions and services throughout the year.

Among the latest moves in this direction is the launching of Amazon Global Store by E-commerce giant Souq, allowing customers in the UAE to choose from over one million products.

Other online platforms have also signed numerous partnerships to provide their customers with international brands.

Noon signed earlier this year a partnership agreement with United Electronics Company (eXtra) that establishes the Saudi electronics giant as Noon’s exclusive partner for a range of consumer electronics and home appliance items such as Samsung, LG, Sony, Braun, Kenwood and Moulinex, among others.

According to the Entrepreneur, a platform for news about entrepreneurs in the world, Wadi has in 2017 brought on prominent partnerships with international brands, including Nokia, Samsung and Reebok.

Gulf Insider April 2018

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Money & Business

UAE now requires

licenses for ‘social media influencers’

A

ll online media agencies or enterprises operating in the UAE without licences will be fined or shut down, according to new

regulations.

The National Media Council (NMC) on Tuesday issued a set of regulations for electronic media, which govern all online activities, including e-commerce, publishing and selling of print, video, and audio material as well as advertising.

The new guidelines require all news

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Gulf Insider April 2018

Violating the media law will be slapped with fines of up to Dh5,000 or have their online websites or social media accounts shut down.

websites, electronic publishing outlets, and on-demand printing, including commercial activities conducted through social media within the UAE to first get a media licence from the NMC, allowing them to operate in the country.

Social media ‘influencers’ need licence Under the new regulations, social media influencers promoting brands and businesses for cash will also need to get a media licence.

Money & Business

the NMC, seek to help the UAE media sector remain on top of the rapid developments in electronic media, in addition to enriching and organising digital content, and ensuring that media material respects the religious, cultural and social values ??of the UAE, all the while promoting freedom of expression and constructive dialogue.

The new code of practice provides balanced and responsible media content that respects the privacy of individuals, and protects the public especially children from negative or harmful material.

The new law exempts websites

Regulating this sector will attract new global investments, which, in turn, will improve its development and competitiveness,” he added.

“The new guidelines seek to enhance the contribution of electronic media to the wider publishing industry, providing legal protection for the outlets and enhancing their competitiveness, all in an effort to increase advertising spend and grow the sector as a whole.”

The new regulations adhere to the Terms of Reference of the National Media Council No. 11 of 2016, and align with the outcomes of the Future of Media Retreat, held by the NMC in February 2018.

Under the new regulations, social media influencers promoting brands and businesses for cash will also need to get a media licence.

According to the NMC, all media enterprises operating without licences have been given three months to ensure their activities fully comply with the new regulations.

Officials have also warned that establishments violating the media law will be slapped with fines of up to Dh5,000 or have their online websites or social media accounts shut down.

“The regulations apply to all electronic media activities carried out within the UAE, including those in free zones,” Dr Rashid Al Nuaimi, NMC’S Executive Director of Media Affairs said during a press conference on Tuesday.

“The regulations requires that any form of electronic media activity that is determined by the National Media Council shall be prohibited except after a decision has been issued that approves the granting of a media licence in accordance with the laws and regulations.”

The new regulations, according to

of licensed traditional media such as newspapers, television, radio and magazines and do not need to secure new licences. The websites of government, universities and schools are also excluded from these regulations.

“The new regulations are part of the Council’s plan to promote and develop an advanced legislative and regulatory environment for the UAE media sector, keeping it up-to-speed with regards to all technological developments that have transformed media in recent times,” said Mansour Ibrahim Al Mansouri, director general of the NMC. Al Mansouri added that electronic media has become a highly influential and widespread tool and that it is imperative that that government enhances its reliability.

“Digital media is one of the fastestgrowing sectors in the Middle East, especially videos, games and e-books.

The NMC had earlier issued the age classification regulations for media content, which require relevant authorities to classify publications, electronic games, films and other artworks according to the appropriate age group, in order to preserve the UAE’s social values and its cultural heritage, and protect its children from any negative influences.

Gulf Insider April 2018

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Telecoms

people &

culture insider

Gulf Insider August 2017

48

People & Culture

the Netherlands. Many from Bahrain visit the Netherlands, especially March to May, to visit Keukenhof - one of the world’s largest flower shows.

We also promote business and cultural/sporting events between the two countries.

What brought you, personally, to Bahrain?

I came to the region in 1983, working in Saudi Arabia for my father’s hydraulic business. I came for one or two years but fell in love with the region, and with my future wife who I met here.

We decided to live our lives in Bahrain and had four children who were all born here.

We are always pushing for trade missions to pass

by Bahrain when they are visiting Saudi Arabia or the Emirates

Happy Koningsdag!

Interview with Mr. Yaap Vaandrager Honorary Consul for the Netherlands

W

hat is the role of the Honorary Consul.

The Honorary Consul takes care of the interests of the Netherlands in Bahrain. For Dutch nationals, we can issue statements,

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Gulf Insider April 2018

certificates and other documents they may require.

Our embassy is in Kuwait and I report directly to our ambassador there as I take care of day-to-day needs of Dutch nationals in Bahrain, and Bahraini nationals with an interest in

Why did you agree to become Honorary Consul?

An interesting question. I decided to do this, after being invited to take up the position, because I’ve been so long in this area and learned many things.

My experience can help others coming here. Like everyone I have also made mistakes, and can advise and help others avoid the same mistakes. This, I believe, is the best way I can help and promote both my country, and the country I now live in.

How do you promote business between the two countries?

We are always pushing for trade missions to pass by Bahrain when they are visiting Saudi Arabia or the Emirates, both of which are much bigger markets. We were able to

People & Culture

Interestingly Bahrain and the Netherlands import and export about the same value of goods to each other.

organize a trade mission for oil and gas producers to come to the Eastern province of Saudi and then visit Bahrain.

The reception was well-received and there was a lot of interest for Dutch companies to consider Bahrain.

The Economic Development Board of

increase. Interestingly Bahrain and the Netherlands import and export about the same value of goods to each other.

Bahrain importing meats, chocolate, malt and other consumables. The Netherlands imports mostly aluminum and oil products.

Bahrain (EDB) was also very helpful in the success of the event.

As we speak, one of the companies is setting up a representative office in Bahrain to distribute to the Northern Gulf—which goes to show that you can get quick results as long you have the right coverage and the right support.

Tell us about the Dutch community in Bahrain.

What is the value of business between the two countries?

The latest figures cover the first half of 2017 and show exports from Bahrain to the Netherlands were 94 Million Euros, which was more than for the entire year of 2016 which was 87 Million Euros, so that’s a big

We have a very interesting mix of about 350 Dutch nationals in Bahrain.

Some have been here for over 20-30 years. They got married, settled down and have now become part of the fabric of Bahraini life.

We also see more SME’s, smaller companies which settle in Bahrain for the simplicity and ease of living.

I don’t personally know all the Dutch community but I know most of them, and nearly all come to our annual King’s party.

Gulf Insider April 2018

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People & Culture

what’s happening

Samsung Galaxy S9 launch

Samsung Gulf Electronics hosted the media launch event for event for Samsung Galaxy S9 at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain.

2nd YKA Motor Show

The 2nd edition of the YKA Motorshow was filled with cars, food, music, games and more.

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Gulf Insider April 2018

People & Culture

G4S Annual Awards

G4S, the only multinational security solutions company in the country, held its annual award ceremony at Elite Resort and Spa.

American Mission Hospital (AMH)

AMH celebrated the opening of the AMHZwemer Clinic.

Gulf Insider April 2018

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People & Culture

BiSB Press Conference

BISB and Paypal hosted a press conference to announce the expansion of e-commerce in Bahrain.

Crowne Plaza

Offiicial opening of the newly renovated rooms at Crowne Plaza Hotel.

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Gulf Insider April 2018

Bahrain and GCC news, updated daily

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People & Culture

Rhythm of Life

by Peter Rushton At In Touch Gallery

T

he InTouch Gallery within the InTouch Integrated Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Center will be showcasing a selection of Peter Rushton’s mixed media paintings spanning the course of over ten years- throughout his time in the Middle East. Rushton has been living in Bahrain for 17 years and was the Sr. Manager and head of the Department of Corporate Communications at KFH Bahrain. His first works were exhibited in London and from there in Italy, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Part of the proceeds from the exhibition will go to www.stroke.org.uk as the artist previously suffered from a stroke and practiced his art as a therapy throughout his rehabilitation.

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Gulf Insider April 2018

People & Culture

For more information: Peter Rushton Instagram: @peter.rushton.artist In Touch Clinic and Gallery: Tel: +973 3832 7191 Gulf Insider April 2018

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People & Culture

The Enlightened Entrepreneur -

A Surefire Recipe “Father! Why do you love coming to India again and again and again?” I asked my father during our breakfast in one of Mumbai’s restaurants.

“You mean other than the great food?!” He replied, jokingly.

He, then, went on to list the TOP FIVE THINGS he loves about India: 1. I always feel welcomed, like I’m visiting a relative or a friend’s house.

2. Friendliness: everyone wants to help. There are those who can communicate, and those who can’t, but they still do their best to give a hand, show directions etc.

3. Acceptance: no matter who I am, what I stand for or where I come from, in India, I was never judged or illtreated due to my religion, race or otherwise.

4. Abundance: or in his own words, availability. India has everything it needs, and you can find everything you need in India.

5. Achievement: I have been to this country many a times and I can confidently tell you: they can turn suffering into survival, and survival into success.

I re-read dad’s list, and thought to myself: wait a minute!

This is a great recipe to create solid and sustained customer retention and loyalty.

So, here’s dad’s TOP FIVE recipe for a successful business, rewritten in my own words: l

Hospitality: make them feel at home.

l

Help: that’s why your business exists.

l

Equality: every customer matters.

l

Resourcefulness: Create what you want with what you have.

l

Resilience: no matter what, don’t surrender, don’t stop.

Back to Basics: PR 101 Public Relations (PR) specializes in maintaining and improving the positive reputation of institutions, organizations, or even individuals.

In order to become a PR professional, a person should possess certain qualities and characteristics. These include a strong and charismatic personality, being presentable, a good listener, professionalism, high level of ethics, attention to details, wit, good knowledge of the industry their client or their company is operating in, as well as the competitors and general overall environment.

As for the skillset that the PR professional can develop to excel at their work in the field of PR, the most important ones are the ability to negotiate and persuade, since the PR professional will be dealing with many people, and will be delivering presentations and conducting meetings. This is extremely important if the PR professional is also the company’s spokesperson.

Other competencies include writing and creating content, emotional intelligence, experience in using and utilizing technology and other necessary apps, in addition to developing PR campaigns and strategies.

There are many tasks and responsibilities that PR professionals need to handle in their day-to-day operations. Writing press releases, feature stories, and any PR materials, as well as creating interesting content; media relations; organizing events; internal communication; corporate communication; developing key messages; handling the social media accounts of the company and its heads; Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); media training; media monitoring; crisis management, among many other tasks.

In a nutshell, PR professionals play a key role in any company or organization, and the company’s success highly depends on its PR team and how they maintain and enhance the positive reputation both online and offline.

Sawsan Abu Omar, MCIPR Mohamed Shukri – Author,

corporate consultant, award winning speaker. mohd.a.shukri@gmail.com

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Gulf Insider April 2018

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

People & Culture

Holi Shift!

Arriving at Ananda on the Holi Festival of Colours was incredibly auspicious.

Signifying the victory of good over evil, arrival of spring and for many a time to laugh, forget, forgive and repair broken relationships, Holi resonated with me. Forgiving and letting go of the past and laughing at my ridiculous pants had a profound effect. In fact my five-day detox worked so well, I didn’t just clear out this life but previous ones too. Shifts Happening! I’m mentally stronger, 3kg lighter (only another 22kg to go) and inspired to take up Yoga.

Yikes! See you on the mat in May!

Top Tips for Detox:

Live Well

Challenge Christine Warren-White begins her Live Well journey with a luxury detox.

A

nanda in the Himalayas was the perfect place to kick-start my year of Living Well. Having a dedicated team of experts from chefs producing healthy food you actually want to eat together with personalized spa treatments it’s easy to stick to a detox programme. Embracing it all, I did wonder what would happen once I came back down the mountain, so I concentrated on developing positive practices, including Pranayama breathing and Meditation, to strengthen my mind and attain inner peace.

Mind Over Fatter My self-acceptance was soon shattered as upon entering the treatment room the lovely therapist, holding a pair of tiny disposable pants,

took one look at me and foraged frantically for a pair of what can only be described as fantastically large bloomers. Horrified at being presented with gargantuan undies, I had a choice to make. Hide inside parachute sized pants or climb into colossal cover-ups.

Having pulled on my big girl pants, I was terrifically proud and excited about my spa session. My newly found mental strength was tested as I was first rubbed with detox herbs and spices before being wrapped tightly from the neck down in foil. When I was plugged into the mains to marinate I assure you my mental state was distinctly not calm and serene. After half an hour I was seriously cooking, an hour in and I’m imagining food critic Jay Rayner’s review. Once showered, I felt incredible with an all over glow and mental stability restored.

    

Drink

lots of water then drink lots more

It doesn’t matter how big your pants are if your heart is bigger

Be gentle with yourself and stay close to a loo!

Smiling is the best detox for your mind

What you do today makes your tomorrow better

Christine Warren-White From setting up then selling her PR business to the world’s largest communications agency, Christine has worked domestically, regionally and internationally with renowned global brands and governments across multiple sectors. Over 20 years, she’s managed high profile accounts, campaigns and crisis communications whilst being a regular media commentator on TV, radio and in print, including for the BBC. She lives with her family in Bahrain.

Gulf Insider April 2018

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People & Culture

February 2018

Third Hottest on record since 1902

T

he month of February, according to Meteorological data, has set a new record in the Kingdom by becoming the third hottest month ever experienced in Bahrain since 1902.

This was revealed in the monthly weather summary released by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications’ Meteorological Directorate.

Highest temp 30.6°C The highest temperature recorded during the month was 30.6°C which occurred on the 18th of February at Bahrain International Airport but recorded 30.9°C on the same day at Durrat Al Bahrain.

The mean temperature of the month was 19.8°C which is 1.9°C above the long-term normal and goes on record as the third highest mean temperatures for the month of February since 1902.

This is same as February 1979 & 2015 and exceeded by February 1963 with a record of 21.5°C and February 1999 50

Gulf Insider April 2018

& 2010 at 20.4°C. The mean maximum temperature of the month was 23.6°C which is 2.4°C above the long-term normal and goes on record as the fourth highest mean maximum temperatures for the month of February since 1946.

This is same as February 2009 and exceeded by February 1963 with a record of 25.2°C, February 2010 at 24.4°C and February 2006 at 23.7°C.

Lowest temp 13.0°C The mean minimum temperature of the month was 16.6°C which is 1.7°C above the long-term normal. The lowest temperature recorded was 13.0°C set on the 5th February at Bahrain International Airport but recorded 8.5°C on the 4th February at Durrat Al Bahrain.

Moderate rain An upper trough moved towards the central parts of the Arabian Peninsula caused moderate rain over the kingdom on the 24th of February with 4.8 mm of precipitation recorded at Bahrain

International Airport, 10.4 mm at Durrat Al Bahrain, 6.8 mm at Sitra Island and 2.8 mm at King Fahd Causeway.

Another mobile trough had crossed the area on Wednesday 28th of February with 2.5 mm of precipitation recorded at Bahrain International Airport. But manage to produce rain accompanied by hail in some areas.

Westerly to Northwesterly winds accounted 40% with gusts reaching 36 knots on the 14th of February at Bahrain International Airport.

Fog trouble Fog affected the kingdom on the 16th February, visibility dropped to 350 meters or less from 00:00 am to 07:00 am local time. The lowest visibility was 40 meters from 00:30 am to 02:00 am local time at Bahrain International Airport.

Thick dust haze also affected the Kingdom of Bahrain on the 14th of February reduced the visibility to 500 meters at Bahrain International Airport.

People & Culture

Expat children set to say goodbye

to Saudi Arabia after exams

F

or most children, born and brought up in the Kingdom, saying goodbye to the country they consider their home is a tough call. It is psychologically and emotionally draining for these children who are often found discussing among themselves the trauma of leaving Saudi Arabia.

Jeddah: A significant number of expatriate families is preparing to leave the Kingdom in the coming weeks after the end of final examinations of their children.

Final exams in many community schools are ending in March and the school year in private schools is ending in May-June.

For most children, born and brought up in the Kingdom, saying goodbye to the country they consider their home is a tough call.

It is psychologically and emotionally draining for these children who are often found discussing among themselves the trauma of leaving Saudi Arabia.

“Nearly half of my class friends are saying that they will leave after the exams,” said Areeba Ahmed, an Indian student of grade 3 in a local school.

The imposition of dependent’s fee is the prime reason for most families to leave the Kingdom for good.

Private and community schools in the Kingdom are set to witness an exodus of students after the examinations.

“In some classes more than half of the pupils have informed that they are leaving the Kingdom,” said an official of a leading school in Jeddah.

Some schools are asking parents about the number of children who will continue classes and how many wish to leave.

“We are required to ascertain the strength of students for logistical reasons,” said a source in another leading school which is paying a huge rent for its premises.

The shrinking enrolment and increase in operational cost is impacting the very existence of many private schools.

Some schools are demanding a lump sum amount instead of monthly fee while others are offering incentives to stop children from quitting the school.

The enforcement of new building rules and the increased Ajeer fee are other factors that have affected many private schools.

“I have spent a wonderful time with my family in Kingdom. It is now time to send them back as I am not able to bear the dependent’s fee,” said Mohammed Nazeer, an Indian hailing from Hyderabad in Telangana.

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Ibn Al-Nafees Hospital Your Health is Our Mission

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P.O.Box: 54533, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, Bldg - 63, Road - 3302, Manama -333 Tel. +973 17 828 282 | 17 828 230 , Email info@ibnalnafees.com

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CAR News &

reviews insider

Gulf Insider August 2017

48

Car Insider

Ford Expedition 2018 Gulf Insider was invited to be among the first to drive this new Ford in the Gulf.

T

he 2018 Ford Expedition is brand new. It’s only just been launched in the US, and the first models have just started arriving in the Gulf (and not yet in Bahrain – but coming soon).

This is a full-size SUV. In fact it’s one of the biggest SUVs you can buy.

Ford tells us its loads better than the previous model. First impressions is its big and good looking.

Next impression, it’s easy to get in and out of thanks to power-deployed running boards. Given its huge size, the optional semi-autonomous parking

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Gulf Insider April 2018

The Expedition is for people who need to carry lots of stuff, whether cargo, or people, or both together. assist technology would be a good idea, likewise the 360-degree camera system.

We took it for a long drive, from the Desert Palm in Dubai to the Waldorf Astoria in RAK, where we rested over a delicious lunch before heading back to the Desert Palm.

INSIDE There’s a huge center console between the front seats with 6 USB charging ports and a wireless charging pad. The Expedition we drove had wi-fi, Siri, and Apple CarPlay which we used with ease. All the buttons and knobs are easy to find, and there’s an 8-inch touchscreen display.

Car Insider

In the rear a dual-screen rear entertainment system is optional. It can play DVDs and gaming devices, and be used for viewing live TV. The more expensive Platinum edition, which we drove for the second part of the long test drive, comes with a top of the range 12-speaker B&O sound system.

The seats are big, comfortable, and electrically ventilated. For something to do on the long journey we began secretly switching each other’s seat ventilations from cool to hot, then wait to witness them suddenly swear as they became aware of their discomfort and switch their seat back to cool while the rest of us burst into riotous laughter.

The top of the range Platinum also comes with massage seats – I tried them, and liked them.

Soundproofing is excellent, with very little road noise.

When we took the car its screen text was in Arabic. Fortunately we were with Mike, one of Ford’s senior engineers who’d worked on the Expedition from conception to completion. He was riding with us to get feedback and was able to press various buttons to turn the text into English. If he hadn’t been there I’m sure we’d have had to leave it in Arabic.

SPACE The Expedition is for people who need to carry lots of stuff, whether

cargo, or people, or both together.

There’s comfortable third-row seating – even for adults. Fold down the thirdrow seats to get 73 cu.-ft.+ of space, nearly as much space as a midsize SUV without passengers. Fold down the second-row seats for 121.5 cu.-ft. That’s seriously plenty of space. And inside the cabin area there’s lots of personal storage space thanks to clever use of bins, glove boxes, and other spaces.

HANDLING An aluminum body helps to make this monster as light as it can be. 4-wheel independent suspension allows it to ride and handle gracefully. Steering is surprisingly light yet precise. Technology includes driving assistance and collision avoidance systems.

There’s a growling twin-turbocharged

3.5-liter V6 which provides excellent acceleration. The standard model offers 375 bhp and 470 lb.-ft. of torque. The Platinum provides 400 bhp and 480 lb.-ft torque.

Driving this doesn’t feel like such a big vehicle. On the highways and light off-roading we experienced it handled perfectly. The 10-speed auto transmission transfers power to the rear wheels with ease. Driving on soft sand without the traction control was great fun (wasn’t it Charlie). I would have been curious to see how it handled on twisting roads, what with it being so big, but no such roads were offered to us.

I would love to drive the new Expedition against its nearest competitors – the Nissan Patrol and Toyota Landcruiser, just to see how they compare.

Price Comparison Ford Expedition 2018 XLT Starting Price: BD18,000 For more information: Almoayyed Motors Ford Tel: +973 1773 7373

Nissan Patrol

Toyota Land Cruiser

Starting Price: BD16,995 For more information: Nissan Bahrain Tel: +973 1741 2426

Starting Price: BD18,500 For more information: E.K. Kanoo (Toyota) Tel: +973 1773 0730

Gulf Insider April 2018

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Car Insider

Saudi: Car companies woo

new women drivers

W

hen the website for Saudi Arabia’s first driving school for women opened for online registration last month, it attracted more than 165,000 applicants in just three days. The rush to sign up to the Saudi Driving School — set up at an all-women’s university in Riyadh — underscores the pentup demand among women in the conservative kingdom to get behind the wheel after a ban on women drivers is finally lifted in June.

The big auto companies and their local dealers are already ramping up their advertising and marketing efforts in the hope of luring female customers in the Middle East’s largest car market for new sales.

Toyota plans to dedicate areas of its showrooms to all-female staff and set up call centres run by women to handle inquiries and financing details, says Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, the Japanese group’s authorised distributor in Saudi Arabia.

General Motors, which sells the Chevrolet and GMC brands in the country, has promoted a Saudi-born

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Gulf Insider April 2018

The big auto companies and their local dealers are already ramping up their advertising and marketing efforts in the hope of luring female customers.

female advertising executive to be the region’s chief copywriter to help the group craft adverts and campaigns that are sensitive to the local culture and avoid offending potential customers.

A Twitter campaign by Ford aimed at Saudi women drivers “We have to make sure that any communications are not done through a western lens,” says Molly Peck, chief marketing officer for GM in the Middle East.

In a nod to social norms in the kingdom, where unrelated men and women are often segregated in public, the company is also planning dedicated times at its dealerships that will be reserved for women only.

Ford, however, has ruled out launching female-only dealerships. “What this is supposed to be doing, and what government has said is the goal, is more integration of society, not necessarily more separation,” says Crystal Worthem, Ford’s marketing director for the Middle East and Africa region.

The decision to allow women to drive is often considered to be part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s push for social liberalisation that includes relaxing restrictions on entertainment and introducing cinemas. But the move is also part of his efforts to get more women in the workplace as the powerful heir apparent seeks to wean the country off its dependence on oil by stimulating growth in the private sector.

Ford, which also sells the Lincoln brand in the country, says Saudi women have been purchasing cars since Riyadh announced in September that the ban would be lifted. “People think women will buy low-end small cars with low margin but I don’t think that’s right,” says Ms Worthem. “We expect to see a big rise in the smaller end of luxury vehicles as well.”

Last Word

Old Bahrain

Manama Souq, 1965 Manama Souq (bazaar) is one of Bahrain’s most historic attractions. This is a photo of the souq in 1965, and it is still as busy today.

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