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Contents December 2018 Issue 166
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364,021 Simply unparalleled online presence that connects region’s most inspired communities.
People & Culture
16 30 33 36 38 42
Friends of Bahrain Interview with Dr May Bint Sulaiman Al Otaibi The International benchmark for Director excellence Huawei Mate 20 – Dubai Launch China, and a better Bahrain Economy On the Go - Talabat
Bahrain Legal
26 28 29
Interview with Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa Do’s and Dont’s Personal Data Protection Law
Car News & Reviews
54 56 58
Rolls-Royce Cullinan 2019 Porsche Panamera GTS
…and much, much more!
Ferrari Lusso
Comment... A picture is worth a thousand words. Here's last month’s most 'Liked' #BestInBahrain picture posted to our social media.
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arab Bank Receives 14 international awards interview with aFS ceO Mr. B. chandrasekhar
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Events
Day & Night Solar Energy Systems STEEB Exhibition
BBTC MENA - Bottom of the Barrel Technology Conference
Textures: Art Exhibition
When: 4th to 6th December 2018 Where: Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre
When: 3rd to 4th December 2018 Where: The Diplomat Radisson Blu
When: 9th December 2018 Where: Art Center
Euro Petroleum Consultants’ BBTC – Bottom of the Barrel Technology Conference Series remains the only event focusing on technologies, project trends and equipment innovations relating to residue upgrading in refineries. It has become one of the most insightful conferences for the refining industry in the Middle East.
Hisham’s art career spans over 20 years. In 1993, Hisham had his first solo exhibition titled Arabian Horses held at the Bahrain Museum. in 2006, he held an exhibition at the Art Centre titled Gilgamish. In 2015, he launched a book under the same title “Gilgamesh; a passion for immortality” in six languages. Hisham Zubari returns to the Art Centre in December 2018.
Solar energy systems STEEB Exhibition will be addressing the challenges and opportunities related to reducing energy consumption and production. The event provides a unique platform to showcase the latest equipment and services of the solar energy industry, to develop international relations, and create new job opportunities.
For more information: +973 3710 9909, info@steebbh.com
25th Al Ayam Cultural Fair When: 27th to 31st December 2018 Where: Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre A Cultural, Handicrafts, and Handmades expo. Al Ayam Cultural Fair is a successful book sale with the participation of publishing houses from both Arab & International countries accompanied by several distinct cultural activities. Expand your library before the year ends!
For more information: +973 1761 7734 8
Gulf Insider December 2018
For more information: +971 (0)4421 4642 office@europetro-me.com
For more information: culture.gov.bh
Big Bang Unico. Case in 18K King Gold invented and developed by Hublot with a ceramic bezel. In-house chronograph UNICO movement. Interchangeable strap using patented One-Click system.
News Roundup
Bahrain: New stamp marking 100th anniversary in aviation history
Bahrain: One man,two women punished for engaging in fistfight A Bahraini man was sentenced to jail for three years and two women, a GCC and a Bahraini national, were fined with BD100 and BD200, respectively, for engaging in a fistfight. Court files say the trio were friends. Circumstances leading to the case occurred when the GCC woman told the other woman that the Bahraini man was always speaking ill of her. The woman then contacted the man, who is an event organizer and met him in the presence of the GCC national to settle the issue. However, during reconciliation efforts, a disagreement popped resulting in the women throwing punches at each other. The GCC national told the court that the Bahraini woman continued to assault her even after she attempted to leave. The incident resulted in causing 15% permanent disability to the GCC woman’s nose.
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Gulf Insider December 2018
The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT) announced the launch of a single commemorative stamp marking the centennial anniversary of the arrival of the first aircraft in the country 1918-2018. In December 1918, Bahrain marked a historic first, with the arrival of the first registered flight, a British Royal Air Force bomber, which was on a mission to explore the possibility of transporting government mail between London and Kolkata, India and developing it even further to reach Australia. The new 100 year of aviation stamp is available in denominations of 400 fils and Souvenir Sheet at a price of 0.750 fils. The stamps are available at all Bahrain Post branches.
Bahrain’s sea festival attracts 24,000 visitors More than 24,000 people attended the ‘Sea Festival’ held at Bahrain Bay between October 25 and November 3 as part of the kingdom’s calendar of events. The festival, organised by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), featured a number of activities, including a gaming zone, VR Boat Adventure, a museum, an aquarium and a “Fisherman Village” which included kiosks dedicated to traditional handicrafts related to the sea, including pearl merchants. There were more than 20 food vendors for visitors to enjoy, as well as line-up of live performances by traditional bands participating in the event. The festival also included boat tours inside Bahrain Bay, water activities such as kayaking, paddling, rowing races and the Russian Jetski Show. Hosting the festival comes in line with the BTEA’s overall strategy aimed at developing and strengthening the tourism sector under the slogan of ‘Ours. Yours.’, which contributes towards the kingdom’s economy and the 2030 Economic Vision.
Lavish buffet, live cooking with selected unlimited beverages & live music BD 45 ++ / couple BD 32 ++ / adult
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News Roundup
Bahrain offers lowest cost for doing business in gcc
While Bahrain has the most liberalised and competitive IT sector in the region, it also leads on most indicators for the cost of doing business in the GCC region – a market worth $1.5 trillion, said professional services firm KPMG in a new report. Crucially, the report titled “The Cost of Doing Business in the GCC “revealed that Bahrain has lower costs than any other GCC country for cross-border internet connectivity, a critical metric for an ICT hub. Overall, the total average cost of operating in Bahrain for ICT dependent enterprises was 16 per cent less than the GCC’s average. Key findings from the report include: • The average annual cost of operations for cross-border internet connectivity in Bahrain is $126,000, compared to the average for GCC which is $233,400 • Commercial rental costs for office space in Bahrain are lower, compared to other GCC countries – $43,800 for Bahrain, compared to an average of $86,480 for the GCC • Overall commercial utility costs (electricity and water, internet and telephone services) in Bahrain are 25 per cent lower compared to the average GCC utility costs. These statistics further substantiate Bahrain’s ambition to address the needs of overseas investors and enterprises looking to take advantage of advanced digital business infrastructures, free from stringent regulation. Recent policy reforms have been introduced to enable start-ups to test, innovate and scale quickly, establishing Bahrain as a fast-growing, highly-connected business hub with accessibility at its core. In addition to analyzing the cost of business and living, the report from KPMG commented on the incentives for the IT sector in GCC jurisdictions, revealing that the EDB has recently won the United Nations’ Investment Promotion Award for its partnership with Amazon Web Services’ (AWS). Additionally, the government has recently launched a “Cloud Computing scheme” that will provide 100% financing support of the cost for any Bahrain-registered business subscribing to a hyper-scale data center for 18 months. This offer forms part of a wider initiative to position Bahrain as regional ICT hub, an effort unique to a region which has historically relied upon oil prices to generate wealth. 12
Gulf Insider December 2018
Bahrain to welcome 128,000 cruise passengers Hosting the cruise tourism since 2009, this year 128,900 cruise passengers are expected to visit Bahrain between November 2018 – April 2019 on 52 cruise ships. This will be the highest on record in terms of passengers till date, which witnessed a 33% increase in the previous season, resulting in 105,271 cruise visitors and a 5% growth in vessel calls. The 2018-19 cruise season is expected to attract more tourism business for Bahrain with some exciting new arrivals at Khalifa bin Salman Port. Four new cruise vessels, led by AIDAprima with its 3,300 passengers with 900 crew members, will be making its maiden call to the Kingdom with 18 scheduled trips planned for the season. This will be followed by MSC Lirica with eight trips and other vessels including the TUI Discovery and Thomson Celebration, also marking their debut in Bahrain. Amongst the cruise vessels making their yearly call at KBSP, MSC Splendida will be returning to the Kingdom for the second season, with six scheduled visits, each carrying approximately 3,900 passengers with a crew team of 1,313, making it the biggest vessel to call this season. Mein Schiff also has repeated calls at KBSP with its 10 trips, each carrying 2,800 passengers. The cruise season will also witness docking of two cruise ships on the same day, over certain weeks of the scheduled season. Passengers are welcomed with traditional Bahraini hospitality and cultural experiences that include Bahraini music along with falcon show at the BTEA-hosted tent.
BY WYNDHAM
MANAMA CITY CENTRE
2019
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Arabic Entertainment Set Menu Dinner Oriental Ambiance
31 DEC 9 PM - 2 AM For more Info: 1710 4000 Reem Al Bawadi Bahrain
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People & Culture
Bahrain Airshow A $5 billion Success With 30,000 Visitors
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Gulf Insider December 2018
People & Culture
B
ahrain International Airshow ended on a successful note with recordbreaking participation – 187 countries attended the fifth edition – and also signing of deals worth $5 billion during the three-day event which attracted 30,000 visitors. Our photographer was there to capture some of the excitement… This year’s edition of the air show, which was the largest ever since the show’s inception saw billions of dollars’ worth of deals being agreed upon. Some of the major announcements during the air show included Saudi Gulf Airlines order of 10 Airbus A320neo with a further option for 10 more to the value of US$2.1bn and Royal Bahraini Air Force’s purchase of AH-1Z Attack Helicopter for US$912 million.
Gulf Insider December 2018
15
People & Culture
Friends of Bahrain Celebrating Bahrain’s National Day On the special occasion of Bahrain’s National Day, Gulf Insider takes a closer look at relationships between Bahrain and some of its major trading partners.
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Gulf Insider December 2018
ITALY
GERMANY
H. E. Domenico Bellato
H. E. Kai Boeckmann
W
W
hat are your country’s main trading activities with Bahrain? Italy has a longstanding presence in Bahrain and its technologies and expertise largely contributed to the development of the industrial assets of Bahrain, in the Oil&Gas and petrochemical sectors. Nowadays, major Italian companies are taking part in the most relevant Bahraini industrial projects and are interested in exploring further opportunities. Trade between Italy and Bahrain grew from 2004 to 2016 reaching a peak of € 386 million (€ 263 million Italian export to Bahrain and €123 million imports from Bahrain to Italy). The bulk of our exports lies on mechanical engineering, machineries for industry, automotive, fashion, furniture, food products. Imports from Bahrain consist mainly of refined products and metals (aluminum). What makes your country’s relationship with Bahrain special? I think that the relationship between Italy and Bahrain is special because of the love we share for quality and beauty, which underpins the widespread appreciation of Italian design, fashion and cuisine. Another pillar is culture. Of course, a direct flight between our countries would be a game changer in this endeavor. Any interesting news, recent or historical, about your country’s relations with Bahrain? It is worthwhile recalling the pivotal role played by an Italian diplomat, Ambassador Vittorio Winspeare Guicciardi, in the process leading to the independence of Bahrain. In 1970 he was appointed UN Secretary-General’s Personal Representative to assess the wish of the people of Bahrain on their country’s status. He carried out his task coming to Bahrain and meeting the representatives of all sectors of the Bahraini society, concluding that the overwhelming majority of the people of Bahrain wished to live in a fully independent and sovereign state. His report was approved by the UN Security Council, paving the way for the recognition of Bahrain’s identity, sovereignty and independence. What a meaningful example of the special bond that exists between Italy and Bahrain! Any short message for our readers on Bahrain’s National Day?
Special Feature
People & Culture
hat are your country’s main trading activities with Bahrain?
Bahrain is importing mainly cars and machinery from Germany, to a value of EUR 443.3 Mio. The exports from Bahrain to Germany, metals, chemical products, ceramic and glassware are EUR 41.4 Mio. I believe there is potential for growth in both directions.
Is there anything that makes your country’s relationship with Bahrain special? The economy in both our countries is based to a great part on small and medium enterprises. Sports play a big role in both countries. Sebastian Vettel’s victories in the dramatic races in 2017 and 2018 have made the bond between our two peoples even stronger. And yes, Germany and Bahrain are working very well together in the UN.
Any interesting news, recent or historical, about your country’s relations with Bahrain? German technology can be found in many places in Bahrain. This is obvious when you look at the cars passing on the Highways, but there are less known feasts. One of the newer banknotes in your wallet might have been printed in Germany. And the groundwork for the Bahrain International Circuit has been prepared by German engineering. Some recent news: The Embassy of Germany has opened up a window in the form of its new Instagram channel germanyinbahrain in order to connect to all friends of Germany in Bahrain – and to make new friends.
Any short message for our readers on Bahrain’s National Day? On the occasion of Bahrain’s Independence Day, Germany wishes the Kingdom of Bahrain a great future, progress and development, and peace and stability for the region. Diplomatic relations between our two countries since 1972 and the German Embassy in Manama opened in 1996 constitute a solid basis for strong ties between our countries.
I wish the very best to the Leadership and to the people of Bahrain for their National Day, which is an occasion to gather in the name of the common belonging to a Nation which is getting impressive results from all the points of view. Gulf Insider December 2018
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People & Culture
KOREA H.E. Koo Hyunmo
W
hat are your country’s main trading activities with Bahrain?
According to the Korean statistics, the two way trade volume between the two countries in 2017 reached 682 million US dollars. Bahrain exported 393 million US dollars to Korea and imported from Korea 289 million US dollars. Major export items from Bahrain are petrochemical, aluminum products and crabs while automobile and heavy equipment are the main import items. I predict that the two way volume of trade would exceed 800 mil this year. In addition, the first Bahraini business delegation headed by Mr. Sameer Nass, Chairman of the BCCI, will visit Korea and will hold ‘Bahrain-Korea Business Forum’ in Korea on the 12th November. I believe the Forum will certainly provide momentum and another platform to further facilitate trade activities between our two countries.
What makes your country’s relationship with Bahrain special? Bahrain and Korea have a long history that can be traced back to more than 4,000 years to the Dilmun civilization of Bahrain and Gochosun of Korea. Geopolitically, our two countries are small nations surrounded by relatively big neighbors. Our two countries do not have abundant natural resources so we have to invest on human capital and education. We are friendly nations to foreigners and other cultures. We also both have the long tradition of respecting the elders and value family. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1976, Bahrain was a gateway for Korean companies to advance to other countries in the region. I hope many Korean companies would come to Bahrain for business opportunities in the future.
Any interesting news, recent or historical, about your country’s relations with Bahrain? One very symbolic historical episode that attests to the very cooperative relations between Bahrain and Korea is that Bahrain was the first Middle East destination for Korean Air in 1976 and it operated a direct flight until 1998. Unfortunately, since then we don’t have direct flight between our two countries. We attach a great importance on resuming direct flight between our two countries as it would certainly contribute to more exchanges and closer ties.
Any short message for our readers on Bahrain’s National Day? Taking this opportunity, I wish all the Bahraini people a Happy National Day. Under the wise leadership of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Bahrain has become an exemplary country in the region where people live together in peaceful harmony regardless of their race, religion and origin. I wish for Bahrain to continue to prosper and for everlasting friendship between Bahrain and Korea! 18
Gulf Insider December 2018
Netherlands Mr. Jaap W Vaandrager
W
hat are your country’s main trading activities with Bahrain? First of all, trade between the Netherlands and Bahrain has seen a sharp increase in the last few years. In 2017, BH has imported from NL approx. $ 190m and exported to NL $198m. Main imports from the Netherlands into Bahrain are 17% machinery, 12% dairy, 8% chemicals, 8% pharmaceuticals, 5% beverages, 15% is meat, fresh produce, nuts, cocoa, plants, cut flowers, cereals and 5% boats, 5% ceramics. Bahraini exports into the Netherlands are mainly made up of 60% mineral fuels & oils, 20% aluminum and 10 % machinery.
Is there anything that makes your country’s relationship with Bahrain special? At first glance, Bahrain and the Netherlands may seem to be countries that are stark opposites. Dig a little deeper and you will see that in fact, these two kingdoms have a lot in common. Both countries are sea faring nations; they are both outward looking, business-friendly and exercise great religious tolerance. Bahrain and the Netherlands are small countries in comparison to their neighbors and they have a very diverse population. However, perhaps the most important similarity is that in the Netherlands and in Bahrain, everyone is welcome.
Any interesting news, recent or historical, about your country’s relations with Bahrain? Two years after the independence of Bahrain, our Dutch national carrier, KLM (then Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij) started flying to Bahrain. This year marks 45 years of that first flight. Recently, we have seen many students choosing the Netherlands to complete their higher education. Higher quality of life, cheaper education costs, and more and more English programs on offer are the main reasons why Bahraini students choose to study in Holland.
Any short message for our readers on Bahrain’s National Day? We would like to congratulate the royal family and the people of the Kingdom of Bahrain on the 47th national day of Bahrain. We wish for continued prosperity and stronger ties between our two Kingdoms.
CHINA
Turkey
H.E. E Anwaer
H.E. Kemal Demirciler
W
I
hat are your country’s main trading activities with Bahrain?
Friendship between China and Bahrain dates back to ancient times and will be everlasting. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1989, especially H.M. King Hamad’s successful state visit to China in 2013, our bilateral relations have kept favorable momentum of development. Under the guidance of the leaders of our two countries and the joint efforts of our two people’s, the high level exchanges have become more frequent, mutual trust has been constantly strengthened, economic cooperation has been greatly promoted, cultural and educational exchanges have achieved great success.
Is there anything that makes your country’s relationship with Bahrain special? China will join hands with Bahrain to implement the common consensus of President Xi Jinping and H.M. King Hamad and promote our bilateral friendly cooperative relations into a new level.
Any interesting news, recent or historical, about your country’s relations with Bahrain? Since I assumed my mission on 19 April 2018, I have presented credential to H.M. King Hamad and copy of credential to H.E. Shaikh Khalid, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and intensively met with more than 70 senior officials of Bahrain. I deeply felt that the Bahraini government and all sectors of society attach great importance to develop relations with China, and regard China as an important and reliable cooperative partner. Bahrain attaches more importance to China’s rising international status and influence and is eager to strengthen cooperation with China on international and multilateral affairs, enhance coordination and cooperation on international and regional issues with common concerns and safeguard our common interests. I am full of confidence to the bright future and prospect of China-Bahrain relations!
Any short message for our readers on Bahrain’s National Day? On the occasion of the coming National Day of the Kingdom of Bahrain, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Bahrain government and people!
s there anything that makes your country’s relationship with Bahrain special?
Turkey and Bahrain enjoys friendly relations for so many years. Even before its independence, Bahrain airport served as a hub to the travellers who come from Turkey and travelled to the south- East Asia in 1950’s. His Majesty King Hamad was one of the leaders who visited Turkey in order to show solidarity with the Turkish Government after the failed coup d’état which was orchestrated by the members of terrorist group called FETÖ in 2016. The President of the Republic of Turkey H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan reciprocated His Majesty’s visit in February 2017.
What are your country’s main trading activities with Bahrain? Turkey and Bahrain have good commercial and economic relations. Turkey mainly imports aluminium and petro-chemicals from Bahrain and exports spare parts, foodstuffs, textiles and garments, tobacco products. Turkey’s exports $ 227.4 million and imports $186.7 million, totalling $ 414 million in 2017. The first 9 months’ turnover reached $ 374.5 million this year. I believe that these figures do not reflect the real potential and can be improved. For this end, our countries’ business people should seek ways to tap the potential in full.
Any interesting news, recent or historical, about your country’s relations with Bahrain? In addition to the traditional friendship between Turkey and Bahrain, our geographical proximity is an advantage. You can reach Istanbul in four hours by plane. There are at least three different flights every day. Turkey is one of the preferred destinations by Bahraini tourists. Last year, Bahrainis visited Turkey 59.442 times (We know that some Bahrainis go to Turkey more than once). The first nine months statistics indicates that the number stood at 59.296.
Any short message for our readers on Bahrain’s National Day? Bahrain will celebrate 47th anniversary of its independence in December. We wish all the best to His Majesty King Hamad, and to HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, as well as to HRH Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Turkey believes that Bahrain will continue to enjoy prosperity and democracy under the able leadership of His Majesty King Hamad in the years to come.
Gulf Insider December 2018
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Special Feature
People & Culture
People & Culture
FRANCE
United States H. E. Justin H Siberell
H. E. Cécile LONGÉ
W
W
hat are your country’s main trading activities with Bahrain?
Commercial ties between Bahrain and the U.S. are strong. The United States shares a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Bahrain – one of only two such agreements between the U.S. and a GCC country. Its purpose is to increase trade, economic opportunity, and prosperity for both the United States and Bahrain. Since the FTA came into force in January 2006, Bahrain exports to the U.S. and U.S. exports to Bahrain have increased nearly three-fold. Bilateral trade rose from $782 million in 2005 to $1.9 billion in 2017. Notably, this trade is growing. In the first seven months of 2018 alone, two-way trade increased by 54 percent to $1.678 billion from $1.085 billion during the same period in 2017. Over 200 American firms have an established presence in Bahrain, helping to create jobs for Bahraini citizens and residents, and provide high-quality products and services for customers here. Primary exports from the U.S. to Bahrain include machinery, appliances, vehicles, aircraft and parts, and medical and optical equipment. Primary exports from Bahrain to the U.S. include aluminum, oil, textiles, iron, steel, and plastics.
Is there anything that makes your country’s relationship with Bahrain special? Bahrain is an important friend and partner to the United States. Our relationship is a long and significant one, dating back over a century to when a group of Americans came to Bahrain to provide medical care and offer educational opportunities, eventually establishing the American Mission Hospital, which continues to operate today. Since that time, our relationship has flourished, as we cooperate in an increasing number of arenas. Washington has deep respect for the role that Bahrain plays in regional affairs.
Any interesting news, recent or historical, about your country’s relations with Bahrain? The Kingdom of Bahrain hosts the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet – a pillar of our defense partnership with the broader region. Our countries work together to meet shared goals and overcome shared challenges, keeping the region safe and secure through our cooperation. However, it’s the people-to-people ties that make the relationship between Bahrain and the U.S. so special. Between 2014 and 2016, the number of American students studying in Bahrain increased by almost 44 percent. In the 201617 academic year, ties have grown once again, with almost 500 Bahraini students studying in the United States.
Any short message for our readers on Bahrain’s National Day? The United States wishes to extend a heartfelt message of congratulations to all Bahrainis on the celebration of National Day. We look forward to continuing to advance our strong bilateral relationship, which is built upon deep commercial ties, common security, and shared values, including tolerance and openness, and profound people-to-people connections. 20
Gulf Insider December 2018
hat are your country’s main trading activities with Bahrain?
France is mostly exporting manufactured goods to Bahrain and is well positioned on several key infrastructure projects that are essential for the Kingdom. Through 30 companies based in the country, big corporates and SMEs, French expertise is covering all the major sectors (retail, industry, financial services).
Is there anything that makes your country’s relationship with Bahrain special? Bahrain is regularly ranked first by the French Expatriate Community in the list of countries where life is most enjoyable especially with family. This makes our relationship special, along with the particular affinity repeatedly underscored by His Majesty for our country.
Any interesting news, recent or historical, about your country’s relations with Bahrain? Pierre Cartier, the famous French jeweler, went first to Bahrain in 1910 in search of the most beautiful natural pearls to adorn the neck of all princesses and queens in Europe at that time. The French archeological mission was first in Bahrain to uncover the historical heritage of Dilmun and Tylos civilizations: its 40th anniversary was celebrated last month. The cooperation remains unbeatable.
Any short message for our readers on Bahrain’s National Day? I wish them and all Bahraini Community Peace and Prosperity and I express hope for ever strengthening ties between both our countries and people.
Japan
great Britain
H. E. Hideki Ito
H. E. Simon Martin CMG
W
W
hat are your country’s main trading activities with Bahrain?
Japan’s trade volume with Bahrain has been stable at around one billion US dollars although there is fluctuation according to international economic conditions and regional political situation. Japan’s main export items are vehicles and machinery, while Japan’s main import items from Bahrain are petrochemical products and aluminum. Japan is the fifth largest exporter to Bahrain after China, UAE, USA and Saudi Arabia.
Is there anything that makes your country’s relationship with Bahrain special? While Japan is in East Asia, Bahrain is in West Asia. Both as Asian countries, Japan and Bahrain share common values. For example, both Japanese people and Bahraini people respect the elders. Also Japan and Bahrain both attach importance to harmony of its society. Bahrain is famous for being a tolerant society. Furthermore, because Japan and Bahrain lack natural resources, we regard human resource development and education as important. In this way, in fact, there is a solid basis to have mutual understanding between Japanese people and Bahraini people.
Any interesting news, recent or historical, about your country’s relations with Bahrain? Japan is not a new comer to Bahrain. Our relations go back to 1934 when the first oil export from Bahrain went to Japan. In recent years, there were exchanges of visits at the highest level. In April 2012, His Majesty King Hamad made a historic visit to Japan. In the following year 2013, in August, Prime Minister Abe made the first visit of Japanese Prime Minister to Bahrain and, in October, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Salman visited Japan.
Any short message for our readers on Bahrain’s National Day? Congratulations on Bahrain’s National Day! Japan wishes to further upgrade its excellent relations with Bahrain in all fields. Recently Japanese Foreign Minister visited the Kingdom. And you will see more Japanese cultural events in the coming period. We wish Bahrain all the best for its continuing progress and further prosperity.
hat are your country’s main trading activities with Bahrain?
The UK and Bahrain continue to have a close and important relationship which has flourished for more than 200 years. Relations are based on a number of pillars – Defence; we saw the opening of the UK Naval Support Facility in April 2018 which is our first permanent military presence east of Suez since 1971. Security: we continue to work with Bahrain, sharing concern about regional issues and providing technical assistance to Bahrain’s reform agenda. Trade and Investment; this continues to be a positive story with over 180 registered British branch companies in Bahrain and over 700 British companies represented or active in the market through partnerships or agents, across a wide range of sectors, including construction, financial and professional services, aviation, engineering, education, marketing, retail and pharmaceuticals. In 2017, total trade in goods and services between the UK and Bahrain was £934m, a 27.8% increase from 2016.
Is there anything that makes your country’s relationship with Bahrain special? There is a warm familiarity between the UK and Bahrain that is rarely matched elsewhere. Most of the British nationals I meet in Bahrain have experience of other parts of the region. They say that Bahrain is the place where they are made to feel most welcome. And for many Bahrainis, London remains a ‘home from home’. Many Bahrainis study in the UK, work in the UK, own property and businesses there, they holiday there, and they watch football there. And relations between the British and Bahraini royal families are very close.
Any interesting news, recent or historical, about your country’s relations with Bahrain? Britain was instrumental in helping establishing the first public school in the Gulf in Bahrain in 1919. Today there are numerous schools in Bahrain teaching the British curriculum. In business many familiar British brands are to be seen in Bahrain, but today’s trade and investment relationship is a balanced one – for example McLaren, the Formula One and performance car icon, is majority owned by Mumtalakat. Aviation is another Bahrain-Britain field of collaboration: the first British Airways commercial Concorde flight was from London to Bahrain; Gulf Air’s new Dreamliners are powered by Rolls Royce engines, and all new Bahrain Airforce pilots train on Hawk jet trainers.
Any short message for our readers on Bahrain’s National Day? As the Kingdom of Bahrain marks 47 years of independence, it is rightly proud of its achievements during this time, particularly under the leadership of His Majesty, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The UK is proud of its close relationship with Bahrain and its people. I wish all Bahrainis a Happy National Day! Gulf Insider December 2018
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Special Feature
People & Culture
People & Culture
India H.E. Alok Kumar Sinha
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hat are your country’s main trading activities with Bahrain?
There has been a tremendous growth in the bilateral trade between India and Bahrain over the last two years. India’s non-oil exports to Bahrain have seen a growth of 16.9%, while India’s non-oil imports from Bahrain are 58.20%. Bahrain’s oil export to India is 96.87%. The total trade between the two countries has seen a growth of 47.40%.
Is there anything that makes your country’s relationship with Bahrain special? The close and friendly relations between India and Bahrain have developed into a close and mutually beneficial partnership in the recent years. India- Bahrain relations are symbolized by civilization connect and age-old cultural ties. The two countries have been together from the Indus Valley civilization and Dilmun civilization. Trade has been a foundation of the relationship that has evolved over the years. The high level visits between the two countries have nurtured this relationship and have provided a strong foundation to the dynamic leadership of two countries. Interior investment in Bahrain has been going.
Any interesting news, recent or historical, about your country’s relations with Bahrain? Today, India’s relations with Bahrain is at an all-time high and has considerably widened to cover a range of areas including Security, Infrastructure and Investment, High- tech, Health, Renewable Energy and Food Security. One of the landmark developments this year is the opening of the new Indian Embassy in Bahrain which was inaugurated by the External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Affairs Minister of Bahrain. This whole embassy represents the historic close civilizational bonds between the two countries. The mural in the entrance lobby depicts the India- Bahrain friendship which is an expression of the ties and relationship the two countries enjoy. New areas of cooperation have been identified and the two countries are working together in every sphere of economic, culture and political relationship.
Any short message for our readers on Bahrain’s National Day? As the Kingdom of Bahrain celebrates its National Day, the Indian community joins me in conveying best wishes for the good health and well-being of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and for the continued progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Bahrain. 22
Gulf Insider December 2018
Friends of Bahrain Celebrating Bahrain’s National Day
Kingdom of B ahrain’s National Day
All the management and staff of C.G. Arabia WLL, the holding company of Arabian Magazines, takes this opportunity to congratulate His Majesty the King Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa His Highness the Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa His Highness the Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and the people of Bahrain. We pledge our continuing support to the King, his Government and people, and look forward to our contributing to the prosperity of the nation both now and in years ahead.
P O Box 26810, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, Tel. +973 1782 2388 Fax. +973 1772 1722 e-mail: info@ArabianMagazines.com www.ArabianMagazines.com
Society
Chelsea Pensioners visit the British School of Bahrain
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Jewellery Arabia 2018 - Gathering at Panerai Booth
News Roundup
Bahrain: ‘Women Molesting Man’ – first ever in legal history It was for the first time in the legal history of the Kingdom that a ‘woman molesting man’ case was charged, according to prosecutors. An Arab woman was sentenced to one-year jail for molesting and attempting to rob a laundryman. The convict will be deported once she completes the jail term. The woman, a mother of seven children, barged into the laundry shop and molested the laundry expat worker, say court details. Revealing the incident, the victim had told prosecutors, “The woman was wearing a niqab when she entered the shop. She asked me for water and then requested me the way to toilet. I told her that the shop did not have a toilet facility. “Suddenly, she came close and pressed my body against her.” The Arab woman reached her hand into the pocket of the victim’s trousers in a bid to snitch his wallet, prosecutors said. “I tried to resist her, but she would rob eight dinars from my pocket. She was a big woman and I failed to stop her,” the victim said. “I informed my sponsor immediately about the robbery and he reported it to police,” he said. The woman was arrested in another robbery case, and she denied her links to this incident. However, her involvement was confirmed after reviewing the CCTV cameras installed in the shop. “I came to Bahrain with my husband seven months ago and I have seven children. I usually go on begging to raise money for us, but I was arrested in connection with a robbery incident,” the 32-year-old woman said. The defendant’s youngest child is a newborn infant who is with her at the detention centre. The Arab woman’s lawyer had earlier urged the court to show mercy and release her as she needs to take care of the seven children while her husband is away for work.
Kuwait’s minister resigns amid severe flooding Kuwait’s Minister of Public Works, Hussam Al-Roumi, has resigned following heavy rainfall that caused damaging flooding across the country, state news agency KUNA reported. The army and national guard were mobilized to help clear water from critical facilities and roadways and the Kuwait Oil Company announced a state of emergency, KUNA reported.
Bahrain ranked third best islamic economy Bahrain was ranked the third best in the world when it comes to being an ‘Islamic economy’, according to findings of a study. The Kingdom’s achievements as an Islamic economy was highlighted by the Global Islamic Economy Report 2018/19. The report provides a comprehensive view of Islamic economies around the world and how it caters to halal and Islamic market. It was developed by Thomson Reuters in collaboration with Dinar Standard and supported by the Dubai Capital of Islamic Economy. Bahrain ranked highly in the Islamic Finance sector as well as halal travel, halal media and recreation. “This report estimates that the Islamic finance sector has US$2.4 trillion in total assets. Food and beverage lead Muslim spending by category at US$1.3 trillion, followed by clothing and apparel at US$270 billion, media and entertainment at US$209bn, travel at US$177bn, and spending on pharmaceuticals and cosmetics at US$87bn and US$61bn respectively,” the report stated. In the list of top 15 Islamic economies, Malaysia was ranked first while the UAE was ranked second. Malaysia performed best in Islamic finance while the UAE performed well in areas such as halal food, halal travel, modest fashion, halal media, and recreation.
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Bahrain Legal
Y
ou are the first Arab and Muslim woman to serve as the president of the United Nations General Assembly. What does this role involve
of you?
I was elected in 2006 and it’s a really a great honor for me, my country and the Arab region as a whole that a woman from this region became the President of the United Nations General Assembly. During United Nations General Assembly debates and meetings, I worked along with the Assembly’s many Vice Presidents, Chairs of the Six Main Committees, and members of the United Nations Security Council. We focused on working diplomatically and fairly with 192 different member nations. We discussed the issues that would positively impact our world, which brought out significant progress during my term.
You have to work hard and with honesty to earn anything that will add value in life. How does Bahrain rank for women’s rights, and what still needs to be done?
Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa Founder of Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, Attorneys at Law & Legal Consultants, and the first Arab and Muslim woman to serve as the president of the United Nations General Assembly and as Bahrain’s first female Ambassador to France from 2001–2004. 26
Gulf Insider December 2018
As lawyers, we worked from the beginning of the 1980s to realize women’s rights in the Kingdom. There was no family law at that time as per the international law and the Sharia law. I remember some incidents at the court, when women were dragged to their husbands’ houses after they lose a divorce petition. By the beginning of 2000 the officials /deputies in parliament started to discuss the draft of the family law. What still needs to be done is to educate women on their rights as per the family law. They should realize that there is no legal discrimination.
Bahrain Legal
You specialize in Arbitration, Banking & Finance, and Contracts Law. How would you say these branches of law are evolving? As the law keeps on evolving, you need to keep learning, analyze legal theories, and develop case strategies. I practiced a few international arbitration cases from the beginning of my career.
What do you believe the UN should most be focusing its energies on? I think the UN should focus most of their energies on Education. Education is very important, and it is the tool to equip the future generation for success that can make a positive impact on our human race.
How can Bahrain best empower the less fortunate in society so they can better reach their potential and contribute to the nation? Again, as I said, the best empowerment for the future generation is through education. Along with education comes the youth empowerment and economic stability. When you mention the empowerment of the less fortunate in the society, gender equality and women’s rights also have to be considered. The initiatives of HRH Princess Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim al Khalifa, wife of the King of Bahrain, and President of the Supreme Council for Women are worth mentioning. HRH is promoting the value of education and the role it plays in the empowerment of Bahraini women in the society.
Do you have any advice for younger people?
The best empowerment for the future generation is through education. Along with education comes the youth empowerment and economic stability.
Those initial streams of cases with clients from various nations prepared me with the best understanding of international business disputes. I always compared and analyzed local law or statutes with laws of other jurisdictions and systems.
Having worked at such a senior level within the UN, what would you describe as the body’s greatest successes? The United Nations has been at the forefront of global disputes and issues since its inception and is seen as the prime hope for everyone. Their greatest achievement is the initiatives that they have taken to help poor people across the world.
When I entered into the field of law, the system was not so supportive. I avoided the discouraging incidents and focused on learning the art and practice of law. Now, I am looked upon by the young lawyers who appreciate my works. You have to work hard and with honesty to earn anything that will add value in life. The moment of success or satisfaction may not come easy, and will require years of dedicated hard work. However, once you attain the success, the world will see your value beyond your gender, ethnicity or religion. On the course, you have to keep on educating yourself. Make reading as a habit and learn life through the books. Always remember that success is not an end, but it’s a beginning. This is when you have to start giving back to the society. Gulf Insider December 2018
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Bahrain Legal
Do’s and Don’ts
Top Tips for GCC Business Leaders on Internal Investigations
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ood corporate governance and internal investigations continue to be ‘hot’ topics for multinationals and local businesses alike in the GCC and the wider Middle East region. We are seeing an influx of client queries on what we see as industry best practices when it comes to corporate governance and preparing for and managing an internal investigation into allegations related to fraud, bribery, and corruption. Despite the stigma of “lack of transparency” that is, somewhat unfairly, attached to the region, it is becoming increasingly evident that businesses are being scrutinized today more than ever by regulators and governmental authorities alike. Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have all ratified or acceded to the UN Convention Against Corruption and have signed the Arab AntiCorruption Convention. Multinationals, in particular, are no longer solely concerned with the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Bribery Act, but have started turning their attention to domestic legislation as well. Internal investigations, especially into wrongdoing involving bribery and corruption, are no longer just, say, US, French, or German investigations, but are truly global in nature. Very often what happens somewhere else in the world is also happening here, or has an impact here, in the Middle East. Increasingly, we have seen local authorities cooperating with other governments when it comes to corporate investigations. A well-designed corporate investigation is one with a specific
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Gulf Insider December 2018
work-plan that addresses the document collection and review, witness interviews, careful analysis, and periodic reporting in a format that best serves the company’s long-term interests. Our experience shows time-and-again that, when a company is confronted with evidence or allegations of potential wrongdoing, the company is wellserved by responding deliberately and thoughtfully. Prudent responses include, among other things, stopping the conduct immediately to prevent further violations, as well as understanding all of the facts so that management can make a fully informed decision as to how best to proceed. While the lists below are by no means exhaustive, we recommend that, as a starting point, you
DO: Identify everyone who was involved and how conduct was detected. Gather all relevant documents. Conduct witness interviews. Determine who could be adversely impacted.
Joanne Emerson Taqi Partner, Head of Bahrain joanne.emersontaqi@ nortonrosefulbright.com Tel. +973 16 500 214
DO NOT: Destroy, alter, or fabricate documents. Make intemperate remarks that could become public. Conduct an incomplete fact-finding inquiry, or cover-up findings. Commit public relation mistakes, such as “front-running” the investigation (e.g., making public statements that prejudice the facts) before investigation officially starts. Be obstructive or uncooperative with regulators.
Businesses are being scrutinized today as never before, and as whistleblower protections become stronger in the region, internal investigations will be triggered more frequently. Adopting the right legal approach at the outset of an internal investigation is crucial to minimizing disruptions to your business operations and long-term strategy for your organization.
Orlando Vidal Head of Compliance and Investigations Partner, Dubai orlando.vidal@nortonrosefulbright.com Tel. +971 4 369 6398
Bahrain Legal
Personal Data
Protection Law
O
n 12 July 2018, the Kingdom of Bahrain (“Bahrain”) issued Law No. 30 of 2018 on the Personal Data Protection Law (“PDPL”). The PDPL will enter into force on 1 August 2019, giving businesses just under one year from the date of this report to prepare for the new regime. The PDPL will be a paradigm shift in how business is done in Bahrain. It will provide individuals with rights in relation to how their personal data can be collected, processed and stored. Conversely, it will impose new obligations on how businesses manage this, including ensuring that personal data is processed fairly, that data owners (often referred to as “data subjects” in other data protection laws) are notified when their personal data is collected and processed and that data owners can exercise their rights directly with the businesses.
The PDPL also imposes new obligations upon businesses to ensure that the personal data they collect is kept secure. The PDPL will set up a new authority, known as the Personal Data Protection Authority (“Authority”). This Authority has the power to investigate allegations of violations of the PDPL either by itself, at the request of the responsible Minister, or in response to a complaint. The Authority can issue orders to stop violations, including issuing emergency orders and fines. Civil compensation is also allowed for any individual who has incurred damage arising from the processing of their personal data by the data manager (often referred to as a “data controller” in other data protection laws), or violating the provisions of the PDPL by a business’s data protection supervisor (often referred to as a “data protection officer” in other data protection laws). Finally, the most concerning features of this
law for businesses is that the PDPL carries criminal penalties for violations of certain provisions. Criminal penalties may include imprisonment of not more than one year and/or a fine between Bahraini Dinar 1,000 to Bahraini Dinar 20,000. As a first step, businesses operating in Bahrain will need to determine if its activities mean that it falls within the definitions of the data manager. If it does, then it will need to determine what sort of personal data it is collecting, from whom, and for what purposes. Data managers need to ensure that they are collecting and processing personal data and, in particular, sensitive personal data, in accordance with the PDPL, including notifying the Authority of their processing activities, or preparing submissions for permission to process certain types of personal data.
For more information or to discuss how this may affect you, please contact Mohamed Toorani (Mohamed.Toorani@ dlapiper.com), Legal Director - Head of Bahrain Office or Eamon Holley (Eamon. Holley@dlapiper.com), Legal Director at DLA Piper.
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People & Culture
the 28th spot in their category at the competition in Thailand. The Bayan students also have participated the Formula One in Schools Technology Challenge in Malaysia by designing and manufacturing a miniature race car out of balsa wood using computer-aided 3D design software. Moreover, Bayan students were selected to represent Bahrain at the Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) with only eight schools participating from around the world. In addition, the School also has six theatres, a designated gym (and football fields) for Primary students and High School students as well as two cafeterias. We also provide Life-Skills subjects to students such as home economics and other various technical
The Bayan team is the first from Bahrain to qualify in the World Robotics Olympiad around the world.
Dr. May Bint Sulaiman Al Otaibi Chairperson of the Board of Trustees Bahrain Bayan School
W
hat is the role played by Bahrain Bayan School in promoting the Kingdom as a leading educational destination
in the region?
Due to Bayan’s reputation and the quality of education, many international institutes have approached us to work along with them. BayMUN became the
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Gulf Insider December 2018
first THIMUN (The Hague International Model United Nations) affiliated MUN in the country and we hosted the Kingdom’s first THIMUN conference in 2014. The conference attracts students from schools across the island and the MENA region. The Bayan team is the first from Bahrain to qualify in the World Robotics Olympiad around the world in which they have initially reached
skills to ensure our students are wellrounded individuals that give back to society.
How is Bahrain Bayan School different from other schools in the Kingdom? The Bahrain Bayan School takes initiatives in all aspects related to the development of the students. Our main concern is transparency and a clear communication channel with our Community and providing our students with the best quality education and the best amenities that will aid their personal growth. We are the first school in the region to introduce innovative learning with the Al-Romaihi Innovation Hub, which provides hands-on learning opportunities and technology integration, houses a maker space, Research Centre, CNC machines and 3D printers, as well as a fully equipped robotics lab and a Vex Lab. Moreover, safety and security is one
People & Culture
with the other international schools in the Kingdom? We work hard on retaining our outstanding and highly qualified and trained faculty and staff by providing amenities we deem necessary; this includes providing them with both medical and life insurance for all staff, even local Bahraini staff. We also focus on Professional Development courses on weekly basis, as well as sending our staff on courses internationally. Moreover, we have specialized
of our main priorities, which is why we established “Bayan on Call” where designated employees that are on campus every day from afterschool to 9pm (including weekends) in case any of the students need anything from the School or any parent would like to enquire about anything regarding the afterschool activities. We also were the first school in Bahrain to introduce a Life Insurance plan called Bayan Care in 2015, which covers the tuition fees if the guardian passes away or faces total disability.
What do you consider as the biggest challenge? It is not a challenge as much as it is keeping up with the learning curve and maintaining the highest levels of the educational standards with the everchanging educational methods.
How do you recruit and retain the qualified teaching staff in competition
A greenhouse was built on the campus so that students of all ages can learn more about agriculture and horticulture. departments that focus on the employee and student simultaneously and equally.
Can you explain the project of Bayan Ecoboosters? It is a sustainable energy project called “Eco Lab 360” that involves a greywater recycling system (25,00030,000 litres/month) and a food waste
recycling system (six tonnes/year) at the School campus. The platform also aims to educate students about sustainable practices and technology, which revolve around five key pillars which include: reduce, reuse, recycle, raise awareness, and renewable energy.
Can you detail the initiatives by Bahrain Bayan School in promoting green spaces and setting up agricultural projects? We strive to educate our students and our community on sustainability.
The greenhouse on the main campus, a gracious initiative from HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, teaches students of all ages on the hard work of agriculture and the importance of the environment. Our state of the art preschool campus is a self-sustainable green building, and of course, our cafeteria is the project we won the Zayed First Energy Prize in UAE.
What is next for Bahrain Bayan School? We are working on developing sustainability and trying to upgrade the school’s technologies. The school is steering away from traditional learning methods and ‘cookie cutter’ methods, which is why we are implementing AlRomaihi Innovation Hub. The Innovation Hub will be open for public membership in 2019 after its success with the Bayan community We also have an annual theme for the School that usually focuses on the Bahraini culture and its essential integration into our curriculum. Gulf Insider December 2018
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Society
The Bahrain Bayan School conducted the Eleventh (XI) Annual Bayan Model United Nations Conference-Thimun Affiliated
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Gulf Insider December 2018
People & Culture
The International benchmark
for Director excellence
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n 16th and 17th January 2018, Oasis Training Center will welcome the Institute of Directors to Bahrain to launch their 2 day course “The Role of the Director and the Board”. Whether you are a newly appointed director, aspiring to a position on the board, or looking to improve your performance with fresh insight, this practical course will equip you with the crucial knowledge and skill-set to fulfil your role successfully.
The Certificate in Company Direction is one of the carefully selected internationally accredited programs that Oasis offers in the region.
Understanding of the board’s role in corporate governance and risk management, this introduction to the duties and legal responsibilities of a director will enable you to tackle the challenges of the boardroom with fresh confidence and progress your career to the next level. This Award is one of the steps to achieving the IoD Certificate in Company Direction and being on the path to becoming a Chartered Director. The Certificate in Company Direction is one of the carefully selected internationally accredited programs that Oasis offers in the region. Founded in 2015 by a BritishBahraini, Dr Suzanne White, Oasis has other programs for your business and boardroom, such as the Institute of Risk Management’s Fundamentals of Risk Management (FoRM- both in English and in Arabic), the Chartered Insurance Institute’s suite of courses, the Institute of Leadership and Management’s qualifications and the Business Continuity Institute’s certificate. This is balanced by practical workshops to improve organizational efficiency and performance such as Business English, VAT Implementation, Sales, Customer Service and Administrative Skills programmes. Our knowledge of the culture and the quality of partners, provision and facilitators is what distinguishes us from our competitors in the region.
For more information: T: + 973 1733 0823 E: info@oasistrainingbahrain.com
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People & Culture
Welcoming 2019 Drinks, swimwear, and spectacular views for the New Year at Elite Grande Hotel.
C
elebrate this New Year in style at the Elite Grande Hotel. Enjoy a sparkling start of the New Year 2019 at one of Elite Grande hotel’s parties, or both! Zodiac lounge welcomes you to a world of magical atmospheres overlooking the most spectacular views of Seef district; this intimate and comfy lounge is famous for the most sophisticated drinks and delish canapé’s. Also rocking New Years Eve is the H20 lounge, with a sophisticated (the great Gatsby themed part) a beautiful roof top pool lounge, with live entertainment and a scrumptious buffet, plus live grill stations. Gather your loved ones and party till the new day of 2019.
For more information and bookings call: +973 17 565 888
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Gulf Insider December 2018
People & Culture
Business Profile
Travelling for work just became a whole lot easier with Careem’s newest feature.
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usiness everywhere is grounded on efficiency and meticulous organization to become successful. From the paperwork involved, to the well-being of employees. With travel being a necessary commodity in an ever-growing business environment, transportation companies and apps are everywhere. Careem, a premier transport service in Bahrain, offers the simplest way for businesses and employees alike in keeping-track of their business travel expenses. The ability to differentiate between business and personal use on the Careem app was the most requested feature by corporate clients. Careem, as with their mission to simplify and improve lives, were more than happy to create that feature. Business profile is the newest feature to help travelers separate business and personal use of Careem. Being an app purposely catering to the service of businesses, Careem is fully committed to innovating and improving the lives of business travelers. Both the mobile app, where most users book, or on the web, where company admins book for employees in their behalf, are constantly
being updated to offer seamless service.
Business Profile The new feature lets users create a Business Profile on the settings of Careem. The Business Profile can then be used to set automated (monthly, weekly, or bi-weekly) ride reports that can be delivered to an email address in PDF form. This allows users to directly send expenses to their company, complete with the cost and information necessary. Sorting out work expenses for travel can be very unorganized and littered with taxi receipts. Careem ensures a digital paperless method that’s quick and complete. No more lost receipts, no more un-claimable payments. The new feature also lets you add a different payment method for your Business Profile. This makes it possible to use a different payment method from your personal one without the hassle of changing it every time you book. It also enables companies to have a company card or payment method that can be used by employees when booking for
trips, directly paying for it and being sent a PDF report. The new feature aims to ensure business travel expenses can be meticulously recorded, efficient, and simple. Now whenever you’re making a booking, you’ll just have to indicate whether the trip is personal or business and the app does all the work for you.
About Careem Careem is the leading technology platform for the greater Middle East. A pioneer of the region’s ride-hailing economy, Careem is expanding services across its platform to include payments, delivery and mass transportation. Careem’s mission is to simplify and improve the lives of people and build a lasting institution that inspires. Established in July 2012, Careem operates in more than 120 cities across 15 countries and has created more than one million job opportunities in the region. Gulf Insider December 2018
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People & Culture
Huawei Mate 20 Dubai Launch
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Gulf Insider December 2018
People & Culture
T
he innovate Chinese technology company Huawei invited us down to Dubai for the launch of their new smartphone, which they claim to be “The King of Smartphones”, the Huawei Mate 20 series. Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG) unveiled the Mate 20 Series to users in the MENA region during a launch event that took place at Burj Park where the audience was treated to a Huawei lightshow projected on the city’s most prominent landmark, the Burj Khalifa.
marquee had been erected which had multiple stations with the handset so you could try it out. At a first feel and look – the sleek and powerful design got my attention. We were given concise in depth product demonstrations and presentation on a large screen in Burj Park – the standout features include the 40 megapixel main camera, long lasting 4200mAh battery (Mate 20 pro only), supports 40W Huawei SuperCharge – which gives the 70% charge in 30 mins, biometric identification and if
I’m lucky in the job that I have as I get invited to attend all sorts of different events for launches, openings etc and it’s always interesting to see how they capture ones attention and how they influence the media/attendees. Huawei went full force and really made this event special. They blew us away with the features and technology this smartphone has and the power it gives to its users with various demonstrations from some of Huawei’s top experts from China. Huawei’s proving to be a serious contender in the vast and highlycompetitive market of smartphones with the launch of the Huawei Mate 20 series. As I entered the event arena which had attracted thousands of people from MENA and across the world, a large
you’re trying to watch your diet - The new Huawei Mate 20 Pro comes with a built-in hi-vision calorie calculator. Just by scanning a food item with the camera you’ll get a calorie reading! Huawei are making massive strides in the smartphone market and making improvements far greater than most competitors.
Pros; • Fast 3D face unlock • Excellent camera • Superfast 40W charging – 70% battery in 30 mins • Can wirelessly charge other phones • Beautiful display • Long lasting battery life
Cons; • No headphone jack • Comes with a high price tag • Software isn’t for everyone
The HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro is equipped with a 40MP main camera, a 20MP ultra wide-angle camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera.
Revolutionary Matrix Camera system The HUAWEI Mate 20 Pro is equipped with a 40MP main camera, a 20MP ultra wide-angle camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera. Together, the trio of lenses supports a wide range of focal lengths enabling it to mimic the results from professional cameras.
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People & Culture
Chinese bilateral relations. Back in October 2016, Huawei and Batelco jointly announced that Huawei’s Distributed Access Platform MA5800 will be adopted and used for broadband network deployment, marking the first time that that Huawei’s MA5800 platform has been used for scaled network deployment in the Middle East – there are tangible economic developments that arise as a result of the China Roadshow.
Why China?
China, and a better
Bahrain Economy Gulf Insider interviews Simon Galpin, Managing Director of Bahrain’s Economic Development Board (EDB).
W
hat do you seek to achieve at the China Roadshow?
Taking delegations to key markets is a core part of what we do at the Economic Development Board and our China Roadshow is a good example of this. Fundamentally, we organize these visits to introduce the benefits of investing in Bahrain to a broad, but targeted group of companies and investors. We
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are very excited to be going to China as there are so many opportunities for future collaboration between our two countries and previous roadshows have proved fruitful. Several large companies such as Huawei, the Chinese Pakistan Investment Council (CPIC) and China International Marine Containers (CIMC) have all established a presence in Bahrain as a witness to the development of the Bahraini –
China’s development has set an example to the world and we can all learn from their progress. Bahrain has long been a trade partner to China in the GCC region, right back to the ancient ties between our two nations when Bahrain was an important stop on the Silk Route. Our bilateral relations have gathered momentum since His Majesty King Hamad’s visit to China in 2013 and Bahrain is perfectly positioned to play a central role in China’s One Belt, One Road initiative. As longstanding partners, Bahrain strongly supports China’s vision of building a community of shared interests between the Arab world and China. Boosting trade and investment ties with China is important to Bahrain’s economy because it is one of the largest non-GCC markets for Bahraini exports. Between 2012 and 2016, the total goods traded between Bahrain and China excluding crude oil, were worth around $8.7bn. This is a significant figure we hope to grow in the future, through initiatives such as our Cloud First commitment and our liberalized and competitive ICT policy. Furthermore, April 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two nations and we are keen to use the Roadshow to highlight the growing commercial links between China and Bahrain. We have many shared focusses, with technology being the most obvious. As an agile economy that has been welcoming Chinese tech companies for many years, Bahrain offers unique market access and ease of doing business for those looking to make future investments.
People & Culture
How will you judge its success? We are already due to be signing a number of agreements in cities such as Shenzhen and Hangzhou, which will develop China-Bahrain business relations even further. A series of events and meetings with local businesses are also taking place, which is evidence of growing interest in investing in Bahrain. Finally, we are holding meetings with local politicians and media who are all
implications than simply enhancing the delivery of the governments vision. It helps diversify our economy and continue our move away from oil - the non-oil sector now accounts for more than 80% of GDP, up from just over 50% in 2000. In addition, it also brings additional knowledge and expertise into our country which in turn helps us enhance exports, support the trade balance and create more opportunities in the private sector. The repercussions can be felt across all aspects of our economy.
What major challenges does Bahrain, and the EDB, face? Like any other country, the competition for foreign direct investment is fierce. But, we continue to do all we can to tell as many companies and investors as possible how Bahrain is a far more attractive investment opportunity than they may have first thought. We are very pleased with our progress; last year was a record year for foreign direct investment into Bahrain, despite the global market for FDI falling 23%; but we can always do more, and that is why the China Roadshow is so important.
Bahrain has long been a trade partner to China in the GCC region, right back to the ancient ties between our two nations when Bahrain was an important stop on the Silk Route.
keen to learn more about how Bahrain is building a flexible economy that is the natural gateway to the Gulf. Therefore, we are already confident that the Roadshow will be a success, but of course the crucial end-result will be to attract additional investment into Bahrain. In the first nine months of this year the Economic Development Board has already attracted another 76 companies to set up in Bahrain, which is already more than the number helped during the whole of 2017.
What is the EDB’s strategy for developing the Bahrain economy? In reality, our strategy is quite simple. It is to market the benefits of investing in Bahrain to companies within a target list of sectors, including ICT and financial services, in order to increase economic growth and the delivery of the Government’s Vision 2030. But attracting foreign investment has wider
What advantages and disadvantages does Bahrain have in attracting FDI? Bahrain has many advantages when it comes to attracting foreign direct investment. Our ‘Team Bahrain’ approach embodies these advantages as it sums up the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in generating investment. For example, our agile regulatory system is able to react to the changing business context to ensure companies enjoy the most conducive operating environment. Moreover, for many years we have had the most cost competitive economy in the GCC. For example, on average Bahrain enjoys a cost advantage of 15% to 20% in terms of annual operating costs for an ICT business compared to the average in the GCC . This strengthens the case for companies to use Bahrain as a spring board to expanding into the rest of the region. We are truly the Gateway to the Gulf. Gulf Insider December 2018
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Society
Subaru Forester Press Breakfast
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Golden Gate Official Launch
Lifestyle
MARCH LA.B
M
ARCH LA.B is a Francemade luxury timepiece brand established between Los Angeles, California and Biarritz, France. Striking a balance between modern L.A. style and French heritage detailing, the brand’s designs embody opposite yet complimentary aesthetics and create a new transversal time zone. Rooted in vintage inspiration, these timepieces are refined in their simplicity and assert the philosophy that less is more. March LA.B was first envisioned on the coast of France in the Cote Basque where Alain Marhic was responsible for Quicksilver’s global watch and eyewear divisions. During his numerous trips to Italian manufacturing partners and factories, the name Jerome Mage became frequently recurrent in conversation. Jerome’s work with the American eyewear brand, Spy, had publicly recognized him as a designer
with an inordinate amount of talent. This notion led Marhic and Mage to ultimately meet and work together on a project creating a collection of watches for Quiksilver. The result redefined the watch division for the brand and gave birth to the transatlantic story that is March LA.B. March LA.B is a tribute to the timeless elegance of vintage watches - timeless styles that will transmit to future generations, following the example set by the most exceptional watches of the past decades. March LA.B introduces the very first collection entirely dedicated to the MARCH woman! A carefully refined and subtly elegant collection that borrows its name to the Palais Royal Gardens galleries… where the brand is opening it second boutique.
Available at Bahrain Jewellery Centre, Moda Mall, Tel. +973 1752 0053
Gulf Insider December 2018
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People & Culture
H
as Talabat changed people’s habit?
Yes, people ordered food a lot less before. Now we have a virtual mall, you’ve got a platform and there are a hundred restaurants or more in the area. Back in the day, it would be flyers and cards that remind you of this service but those get lost, exhibit tear and wear, or the numbers advertised change. An app is always available, convenient, and updated. Talabat is constantly evolving and adding new restaurants and services. The pace of living has also increased. Everything runs fast now and delivery is a practical choice for those who don’t have the time to prepare a meal. Families with both working parents benefit greatly from the service, being able to spend their free time sharing the meal with their children rather than in preparing the meal. Delivery also helps working individuals enjoy a hearty meal during their short lunch breaks.
On the Go Talabat brings a solution to your time-starved food breaks Gulf Insider talks to Hesham Alsaati, Managing Director, on how food delivery has changed and how we all can benefit from it.
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Talabat is constantly in a state of flux. It’s great on a consumer perspective. How is Talabat evolving? It’s moving at such a fast pace. Talabat is constantly in a state of flux. It’s great on a consumer perspective. There’s always a sense of novelty when you open the app and there’s something new to it. The app is always talking to you and has something to offer, that makes people like the app.
What makes Talabat different? Since it has most of the food available, it really has no restrictions. If you think about food, you’ll think about the app. Even if you’re tired, exhausted, or don’t have a choice in mind, the app brings you choices that you’ll easily
People & Culture
appreciate. If you have something very specific in mind, you can look it up and you’ll have it. A great advantage it has over its competition is the pace it has scaled and the listings that it has. Even now, Talabat is still actively seeking partners to further expand its listings. Priority is always ensuring that we deliver an amazing delivery experience, having more choices and wider variety. Compared to the competition, Talabat is on a next level.
How can customers make the very most of the service you offer? Talabat has something to offer for everyone. If you’re price sensitive,
Talabat is still actively seeking partners to further expand its listings. going to the offer section or the deals of the day could save you a lot. The app always has a number of promotions you can choose from. Another is taking advantage of the wide listings we have, it is able to cater to a lot of different tastes or events you’d want food for. The app also has an abundance of
healthy options. This feature is new to Bahrain and it lets you measure the amount of calories you take with each meal. Health-conscious individuals, or those just curious to know, will benefit from it.
Visit www.talabat.com/bahrain or download the Talabat App on iOS and Android devices.
Gulf Insider December 2018
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News Roundup
Saudi: Filipinos advised to stop partying & follow the law Mindshare Bahrain welcomes IKEA into its home of clients Mindshare and IKEA’s partnership gained greater global strength through the announcement of Mindshare Bahrain as their partner for their flagship Middle East store. IKEA Bahrain will be the biggest IKEA in the region Quote from Omar Mugharbel (Chief Brand Officer) “We are excited about our new partnership with Mindshare, we believe that together we will be reaching out to the many people of Bahrain in an engaging & creative way’” As IKEA’s media partner, Mindshare will be focusing on initiating excitement for this already well-known brand and driving footfall and ensuring the IKEA experience is brought to life across all mainstream media and consumers continue to make IKEA their first choice for their home furnishing needs . Quote from Vikram (Deputy Managing Director at Mindshare Bahrain) “We are excited to add IKEA Bahrain to our client portfolio, as not only does it further entrench Mindshare’s No. 1 position in the Bahrain market but also because as brands we share very similar values about teamwork and always striving for innovation and a new way”
For any queries, please contact: Victoria.loesch@mindshareworld.com Visit: www.mindshareworld.com/mena Follow us on @mindshare_MENA /mindsharemena IKEA contact OMAR.MUGHARBEL@ikea.com.sa
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The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh has urged the Filipino community in the Kingdom to follow the law of land and strictly adhere to residency regulations. It reminded community members to refrain from organizing or attending events or gatherings that are unsanctioned or without permission from the local authorities. The advisory assumes importance in the backdrop of the arrests of several Filipinos, among other expatriates, in Riyadh for participating in a Halloween party. In addition, everyone is reminded to avoid mixed crowds, consuming liquor, and holding public practice of traditions that are associated with religions other than Islam, such as Halloween, Valentines and Christmas, the advisory cautioned. It urged community members to be cautious about producing, sharing and spreading any post on social media or electronically that compromises public order, religious values, public morals, and privacy, pursuant to the Kingdom’s laws and policies on cyber crimes. Riyadh police raided a compound in the outskirts of Al-Tumamah area where a Halloween party was organized after neighbours complained of loud noises and disturbance from the event. The police were concerned by disorderly conduct and the use of masks and strange costumes said a statement issued earlier. The police statement added that the organizers of the party had been charged with holding an event without a permit and disturbing the neighbourhood. Many Saudis voiced their displeasure on Twitter following the online publication of photos of the costumed partygoers, who were reportedly attendees of the party. Others voiced concern that the party may have been serving alcohol, which is illegal in the Kingdom. Those detained by the police comprised a number of Filipino women. The embassy has been following up the case with local authorities, said sources.
News Roundup
Saudi: IMF predicts continued economic growth in 2019
Saudi Arabia’s reform process is heading in the right direction, but the Kingdom needs to “scale up” in certain areas of the economy, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF’s director for the Middle East and Central Asia, Jihad Azour, told journalists in Dubai that prospects for foreign direct investment — which the Kingdom has sought to attract in its strategy to get away from oil dependency — would benefit from more government measures to increase public sector involvement. “What would have an impact is how oil prices will have moved going forward, and a certain number of other indicators like the pace of fiscal adjustment and the reforms that Saudi authorities will implement going forward,” he told Reuters. “The prospect for the Saudi economy for the next year is showing continuous growth, led by the increasing oil price as well as the increase in oil output, in addition to improvement in the non-oil sector.” The IMF predicted Saudi gross domestic product would expand 2.2 percent this year and 2.4 percent in 2019, after shrinking 0.9 percent last year. Economic growth in the Gulf will recover in 2018 from a contraction last year but remains vulnerable to volatility in crude oil prices, the IMF said. The global lender predicted that an overall energy price recovery from 2015-2016 lows would spur the economies of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council to grow by 2.4 percent in 2018 and 3.0 percent in 2019, after a contraction of 0.4 percent last year. But “the growth outlook for oil exporters remains subject to significant uncertainty about the future path of oil prices,” the IMF said in its Regional Economic Outlook for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). 46
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Saudi: 16 nuclear reactors to be built in next 25 years Saudi Arabia has announced plans to build two full nuclear power reactors for energy and as many as 16 over the next 25 years, said a report. Work has already begun on the first reactor which is expected to be completed by the end of 2019, reported the Saudi Press Agency. These projects were one of seven cutting-edge ventures in the fields of renewable energy, atomic energy, water desalination, genetic medicine and aircraft design that were inaugurated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, it stated. The design of the reactor has been developed by KACST scientists with the help of international experts. It will follow all the safety standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said the report.
Bahrain: four years in prison for stealing BD 14 Two Bahraini defendants were sentenced to four years in jail for stealing BD14 from parked cars. They were arrested after the car owners filed a complaint at the nearest police station. According to prosecutors, the two men broke the window panes of three cars with an aim to steal money and valuables. “We broke the window panes of three cars that were parked near a swimming pool. However, we could only find BD14,” the first defendant told prosecutors. They were charged with theft. The Lower Criminal Court said that it found their crimes too serious that it decided to double their jail time with regard to the crime they committed.
Experts Reveal Life Secrets
Part 9
How to Win in Business and Life Every month Gulf Insider publish 4 pages that reveal brilliant secrets for winning in business and life. The techniques are provided by top international experts and we will often summarize an entire book into a single page so you can learn the essence of their wisdom in minutes instead of hours. This month we reveal how successful people work less and get more done, jerry seinfeld‘s secret to productivity, 10 things the best of the best do differently, the 4 most common negotiation mistakes - and how to avoid them, the ‘2-minute rule’. Take the time to learn what we reveal each month and you will be rewarded a thousand times over!
How To Be Mentally Tough
F
ormer FBI Special Agent LaRae Quy and author of “Secrets of a Strong Mind,” in which she sets how to make yourself mentally tough, says; “If you are not doing something that truly has meaning and value to you, when you hit tough times, you’re going to quit.” She has some great lessons for strengthening your mental toughness for the world of business. Even if you’re not involved in fighting crime or international espionage, you will face situations where your mental toughness will determine your fate. Below are three specific strategies to strengthen your mental toughness.
1. Give Your Fears A Name -
Research has indicated that recognizing and acknowledging one’s fears is a critical step towards tackling and overcoming them. Quy recommends
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you actually give your fear a name; “When you have a fear of something, you should label it, or give it a name. If you try to suppress it, it’s not going to work. The brain is smarter than that,” says Quy. “So naming your fear is how you control it.”
How to Apply This to Your Life: If you have a fear — such as a fear of public speaking or of “selling” — then give it a name. Acknowledge it. That’s the first step toward controlling it. 2. Take Confidence in Your Training and Skills - Jeremy Hall spent twenty
years as a U.S. special forces operative, with stints in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Hall says he was able to survive his military service because he knew the skills he had learned from military training would get him through the experience.
How to Apply This to Your Life:
Simply reminding yourself that you have training or skills to help you address challenges you face in business can help you survive through it.
3. Build Little Victories or Little Achievements into Your Life - Steve
Gordon, a seasoned entrepreneur and marketing consultant says the key to mental strength is to create small victories or achievements which drive momentum and confidence. Gordon recalled a business owner who told him “four years ago I was making $300,000 a year and had a multi-million dollar business. Within a year I was divorced and my business tanked,” says Gordon. It brought the man to the edge of bankruptcy, and despair. “He said ‘I had to figure out how to get back.’” How did he climb back? He made his bed every day. Even though it seemed small, “it was a foundational little thing that got him moving in the right direction,” says Gordon.
How to Apply This to Your Life:
If you are struggling, focus on a small victory each day. This small
Experts Reveal Life Secrets
achievement may help you gain clarity and mental strength. Building one’s mental toughness takes time. Much like working out at the gym, you cannot expect instant results overnight. The point is to always try. “I had a mentor who said you can fail and we’ll figure out how to execute the next time, but what I can’t stand is if you don’t try your best,” says Hall. “I’m not going to be a winner at everything I do but I can at least find out where I am going to win and get better at that.”
John Corcoran is an attorney and former White House Writer working under US President Bill Clinton. He writes about business networking and social skills for SmartBusinessRevolution.com
How To Spot A Psychopath by Tom Chivers
T
here are a few things we take for granted in social interactions with people. We presume that we see the world in roughly the same way, that we all know certain basic facts, that words mean the same things to you as they do to me. And we assume that we have pretty similar ideas of right and wrong. But for about 1% of the population, things are very different. These people lack remorse and empathy and feel emotion only shallowly. In extreme cases, they might not care whether you live or die. These people are called psychopaths. Some of them are violent criminals, murderers. But by no means all. Professor Robert Hare is a criminal psychologist, and the creator of the PCL-R, a psychological assessment used to determine whether someone is a psychopath. For decades, he has studied people with psychopathy, and worked with them, in prisons and elsewhere. “It stuns me, as much as it did when I started 40 years ago, that it is possible
to have people who are so emotionally disconnected that they can function as if other people are objects to be manipulated and destroyed without any concern,” he says. Hare’s test is simple: a list of 20 criteria, each given a score of 0 (if it doesn’t apply to the person), 1 (if it partially applies) or 2 (if it fully applies). The list includes: glibness and superficial charm, grandiose sense of self-worth, cunning/manipulative, pathological lying, emotional shallowness, callousness and lack of empathy, a tendency to boredom, impulsivity, criminal versatility, behavioural problems in early life, juvenile delinquency, and promiscuous sexual behaviour. A pure, prototypical psychopath would score 40. A score of 30 or more qualifies for a diagnosis of psychopathy. Hare says: “A friend of mine, a psychiatrist, once said: ‘Bob, when I meet someone who scores 35 or 36, I know these people really are different.’ The ones we consider to be alien are the ones at the upper end.” But is psychopathy a disorder – or a different way of being? Anyone reading the list above will spot a few criteria familiar from people they know. On average, someone with no criminal convictions scores 5. “It’s dimensional,” says Hare. “There are people who are part-way up the scale, high enough to warrant an assessment for psychopathy, but not high enough up to cause problems. Often they’re our friends, they’re fun to be around. They might take advantage of us now and then, but usually it’s subtle and they’re able to talk their way around it.” We think of psychopaths as killers, criminals, outside society. But many psychopathic traits aren’t necessarily disadvantages. For their co-authored book, “Snakes in suits: When Psychopaths
go to work”, Hare and another researcher, Paul Babiak, looked at 203 corporate professionals and found about four per cent scored sufficiently highly on the PCL-R to be evaluated for psychopathy. Hare says that this wasn’t a proper random sample (claims that “10 per cent of financial executives” are psychopaths are certainly false) but it’s easy to see how a lack of moral scruples and indifference to other people’s suffering could be beneficial if you want to get ahead in business. “There are two kinds of empathy,” says James Fallon, a neuroscientist at the University of California and author of The Psychopath Inside: A Neuroscientist’s Personal Journey into the Dark Side of the Brain. “Cognitive empathy is the ability to know what other people are feeling, and emotional empathy is the kind where you feel what they’re feeling… psychopaths have a great advantage, because they can understand what you’re thinking, it’s just that they don’t care, so they can use you against yourself.”
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Experts Reveal Life Secrets
Chillingly, psychopaths are particularly adept at detecting vulnerability. “Psychopaths think they’re more rational than other people, that this isn’t a deficit,” says Hare. “I met one offender who was certainly a psychopath who said ‘My problem is that according to psychiatrists I think more with my head than my heart. What am I supposed to do about that? Am I supposed to get all teary-eyed?’ ” This brings up the issue of treatment. “Psychopathy is probably the most pleasant-feeling of all the mental disorders,” says the journalist Jon Ronson, whose book, The Psychopath Test, explored the concept of psychopathy and the mental health industry in general. “All of the things that keep you good, morally good, are painful things: guilt, remorse, empathy.” Fallon agrees: “Psychopaths can work very quickly, and can have an apparent IQ higher than it really is, because they’re not inhibited by moral concerns.” “How many psychopaths go to a psychiatrist for mental distress, unless they’re in prison? It doesn’t happen,” says Hare. The ones in prison, of course, are often required to go to “talk therapy, empathy training, or talk to the family of the victims” – but since psychopaths don’t have any empathy, it doesn’t work. But not all of them become criminals. In fact many of them, because of their glibness and charm and willingness to ride roughshod over the people in their way, become quite successful. They become CEOs, professional athletes, soldiers. These people are revered for their courage and their straight talk and their willingness to crush obstacles in their way. Merely having psychopathy doesn’t tell us that a person will go off and commit a crime.
Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go To Work is available to order from Telegraph Books at £10.99. Visit books.telegraph.co.uk.
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How do the most successful people manage their time?
L
aura Vanderkam talked to a number of highly successful people, including productivity expert David Allen and the former CEO of Pepsi, and found out their secrets. She’s written about what she learned in a series of books about managing time and getting things done. Here’s how you can get tons of stuff accomplished during the week, feel less stressed and even have more fun on the weekend.
1. Do a time log - Interviewing so
many successful people, what did she hear some version of over and over? They all seem obsessed with one question: What else could I do with that hour? They plan their time, track their time and are always thinking about the opportunity cost of their time. Doing a time log helps you figure out how long things REALLY take and you can see the optimal windows for you to accomplish certain tasks. Are you sharper in the morning? (Most people are.) Then you can schedule “deep work” for that time.
2. Plan the whole week - In a study
of CEO’s what correlated with an increase in sales? Not how much time they had, but how much time had been planned. Preliminary analysis from CEOs in India found that a firm’s sales increased as the CEO worked
more hours. But more intriguingly, the correlation between CEO time use and output was driven entirely by hours spent in planned activities. Georgetown professor and superorganizer Cal Newport agrees: To-do lists aren’t enough. Things need to be assigned hours to really get done. How do you create your plan? Think about two things: what are you good at and what makes you happy? Successful people spend as much time as possible on their “core competency” and ignore, minimize or outsource everything else. They spend time on that thing they’re best at which produces meaningful results. Everything else (like email and meetings) just gets in the way. Laura also suggests creating a long list of things that bring you joy. Yes, you need to write them down. Might sound silly but by having an actual list it’s easier to remember them and slot them into your schedule vs. waiting for serendipity.
3. Morning rituals are for things that don’t have to happen - Morning
rituals are for those things that are important but not urgent. Long term planning. Exercise. The stuff we know we should do but perpetually put off. These things don’t have a hard deadline and nobody will shout at us if they don’t get done. The best morning rituals are activities that don’t have to happen and certainly don’t have to happen at a specific hour. These are activities that require internal motivation. The best morning rituals are activities that, when practiced regularly, result in long-term benefits. Mornings are the time to make progress on those vital long term goals.
4. Yes, you even need to plan the weekend -
Here’s where people freak out. They don’t want to plan their free time. But if you’re serious about your leisure
Experts Reveal Life Secrets
time, then take it seriously. We are not talking about planning work or chores. We are talking about planning fun — as in making sure you have some. How many weekends have blown by where you didn’t get off the couch and, frankly, it wasn’t all that memorable? Exactly. Research shows we’re happier when we plan our free time and that “doing nothing” doesn’t make us happy. More importantly, studies have shown that you often don’t do what makes you happiest — you do what is easy. So you need to plan if you want to have fun. What’s a weekend plan look like? Nothing draconian. Laura says you just want 3-5 “anchor events” to make sure you’re having a good time. Here’s Laura: “Just three to five anchor events can really make the difference between feeling that a weekend was spent well, and that a weekend merely happened. And these don’t have to be huge things. It could just be, “I’m going to go for a run on Saturday morning. I’m going to try get together with this friend on Saturday evening...” By planning fun stuff ahead of time you get to anticipate it. And research shows anticipation makes us very happy. One study by researchers, published in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life in 2010, found that vacationers were happier than people who didn’t take holiday trips, and the happiness boost came before the trips, stretching out for as much as two months beforehand as the holiday goers imagined their excursions.
5. How to conquer the “Sunday night blues” - Even people who like
their jobs can succumb to this: “Oh god the weekend’s over!” feeling. One way around that is planning something low-key but enjoyable for the last night of the weekend - anything you can look forward during that afternoon instead of thinking about work next morning.” International research shows Sunday is the saddest day of the week. Plan something fun ahead of time and that doesn’t have to be the case.
Sum up - Here’s what you can learn about time management from very successful people:
1. Do a time log. See how long things take and when your best windows are.
5. Plan something fun for Sunday night (Saturday night in Middle East).
2. Plan the whole week. Focus on your core competency and what makes you happy.
168 — that’s how many hours we all have every week. We need to get out of the mindset of “I don’t have time.” We all have the same number of hours. Period. It’s what you choose to do with those hours that will shape your entire life.
3. Have a morning ritual that gets you closer to your long term goals. 4. Set 3-5 anchor events for the weekend.
10 Timeless Rules for Massive Success
A
ndrew Carnegie arrived in the U.S. in 1848 alone and without any money or contacts, yet went on to become the richest man in the world. In 1908 he was approached by a young man named Napoleon Hill who was writing a book about how successful people live their lives to become so successful. Carnegie was impressed by Hill and agreed to reveal to him all of the strategies that made him great. Hill went on to write the book “Think and Grow Rich”, perhaps the most famous self-help book ever to be published. Carnegie gave Hill his 10 Rules of Success, the essence of which is as follows: 1. Define your purpose - Create a plan of action and start working toward it immediately.
7. Enthusiasm - A positive attitude
makes success come easier and wins the respect of others.
2. Build alliances - Contact and
work with people who have what you haven’t.
8. Think accurately - Separate facts from fiction, especially when it concerns your own particular challenges and problems.
3. Do more - Doing more than you
9. Concentrate your effort - Don’t
have to do is the most effective way to get a raises or promotion, and puts people under an obligation to you.
become distracted – focus on attacking the most important task that will bring you closer to you goal.
4. Trust yourself - Believe in yourself
10. Profit from adversity – This may
and your purpose fully so you can act with complete confidence.
5. Initiative - Do what you must, without being told. 6. Imagine - Think beyond what’s already been done.
seem counter-intuitive, but know that there’s an equivalent benefit for every setback.
It’s not what you are going to do, but what you are doing today that counts. To change your life - change your daily actions.
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News Roundup
Bahrain: BD 5,000 worth jewellery stolen from expat’s villa
Around BD5,000 worth jewellery was burgled from a two-storey villa in Zinj. Sources said the expat family of four, which lives in the villa, was away when the burglary occurred. Police officials have begun a probe into the incident, it is learnt. Pradeep, head of the family, said, “We were away for nearly six hours and returned by 11.45 pm. We were shocked to see that someone had broken into the house and made off with jewellery worth around BD5,000.” “They made off with my daughter’s ornaments. Scattered wardrobe and other items suggested that they would have carried out a thorough search before leaving the home.” Mr Pradeep said this was the second time burglars were targeting his house. “In 2015, I was living in Hoora and items worth nearly BD25,000 were stolen from my house. “Though I filed a complaint with police, there have been no leads until now.” He said that police informed him that the same house was burgled twice earlier and a thorough probe is on. In the past few months, a string of burglaries was reported from areas in and around Zinj. It is suspected that burglars entered the house through a window on the top floor of the villa.
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Saudi man gets 40 lashes for abusive whatsapp messages A Saudi man was sentenced to 40 whiplashes for abusing his ex-wife through WhatsApp messages. The court convicted the man, who was not identified by name, for sending about 600 abusive messages to his ex-wife, which included dirty language and accusations against her modesty and honor. The court gave the exwife the option to attend the whipping if she so wished. It ordered that the man should be whipped 40 times in one go in various parts of his body. The court sources said the differences between the man and his ex-wife stemmed from the right of custody over their three children. They said the court referred their case three times to a reconciliation committee but both of them rejected all reconciliation attempts and insisted that the court rule on their case. The court said the man had committed an illegal and an ugly act by sending abusive messages to his ex-wife. It also made the ex-husband sign a solemn pledge to go straight, behave himself and never to abuse his ex-wife by deeds or words.
Saudi: 6,000 deaths due to traffic accidents this year There were 6,025 deaths resulting from traffic accidents in 2018, which is a drop of about 36% compared to last year, the Makkah daily reported, quoting informed sources. The paper said there were 18 deaths in every 100,000 accidents while about two years ago it was 27 deaths for the same number of accidents. The sources said this positive result was planned to be achieved by 2020 but has been expedited due to the concerted efforts by a number of the concerned authorities. They said the efforts to reduce the traffic accidents were made by the Directorate General of Traffic, the road security, the engineering sectors of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and the municipalities and the ministries of education and health.
CAR News
& reviews
Rolls-Royce Cullinan
2019 Porsche Panamera GTS
Ferrari GTC4 Lusso
Car Bahrain
Rolls-Royce Cullinan The first SUV ever produced by Rolls Royce - and we’ve been for a drive in it!
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ast month Euro Motors arranged the first press drive of the new Rolls-Royce Cullinan in Bahrain and we were delighted to attend. After meeting up at The Four Seasons, we had a brief introduction before getting behind the wheel and going for a drive around the island on a particularly grey and windy day. Impressions – It’s amazingly quiet inside thanks to the extensive soundproofing, which gives the driver and passengers a sense of separation from the hustle and bustle, and noise outside. Sitting very high, you look down the bonnet at the famous Spirit of
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Under the bonnet there’s a 563bhp 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 engine that you cannot really hear unless you put your foot down to accelerate.
Ecstasy ‘Flying Lady’ mascot, while you are cocooned in a luxurious sanctuary of exquisite hand-made craftsmanship of leather, wood, glass, and calm. Even the hi-tech parts are hand-crafted, with all the switches made from metal or glass, or wrapped in leather; including a ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ controller dial on the central console. Under the bonnet there’s a 563bhp 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 engine that you cannot really hear unless you put your foot down to accelerate, when you will experience a reassuring but restrained roar as it ‘glides’ from zero to 100 kph in just 5.2 seconds. Flick a switch, referred to as the
Car Bahrain
‘Everywhere’ off-road terrain button, and the vehicle tightens and is ready to go off-roading. Whether it be a mountain or just some grass, once you flick this single switch the car will take care of everything for you. We didn’t get a chance to test Cullinan’s off-road capabilities, but understand from international reviews that it is more than capable of handling itself extremely well away from tarmac. As for the name; Cullinan takes its title from the 3,106-carat diamond that is the largest and most flawless gem ever found. … and the starting price? Approximately starting BD 170,000.
To arrange your own test drive in Bahrain, contact Euro Motors on +973 17 750 750
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Consuming the Road and
Conquering the Track Gulf Insider spends a day in Bahrain with the 2019 Porsche Panamera GTS.
I
n late 2016 we were pleased to review the much revamped Panamera, applauding its more aggressive looks, vastly improved interior and increased driver engagement. A little over two years on, the Panamera family is almost complete with the imminent release of the Panamera GTS variant of this luxury full size sedan. Offered as a saloon, the Panamera GTS, or as a ‘shooting brake’, the Panamera GTS Sport Turismo, these latest and final additions to the range sit between the S and Turbo variants both in price and performance. As with all GTS models, the Porsche designers have succeeded in delivering a more sporty appearance with the addition of redesigned all black side skirts, window surrounds and front and rear valances, also lowering the
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car by 10mm to further emphasise its sharpened purpose. Both models utilise a 4 litre bi-turbo V8 engine which propels the car to 100 km/h in a little under 4 seconds, continuing on to a top speed of 290 km/h. With both cars weighing in at around 2,000kg these figures show what 460 horsepower can do when efficiently focused; as we were to find out during the day! The GTS ‘touch’ continues throughout the interior with Alcantara trim covering the 18-way sports seat’s central panels, door panels, etc. The steering wheel also gets the Alcantara treatment which is particularly welcome when living in the temperatures we endure in the Middle East. The GTS also comes standard with the Sport Chrono package, optional on all other models, along with the high standard Porsche
Advanced Cockpit introduced with the range in 2016. Two seven-inch screens within the instrument cluster form the interactive cockpit and a 12-inch touchscreen in the centre console acts as the window into the heart of the vehicle’s systems and infotainment capabilities. A new addition for the GTS, which we suspect will find its way into all other variants in the future, is the Head-Up display which projects all relevant vehicle information directly into the driver’s line of sight in full colour. The system is one of the first we have seen that works effectively in the brilliant sunlight we live in here and includes key directional information, speed limits, as well as vehicle speed, etc. which is particularly helpful in ensuring the drivers eyes are where they need to be
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when pushing on in the camera ridden environment that we now find ourselves driving through! The morning is spent traversing Bahrain to demonstrate the car’s daily driving capabilities, where we unsurprisingly encountered general large-city traffic jams and hold ups. Possibly not inspiring, spending this time in the car driving in conditions that most of us will experience on a daily basis served to demonstrate an almost effortless driving experience, which was very ably supported by (and much used)the car’s adaptive cruise control and many other sensors. Collectively known as Innodrive, it is exactly this
to, a bright yellow 911 Turbo S (our guide/instructor), the cars headed out onto the track to demonstrate to us what they are really all about. Flying down the main straight at 240km/h, stomping on the brakes as you head for the apex of turn 1, since March 2014 the Michael Schumacher corner, and then flooring the throttle to push the car up the hill through turns two and three, the GTS’s began to demonstrate their innate abilities that had been hidden so well during the morning’s pedestrian travels. The huge ceramic brakes take off speed far beyond the limits that physics would suggest, immediately followed by the growling of the V8 in Sport+ mode as
the arrival of darkness and the much awaited opportunity to repeat it all again under lights; truly the stuff of “petrolhead” dreams. The evening session saw us out on the full F1 circuit, which as well as being an awesome spectacle under lights, threw new challenges as we propelled the cars into new corners, struggling to hit braking points and apexes, these cars were certainly put through their paces, though I am sure not nearly demonstrating their full capabilities in the hands of more capable charioteers. They performed faultlessly. As the adrenaline subsided, I analysed briefly what we had put these cars
environment that it was designed for, with the car steering itself, braking and accelerating to very ably relieve the general stress of inner city driving. After the brief sightseeing tour, a coffee and lunch stop, both ourselves and I am sure the GTS’s, were ready for something different! - the Bahrain International Circuit beckoned! Arriving at the circuit, the cars were driven directly into the pits to have a few psi removed from their tyres, due to the high track temperature that day, and a quick check of levels. For a Porsche straight out of the showroom this was all the designers considered necessary preparation before 4 hours at the track; that’s confidence in your product! Chasing, and staying admirably close
it propels you towards the next turn, ready to repeat it again and again. The experience was totally exhilarating and far beyond what almost any other car in this class can achieve, especially with certainly F1 circuit novices at the wheel. After three laps in manual mode, flicking the paddles sometimes at inappropriate times (!), I decided to let Porsche’s software gurus and engineering maestros take over leaving the car in automatic. I would like to say the first three laps were better, but I would be lying! Following the less than smooth piloting by twenty five journalists, each doing 6 laps in the 6 cars, they were given a quick once over by the engineers over while we awaited
through. Each showroom specification car, less 10psi in the tyres, had managed to deliver over 50 laps of flat out abuse on an F1 circuit without fault or any perceptible degradation. This, perhaps most of all, demonstrates the prowess of Porsche engineering and the confidence and esteem in which they hold their product. The starting prices for the models are Panamera GTS (BHD 59,300) and the Panamera GTS Sport Turismo (BHD 59,300).
To book a test drive contact Porsche Center Bahrain on +973 1745 9911
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Ferrari GTC4 Lusso
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hile visiting Dubai I had the opportunity to spend a day driving the new Ferrari GTC4 Lusso. This car replaces the FF (which itself replaced the 612 Scaglietti). The Lusso looks similar to the FF, but better and with major engineering improvements including both four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. The four wheels are driven through two gearboxes. At the rear there’s a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transaxle gearbox. It’s lower, wider, and more aggressive than the FF. Major engine improvements call for more cooling so the grille opening has been widened to cater for this. The Lusso offers a choice of two engines – a 680 bhp 6.3-litre V12 and a turbocharged 3.9-litre V8, offering 602 bhp. The 6.3-litre naturally aspirated twelve-cylinder unit makes its peak power at 8000rpm and runs into the limiter at 8250rpm, while the V8 produces 602bhp at 6500rpm and can achieve zero to 100 kph in 3.5 seconds - the V12 does it in a tenth of a second quicker. This is the ‘family Ferrari’ as it genuinely seats four adults, and there’s a 450-litre boot. Rear seats split and fold to increase the volume to 800 litres
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The four wheels are driven through two gearboxes. At the rear there’s a sevenspeed dual-clutch automatic transaxle gearbox. should you need it. And then there’s the new infotainment system. There’s a wide 10
¼ inch screen and on the passenger side there’s touch-screen panel so the passenger adjust various settings. The car sounds great, not particularly noisy when sitting inside the cabin under normal traffic conditions, but when you put your foot down it screams like a Ferrari should! It has a beautiful interior with lots of luxury leather, and just like I commented about the Ferrari 812 Superfast, the steering wheel is a functional works of art – no other car brand has cooler steering wheels than Ferrari.
To arrange your own test drive in Bahrain contact Euro Motors on Tel. +973 17 734 734