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The Arabian Review

Issue 117

Exclusive Interviews:

H.E. Dr Hassan Fakhro Mohamed Adel Fakhro Vivian Jamal

INVESTING IN BAHRAIN A Review

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Cover Story

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INVESTING IN BAHRAIN

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18 Special Feature

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CONTENTS

WORK

PLAY

for WORK see inside side

for WORK see inside side

October 2014

Exclusive Interview

H.E. DR HASSAN FAKHRO MOHAMED ADEL FAKHRO VIVIAN JAMAL Business

OUTSOURCING TO SOLVE HIRING DILEMMAS?

28

Business

THOUGHTS ON THE DIAMOND INDUSTRY Business

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT Property

DUBAI RESIDENTIAL INSIGHT REPORT Affairs

54

BETWEEN BELFAST AND BAHRAIN

12 38

Life

42

Life

20 24 26 28 30

46 52 60 64

PROFILE: CHRISTIAN ZANDONELLA

REVIEW: BUSINESS LUNCH AT JULIO’S Travel

A LOOK INSIDE IRAN Cars

REVIEW: 2015 HYUNDAI SONATA Style

THE NEW APPLE WATCH Culture

ARAB FILMS INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE

The Arabian Review

COMMENT...

Publisher & Editor in Chief - Nicholas Cooksey Admin & Finance - Nikesh Pola Business Development - Redia Castillo

A very cunning scam!

Layout Designs - Dhanraj S

In 1974, US President Richard Nixon struck a deal with Saudi Arabia that might go down as the biggest and cleverest scam in history. In exchange for weapons and protection, the Saudis would sell their oil for US dollars, then reinvest those dollars back in the United States. This was a matter of life or death for the dollar at the time; Nixon had ended the dollar linkage with gold three years before, and a massive devaluation of the dollar ensued. Ensuring that the world’s most traded commodity would only be priced and settled in US dollars was absolutely critical in propping up the currency.

Photography - Shareef Panhatt - Redia Castillo Contributors - Doug Alexander - Melissa Nazareth - Hugh Haskell-Thomas - Nicholas Cortes - Neal Jones - Agnieszka Piechoska

Looking back, it was a brilliant strategic move. The rest of OPEC followed, and this sealed the deal for US financial, political and military supremacy for decades - The petrodollar was born.

Today, oil remains the most widely traded commodity in the world. And since EVERY nation either buys or sells oil, it means that every nation holds US dollars. Rather than just sitting on a pile of paper currency, though, foreign banks, governments, and central banks tend to hold US Treasuries, i.e. US debt. This means that the US government has a nearly unlimited supply of foreigners to pawn off its dollars, debts, and deficits onto.

The rest of the world toils away to produce things. The US, on the other hand, prints dollars… and then trades this paper to foreigners for the stuff they’ve actually worked to produce – Brilliant!

Distribution Executives - Mohammed Yousif - Muhammed Shareef P - Rafnaj K P

Published by:

Media P.O. Box 60357, Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: +973 1700 4575 Fax: +973 1772 1722

WORK

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Printed at Awal Press, Kingdom of Bahrain.

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

for WORK see inside side

The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

WORK

PLAY

for PLAY see other side

The Arabian Review

Issue 117

Exclusive Interviews:

H.E. Dr Hassan Fakhro Mohamed Adel Fakhro Vivian Jamal

for WORK see other side

The Arabian Review

ARABS ESCAPE GULF SUMMER … and bring their cars with them

Car Reviews:

Nissan X-Trail Classic Jaguar Hyundai Sonata Aston Martin Lagonda Travel:

Best First Class Burj Al Arab, Dubai Style:

New Apple Watch Massimo Dutti A/W 2014-15

INVESTING IN BAHRAIN

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

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

A Review

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Registered as Gulf Financial Insider with Ministry of Information approval no. TFI-431©. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher.

All Rights Reserved. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. *Articles by these correspondents are the copyright of Telegraph Media Group, 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0DT, England.

Inbox

Send your views to info@Gulf-Insider.com The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

WORK for PLAY see other side

The Arabian Review

Issue 116

A Sad Irony It was quite heartbreaking to read your story about the tragic fate of the international airport in Gaza (The Ruins of Gaza’s Airport). How ironic, I’d say. Gazans’ ‘window to the world’, as you called it, has been shut forever before they had a chance to get a good look through it. And, as it seems, it has been shut by those who opened it in a first place.

M.A.

CHANGING

I must admit, as a Westerner who has recently moved to Bahrain, I had no idea that the local ladies were playing such an important role in Bahrain’s business world and even proved their skills in politics! Your special feature, Changing Herstory, has opened my eyes and my mind. I’m very happy to see how the local government promotes gender equality and, even more, I am proud of those women who have grabbed the opportunity to show what they can achieve in so many fields.

HERSTORY

The women who don’t mind leading

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The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

The Arabian Review

Issue 115

Also inside:

Travel Bans Bahrain’s New Visa Policy Banks; Greedier than Ever?

INDIA & BAHRAIN

Dr Mohan Kumar, Mohammed Dadabhai, and Vijay Boloor discuss business and Bahrain/Indian relations.

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The Arabian Review

Issue 114

Female Power

Jeremy

Outdated Concept

BAHRAIN LEGAL

The news published in GI’s Gulf Roundup section about the Saudi VIPs’ unpaid electricity bills that have amounted to $720 million just left me somewhere between perplexed and amused. What’s even more hilarious, some of these pending dues apparently date 30 years back. I guess the distinguished VIPs just felt it was below them to waste time for such mediocre errands as settling a bill. Well, how about this: wouldn’t it be the high time to rethink the whole VIP concept? It’s rather an outdated notion to divide the society according to how “very important” one is.

Amir

The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

PLAY

WORK for PLAY see other side

The Arabian Review

Issue 116

for WORK see other side

The Arabian Review

Issue 116

CHANGING

HERSTORY

The women who don’t mind leading

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Car Reviews:

Subaru BRZ Alfa Romeo Giulietta Bahrain BD2

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Travel:

W Doha Hotel Review Oman RO2

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ucing Introd ider Ins Gulf YLE

Style:

Patek Philippe Calatrava UAE DHS20

ST LIFE

For Middle East news updated daily visit

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Going User-friendly Your new layout was quite a surprise! And, I must say, I really liked it. Separating the “work” and “play” sections of GI has made your magazine a lot more user-friendly. Are you planning to maintain this new concept for your next issues?

Anne

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Torsten Müller-Ötvös CEO, ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS

BAHRAIN LEGAL

FEATURE SPECIAL

A special guide to some of Bahrain’s top legal firms (and what they specialise in) Bahrain BD2

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Gulf Insider October 2014

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News

GULF ROUNDUP NEWS AROUND THE GCC AND BEYOND

BUSINESS & AFFAIRS

GCC Countries Still Dependent on Oil Takings The annual budget spending in GCC countries still continues to be driven almost entirely by income from the export of hydrocarbons although the contribution of non-hydrocarbon GDP to the overall GDP has significantly increased over the past two decades across the region, Alkhabeer Capital, a leading asset management and investment firm based in Saudi Arabia, said in a report.

Hydrocarbon revenues in Qatar and UAE account for close to 60 per cent of the total revenues of the countries, however in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the figure is close to 90 per cent and 93 per cent, respectively.

The low contribution of the non-hydrocarbon sector reflects the policy of maintaining a low or zero-tax environment to assist private sector activity. – SAUDI GAZETTE

Gulf Air Signs MOU with Tamkeen Second Bahrain-Saudi Causeway to Cost USD 5 Billion The second causeway that will connect Bahrain with Saudi Arabia will cost USD 5 billion to build, according to Bahrain’s transport minister.

The second bridge, which will be called King Hamad Causeway after Bahrain’s monarch, will be used by vehicles as well as freight and passenger trains and become part of the GCC railway network.

The transport minister didn’t have an exact date on when the project would start, but insisted: “We need it to start soon.”

The King Fahd Causeway already connects Saudi Arabia to Bahrain’s west and is now one of the most congested roads in the Gulf, with more than 8 million vehicles travelling across it last year, according to the King Fahd Causeway Authority. – ARABIAN BUSINESS 8

Gulf Insider October 2014

Gulf Air and Tamkeen signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide 40 Bahraini nationals with the opportunity to partake in on-the-job training within Gulf Air’s Technical Division.

The one- and two-year training programmes have been tailored for Bahraini nationals who wish to pursue careers in aviation. Under the MOU, 22 candidates will join Gulf Air as trainee engineers and 18 as trainee aircraft technicians.

News

TRA Organises Child Online Protection Workshop Telecommunications Regulatory Authority Bahrain (TRA) in cooperation with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) held a three-day Child Online Protection (COP) Workshop, attended by the stakeholders from a number of sectors, industries, and official institutions in Bahrain.

Organised on September 14 to 16 at the Ritz Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa, the workshop focused on a holistic approach to the challenges of protecting children online.

Dr Khalid bin Daij Al Khalifa

The “EDGE Award” for Marriott Executive Apartments Manama Bahrain Marriott Executive Apartments Manama Bahrain’s Director of Rooms Operations Bartlomiej Mart is one of only twelve recipients in the world, and three in the MENA region to have received the prestigious “EDGE Award” (“Excellence in Delivering the Guest Experience”), during the ceremony held on September 12, at The Mayflower Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel, in the presence of the senior Marriott leaders.

The Marriott Executive Apartments Manama Bahrain was also rewarded with the 2014 Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence, for outstanding feedback from Trip Advisor travelers.

Mr Mart

Pre-Opening Team Checks into Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay Following five months of preparation, the pre-opening team led

by General Manager Greg Pirkle has officially moved into the Four Seasons’ first property in Bahrain, located on its own exclusive island at Bahrain Bay. The 68-storey structure will feature 273 exceptionally spacious guest rooms, six options for indoor-outdoor dining and drinks including three outlets by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, five swimming experiences with six super-cabanas, expansive spa with 17 treatment rooms, two impressive ballrooms, and a Sky Bridge with meeting rooms on the 50th and 51st floors.

Gulf Who’s Whos Directory 2014-2015 The latest 2014 – 2015 edition of the Gulf Who’s Who Directory was launched last month at the Gulf Convention Centre in Bahrain.

The Launch was attended by a large number of VIPs and dignitaries. The new directory is now available in stores. (Price BD15).

Sunny Kulathakal (far left) with senior dignitaries

H.E. Dr. Abdul-Hussein bin Ali Mirza, Minister of Electricity & Water Affairs, with Who’s Who Publisher Sunny Kulathakal.

Gulf Insider October 2014

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Telecoms

Special Feature

INVESTING IN BAHRAIN

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has a two-way effect on both the host and the home country. It fosters business opportunities for the local companies; brings in new technologies, products, and extra capital; and triggers international cooperation.

It goes without saying that investors seeking international exposure should always proceed with caution by first determining the country’s investment climate including economic, political, and business risks that are unique to that particular economy.

Is Bahrain worth considering? Nick Cooksey asks around about the local market’s pros, cons, and things to bear in mind.

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Special Feature

FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN BAHRAIN

H.E. DR HASSAN FAKHRO Minister of Industry and Commerce

Dr Hassan Fakhro explains why international investors should consider setting up a business in Bahrain.

Business-Friendly Bahrain vs. Rest of The Advantages (and Disadvantages) “The advantages that Bahrain has over the World other regional jurisdictions stem primarily “The Heritage Foundation’s Economic Freedom Index consistently ranks Bahrain the highest in the Middle East and one of the highest in the world.

Overall, the index gives Bahrain a respectable 13th position out of 178 economies worldwide, which makes it the only Mena country to be in the top 20. Moreover, the Fraser Institute’s annual Economic Freedom of the World Index 2013 listed Bahrain as the eighth freest economy in the world.

In Bahrain, there is literally no distinction between foreign companies and locally-owned companies. NonBahrainis can own 100 per cent of any type of company, without the need for a local sponsorship. We believe that competition is beneficial and we welcome foreign investment, either direct or indirect.

Having said that, there are a few – actually very few – activities which are reserved for Bahrainis, for security, religious, or other special concerns.”

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Gulf Insider October 2014

from the past and current policies of our Government, which has always put the Bahraini citizens and the private sector front and centre in its development perspective.

Bahrain was the first in the region to discover oil in the 1930s and the first to use these oil revenues for a modern education and health infrastructure.

Today, those early policies have paid dividends in terms of an educated manpower, which attracts foreign investors. Other neighbouring countries rely to a much higher degree on imported manpower.

Bahrain was also first to develop a legal system in line with international norms, and to develop a globally recognised banking environment, which is now mostly staffed by Bahrainis and contributes significantly to Bahrain’s GDP. Plus, our progressive democracy invigorates domestic enterprise and direct foreign investment.

With all these aspects combined, one could hypothesise that what Bahrain

has, which some other countries do not, is a global legitimacy, borne out of doing things right.

Bahrain’s disadvantage is that the market is relatively small compared to our immediate neighbours. However, this is more than compensated for by the ease of access to regional markets, welcoming cosmopolitan lifestyle, and the lowest business and living costs in the region.”

Attracting Foreign Investors “Bahrain has adopted what is essentially a demand-led strategy; instead of developing huge infrastructures in the hope that foreign investors will come, we have taken a more cautious approach by creating the infrastructure based on the demand. This policy has worked for Bahrain since the government and the private sector are closely linked through the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce (BCCI), and other government and private sector institutions.

The advantage, of course, is that scarce revenues are not spent on ‘white elephant’ assets.

Special Feature

The same goes for our laws and regulations, which are robust to maintain the integrity of the market, yet flexible enough to accommodate required modifications.

We pay close attention to the commercial environment, ensuring that we do not overburden businesses with unnecessary rules and red tape; we keep our doors open for discussions and provide assistance when required.

Naturally, we do have to engage in some advertising activities to ensure that our message is getting across. The Ministry of Industry and Commerce runs the ‘Invest in Bahrain’ campaign every

we have been telling the story as it really was, and is. We focus on democratic reforms, rather than letting a handful of misinformed and delusional individuals divert us from the path of development.

One only has to look at the riots in the UK in the summer of 2011 or the recent disturbances in Ferguson, US to understand that – as the poet John Lydgate put it (and the US president Abraham Lincoln adapted) – ‘You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time’. We continue to improve, to try to satisfy all but also, to

Again, I would refer to Bahrain’s international ranking regarding business and economic freedom, which is a good proxy for bureaucracy levels – we are amongst the best, and getting better.”

The Future Business Hub? “In my view, Bahrain is already an international business hub, and our future plans are to grow our business regionally and internationally, using our geographical location and unique communication gateways.

While nurturing our business-friendly environment, we want to expand the

One could hypothesise that what Bahrain has, which some other countries do not, is a global legitimacy, borne out of doing things right.

year, in addition to paying frequent visits to our partner countries in attempt to create a closer trading environment.”

Dealing with Negative Reporting “Bahrain’s negative international press coverage was almost inevitable, I would say, given the penchant which some of the international popular press has for sensationalism and onesided journalism. To some extent, this negative commentary is a result of the massive developments that we’ve made in terms of democracy and freedom of expression. We have, if you will, been victims of our own success.

In order to counter the negative press,

protect our nation from those who would do it harm.”

The Impact of Bureaucracy “Bureaucracy in modern parlance refers to the rules, administration, and hierarchal structures, which I believe are absolutely necessary for legitimate businesses to operate. The skill is in applying just the right amount of supervision over a set of rules and regulations, with sufficient flexibility in line with the changing market conditions.

I would say that in Bahrain we have got it just right; we do not have rules for their own sake and our regulations are subject to ‘date stamping’.

manufacturing and industrial sectors.

Discussions are currently taking place on a broad range of initiatives that would strengthen Bahrain’s standing as an international business hub, including the creation of a new Economic City. The financial and banking sector continues to grow, having gained even more respect for its careful handling of the global financial crisis, from which Bahrain emerged relatively unscathed.

We will continue to use our excellent foreign relations, in particular with the United States, Saudi Arabia, and other GCC countries, to forge a deeper partnership and enhance Bahrain’s position as an international business centre.”

Gulf Insider October 2014

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Special Feature

FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN BAHRAIN

MOHAMED ADEL FAKHRO Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Board Member BCCI Entrepreneurs Committee Chairman Abdulla Yousif Fakhro Group Director

Gulf Insider asks Mohamed Adel Fakhro about market opportunities in Bahrain and what it has to offer to the foreign investors.

The Ease of Doing Business

The Benefits

“Bahrain’s market is more liberal than other GCC states, especially if you exclude the offshore segments.

Historically, we haven’t had the natural resources so perhaps this is one of the reasons why we are more open to the foreign investment. But, we can still make some adjustments. For instance, other countries in the region such as Saudi Arabia allow 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) – provided that the tax from the profits is paid. I think this is an interesting innovation; we could try something similar in Bahrain. Although we must consider the fact that we’re dealing with much smaller economy and very strong competition that comes with it; this is one of the main reasons why our doors are not entirely opened.”

“One key area is the intellectual capital; the Bahraini people are quite educated compared to some other parts of the region. Another obvious advantage is the close proximity to the Saudi market – Riyadh and Eastern Province. Since most of the key decisions are made in Riyadh, it makes perfect sense for a foreign investor to be stationed in Bahrain.

When it comes to daily logistics, it is more practical than to be based in Qatar or UAE for that matter.”

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Gulf Insider October 2014

The Weak Points “There’s the issue with our political situation that has partially hindered the inflow of expat talent; many people interviewed for the top management positions would hesitate to accept the

job due to perceived safety concerns.

This, however, seems to have changed in the last six months. Another problem we are facing is related to the rise of wages in other GCC states. Those who come to Bahrain usually expect equivalent compensation, but the level of business here and around the Gulf is not exactly the same, plus the cost of living is a lot cheaper.”

Dealing with the Crisis “As the business community, we’ve tried to focus on the business opportunities. And – at some point – the political issues we’ve been facing did create some opportunities in the real estate sector. Overall, however, the situation proved challenging. The political crisis has had negative effect on many industries, especially tourism.

Special Feature

Many companies, including our own, have begun to focus on strengthening their presence outside Bahrain to balance things out, although it is a long process. I think is very important for the entrepreneurs in Bahrain to expand around the Gulf – especially for the locals as the GCC law allows them 100 per cent ownership in the neighbouring states. I do hope that in the coming decade it will become one of the main drivers for our domestic economy.”

Tradition in the Business World “We are a conservative country so

process has been really simplified, as it allows any individual, despite their status or “connections”, to have it done without problems. It may be speculated that the LMRA has gone too far in terms of liberation of the labour market – even further than the US market. The current law in Bahrain offers many benefits to the employee – which, of course, is important – but it does not sufficiently protect the employer’s interests or allow more flexibility when it comes to the employment contracts. Because of that, Bahrain may appear as a less desirable market from the business owner’s perspective.

manage their operations.”

The BCCI Entrepreneurs Committee “In addition to our regular activities, such as organising entrepreneurship competitions, we are hoping to define the entrepreneurs as one category – as opposed to dividing them between SMEs, government companies, youth, businesswomen, etc. Most challenges faced by the business owners are irrelevant to the size of the company, or age and gender of the business owner.

Plenty of issues still prevent Bahrain from becoming an entrepreneurial

Since most of the key decisions are made in Riyadh, it makes perfect sense for a foreign investor to be stationed in Bahrain. When it comes to daily logistics, it is more practical than to be based in Qatar or UAE for that matter.” integrating cultural openness can be a bit tricky. We have a constant state of friction between two competing standpoints – one that is business-oriented and one that puts traditional values before anything else. Because of that, business people in Bahrain struggle to achieve a full consensus. That’s sometimes unfortunate because business is what drives prosperity. Having said that, I do believe that it’s possible to maintain cultural integrity and still do profitable business.”

The Bureaucracy “With the LMRA in place, the visa

Regarding the red tape, it’s still there but not to the extent when it becomes frustrating. I credit Bahrain’s IT infrastructure for that. The main problems occur due to the fact that all the institutions are interconnected, which can cause delays.

In general, the bureaucracy in Bahrain does not keep up to date with the modern trends, which might prevent some entrepreneurs from even starting a business. For example, the out-dated requirement for all the companies to have a commercial address does not apply to online stores or mobile apps developers, who don’t need an office to

society such as the debtor’s prison still in force (it doesn’t exist anywhere else in the world), or commercial disputes and lack of the precedence in the legal system to allow for quick decisions. The Bahraini law often offers quick solutions to the old problems, which don’t apply in the present day.

Our role concentrates on the lobbying, as we don’t have the legislative power.

We do, however, have access to the top decision makers in the country, which helps us make a difference. Perhaps we won’t be able to change the system completely but we will do our part to chip away at it.”

Gulf Insider October 2014

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Special Feature

FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN BAHRAIN

SLASHING

RED TAPE I

f I had to name the most elating yet disappointing promise made by government during my ten years in Bahrain, it is the almost perpetual promise to, “Slash Red Tape.”

Filling out unnecessary forms, and then doing it again, waiting in queues once more, that tightening feeling around the throat that accompanies frustration.

Cutting red tape? Really? Alas, all too often, no scissors, no scalpel, no real instructions, just jolly fine words – which are usually met with the rolling of eyes.

Heard it all before!

Mind you, it is not just in Bahrain that such claims to, “clean up the bureaucracy,” are made.

It is an issue commonly associated with all bureaucracies, principally because part of the reason for the existence of government is to ‘regulate,’ via laws

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Gulf Insider October 2014

Bahrain should look at what others are doing to really cut “red tape.”

By Nicholas Cortes

and statutory orders, and to garner information irrespective of whether we think it is necessary, or pertinent!

The problem with the “Slashing Red Tape” claim is that it is without a substantial ‘plan of attack, or even the establishment of a team of “cutters”!

You know, like those arrival cards that require a list of all the countries you

have ever visited or the name of your father’s address at your birth. I travelled with a Minister once, who completed all landing cards in micro seconds because apart from passport details, he simply filled out the first thought that came in to his head as invariably, (before electronic passports) the only things checked was name and number. Oh the fun of it all.

The problem with the “Slashing Red Tape” claim is that it is without a substantial ‘plan of attack, or even the establishment of a team of “cutters”!

Well, take heart!

The relatively newly arrived Abbott government in Australia, has come to office for a bout of “Spring Cleaning” with a battle plan to rid the country of 8000 unnecessary laws and regulations, saving $A 1 billion annually (BD342 million). It is also planning to cut

Special Feature

option.”

Moreover, the Australian Government will allocate two days annually, for parliament to repeal laws found to be unnecessary, outdated, or simply “too red tapish.”

Wonderful isn’t it, the simple term “reform,” especially when coupled with the words “de-regulation,” oh such a sweet smelling air freshener?

Supposedly it will save the government trunk loads of money, and the public, veritable mountains of frustration. It will also precipitate a real and coordinated plan of action, rather than the usual nebulous blustery call to “slash red tape,” without specifically targeting anyone to do the job, plan a

Supposedly it will save the government trunk loads of money, and the public, veritable mountains of frustration. It will also precipitate a real and coordinated plan of action, rather than the usual nebulous blustery call to “slash red tape,” without specifically targeting anyone to do the job. bureaucratic compliance costs for business and households by $A300 million (BD102 million).

In relative proportional terms given the sizes of the Australian and Bahraini economies, these are savings not to be scoffed at!

They will also put in place a format to ensure there is no ‘re-growth,’ when the cutting has been done.

It may just be a suitable template for a bit of cherry-picking by other governments, who harbour similar ‘slashing’ philosophies.

It has not however, made an auspicious start, with Australian bureaucrats producing a “rule book,” for public servants, designed to keep “red tape down,” a book bound with – you guessed it – red tape. Oh yes, they do have a sense of humour, and a healthy

sense of irony, those Aussies!

There will be a dedicated red tape website, where business-people and the public can send off their own submissions on perceptions of red tape encumbrances, which presumably will be assessed by a committee, and then sent to Ministers to enact legislation to cut and remove.

All Ministries will in future be required to have a dedicated special unit, which is to look at the regulatory impact provisions of all proposed new laws and all Cabinet submissions must include a Regulatory Impact Statement.

There will be requirements for more timely consultation with the business community and greater transparency and efficiency within the public service, so “ensuring regulation is the last resort [for public servants], not the default

schedule, and actually fund the service wide project.

So let’s keep a weather eye on developments Down Under and see if there are lessons to be learned from their experiences which Bahrain can draw on to make its own public services more efficient, civil in service, and genuinely helpful to the public, be they citizens, investors or tourists.

The author is a former senior diplomat and political adviser with extensive international experience in strategic and parliamentary affairs, and is currently working in Bahrain.

Gulf Insider October 2014

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Special Feature

FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN BAHRAIN

VIVIAN JAMAL

Executive Director of Business Development, Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) What makes Bahrain an attractive investment destination compared to its neighbours? Gulf Insider speaks with Vivian Jamal about why foreign investors should consider setting up business in the Kingdom.

The Market: Playing to Its Strengths “Although Bahrain is the smallest market in the GCC, it packs a powerful punch. Moving up one place from the previous year, it placed 46th globally on the World Bank’s 2014 Doing Business Index, coming third behind the UAE (23rd) and Saudi (26th). The Kingdom comes first in resolving insolvency compared to the other five Gulf states, and is also first among them in dealing with construction permits (fourth place globally).

Bahrain’s proximity to Saudi Arabia and easy access to its large economy is a key asset. She also identifies the Kingdom’s young, educated workforce as another advantage that Bahrain enjoys over its neighbours”.

The FDI Inflows “The EDB has been busy promoting Bahrain as an ideal place to do business, and their efforts have paid off. Last year the EDB attracted USD 114 million in FDI from North America, Europe and Asia, a twelve per cent increase from 2012. Over the course of the next three 18

Gulf Insider October 2014

years, this is expected to result in the creation of more than 800 jobs across a range of sectors including financial and professional services, logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, and ICT. Some of the companies that have set up shop in Bahrain over the past year include Kintestsu World Express, a Japanese logistics service provider; Takaud, which is a specialist savings and pensions provider; and Davis and Mills, a British company that will set up an electro-mechanical facility in Bahrain to service the oil, aluminium, power, and water industries.

The EDB has also facilitated strategic partnerships between foreign and Bahraini firms, such as that between Italian fashion house Gucci and Al Ansari Group. Other partnerships include Bosch Software and Kanoo IT; Gerolsteiner and Intercol; Diwani and Mankind Pharma; Monparking and T-linx; and SBI Pharmaceuticals with Dawani.”

Looking Far East “Recognising the vast potential that lies east, the EDB is looking increasingly towards Asia for foreign investment.

At the top of the list are India, China, Singapore, and Japan, where the EDB has organised several road shows to raise awareness about the opportunities offered by Bahraini market. The next one takes place this month in China, amongst the talks with a Chinese delegation that wants to utilise Bahrain as a regional business hub.”

EDB: Fostering the Competitive Edge “The EDB seeks to support growth of the country’s various industries, where it looks to attract leading international companies to further develop and support key sectors, including construction and infrastructure. The Board also looks to provide opportunities for investment in line with the country’s economic strategic plan. Key sectors of focus include chemicals, plastics, food, and healthcare related industries.

Bahrain is looking at developing its infrastructure through expanding industrial projects, including plans for Bapco to double its capacity and Alba looking to move forward with its Line 6 project, which will bring opportunities.”

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Business

OUTSOURCING TO SOLVE

HIRING DILEMMAS?

By Garry Gürtler, VP for Middle East, Regus

G

reat news for recruitment companies, but it also signals a race for talent, and rising salaries and benefits. It renders tougher than ever that age-old dilemma for businesses: should we stretch our resources by taking on new and now probably more expensive, staff? In this region, the decision is made more expensive when companies hire expats.

The non-salary costs of hiring are also an obstacle - and remember these ‘costs’ involve time, not just money.

When deciding to grow headcount, you need to consider:

 The costs of recruitment – including advertising and agency costs, and the time taken to interview candidates  The costs of training – even experienced recruits need time to learn the job; less experienced recruits are cheaper, but require more training input 20

Gulf Insider October 2014

The Middle East has see a hiring spree in 2013, with more than 30% of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) employers stating that they are definitely hiring, with an additional 27% stating that they are ‘probably hiring’.

 The costs – mainly in time – of managing more staff These ‘costs’ are particularly burdensome if the new staff are nonrevenue-generating but still essential for operations and set-up. Nevertheless, businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), that don’t increase their headcount may struggle to grow, with their time and energy spread too thin handling non-core tasks.

It’s worth remembering that the choice is not just between long-term resource investments and standing still.

There’s another option: outsourcing.

Businesses already do this in many aspects of their operations – from having someone design their website to having a lawyer deal with contracts. So why not consider which other non-core aspects could be handled externally? This could free up management time for more revenue-generating activity or entering new markets.

In research conducted by Regus, when asked about the biggest challenges to entering new markets, 60% of companies (and 63% of smaller companies) cited property and paperwork. So this is a prime area for outsourcing.

This is one reason why so many companies and start-ups outsource their property needs. Using fully-equipped office space means many of their staffing issues are taken care of for them. With reception, administration, security, and facilities management all provided and managed – and included in the price of the workspace – businesses are immediately freed from the need to employ non-core staff, or for managers to do these tasks themselves. This can add hours each week to the time a oneperson business or microbusiness can devote to revenue generation.

As well as allowing businesses to outsource non-core tasks, using flexible workspaces builds greater flexibility into a company’s business planning.

Companies that already have an office can also save costs by outsourcing other requirements such as meeting venues, business centre facilities, video conferencing, and so on. These need not be built into the business set-up costs and can be used as and when required through flexible work options such as those provided by Regus.

At a time where regional companies are looking for growth, but cautious owing to the global uncertainty, this flexibility is invaluable. They can expand their footprint, or move to a more impressive business address, or benefit from services and support, without being locked into long-term arrangements or investments that could prove burdensome. By reducing the risks and overheads attached to growth, flexible working facilitates the next growth stage for start-ups, SMEs, and even larger companies looking to expand to newer and more lucrative markets.

Growth is always going to involve difficult decisions, but outsourcing non-core jobs and requirements can help. This flexibility – pay for what you use, don’t pay for what you don’t use – saves cost and facilitates growth, thus benefitting the bottom line.

Business

PALESTINE’S STARTUP ECOSYSTEM STIRS INTO LIFE

The challenges facing Palestine’s tech sector are unique.

By Monty Munford

T

he challenges of Palestine as a nascent state surrounded by a nervous and antagonistic neighbour are not the everyday problems that Silicon Valley has ever had to endure. In Palestine you have to be tough and patient if you want to survive and it’s the same for startups.

Israeli authorities control cellular networks in Palestine and have still to grant 3G licences to Palestinian operators although smartphone use is widespread in the country.

Consequently, Palestinians have no option other than to sign up with Israeli operators and Palestinians startups suffer from this consequent dataapartheid. Moreover, lack of 3G coverage is not the only impediment to Palestinian entrepreneurs.

Feras Nasr is the CEO and Co-Founder of AidBits, a Palestinian cloud-based data management platform designed for the non-profit sector that was founded in Palestine in 2011. It helps organisations operate more efficiently by allowing them to collect, find, learn from and share their data using one centralised platform. He calls Palestine the ‘Silicon Valley of NGOs’; an interesting perspective on the West Bank where NGOs proliferate like biblical locusts.

“For startup founders here, it’s a difficult step to take the plunge and leave their jobs to devote their time and effort into making their startup succeed.

Failure isn’t widely accepted here and a social system that would provide security

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Business

in terms of healthcare, education or unemployability assistance doesn’t yet exist.

“The legal structure in Palestine needs to be improved to encourage startups to grow. While the process of registering a company has been improved and shortened, it is expensive.

The legal structure isn’t investorfriendly, and startups will incorporate outside of Palestine to comply with most investor requirements, leading to more complexities and expenses,” he says.

The legal structure in Palestine needs to be improved to encourage startups to grow.

While the process of registering a company has been improved and shortened, it is expensive.

Despite this, a startup community exists in Palestine, especially in Ramallah on the West Bank. Here it is just like any other hipster-city.

Meetups, hackathons and social media events all happen on a regular basis and accelerators abound.

Then there are those of the Palestinian Diaspora who have returned to Palestine from abroad to set up in the country. This movement has been helped by GloPal, a social IT Network that connects people interested in advancing the Palestinian

IT economy, a sector that is expanding with the Israeli arms of Microsoft, Intel, Hewlett-Packard and Cisco outsourcing work there.

According to PITA, the Palestinian IT Association of Companies in Ramallah, the emerging Palestinian outsourcing sector now accounts for more than 10% of Palestine’s GDP, a figure that is rising every quarter.

One Ramallah company, Ezents was started earlier this year by three Palestinian entrepreneurs. It is an events management company that lets organisers of different types of events to collaborate, manage, control and market their events using a web-based system.

Organisers can use Ezents to reach out to their customers by integrating collaboration tools such as task management and budgeting, and other tools that reduce the stress associated with managing events Its co-founder Odeh Quraan is a serial entrepreneur who started his first company when he was studying for his MA in IT at Teesside University in England, when he started making web development contracts for UK and European clients. He has since transferred them to a team he employed in Palestine, capitalising on labour arbitrage to make a profitable company.

This influx of entrepreneurs into the country is beginning to make a difference to the Palestinian startup ecosystem, but even getting into the country with a Palestinian passport as there is no airport. Without Israeli ID, Palestinians have to fly out of Jordan and then undertake a three-hour journey through the Jordanian border to come home.

“During my past two and a half years in Palestine, a positive change is taking place in the startup ecosystem, and we are beginning to see some promising start-ups emerge. However, the road is still long to get to a point where failure is accepted and taking risk is encouraged”, concludes AidBits’ Nasr.

If you make it there, you can make it anywhere says Sinatra’s song about New York, but it is a sentiment that many Palestinians in Ramallah and beyond will relate to. There could be interesting times ahead.

Gulf Insider October 2014

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Business

THOUGHTS ON THE

DIAMOND INDUSTRY

By Peter Meeus, Chairman, Dubai Diamond Exchange

I

nearly fell off my chair when I recently read the motion for a resolution of the six federal government parties, with the bold theory that the fight against blood diamonds has failed. Now that the resolution has been approved, I am even more amazed.

As former director-general of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre I was very closely involved in setting up the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), the supervisory body for diamonds recognized the world over. Its principles have actually been written in our offices in Antwerp.

It was not easy as the Belgian government felt that we did too little and the diamond sector in Antwerp was of the opinion all that was not necessary.

But we have continued as it was a ‘good’ cause. We then worked very closely with Global Witness, the NGO most involved, to elaborate a fair and honest system.

In 2014, diamonds are the most strictly checked raw materials in the world. With the exception of uranium, no other raw materials are so strictly controlled and observed as rough diamonds. More than 99.8 percent of all diamonds produced is certified by the Kimberley-process.

Problem countries such as the Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Venezuela do not even represent

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0.2 percent of the world production.

Already in April 2013 when the problems started in the Central African Republic, the Kimberleyprocess - of which I am part on behalf of the United Arab Emirates - has taken measures to ensure that the country could not export illegal diamonds any more. That way, the Kimberley-process was the first and only system to ensure, in a very short time, that rebels do not get the opportunity to finance their war with the sale of rough diamonds.

Human Rights Can that be said of any other mineral, let alone any other diplomatic initiative?

Contrary to what is assumed and suggested in the resolution, diamonds are pioneers and should be considered as a model for other raw materials.

The media and politics are, however, systematically fed by messages falsely or politically inspired or not, about constant human rights violations in the exploitation of diamonds. Since the Hollywood film ‘Blood Diamond’ (2006), everyone seems to accept that unquestioningly.

What is it that the relationship of the diamond sector with the NGOs has deteriorated that much?

It was excellent once. Why are the NGOs so dissatisfied with the achievements of the Kimberley-

Business

With the exception of uranium, no other raw materials are so strictly controlled and observed as rough diamonds.

process and the diamond sector?

Certainly not because there would be more conflict diamonds than twelve years ago. So why are they? Maybe because the NGOs themselves have become small enterprises and the available funds have decreased, so the mutual competition has therefore increased? Did their need to boast originate there? Is it not possible that diamonds have become part of NGOs’ core business so that blood diamonds need to continue to exist?

Could we possibly consider the economic context for a moment? It is an open secret that the NGOs working

my colleagues in southern Africa, where I have been spending one third of my time for some years already. Add the fact that Russia, China, India, South-Africa, Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Congo and the United Arab Emirates have gradually grown tired of the situation that a small minority of member states continue to impertinent impose their agenda on the large majority in the decision-making process of the Kimberley process. In the name of human rights, but nobody believes that any more.

The resolution of the majority party already shows with which party Belgium sides in this debate. And this for a non-

in the field of minerals are especially subsidized by western powers. Has anyone ever made the connection with the declining economic importance of the major superpowers in Africa ?

The fact that China has become the first economic power in the world with business transactions worth 3.82 billion dollars. That a kind of cold war is going on in Africa for the control of essential raw materials.

issue in a sector which already has a hard time to stand it’s ground and is discarded once again.

That human rights must be respected is beyond question. There are enough organisations that judge these issues in all objectivity. Authorities that do not depend on the financing by foreign governments that try to achieve an economic advantage and very successfully manipulate the media.

Isn’t it time to brush aside that ‘dirty business’-reputation? Who is 100 percent perfect? Is 99.8 percent not good enough? After all, there are hardly any conflict diamonds these days.

Non-issue Even if that would not be the intention of the NGOs, it is perceived as such by all

Gulf Insider October 2014

25

Business

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT

MOST ATTRACTIVE IN THE MIDDLE EAST The Middle East is the world’s most dynamic infrastructure investment market.

A

ccording to the second ARCADIS Global Infrastructure Investment Index, the Middle East – Qatar, the UAE and KSA – scored in the top third of the index due to the countries’ strong business environment, healthy pipeline of development work and growing economies.

“The Middle East has some of the highest investment profiles of anywhere in the globe with average growth in the construction industry reaching double digits. Good infrastructure is critical for the long term economic development of a country, and the region is currently in a strong position in this regard,” said Tim Risbridger, Partner and Head of Infrastructure – Middle East at EC Harris.

“National vision strategies are driving a phenomenal peak spend in these key markets over the next four to five years, increasing investment opportunities for the private sector. Currently, almost 26

Gulf Insider October 2014

half of the investment planned across the region’s major cities relate to transportation.”

The top twelve most attractive countries for infrastructure investment in 2014 with its difference ranking from 2012 in brackets below: 2014 Country

Difference 2012

1.

Singapore 2. Qatar 3.

UAE 4. Canada 5. Sweden 6. Norway 7. Malaysia 8. USA 9. Australia 10. UK 11. USA 12.

Saudi Arabia

(=) (=) (+1) (-1) (=) (=) (=) (+3) (-1) (+3) (+3) (=)

The Global Infrastructure Investment Index ranks the world’s 41 most dynamic countries with the greatest potential for growth and investment in their economic infrastructure. Economic infrastructure consists of the infrastructure that makes business activity possible such as transportation, communication, distribution and energy assets.

The study looked at various issues including the ease of doing business in each market, tax rates, GDP per capita, government policy, the quality of the existing infrastructure and the availability of debt finance. Combining all of these factors provided a strong overview of the risk profile for each market and how attractive each one is likely to be to potential investors.

Singapore’s integrated strategic plan linking infrastructure planning with business and social requirements helped it retain top position in ARCADIS’ index as the most attractive global market for infrastructure investment.

However, with a government which self-finances most major projects, investment opportunities are limited; other countries with major investment plans such as Qatar and the UAE were tipped as being more promising for investors.

Risbridger continued, “A key differential that we have seen in Asian and Middle East markets is that those countries that have a clear integrated strategy that ties the infrastructure development plans to business and economic objectives tend to nearer the top of our ranking. This gives long term clarity to investors and is something that European markets, in particular, would do well to emulate if they are to succeed in attracting more private finance into infrastructure.”

The report also underlined the key risk will be inflation in construction resources from manpower and specialist skills to construction commodities. Despite the potential for rising inflation, the gulf countries’ strong credit ratings and enviable taxation regimes will continue to appeal to investors.

Property

AUTUMN DUBAI RESIDENTIAL INSIGHT REPORT

S

ince the introduction of higher transfer fees and mortgage caps at the end of last year, annual residential price growth has been slowing in both the prime and mainstream segments. However, the new rules have impacted Dubai’s luxury homes market to a greater degree, with prices in Q2 2014 rising by a relatively modest 6.3% y/y. Over the same period, the mainstream segment saw a 24% y/y increase.

So why is the mid-range part of the market outperforming?

Why is the mainstream residential market outperforming the prime segment in Dubai?

The new rules have impacted Dubai’s luxury homes market to a greater degree, with prices in Q2 2014 rising by a relatively modest 6.3% y/y.

First, established, mainstream locations such as Dubai Marina remain popular among western expatriates and continue to see healthy demand and thus price growth. Moreover, newer developments such as Jumeriah Village, Dubai Sports City and Dubai Silicon Oasis are seeing the same, albeit prices here are rising off a much lower base. Thus, with demand for residential property remaining strong in both newer, as well as more established mainstream locations in Dubai, prices in this segment continue to post strong gains.

Second, the new mortgage rules implemented by the UAE Central Bank are stricter for those buying residential property worth over AED 5 million. For example, if a first-time, expatriate buyer was to purchase a property above that value, they would need to raise a 35% deposit. By comparison, the same buyer looking for a property worth less than that amount would need a down payment of 25%.

Third, after halving between 2008 and 2010, both mainstream and luxury home prices have since largely reversed their previous falls. However, rents in the latter segment haven’t kept pace, which unsurprisingly has led yields to harden.

By comparison, as a result of a stronger recovery in rents, mainstreams yields continue to look relatively attractive to investors.

Info provided by Knight Frank, Dubai

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Gulf Insider October 2014

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Affairs

BETWEEN BELFAST AND BAHRAIN:

LESSONS IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION

A

lthough one wouldn’t normally equate Middle Eastern politics with the politics of Northern Ireland, there is more in common between Belfast and Bahrain than one would generally assume.

Both continue to suffer from political tension, a polarized society, civil unrest and street violence. However, Northern Ireland’s transition from the sectarian battleground that it once was into the mostly peaceful environment that it is today sets an example that Bahrainis and other conflict-stricken nations can learn from.

Both cases involve sectarian causes and implications; both involve one party’s struggle for higher representation and another’s struggle to combat the threat of violence and domestic militancy; and both cases involve the radical polarization of a society that is essentially homogenous.

However, one difference that must be acknowledged is that the situation in Northern Ireland reached a level of violence much higher than in Bahrain. Brutality had become a seemingly acceptable means of political expression.

Although the violence has mostly been put behind them, walking down certain streets in Belfast you would see remnants of a more bloody time. Murals, plaques and pictures in honor of “martyrs” and victims of the violence are frequently seen; buildings that had been torn apart by bombings were still waiting to be refurbished; and “peace walls” continue to separate some of the Catholic and Protestant communities.

One Belfast resident describes the Troubles in Northern Ireland as a deadly and continuous cycle. A group that feels undermined and oppressed will use that reason to justify the use violence and hostility towards the group they perceive to be the source of their oppression. This behavior will cause the opposing group to feel threatened and intimidated, which they will then use to justify the use of force in order neutralize the threat.

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Affairs

The use of force will increase the first group’s sense of injustice, which will then cause them to use more violence in response.

The use of force will increase the first group’s sense of injustice, which will then cause them to use more violence in response. The increase in violence then causes the second group to feel increasingly threatened and thus increase their use of force to counter to the growing threat.

And the cycle will violently go on until one group obliterates the other, or until both groups’ desire for peace and willingness to compromise surpasses their political aspirations.

Although this may seem like a very simple analogy, it is also quite true.

Bahrain is currently stuck in a similar cycle of violence and force, which has become increasingly apparent recently.

Rather than falling deeper into this

sequence of tit-for-tat, Bahrainis should work to avoid prolonging the unrest.

Although Bahrain has not experienced the levels of violence and bloodshed witnessed in Northern Ireland, it should be recognized that the situation does indeed carry the potential to escalate rapidly if the root causes of the unrest are not immediately addressed, particularly after the escalation in street violence and the use of car bombs (made famous by the IRA) that has left several policemen and rioters dead or injured in recent months.

The recent death of two youths while driving a car they had rigged with explosives should also act as indicator that youth in opposition constituencies are becoming increasingly radicalized

and resorting to increasingly violent tactics.

The solution to the Northern Ireland’s Troubles came, more or less, through dialogue. Although Republicans and Loyalists still do not see eye to eye on most issues, both groups were willing to make the necessary compromises that allowed them sit face to face and discuss what actions would be in Northern Ireland’s best interests.

These talks amounted to the formation of the Good Friday peace agreement, and talks continue to be held today on several unresolved issues.

Many of those directly affected by the Troubles have yet to find closure for their grievances, and despite continuous dialogue, many of the discussions still end up at an impasse.

However, the violence and bloodshed has mostly been put behind them thanks to progress that has been made on the common ground shared by the Republicans (Catholic) and Loyalists (Protestant) in Northern Ireland, primarily the desire for peace and coexistence.

As Bahrainis, whether Loyalists or Opposition, we should stop trying to convince others to see things from our own perspective. Rather than being stubborn about our political opinions and focusing on the differences between us, we must begin searching for the common ground upon which we can come together to build something positive for the future of all Bahrainis; the similarities that will allow us to put this dismal chapter of our history behind us.

In order to find that common ground, genuine Dialogue is necessary. Although the National Dialogue has seemingly come to a halt, it remains our best and only means of finding that common ground.

Although, it may not yield immediate results and may often feel like a futile initiative, with patience and perseverance, Dialogue will allow us to set aside our differences and build upon our similarities.

In the end, only hand-in-hand will Bahrainis, Loyalist and Opposition, emerge victorious from this long-drawnout period of unrest.

Copyright @ 2014 Citizens for Bahrain Gulf Insider October 2014

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Affairs

THE BRIBE WAS $100 MAX.

NOW IT’S $600!

In the passport queue at Baghdad airport, my heart sinks.

This place vies with Cairo for the title of most venal airport in the Middle East.

By Paul Wood

O

ur luggage is minutely examined by the Mukhabarat, or secret police, then customs.

Early morning becomes mid-afternoon. Our papers (scrupulously in order) lie unattended on a desk. Eventually, a customs man, with a large moustache and belly hanging over his belt, waddles over. ‘We cannot stamp these today,’ he says. ‘We will have lunch now, and then we will sleep. Come back tomorrow. Or the next day.’ Our bags are moved into a room piled high with luggage seized from other TV crews: flak jackets, lights, someone’s camera and editing gear. ‘How much?’ asks our fixer, wearily. ‘$600,’ says the customs man, dropping any pretence that this is anything other than a shakedown.

‘Things were better in Saddam’s time,’ says our fixer. ‘The customs only asked for $100. Max!’ We get stopped by the police half

a dozen times a day. As soon as we bring out the camera, plain-clothes Mukhabarat materialise from nowhere.

One tells me, ‘If you ask people any question critical of the government, or any question about the prime minister, we will arrest you.’

We sit in an outer office at the headquarters of the Shia militia Asa’ib ahl al-Haq, the League of the Righteous.

It is commanded by an Iranian general and credited with bringing into Iraq the more efficient roadside bombs that killed hundreds of British and American troops.

Al-Haq also kidnapped five Britons in 2007, four of whom died in captivity. We are asking to embed with them. A Shia cleric in flowing robes and white turban tells me, with a twinkle in his eye: ‘The enemies of the past are friends and the friends are enemies.’ Al-Haq would not be my first choice as a base to cover this conflict, but then our options are limited.

‘No problem. 100 per cent certain, I promise. Just phone back tomorrow.’

Tomorrow, tomorrow: the international press corps in Baghdad has been hearing this for two weeks as they beg for permits to film outside the city.

In a moment of honesty, a minister’s aide tells me: ‘Just stop calling. Maliki himself has given the order that no [foreign] journalists can move until there’s a victory.’ A producer on a Shiite TV channel offers to put us in touch with the right people for places on an army helicopter… only $5,000. I ask a Sunni government official who has helped us in the past to see if this can be true.

More or less, he says: $4,500. I assume the other $500 is the TV producer’s cut.

It is $1,000 each for the helicopter pilots, apparently, and $2,500, or a Rolex, for the general.

The flow of money is not all one-way.

The New York Times correspondent tweets a photograph of defence ministry officials handing out envelopes of cash to Iraqi journalists. The ministry tries to spin this as ‘travel expenses’ for reporters to attend a news conference given by the army spokesman, General Qassim Atta.

But it is a bribe: The Iraqi journalists are enraged, worried the money will dry up.

The general was already in a bad mood with the foreign media for comparing him to ‘Comical Ali’, Saddam’s absurdly over-optimistic information minister.

But the New York Times correspondent has also somehow gained access to the general’s bathroom and tweeted a picture of his gold-inlaid toilet. This is the final insult. The entire foreign press fears collective punishment. Meanwhile, half an hour’s drive from the general’s briefing room, Isis prepares its next move, with deadly serious intent.

Paul Wood is a BBC correspondent. His Panorama documentary on Isis is on BBC.

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Affairs The son of Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prince Khaled bin Salman, in the cockpit of his Tornado IDS jet after piloting it in strikes against Isis in Syria

SAUDI PRINCE AND UAE’S FIRST FEMALE FIGHTER PILOT LEAD ATTACKS ON ISIS

AFP/Getty Images

Fighter jets from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Jordan and Qatar join in bombing runs over Syria.

T

he son of the heir to the Saudi Arabian throne, Prince Khaled bin Salman, the son of Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, has been pictured in his F15 fighter jet after piloting it in strikes against Isis terrorists in Syria.

He was joined by the UAE’s first female fighter pilot, Major Mariam Al Mansouri.

Prince Khaled’s father is the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Saudi Arabia - and his father was the King.

It reported that the prince’s participation in the attacks was revealed by the Saudi government to send a message to the Saudi population that Isis is an enemy of the Kingdom.

To help win over hearts and minds in Saudi Arabia newspapers there printed the pictures of the Saudi pilots with captions that explained that Isis ‘damages the image of Islam and make it appear as a deformed religion based on killings and beheadings’. The prince’s participation in the attacks is said, nevertheless, to have resulted in death threats.

Major Mansouri, from Abu Dhabi, made a remarkable rise through the ranks of the UAE air force. She joined it in 2007 and is now a squadron commander. She is one of eight children and has a degree in English literature.

Images: UAE Airforce The UAE’s first female air force pilot, Major Mariam Al Mansouri, in her F-16 fighter

AFP/Getty Images Saudi Arabian air force pilots pose in front of a Tornado fighter jet Gulf Insider October 2014

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Affairs

WOMAN

ARRESTED

British Woman jailed for two months in Iran after trying to watch a men’s volleyball match.

up in a bid to pressurise Iran into releasing Ms Ghavami. There’s a Facebook group dedicated to helping her and the hashtag #FreeGhonchehGhavami is being appended to Twitter posts about her plight.

Britain’s Foreign Office said it was aware of the situation, but has little sway over Iran as it does not have official diplomatic ties with it, so it’s unlikely to be able to help Ms Ghavami.

Amnesty International spokesperson Neil Durkin told MailOnline: ‘We’re extremely worried about Ghoncheh’s predicament. ‘She’s been held in solitary for over a month in Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison where she’s been under the control of the country’s Revolutionary Guards. Her lawyer has had no access to her or any documents about why she’s being held, though we understand she’s being investigated with a view to charging her with the extremely vague offence of “propaganda against the state”.

Ghoncheh Ghavami, 25, arrested after attempting to watch a volleyball match between Iran and Italy on June 20

A

British woman has been locked up in a notorious jail in Iran – for trying to watch a men's volleyball match. Ghoncheh Ghavami, 25, was arrested and taken to Tehran's Evin jail a few days after attempting to watch a volleyball match between Iran and Italy on June 20.

Ms Ghavami went to the Azadi Stadium – which ironically means 'freedom' - with other women to protest against Iran's stricture, introduced after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, forbidding females to attend male sporting events.

At first Ms Ghavami, who is studying law in London, was arrested then released, but when she went back to fetch her belongings, she was re-arrested 34

Gulf Insider October 2014

and jailed. Several others involved in the demonstration were also detained.

Her brother, 28-year-old Iman Ghavami, told ITV News: ‘[The family] can barely hold themselves together. ‘They are torn apart – not just my parents but my grandparents, my uncles, everybody.’

Iran’s head of police, Esmail Ahmadi Moghadam, told the Fars news agency: ‘In the current conditions, the mixing of men and women in stadiums is not in the public interest.

‘The stance taken by religious scholars and the supreme leader remains unchanged, and as the enforcer of law, we cannot allow women to enter stadiums.’

Social media campaigns have sprung

Social media campaigns have sprung up in a bid to pressurise Iran into releasing Ms Ghavami

Ms Ghavami has been held in solitary confinement in Tehran’s Evin prison

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Work On Target For Dragon City Diyar Al Muharraq have announced the completion of the foundation construction for Dragon Mall and Dining Street in Dragon City, Bahrain. Completion of all works are due by June, 2015. The 115 thousand square meter development will be set in the southwest corner of Diyar Al Muharraq city. The Mall design is infused with Chinese architectural and cultural aspects, in a layout which incorporates 750 individual retail store spaces and additionally, a 4,500 square meter area designated for warehouses.

NEWS AROUND THE GCC AND BEYOND

LIFE

Arab CEOs Use Private Jets as Personal Taxis The use of corporate jets among Arab CEOs is making a comeback in the Middle East, according to a leading operator.

Over the last five years, the financial crisis saw corporations in the region curtailing their expenditure on luxury aviation travel, but now, Private Jet Charter is noticing a staggering rise in demand.

The independent private jet consultants say that although the percentage of CEOs using private jets has now reached a total of ten per cent, this number is just the beginning and we will see more CEOs opting for this form of transportation in the upcoming years.

A review of Federal Aviation Administration flight records revealed that dozens of jets operated by publicly traded corporations made over 30 per cent of their trips to or from resort destinations. – ARABIAN BUSINESS 36

Gulf Insider October 2014

Billionaire Wealth in ME Rises

by More than 16% The billionaire population in the Middle East shrank by 1.9 per cent over the past year but total billionaire wealth in the region rose by 16.7 per cent, according to a new report.

The Wealth-X and UBS Billionaire Census 2014 also showed that 155 new billionaires were minted this year, pushing the global population to a record 2,325 – a 7 per cent rise from 2013.

In the Middle East, Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed is the richest with a fortune of USD 31.2 billion, according to the latest Arabian Business Rich List.

According to the Wealth-X report, the combined wealth of the world’s billionaires increased by 12 per cent to USD 7.3 trillion; this is higher than the combined market capitalisation of all the companies that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

It also revealed that Europe, with 775 billionaires, is the region with the most billionaires and billionaire wealth (USD 2.37 trillion). Asia, however, boasted the largest billionaire wealth increase, with the region’s billionaires’ fortunes growing by 18.7 per cent over the past year.

There are 2,039 male billionaires in 2014 and 286 female billionaires, the report added.

– ARABIAN BUSINESS

News

Luxury Spending Habits: MENA Survey Nearly two-thirds (59%) of luxury spenders in the MENA region are now choosing to spend more of their money on enriching experiences rather than goods, according to the new American Express Middle East Spending Survey, conducted by YouGov across the MENA region. Looking specifically at Bahrain, 77% of respondents say they prioritise spending on luxury experiences, compared to just 23% who prioritise spending on luxury goods. This compares to a regional average of 42% and a GCC average of 40% who prioritise luxury experiences, making Bahrain second only to Jordan in MENA and the leader in GCC.

Bahrain Grants Instant Visas to 66 Nationalities Preparations are in full swing to implement Bahrain’s Cabinet decision to grant citizens from 66 countries instant and e-visas and enable nationals from 102 countries to apply for e-visas online.

The move is part of plans to attract tourists and investors and revitalise the national economy.

The new electronic visa issuance system will take effect on October 1.

Saudi Arabia Cracks Down on Fake Engineers

Over 10 Divorce Cases a Day in UAE; Infidelity the Main Culprit Emirates 24|7 gathered figures from all the courts in the country, and found that the rate of divorce cases last year has increased from previous years, and averaged more than ten cases daily.

Dr Abdulaziz Al Hamadi, Head of Family Marital Section at Dubai Courts, said that divorce rates in the county have increased recently, and this is normal due to the high population growth rate and increase in marriages.

He pointed out infidelity is one of the major causes of divorces in the emirate.

“We found that the more the husband and wife were strong believers in God, the less infidelity would be between them,” he said.

Dr Al Hamadi advised women to try to fix the problem and not to rush for divorce.

“Wives must give their cheating husbands a second chance, especially if they have children,” he said.

On the other hand, lawyer Aisha Al Tunaiji, founding partner of Al Matrooshi and Al Tunaiji Law Firm in Dubai told Emirates 24|7 that women can forgive their husbands for many things, but they cannot forgive them if they cheat on them and have affairs. – EMIRATES 24l7

Saudi Council of Engineers has reportedly hired a dedicated firm to identify fake engineering qualifications in the kingdom as it cracks down on unqualified applicants.

About 1,365 fake certificates had been detected in the past six months, the council told Arab News.

Another 185 people had submitted degrees issued by unaccredited universities.

The kingdom is undergoing a massive construction phase, with multiple new hospitals, stadiums, airports, hotels, residences and public transport facilities being built, requiring thousands of foreign engineers and labourers.

A member of the council’s board of directors, Professor Ibrahim Al Hammad, said Saudi nationals were among those producing fake documents.

– A R A B I A N BUSINESS Gulf Insider October 2014

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Life

CHRISTIAN ZANDONELLA New General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa

C

hristian was previously at The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto and has served at other Ritz-Carlton properties including Cancun, Grand Cayman, the Hotel Arts, Barcelona and Dorado Beach. He joined The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in 2004, is a native of Italy, and speaks fluent English, German, Italian and Spanish.

Welcome to Bahrain, what are your initial impressions?

They say that Canada is the friendliest country in the world. After arriving in Bahrain I’m having to reassess that claim as I am struck by the genuine friendliness of people here. I must say I’m also impressed by the many new developments I see all around me.

This country is growing fast.

Of course amongst these developments are new 5 Star hotels. The RitzCarlton, Bahrain will be facing stiff competition like never before.

Sure, but that’s fine. I see myself representing Bahrain as a destination just as much as representing The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain. These new developments are a sign of success.

I’m delighted to see the growth, including more hotel choices for travelers.

Christian Zandonella 38

Gulf Insider October 2014

What are your plans?

It’s too early to talk about plans. The most important thing is the company and the owners of the property share the same vision, and this is to ensure we remain the top address on the island.

What do you most enjoy (and hate) about your industry?

I love the hotel industry. It’s relentless.

I have been with the Ritz-Carlton for 10 years and have traveled the world, and have friends all over the world. What’s more I get to see our Ladies and Gentlemen growing and experiencing the same. There’s really nothing I hate about this industry. If there was I don’t think I would be involved. (Ladies and Gentlemen is the name given

by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company to both employees in the company and the guests they serve - “Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen”)

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned?

That it pays to be kinder than people expect you to be.

What changes do you see coming in the hotel industry?

Travel is increasingly becoming more important, and people are becoming more conscious of the choices available to them and less blindly loyal to any particular brand, which is a good thing.

It forces those in the hotel industry to be innovative and to provide value. At The Ritz-Carlton we do our best to offer value and to create great memories.

Actually, one of our mottos, aimed to our guests, is; “let us stay with you”.

Another saying I use to warn ourselves against complacency when it comes to service is; “there’s no finish line”.

Do you have a favorite generic quote or motto?

“If everything seems under control, you’re not going fast enough.” Mario Andretti (racing driver).

Life

WHY WE PREFER ‘CHALLENGES’ TO ‘THREATS’

approaching work is an important element to maximizing performance.

Stress, i.e. the fight or flight response, prevents us from bringing our creative talent to a situation. Take advantage of these two keys to undoing the threat mindset:

1. No matter the stakes, perceive the task as a challenge - Pay

attention to your mental chatter around the task. Make sure you’re telling yourself positive aspects about it rather than messages that create a threat. Find the fun in it. Create an expectation in your mind that it will go well — thinking it into reality is more than half the battle.

A

ccording to the new book “Top Dog: The Science of Winning and Losing,” by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman, our success in difficult situations is significantly altered by whether we perceive a situation as a challenge or a threat: In a threat situation, the fear of mistakes invokes ‘prevention-orientation’: You’re trying to prevent catastrophe rather than initiate a success. Competitors feel more anxious, less energetic and avoidant. The risks of a situation become prominent in the mind.

In a challenge state, you’re free to take risks and go for it, which activates the gain-orientation system. A cascade of hormones is released that suppresses 1-TPJ activity, and the brain gets comfortable, as if everything is familiar. Competitors breathe freely, feel energized, and approach opportunities.

The authors go on to reference a study reported in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology done on Princeton undergrads: Researchers presented the students with a test of GRE questions. For half the students, the questions were presented in a threat context, they were told that their test results would determine the students’ ability, a judgment on whether they truly belonged at Princeton. The other students got the same questions, but in a challenge context. In the threat context, the students got 72% correct. In the challenge context, they got 90% correct.

“Top Dog: The Science of Winning and Losing,” by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman.

“A threat situation negatively impacts your performance,” the researchers conclude.

In the end, our mindset and perception (isn’t life just perception anyway?) when

2. Stop comparing yourself to others - When you define what success

is to you, then you don’t risk putting yourself in losing battle situations. More often than not, taking on another’s definition of success puts us in threat mode, causing worry, which blocks our ability to achieve what we want.

Start paying attention to how you’re thinking and perceiving, and you can avoid being your own worst enemy when it comes to performance. These slight positive shifts can make a huge impact on success.

Copy available from Amazon.com Gulf Insider October 2014

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Life

ABU DHABI’S NEWEST SHOPPING MALL

Y

ou wouldn’t want to get lost in Abu Dhabi’s latest giant shopping centre. These aerial photographs show that the construction of the world’s newest super mall is close to completion ahead of its opening in November, nine months later than its original March launch date. And the project is as ambitious as you would expect.

You wouldn’t want to get lost in Abu Dhabi’s latest giant shopping centre.

These aerial photographs show that the construction of the world’s newest super mall is close to completion ahead of its opening in November, nine months later than its original March launch date.

And the project is as ambitious as you would expect.

Located close to Abu Dhabi International Airport, it will be home to over 400 shops, including the region’s largest department store, a 20-screen cinema complex, a family entertainment zone, and Abu Dhabi’s largest hypermarket.

The centre will include the largest Nike, Adidas, H&M and Zara stores in the region, plus the first Abu Dhabi outlet of U.S. clothing store Brooks Brothers, which will be the biggest in the Middle East. There will also be some British stores in the line-up, including House of Fraser and Abu Dhabi’s first Hamleys toy store. And, with 10,000 spaces in the car park, it might take you a while to make your way back to your vehicle.

Despite its size, the mall is dwarfed by the UAE’s largest shopping centre, Dubai Mall, which measures a staggering 502,000 square metres. But Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO of

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Gulf Insider October 2014

Yas Mall is being built on a manmade island and is set to become the second largest shopping centre in the UAE. Aldar Properties, the developers behind Yas Mall, told CNN that the company is already planning an expansion before the mall has opened its doors. ‘We couldn’t fit all the retailers we wanted to be here, so we’re already starting to plan phase two,’ he said. ‘Abu Dhabi is a growing

city. It’s growing in its developments, it’s growing in its demographics. And we are catering our retail for each aspect.’

Yas Island opened in 2009 and is home to one of the world’s biggest water parks, a Formula One track and Ferrari World, a theme park dedicated to the famous racing car company. The park features one of the world’s fastest roller coasters, Formula Rossa, which travels at 200 kph in 4.9 seconds, recreating the G-force felt in a Formula One car. It is so fast that riders have to wear safety goggles like those worn by a racing driver during a Grand Prix.

There is also a tower ride that shoots riders 62 metres into the air and the Fiorano GT Challenge, where visitors can ‘race’ their friends in a Ferrari F430 Spider.

Life

BUSINESS LUNCH

AT JULIO’S

As we enter Julio’s coffee shop at the Elite Grande Hotel, the calm and relaxing atmosphere and overflowing buffet reassures us instantly. What else can one ask for after a busy morning than a cosy refuge and a plateful of gourmet delights?

W

e meet Chef Walid who shows us to the buffet tables and takes us through the abundance of flavours we just can’t wait to bite into. His obvious passion for cooking is, however, contagious and we find ourselves involved in a deep discussion about all sorts of dishes invitingly displayed before us.

“We serve 25 entirely different menus throughout the month,” Chef Walid reveals and we realise he’s not taking his profession lightly, “I believe in constant innovation; I love expanding my culinary skills,” he tells us.

We decide to see what Julio’s carte du jour has to offer…

The Menu

Chef Walid 42

Gulf Insider October 2014

Julio’s business lunch incorporates fusion cuisine, with strong Arabic references. Some of today’s starters include six international salads along with a wide selection of dressings, a variety of traditional Arabic treats such

Life

vegetarian linguine with a slightly spicy tomato sauce – personally prepared by Chef Walid, who decides to take over the pasta station for a while – turns out to be really pungent, which is a positive surprise (being a vegan veteran, we know how rare it is in Bahrain to be served a vegetable pasta that actually has a flavour).

As we savour the freshly-baked bread, our dining companion decides to explore the desserts. Mango cheesecake, blueberry panna cotta, and rice pudding (Chef Walid’s personal favourite) – they’re all homemade and boast just the right amount of sweet.

“We serve 25 entirely different menus throughout the month,” Chef Walid reveals and we realise he’s not taking his profession lightly, “I believe in constant innovation; I love expanding my culinary skills.”

Price: BD 4.900++ as tabouleh or vine leaves, and even homemade pickles. The number of choices is almost overwhelming and we end up with way too much food on our plates.

Our undisputable winners in the starters’ category are the Thai vegetable and fruit salad, and the mouth-watering red berries dressing. Our dining companion loves the tajin with fried onion (fish in tahini sauce), smoked salmon, pickled capers, and especially the refreshing Mexican chicken soup.

Among the main courses, the grilled chicken with creamy parsley sauce makes the strongest statement, and cooked-to-perfection jacket potatoes nicely compliment the dish. The

The Final Verdict

The restaurant’s minimalistic and tasteful interiors seem very appropriate for a business lunch experience and the service staff is attentive but not to the point when it gets annoying. The everchanging menu, the undeniably decent food, and a possibility to pre-order a special meal (Chef Walid declares his readiness for any culinary challenge) are definitely a big plus. So, to sum up, we will be coming back.

Julio’s business lunch is served daily from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM, at Elite Grande Hotel, located in Seef district. For more information, call +973 17565888.

Gulf Insider October 2014

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Travel

BURJ AL ARAB, DUBAI

‘T

he Burj’ calls itself the world’s ‘first seven-star hotel’. Dubai’s famously opulent hotel costs $1,600 for a single night’s stay, but to celebrate its 15th anniversary, they have unveiled a special package that includes Rolls-Royce Phantom pick-up from the airport, a super luxurious suite with a private butler, a six-course dinner plus a spa experience.

The package (prices start at $1,600) includes staying in an enormous 170 sq m suite spanning two floors with direct views over the Arabian Gulf, and a visit to Burj Al Arab’s signature Al Mahara restaurant.

The package also features a massage for him and her, blending traditional Shiatsu, Thai, Swedish and Balinese techniques at the hotel’s spa, 150 metres above sea level, and a full set of Hermès amenities for him and her.

The hotel also offers what it describes as the ‘ultimate experience’ for children – including 24-carat gold iPads, a personal butler and a private beach where ice lollies are free of charge. The Spoilt Rotten service, which includes round-the-clock in-suite entertainment, a turn-down service and daily visits from a sweet train. The package is free of charge to parents booking a suite.

For more information visit www.jumeirah.com/burjalarab 44

Gulf Insider October 2014

Al Mahara restaurant

Travel

3rd place: Emirates provide an onflight bar, pyjamas, limousine and Dom Pérignon champagne to its premier passengers 1st place: a guest of Singapore Airlines inspects a double bed in a first class suite on an Airbus A380. They serve 2004 Dom Pérignon champagne

THE BEST FIRST CLASS IN THE WORLD!

16th place: Swiss International Airlines were the cheapest for a one way first class ticket - $300 from Muscat to Dubai and will let you use a limousine

6th place: Oman Air ‘s champagne of choice is Taittinger Comtes and your seat comes in a rather fetching turquoise and brown finish

I

nspired by Eithad’s launch of a new First Class luxury suite named ‘The Residence’, crowd sourcing travel website Flightfox has devised a comprehensive list of the 24 best First Class in-flight cabins from around the world.

To produce the list, they took into account everything from seat configuration, aisle access and suite privacy to the type of champagne served, whether pyjamas were provided and how caviar was plated.

When Eithad’s The Residence launches in December it will raise the bar even higher, offering guests a three room fully staffed suite, a chauffeur to a private check-in and lounge, an onboard butler, fine Italian Poltrona Frau leather sofa, two dining tables and - better yet, an in-flight personal chef to whip up whatever takes your fancy.

The cheapest price for a one-way ticket is Singapore Airlines in their Singapore suite will set you back $3,324 for a flight from Singapore to Mumbai. For that,

you’ll be served 2004 Dom Pérignon, provided with pyjamas to sleep in and sit on an spacious armchair hand-stitched

by Italian craftsmen - their most leg room friendly design to date. When it came to overall ‘rockstar’ status - one of the categories judged - Singapore suites came out as the overall winner too and offer a double bed option.

The most expensive best-priced first class flight, according to the survey, is flying between Tokyo and LA with Japanese airline ANA, and will set you back at least $9,000.

Emirates, known for deluxe treatment, came third and you’ll get pyjamas, use of a limousine, an in-flight shower to freshen up, an onboard bar, caviar and Dom Pérignon champagne.

When it comes to value-for-first-classticket-price Emirates scored fourth overall, with their cheapest flight taking you from Auckland to Brisbane for $824.

Swiss First offer the cheapest one way first class ticket for $355 for a flight from Muscat to Dubai.

Gulf Insider October 2014

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Travel

The ancient city of Persepolis

A LOOK

INSIDE IRAN E

ver since Getty photographer John Moore visited Iran 10 years ago to cover parliamentary elections in Tehran, he’s had an itch to experience the country behind the headlines. He finally got his chance last June when he was approved to tour the country on a one-week trip from Shiraz to Tehran.

He was again struck by how friendly, open, and hospitable most Iranians were to him, an American photographer documenting their country.

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Gulf Insider October 2014

Bazar-e-Bozorg, Isfahan’s main bazaar, is more than a thousand years old

Travel

An exercise club in Yazd where men swing clubs to build strength

Bazar-e-Bozorg, Isfahan’s main bazaar, is more than a thousand years old

An unlicensed Apple store

HyperStar Market, a superstore venture from French comppany Carrefour

Isfahan City Center shopping mall will be the largest center in Iran when it is finished. It has a 5-star hotel, a financial center and movie theater Filling up

Gulf Insider October 2014

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Travel

Bahrain’s BEST Hotels & Serviced Apartments The Arabian Review

Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa 

is available at these premier Bahrain properties!

Located in Seef close to major shopping centers. Outlets include Japanese restaurant on 27th floor.

Tel: +973 1711 1999

Al Areen Palace & Spa 

rameegrandbahrain.com

Home to the largest spa in Bahrain.

Luxury private villas provide quiet seclusion far from Manama. 6 restaurants. No alcohol served.

Tel: +973 1784 5000

Marriott Exec. Aprts. 

Conveniently located close for both central Manama and the restaurants and nightlife of Juffair and Adliya.

Tel: +973 1736 3999

alareenpalace.com

Crowne Plaza 

Hotel & Serviced Apartments

Excellent business and conference venues and an array of restaurants, bars, and cafes, plus health club.

Tel: +973 1753 1122

The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa 

Direct access to a private beach and lagoon, and adjacent to the popular Trader Vic’s restaurant.

Tel: +973 1758 0000

cp-bahrain.com

Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa 

ritzcarlton.com

Includes Mediterranean bistro, Irish pub, large lagoon pool, and a Thaiinspired spa.

Tel: +973 1753 1666 Hotel & Serviced Apartments

Sheraton Bahrain Hotel 

Located in Manama next to Bahrain World Trade Centre.

Tel: +973 1753 3533

radissonblu.com

sheraton.com

Fraser Suites Seef Bahrain

Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa 

( facilities)

Located in Seef within walking distance of Bahrain’s main shopping.

Tel: +973 1756 9333 Hotel & Serviced Apartments

Hotel & Serviced Apartments

marriott.com

frasershospitality.com

Private beach. Located out of town, close to F1 circuit.

Tel: +973 1763 6363

Gulf Hotel 

Elite Group (3, 4 and )

sofitel.com

Adjacent to Gulf Convention Centre and close to Adliya’s many restaurants and nightlife venues, with 9 top class restaurants of its own.

Tel: +973 1771 3000

gulfhotelbahrain.com

Hotel & Serviced Apartments

InterContinental Regency Bahrain Recently renovated business hotel in central Manama.

Tel: +973 1722 7777

icbahrain.com Hotel & Serviced Apartments

Located next to the airport, boutique style hotel overlooks a lagoon.

Tel: +973 1746 0000

moevenpick.com

elitegroup4u.com

Al Manzil 



Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain 

4 All Suites Hotels and 4 Luxury Residences. All offer a range of bars, nightclubs, health clubs, spas and conferencing facilities.

Tel: +973 1756 5888

Business hotel ideally located for easy access to financial and diplomatic areas as well as Adlya/Juffair’s restaurants and nightlife.

Tel: +973 1781 3366

almanzilhotelbh.com

The Domain Bahrain Hotel 

Boutique hotel in Diplomatic area.

Several trendy restaurants, lounges, and bars.

Tel: +973 1600 0000

thedomainhotels.com Gulf Insider October 2014

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Cars

CAR NEWS

BENTLEY FLYING SPUR V8 The new Flying Spur V8 has arrived at Bentley dealers across the Middle East. The new model joins the Flying Spur flagship W12, the fastest ever four door Bentley and offers Middle East customers a unique blend of sculpted, sleek coachwork, exquisite craftsmanship and advanced on-board technology. This is coupled with Bentley’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine which produces 507 PS (500 bhp/373 kW) and 660 Nm, and powers the Flying Spur V8 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds (0 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds) and on to a top speed of 183 mph (295 km/h).

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Gulf Insider October 2014

INFINITI QX70S ELITE SPORT Infiniti Middle East unveiled the Infiniti QX70S Elite Sport, through a mall display concept that highlights the three characteristics of the car: Sport, Style and Sensation. As part of a social media competition, the three winners will be invited to Dubai to test drive an Infiniti QX70S Elite Sport and appear in a special ‘Driven’ episode in which their own reviews will be aired on MBC Action.

AHMED ZAYANI & SONS ANNOUNCE RAFFLE DRAW WINNER Ahmed Zayani & Sons announced the name of the winner in the raffle draw during the official ceremony, held on September 9 at Ahmed Zayani showroom in Khamis. The key to a brand new 2014 Dodge Charger was given to Mr Faisal Al Jowder, a Bahraini national, by one of the Partners, Mr Riyadh Al Zayani. The winning ticket was drawn by a representative from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, which supervised the raffle.

Cars

NEW LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SPORT BMW i8 BMW’s i8 plug-in hybrid sports car goes on sale in Bahrain this month. The second model after the BMW i3 to be unveiled by BMW i, it’s powered by a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine which drives through the rear wheels, and its intelligent hybrid system capitalises on a potent electric motor which sends drive to the front wheels resulting in a combined power output of 362hp delivered to all four wheels, enabling the BMW i8 to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 4.4 seconds.

Land Rover has revealed the new Discovery Sport, the premium compact SUV. The first member of the new Discovery family, Discovery Sport, features 5+2 seating in a footprint no larger than the existing 5-seat premium SUVs. Land Rover digitally revealed the new model at Spaceport America in New Mexico, USA, also launching the Land Rover Galactic Discovery competition, with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to space as reward – in cooperation with Land Rover’s global partner, Virgin Galactic.

FIRST MOTORS INTRODUCES HYUNDAI AZERA 2015 First Motors introduced the 2015 Azera, featuring a Lambda 3.0 Mpi engine at 250 HP with a six-speed transmission. Spacious and airy, the Azera comes with a built-in ESC (Electronic Stability Control), customary multiple airbags, the smart cruise control that automatically maintains optimum distance with other vehicles by controlling the engine and the brake. The optional features include the panoramic sunroof, a smart key and engine start button, Navigation and Bluetooth hands-free system, interior mood lighting, and the premium sound system, ‘Infinity’.

EBRAHIM K. KANOO ANNOUNCES LIMITED EDITION TOYOTA CAMRY RZ Toyota launched its Limited Edition Camry RZ, featuring excellent aerodynamics and the spacious interior. The model comes with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder Dual VVT-i, EFI Petrol Engine at 181HP, unique glossy black front grille and spoiler, sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch glossy black alloy wheels, and the limited edition RZ decal on the doors and rear bumper.

Gulf Insider October 2014

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Cars

REVIEW

2015 HYUNDAI SONATA Nick Cooksey drives the new 7th generation Sonata.

I

test drove the new Sonata in Jordan last month, and had the pleasure to travel out of the bustling capital and modern city of Amman, and drive the Sonata to the Medieval Ajlun Castle, and ancient Roman city of Jerash. As this is not a travel feature I will not go into details but to anyone fascinated by ancient history I recommend a visit. It’s one of the few remaining Roman cities still in existence. Anyway – to the car…

It was clear from speaking with Hyundai’s engineers who were responsible for the creation of this car and who were on this trip to Jordan that they were enormously pleased with this latest version, with fair reason.

The new 7th Generation Sonata is a well-built car packed with state of the art gadgetry. The aerodynamics have been improved over the previous version and in terms of appearance the car has undergone a few cosmetic changes: the body sits lower and wider, and the headlights are narrower. There seems to be an unspoken rivalry between car companies specifically about the artistic design of their headlights, and the Sonata is not left behind.

The Sonata shares much of its “DNA” with Hyundai’s luxury Genesis model, and comes with many of the features and extras you would expect of a more

expensive vehicle.

It has a unique T-shaped interior which is crafted from high quality materials; it looks and feels like it is built to last. The design has been revised to provide more interior space, and the soundproofed cabin is quiet. There is a panoramic sunroof, which I opened, but the harsh Jordanian sun changed my mind in less than a minute and I drove with it closed for the rest of the test. A high quality audio system comes as an optional add-on.

There’s a rear parking camera, a smart trunk which you can open even if you have your hands full, and a blind spot detector, which ought to be a mandatory feature in this region! And, my favorite - air conditioned seats. I There’s nothing quite like sitting in your seat and feeling cool air between you and the leather. It’s can be the difference between arriving at your destination with your shirt still looking crisp and cool, or sticking to your back.

One unfortunate disappointment is that the car feels underpowered. It has a 2.4 litre engine, which should be adequate, but somehow seems a little sluggish. I expect future versions will offer the option of a bigger engine. That said, the new Sonata is, I feel, one of the best cars in its class, making it a

Starting Price: BD 9500

serious contender for cars such as the Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord, and the Volkswagen Passat.

To arrange your own test drive in Bahrain call First Motors on +973 1712 1121

Price Comparison Toyota Camry From BD8,600

Honda Accord From BD9,800

Volkswagen Passat From BD8,700

The author of this article, Nick Cooksey, in addition to being publisher of Arabian Magazines, is a jury panel member of the Middle East Motor Awards.

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Gulf Insider October 2014

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Cars

2015 NISSAN X-TRAIL REVIEW

Gulf Insider goes to Salalah in the South of Oman to test drive the new X-Trail.

W

hen reviewing cars, it is important to keep ones perspective and to compare like-cars with like-cars. So, when we look at the all-new 2015 Nissan X-Trail, what type of vehicle are we exactly talking about? Replacing both the old X-Trail and the 2014 Nissan Qashqai, the new X-Trail is a not-socompact city-friendly SUV rivalling the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Honda CRV, Kia Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson.

The old X-Trail had a slightly boxey look whereas the new 2015 Model has undergone a design metamorphosis in rounding out those unsightly angles and giving it a much more curvy, voluptuous look. It now looks like a true crossover.

While slightly longer that its rivals, Nissan promotes the X-Trail as a sevenseater although a quick inspection of the third row of seats shows them to

The new Nissan X- rail is without doubt a very nice car and within its class, I would say it is one of the top contenders. It is in an enormously competitive segment of the market. be pretty tight (even for kids) and almost inaccessible. It’s probably better to think

of the X-Trail as a five-seater with an extra pair of seats if required!

Driving position and space upfront, and generally all round, is perfectly fine.

The modern dash layout is good and is made with lots of black and silver shiny materials. There is an electric sunroof, front electric seats, leather upholstery, 7 inch infotainment screen with satellite navigation, front and side airbags, LED headlamps, and handle-less electric rear tailgate which opens when the keyholder waves their hand at it.

The car I reviewed was the fulloptioned top of the range SL version which also has four cameras giving 360 degree vision to the driver, blindspot warning and lane departure warning. The latter should prove useful for highway driving in Bahrain. Supporting the high specifications of the X-Trail, I must not forget to mention cruise control,

The author of this article, Nick Cooksey, in addition to being publisher of Arabian Magazines, is a jury panel member of the Middle East Motor Awards.

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Gulf Insider October 2014

Cars

Bluetooth and excellent four-speaker entertainment system.

So, what kind of power-plant do we have? A 2.5 Litre, four cylinder engine with 7-speed CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) transmission gives 170bhp and a stated 0-100 kph acceleration time of 9 seconds and a top speed of 190 kph. That should be perfectly adequate for the target market.

The X-Trail is promoted as a 4 WD SUV but the driver has the option to alternate, with a turn of a dial, between 4 WD and 2 WD or to select “auto” whereby the car decides itself which mode it should be in, a feature more commonly seen in higher-end models. And it has hill climb assistance.

Now lets talk about the driving experience. With a push of the startstop button, I wouldn’t exactly say that the engine roars into life ….. more like it buzzes into life. The terrific natural terrain of Salalah provided an opportunity to test the X-Trail’s all-round performance from fast open roads to steep winding hills to some minor offroad gravel tracks. Coinciding with the end of the Khareef season (Monsoon) Salalah, renowned for it’s spectacular hills, rivers and endless white beaches, was at its best and most beautiful. The colorful and rugged scenery provided the perfect backdrop to test this car.

The ride was fairly smooth with a dampening effect on road bounce provided by some clever Nissan electronic suspension features at work and outside noise is kept down to a perfectly acceptable level. I would say that the ride comfort of the X-Trail is as good, if not better, than any others in its class.

The steering is what I would describe as neutral but it does noticeably firm up as you increase speed, giving a reassuring feel to the car. All-round visibility is excellent which, apart from the safety aspect, was appreciated as we headed for the

hills around Salalah enabling us to take in the beautiful green and lush vistas.

Climbing and descending the winding hilly roads gave the X-Trail the opportunity to show off some of its really clever electronic driving aids. On downhill runs, by simply removing ones foot from the accelerator, Active Brake Control comes into action whereby the engine acts in assisting braking by changing down through the gears.

In cornering, Active Trace Control acts to reduce understeer, where particular wheels are braked slightly in order to pull the car more sharply and balanced into the corner.

Nissan describe these features as intuitive rather than being obviously noticeable, assuring us that it is

happening even though you might not actually physically feel it.

My Verdict?

The new Nissan X- rail is without doubt a very nice car and within its class, I would say it is one of the top contenders. It is in an enormously competitive segment of the market.

Despite being slightly underpowered, its good looks, comfortable ride and ample supply of electronic gadgetry should ensure that it does well.

I hope so. It deserves it.

To arrange your own test drive in Bahrain contact Y.K. Almoayyed on +973 17 732 732

Starting Price: BD 7995 Price Comparison Honda CRV From BD9,300

Kia Sportage From BD7,400

Image : Drivearabia.com

Hyundai Tucson From BD8,300

Gulf Insider October 2014

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Cars

CLASSIC JAGUAR

.... I “Ohhhh ”-ed e want on

Jaguar designer transforms classic 1962 Mark 2 saloon into 21stCentury car.

I

an Callum, the design director at Jaguar and the brain behind the Aston Martin DB9 has turned a classic 1962 Mark 2 saloon into a modern car.

The exterior of the vehicle was given new front and rear bumpers. The wings were widened, and the car was given a 4.3-litre straightsix engine producing 275bhp along with many other modern improvements such as a DVD player, reversing camera and iPhone connector.

Mr Callum, who is behind the current Jaguar F-Type, described the original Mark 2 as a ‘beautiful car’. He said: ‘Whilst maintaining the purity of the car’s form, I wanted to add a number of modern twists to the design. Simplification and clarity was my objective… the stance of the Mark 2 is already excellent, but I wished to make it even better.’

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Gulf Insider October 2014

Images: Charlie Magee/ SWNS.com

Cars

THE NEW ASTON MARTIN ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Starting Price: BD 230,000

A

ston Martin released the first official photos of its upcoming Lagonda super-sedan, and the sinuous 4-door is as gorgeous as expected.

But what’s truly remarkable is Aston Martin’s odd sales strategy. It consists mainly of telling most customers that they’re not worthy of Lagonda ownership. Aston Martin will be making the Lagonda available exclusively in the Middle East — and even then only by invitation.

That’s right: You can buy a Lagonda in only one part of the world — if Aston Martin lets you.

Low-volume ultra-exclusive cars are nothing new. Ferrari has turned the “This will be harder than getting into Harvard” application process into an art form.

However, unlike Ferrari, which can get away with doing no advertising and still have a six-month waiting list for its cars, Aston is a company that desperately needs to up its sales volume. Admittedly, the Lagonda will never sell in large numbers, no matter how many people they allow to buy the car. Nevertheless, for a company like Aston, every millionth dollar counts.

Aston Martin will resurrect the Lagonda name, last used a quarter century ago.

We don’t know much about what’s

Aston Martin - These guys know what the car is like inside. under the hood. Aston Martin only officially confirmed the car’s existence in July. What we do know is that the Lagonda will be built on the company’s Ford-developed VH platform —a platform shared by virtually the entire Aston lineup.

But will the Lagonda will be powered by the company’s own eight or 12-cylinder powerplant — or a Mercedes-sourced engine? We’ll have a wait a while for the answer to that question.

We also don’t know much about the Lagonda’s interior. However, from the photos of the prototype undergoing heat testing in the Omani desert, we can assume that the sedan will have frameless doors, a leather-lined interior,

and dark wood accents. A glimpse of the test car’s interior also shows a traditional Aston Martin waterfall center column and pop-up infotainment screen.

Finally, we don’t know how much the new Lagonda will cost. Presumably, anyone who receives in invitation to buy one will get that vital piece of information.

Price Comparison Rolls Royce Ghost From BD159,000

Bently Flying Spur From BD90,000 Gulf Insider October 2014

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Cars

Two Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupés, two gold-plated Land Rovers, a Lamborghini, a Ferrari and a Bugatti Veyron

ARABS ESCAPE

GULF SUMMER IN LONDON … and bring their cars with them.

Lamborghini parked on double yellow lines outside five-star hotel 45 Park Lane, which overlooks Hyde Park

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Gulf Insider October 2014

F

urther to last month’s coverage in Gul Insider, with Gulf temperatures still baking hot, wealthy Arabs are seeing out the end of the summer in London’s rather milder climes. And, in what is becoming an annual tradition, they have brought their supercars with them.

The streets of Knightsbridge and Mayfair are still currently lined with expensive motors which have been shipped over to Britain while their owners seek shelter from the sun (not to mention some retail therapy) in London.

With their Arabic number plates they’re a traffic warden’s nightmare but a car spotter’s dream, with marques including Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Forgiato, and Lamborghini.

Fans of the ostentatious cars, known as the ‘carparazzi’, are descending upon London to photograph the often extremely rare vehicles.

Cars

Ford GT

Gold-plated Ferrari parked outside Harrods

But local residents are not fans of the supercar spectacle, complaining the drivers take the parking spaces without respecting parking rules. Others complain of drivers revving their cars’ engines and treating the streets as a racetrack till the early hours of the morning.

Images: Splash News

Gulf Insider October 2014

59

Style

THE NEW APPLE WATCH … is it a threat to Swiss luxury watch industry?

By Doug Alexander

M

any are questioning whether Apple’s just announced new watch will be a serious threat to traditional luxury Swiss watches. Having been fortunate to have handled and tested some of the new models, I think the Apple Watch may be a big problem for low-priced quartz watches and perhaps in years to come could become a larger threat to higher end brands, too. The reason? Apple got more details right on their watch than the vast majority of Swiss and Asian brands do with similarly priced watches, and those details add up to a really impressive piece of design. It offers so much more functionality than other digitals it’s almost embarrassing.

But it’s not perfect, by any means.

So, what can our friends in Switzerland learn from Apple, and what can Apple learn from the Swiss?

The overall level of design in the Apple Watch simply blows away anything – digital or analog – in the watch space at $350. There is nothing that comes close to the attention to detail or build quality of the Apple Watch in this price bracket.

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Gulf Insider October 2014

The Apple Watch is available in both 38 mm and 42 mm. I’m sure there was much discussion about making it larger.

It would’ve made the entire interface bigger, bolder, and easier to use. The fact that they chose to actually make the thing watch size and wearable shows a great deal of restraint.

Further, they kept the crown. Okay, so it’s a “digital crown” on the Apple Watch, but for a company founded

Apple Watch may be a big problem for low-priced quartz watches and perhaps in years to come could become a larger threat to higher end brands, too. by a man known for his distaste of buttons and switches, that they kept the original horological control center says something.

There are so many different variations on the Apple Watch. There is the normal Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Sport, and the Apple Watch Edition. That means it’s cased in steel, DLC-coated steel,

aluminum, grey DLC-coated aluminum, rose gold or yellow gold. There are six different styles of straps and bracelets, in a number of colors. No watch from Switzerland comes with this many choices of finishes.

Those who love, and wear, mechanical watches tend to be higher income and want things that are beautifully made with great purpose – just like Apple products! But what makes the millions of us that would never trade a Rolex in for an Apple is the emotion brought about by our watches – the fact that they are timeless, lasting, personal.

Nothing digital could ever replace that.

Our watches will last for generations, this Apple Watch will last for five years, if we’re lucky. On an emotional level, you can’t compare them, and that is why I don’t believe many serious watch lovers (who would normally be racing to spend their cash on an Apple release) will go for this.

The Apple Watch is an incredible piece of engineering, but it’s still not as cool as a mechanical watch. This might change with time, but my feeling is that not any time soon will a digital wristwatch, no matter what it’s capable of, be considered “cool.” I am talking pure aesthetics, and 100 perfect superficial judgement here, but I don’t see people that love beautiful things wearing this with any great regularity.

The Apple Watch is absolutely the best smart watch on the planet. But are we sure that wearable technology is something we really want?

Style

THE JETOVATOR Looking for the ultimate adrenaline rush?

D

ubbed the Jetovator, these extreme water toys can throw a passenger into the sky using powerful thrusters that let you ‘fly’ across water – and now you can own one for $6,975.

The device is powered by a 15 metre hose which shoots water jets to propel the rider into the air.

The idea for the product came to US entrepreneur Rob Innes 20 years ago, but the prototype for the current Jetovator model was only built in 2011. Mr Innes says the experience of riding a Jetovator is a bit like riding a bike, but gives you the ‘aerial capabilities of a fighter aircraft’.

According to the company, also named Jetovator, a lot of the movement is intuitive with the rider leaning left to right in order to steer the product.

Riders can reach heights of up to 30ft (9 metres) and the Jetovator has also been designed to submerge up to 10ft (3 metres) underwater.

‘It’s very easy to operate and quick to master,’ said Mr Innes. ‘People don’t need to be very athletic or skilled to do it so it’s very popular. It is much much easier to learn and safer than water skiing, wakeboarding, wind surfing or kitesurfing.’

It allows stunts like barrel rolls and backflips.

Other similar products on the market include the Jetlev, which can lift a person 30ft (9 metres) high by pumping water from a backpack through a hose connected to a small, unmanned boat. Another contraption called the Flyboard, which looks like a small snowboard attached to a hose, can propel riders 45ft (13.7 metres) in the air.

Images: Caters News Agency Gulf Insider October 2014

61

Style

COMPLEMENT YOUR STYLE MUST HAVES

Liven up the change of season with Massimo Dutti’s Accessories Collection Fall Winter 2014/15.

Sweater - BD39 BAG - BD39

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Gulf Insider October 2014

Style

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Available at all Massimo Dutti Bahrain City Centre. Tel. +973 1717 2325

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63

Culture

Eye and Mermaid

ARAB FILMS PREMIERE

S

AT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Theeb 64

Gulf Insider October 2014

ix films made with support from the Doha Film Institute were screened at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival held last month.

Fatma Al-Remaihi, Acting CEO of Doha Film Institute, said: “I congratulate all the filmmakers …DTFF has a notable history of excellent programming of films from the Arab world and this year’s selection is no exception.”

Making its world premiere was ‘The Narrow Frame of Midnight’ (Morocco/ Qatar/France/UK), the debut featurelength fiction film by acclaimed Moroccan-Iraqi filmmaker and visual artist Hadid. Against the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains, in a country torn apart by injustice, the film paints a story of interconnected destiny, redemption and hope as three people struggle to define their futures in a cruel and uncertain world.

Abu Nowar’s ‘Theeb’ (Jordan/Qatar/ UAE/UK) also screened. Based in the Arabian Peninsula in 1916, ‘Theeb’ blends coming-of-age drama with frontier Western, telling the story of a boy’s perilous desert adventures when his nomadic tribe is confronted with the modern world in a forgotten corner of the crumbling Ottoman Empire.

‘The Valley’ (Lebanon/France/ Germany/Qatar), which made its world premiere, is the fifth feature film by Lebanese director Salhab. A sense of impending catastrophe pervades ‘The

Culture

TIMBUKTU de Abderrahmane Sissako-C 2014 Les Films du Worso Dune Vision

Valley’ after a car crashes in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley and the driver, stricken with amnesia, meets a group of people on the road and is taken to their farm – perhaps never to leave again.

Sissako’s ‘Timbuktu’ (France/ Mauritania/Mali) is set in the aftermath of the jihadist takeover of northern Mali, the exceedingly skilful auteur’s film is a poetic excoriation of the horrors of war that lays bare the blindly destructive

force of extremism.

‘Eye & Mermaid’ (Qatar), by Saudi director Shahad Ameen was made in Qatar and is the haunting, brutally metaphorical tale of a young girl’s discovery of the dreadful secret behind the beautiful black pearls her father harvests shows that the lovely things in life sometimes come at a hefty price.

The Valley

DTFF has a notable history of excellent programming of films from the Arab world and this year’s selection is no exception.

Gulf Insider October 2014

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Last word

7 THINGS THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE ALL HAVE IN COMMON 1. First, Don’t Be Boring – many people are terrible at realizing when they bore others because, well, we all think we’re just fascinating. If you’re always to the point and stay upbeat, it’s extremely hard for anyone to accuse you of being poor company. Tip: Is anyone asking you questions about what you’re saying? If not, maybe it’s time to end the story or a question.

2. The Most Captivating People Are Good Listeners - Impressing

people can be great but it can also devolve into status jockeying, oneupmanship and envy. Talking about ourselves triggers the same sensation of pleasure in the brain as food or money.

You can make an excellent impression by saying amazingly little. Ironically, the people we like the most often say the least.

3. Talk About The Other Person’s Interests - Why struggle to guess what

most people might find interesting? Ask people what they’ve been up to. Then talk about that. You’re now 80% of the 66

Gulf Insider October 2014

way there. If you know about the subject the similarity will bond you. If you don’t, ask them to explain and be a great listener.

4. Have Three Good Stories

- Comedians don’t just talk about anything when they’re onstage. They have their act rehearsed. Always have three good stories on hand that reliably entertain, inform or engage. Tip: People are generally more interested in stories about people rather than things. We all find human behavior fascinating.

5. Don’t Forget Charisma - It’s not all about the words. Some people are engaging but if what they said was transcribed, it would be unimpressive.

One often quoted study (Mehrabian & Ferris, 1967) found that of all the information conveyed to another person when we say something that is emotional (not informational), only 7 percent is contained in the actual meaning of the words we use. Laugh.

Smile. Be passionate. Gesture. Modulate your voice.

6. Be Somewhere Interesting -

Got a say in where you’ll be at, as with a date or meeting? Pick someplace stimulating. Context matters. In general, we’re lousy about realizing where our feelings are coming from. Research shows excitement from any source is often associated with the person you’re with — even if they’re not the cause of it.

7. And Most Importantly: Live An Interesting Life - Remember the theme of Don Quixote: If you want to be a knight, act like a knight - If you don’t read, watch and think about generic things, generic things are less likely to come out of your mouth. This doesn’t need to be expensive or difficult. Hang out more often with the most interesting people you know. The Longevity Project, which studied over 1000 people from youth to death had this to say: The groups you associate with determine the type of person you become. And to pursue that ends up being far more rewarding than merely making a good impression on others.

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