Gulf Insider Issue 176 (October 2019) - Marine Life in Critical Situation by Gulf Insider Media

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October 2019 | ISSUE 176

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Contents October 2019 Issue 176

36 42

16 22 26 28 30 32 36

Bahrain, Falls From 1st Place to 6th for Expats Marine Life in Critical Situation Call to Reduce High Interest Rates Keypoint: In Trusts We Trusts G4S: Global Security Solutions Elite Welcomes Back New GM Time to Make Aviation History

Car News & Reviews

Simply unparalleled online presence that connects regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most inspired communities.

42 46 52 56

Porsche 718 Cayman GTS: Fully Loaded BMW 530i: The Iconic 5 Series Universo Ferrari in Maranello, Italy Jeep Grand Chrokee: Why Spend More?

â&#x20AC;Ś and much, much more!

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Knowledge is power

Publisher & Editor in Chief

- Nicholas C. Cooksey

Comment...

Editorial - Supriya Reginald

A picture is worth a thousand words.

- Dhanraj S Layout Designs

Here's last month’s most 'Liked' #BestInBahrain picture posted to our social media.

Photography - Angelo Jose A

Editorial Contributors

- Sawsan Abu Omar - Hugh Haskell-Thomas - Nicholas Cortes - Bill Daly

Sales & Business Development

- Charlie Cooksey

Admin & Finance

- Nikesh Pola

Distribution - Mohammed Yousif - Aramex - Al Ayam

For advertising contact

For editorial contact

Charlie Cooksey +973 3652 0004 charlie@gulf-insider.com

Supriya Reginald +973 1700 4575 editorial@gulf-insider.com

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P.O. Box 26810, Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: +973 1700 4575 Fax: +973 1772 1722 Printed at Awal Press, Kingdom of Bahrain. Registered with Ministry of Information approval no. TFI-431©. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. All Rights Reserved. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Bahrain Bd2 | KSA sr20 | Kuwait Kd1.75 | Oman ro2 | Qatar Qr20 | UAE dHs20

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The multi-award winning Arabian Magazine

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AUGUST 2019 | ISSUE 174

The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

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172

knowledge is power

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18,909 People Reached

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Utility Bills Taking a Toll on Everyone

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Bahrain: SEptEmBEr 2019 | ISSUE 175

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Events

Day & Night Bahrain Emergency Medicine Conference When: 9th and 10th October 2019 Where: Gulf Convention Centre, Bahrain The Bahrain Emergency Medicine Conference is an emergency conference which has been extensively organized to grasp the very fast growth and advancement in Emergency Medicine, primarily in the areas of Pre-hospital, Trauma, Cardiovascular Emergencies, Pediatric Emergency, Critical Care, Emergency Research, Emergency Nursing and other areas related to the field of emergency medicine.

Gulf Travel and Tourism Forum When: 23rd to 25th October 2019 Where: Gulf Convention Centre, Bahrain The GTTF event is the first edition of its kind. It aims to bring together experts in the field of travel, tourism and economics to deliver an engaging and informative presentation through the forms of a conference, workshops and exhibition. This platform will connect international and local speakers that will allow attendees to have a comprehensive overview about the industry, its trends and will bring valuable new perspective to them. 10

Gulf Insider October 2019

Industrial Revolution X.0 Technology Conference and Exhibition When: 2nd and 3rd October 2019 Where: ART Rotana Hotel & Resort, Bahrain The Industrial Revolution X.0 Technology Conference and Exhibition is an exclusive initiative highlighting the infinite possibilities for digital processes and automation across oil, gas & petrochemical industries. The event brings together senior decisionmakers from a multitude of operating companies, technology firms, research institutes and academia across varied facets, to discourse, network and connect.

HRM Summit When: 29th and 30th October 2019 Where: The Diplomat Radisson Blu Residence, Bahrain The HRM Summit is a two day event including Conference followed by 3 Parallel Post Conference Workshops. The event is categorized into different tracks that cover the most demanding HR Development and Management issues facing organizations, big and small in the region.

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Gulf Insider October 2019

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News Roundup

Bahrain: 80% Decrease In Fish Prices Predicted By Official

Bahrain Summer Outdoor Ban Ends With 99.5% Success Rate

Fish prices are expected to decline by 80% in the coming months according to the Head of Galali Fishermen Association, Mohammed Al-Dakhil. The official predicted prices of some types of fish to reach BD 1 and the decline in prices will be due to the availability of large quantities of fish in the market. Mr. Dakhil added that the prices of fish in the summer this year decreased compared to last year. Rabbitfish, locally known as ‘Safi’, is one of the most sought after fish at fish markets and the per kg price dropped from BD 7 to BD 3.5 this year.

Labour and Social Development Minister announced that the rate of compliance with the summer afternoon outdoor work ban reached 99.5% when it ended on the 31st of August. The Labour Ministry’s specialised team had carried out 11235 surprise and regular inspection visits to work sites during the ban and reported 56 violations in which 148 workers had been affected, noting that legal action will be taken against violators. The annual ban which commences on the first of July bans working in open worksites between 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm. The decision has been taken due to the high temperature in Bahrain during this period of the year. Violators would face a penalty of imprisonment for three months or a fine ranging from BD500 to 1000, according to the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development.

Bahraini Citizens Instructed To Leave Lebanon ‘Immediately’ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called upon all Bahraini citizens currently in Lebanon to leave ‘immediately’ as growing tensions raised fears of a new war between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement. The Foreign Ministry reiterated “its previous statements which warn against traveling to the Lebanese Republic as a measure to protect citizens from all dangers and ensure their safety,” For assistance, Bahraini citizens can contact the Bahrain Embassy in Jordan 00962 65664148 or 00962 791554000. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Follow-up office can be contacted all round the clock on 00973 17227555.

Gulf Insider October 2019

News Roundup

No More Hiring Of Expat Teachers From Inside Kuwait

Abu Dhabi: New Law Aims To Lower Construction Costs Aiming to reduce construction costs for landowners, the department of urban planning and municipalities(DPM) issued new legislation regulating the construction of private villas in Abu Dhabi. The new legalization regulations are aligned with the Abu Dhabi Government Accelerators Programme, Ghadan 21, to review the infrastructure policies and reduce building costs, state news agency WAM reported. The legislation reduces the minimum size of bedrooms, kitchens, dining areas and majlis seating areas in response to feedback from landowners requesting more flexibility. As part of the new law, landowners will no longer have to construct a hallway in their new home, and the maximum height for side fences has now been lowered from six to four metres, all of which will reduce the cost of construction, WAM said. It added that the new legislation also allows landowners to build extensions to their properties overlooking a street.

The Ministry of Education will not sign contracts with expatriate teachers and will cover shortages by hiring Kuwaiti graduates, children of Kuwaiti women and bedoons who have valid security IDs, official sources said. This decision was made in an attempt to prevent a problem that happened last year when the ministry hired teachers living in Kuwait, but later discovered violations in work permits given to them before coming to Kuwait. The education ministry had then to terminate expat teachers’ contracts at the instructions of the Civil Service Commission and Public Authority for Manpower, the sources said. “One of the terminated contracts belonged to a teacher whose work permit said that he was brought in by a restaurant to work as a chef,” the sources explained.

Kuwait: New Quota System For Expat Communities Kuwait is mulling a new law that will impose a quota system for expatriate communities, local media reported. The law, which could be introduced during the upcoming National Assembly term in October, will regulate the presence of expat communities in Kuwait to ensure that they do not

exceed 25 or 30 per cent of the population, sources told Kuwait Times. The government could face “some difficulties” when issuing a decision on quotas due to its impact on relations with other countries. “Therefore, MPs want to link that with a law issued by parliament,” the sources told the paper. Kuwait has been working on reducing its expatriate population in order to boost nationalisation in the workforce. Currently, Kuwaitis account for less than 30 per cent of the country’s 4.7 million population at 1.42 million. Late last year, it was reported that authorities in Kuwait are planning to reduce the number of foreign residents in the country by at least 1.5 million over the next seven years. Gulf Insider October 2019

Current Affairs

Bahrain, falls from 1st place to 6th for expats ...but continues to lead other GCC countries.

he Expat Insider 2019 survey, conducted by InterNations, is the largest international survey of people living and working abroad. Bahrain, which had previously ranked number one, has dramatically fallen six places in a year. The annual survey by InterNations approached 20,259 expats representing 182 nationalities living in 187 countries. Participants were asked to rate up to

Gulf Insider October 2019

Bahrain is still among the top 10 international expat destinations. 48 different aspects of life abroad on a scale of one to seven. The rating process emphasized the

respondentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; personal satisfaction in topics such as the friendliness of the local population as well as more factual aspects such as the affordability of healthcare. According to the reportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s findings, despite the kingdom losing ground in relation to other destinations, expats are still generally happy and find it easy to settle in. Bahrain is still among the top ten expat destinations, and is the only GCC country to be listed among

Current Affairs

Quality of Life Index Bahrain fell six places, from 20th to 26th place, a drop that was witnessed in all but one of the subcategories, namely; Leisure (31st place in 2018 to 43rd place in 2019), Personal Happiness (2nd to 6th), Travel and Transportation (35th to 44th), Health and Well-Being (25th to 27th), and Digital Life (12th to 17th). The only improvement for Bahrain in the ranking was for Safety and Security (23rd in 2018 to 20th in 2019). In comparison, Kuwait came second last (63rd place out of 64), UAE and Qatar came in 21st and 27th places, and Oman at 35th.

Kingdom of Bahrain

Working Abroad Index In 2018, Bahrain held the No.1 spot in this index, a standing that fell 18 places this year. The decline was reflected in all three subcategories of this index - Career Prospects and Satisfaction (1st in 2018 to 10th in 2019), Work and Leisure (2nd to 21st) and Economy and Job Security (22nd to 29th).

The worst place for expats out of 64 countries surveyed was Kuwait (64th out of 64).

the top ten expat destinations in the study, which ranked a total of sixty four countries. Taiwan takes the first place as it regains the position it held in 2016 and has consistently ranked in the top five while Portugal (third) and Vietnam (second) have reached new heights in the global expat ranking. The worst place for expats out of the 64 countries surveyed was Kuwait (64th out of 64), closely followed by Nigeria. The survey covered six parameters; Quality of Life, Working Abroad, Family Life, Personal Finance, Cost of Living, and Ease of Settling in. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a look at where Bahrain stands in comparison with other countries on each of the survey parameters and their subcategories.

According to the survey, the 17 place drop in this index affected Bahrainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall standing in the 2019 Expat Survey. Qatar emerged as one of the biggest winners while Bahrain was the biggest loser in this category. While Bahrain is still in the top 10 countries for career prospects and job satisfaction, expats seem less satisfied with their working hours and job security. Vietnam replaced Bahrain as the No.1 country in the category. Kuwait remained in the bottom 10 places with UAE and Oman in the late 40s.

Family Life Index Expat parents are also slightly less happy, ranking Bahrain 13th out of 36 countries in the Family Life Index. Still, more than nine in ten parents (93%) rate the friendly attitude towards families with children positively. Consistency is seen in one of the four subcategories as Bahrain remains 20th for two consecutive years (20182019) in terms of Cost of Childcare and Education. The drop resumes in the remaining three subcategoriesAvailability of Childcare and Education Gulf Insider October 2019

Current Affairs

(9th in 2018 to 12th in 2019), Quality of Education (3rd to 10th) and Family WellBeing (8th to 10th).

The survey covered six parameters; Quality of Life, Working Abroad, Family Life, Personal Finance, Cost of Living, and Ease of Settling in.

Finland stands as No.1 for the fourth consecutive year with Sweden taking the 2nd place and Belgium 3rd. UAE came in 23rd place, Qatar in 25th place, and Oman in 33rd place. To feature in this index, a country needed to have at least 40 respondents which Kuwait didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t achieve.

Personal Finance Index Bahrain held on to its 22nd position for two consecutive years (2018-2019) in this category. The index is based on two questions asking respondents to rate their financial situation and their disposable household income with regard to covering all living expenses. There are no subcategories in this index. Kuwait finally climbed out of the very bottom places by ranking 38th in this index while UAE took 61st position, Qatar 14th, and Oman 41st.

The Top Expat Destinations 2019

Bahrain

Gulf Insider October 2019

Vietnam took the number one spot. Of interest is that South Africa plunged from 38th place in 2018 to 56th this year.

Cost of Living Index This placed Bahrain 29th in 2019, a drop from its 25th rank in 2018. Bahrain has witnessed a rapid increase in expenses recently with electricity and water costs going up over 800% during the past few years - and expats being charged many times more for their electricity and utilities than Bahrainis. Kuwait managed to stay out of the 60s for the second time (just) ranking 58th. Oman, Qatar, and UAE were placed 31st, 41st, and 52nd respectively.

Ease of Settling in Index Bahrain dropped from first place in 2018 to second place in 2019 - the least the kingdom has fallen compared to the other indexes. In 2018, Bahrain varied between the 1st and 2nd place for the

Current Affairs

four subcategories in this index and still manages to remain in the top 10 of these subcategories in 2019. The kingdom’s ranking in the subcategories were - Feeling at Home (1st in 2018 to 54th in 2019), Friendliness (2nd to 10th), and Finding Friends (2nd to 5th). Four out of five respondents (82%) stated that it is easy to settle in Bahrain and 94% stated that it is easy to live in the kingdom without speaking the local language. Overall, more than eight in ten (81%) are happy with the general friendliness of the population. Kuwait took the last place yet again in this index, while Oman came 6th, Qatar 15th, and UAE 47th.

82% say it’s easy to settle in Bahrain, and 94% that it’s easy to live without speaking the local language. GCC States

* Infographics courtesy of Expat Insider 2019 surevy Gulf Insider October 2019

News Roundup

Saudi Arabia To Begin Issuing Tourist Visas From September

Saudi Arabia Replaces Aramco Chairman With Wealth Fund Chief Saudi Arabia has named Yasir Al-Rumayyan, head of the country’s sovereign wealth fund, as chairman of Saudi Aramco, replacing Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih, a Saudi official said. Al-Falih has been removed from his position as Saudi Aramco chair as the government prepares to sell shares in the state-owned oil company. The appointment of Al-Rumayyan, already an Aramco board member, is intended to separate the Ministry of Energy from Aramco and avoid any conflicts of interest as the company prepares for the upcoming IPO, the source said. Aramco, the world’s most profitable company, is stepping up preparations for the sale of a stake to the public. International banks started pitching for a role in the IPO last week, people familiar with the IPO told Bloomberg. The IPO is the cornerstone of Prince Muhammad’s plan to revamp the Saudi economy by attracting foreign investment and building new industries.

Saudi Arabia will begin issuing tourist visas from 27 September, according to the Saudi daily Okaz, as the kingdom looks to diversify its economy away from a reliance on oil and gas. The visas will be available for citizens of 51 countries for a fee of SAR440 ($117) and will have a 90-day duration, the newspaper said. Tourists can apply for the visas online or upon arrival. Saudi Arabia has been loosening social restrictions since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman embarked on a plan to overhaul the economy to reduce its reliance on oil. Concerts, dance shows and film screenings have attracted thousands of people over the last year. The kingdom is building major tourism projects and transforming its Red Sea coastline to bring in holiday-makers. It’s also developing a cultural, sports and entertainment city and a luxury destination on its northwest coast. Authorities have announced plans to restrict certain hospitality jobs for its own citizens by the end of the year.

Saudi Arabia Appoints New Energy Minister Saudi Arabia has appointed Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz as Minister of Energy, according to a royal decree, Saudi press agency (SPA) reported. King Salman on Sunday issued a royal decree appointing Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman as energy minister. Prince Abdulaziz replaced Khalid Al-Falih, who was removed from the post in the same decree. Another decree named Prince Sultan bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz ambassador to Bahrain. In a third decree, King Salman appointed Osama Al-Zamil as deputy minister of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, replacing Abdulaziz AlAbdulkarim, who was removed from his post by the same decree. Falih’s relief from his post comes just days after he was removed as chairman of state-owned oil giant Aramco as the company prepares for an initial public offering (IPO). He was replaced in that post by Yasir al-Rumayyan, governor of the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund.

Gulf Insider October 2019

People & Culture

Circumventing The Straits Of Hormuz Time To Dust Off The Trans-Arabia Canal Project?

n the event of a shooting war, one sunk tanker in the Straits of Hormuz would be enough to stop or slow traffic for a considerable period of time. But, and it’s a big but, anything short of that level of bellicosity, such as current Iranian piracy, would make having an alternative to the Straits of Hormuz a strategic and tactical asset. In addition to the proposed northsouth Salman canal there have also been proposals for longer east-west canals that avoid Iran’s beachhead, Yemen, and connect the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea. According to the project by the Riyadh-based Arab Century Centre for Studies, the canal will be 630

Saudi Arabia is planning to build a canal that will bypass the Straits of Hormuz

Study calls for 950-kilometre canal bypassing Hormuz

kilometres in Saudi Arabia and 320 kilometres in Yemen and will reduce by half the distance ships are currently taking by passing through the Strait of Hormuz. “It will be 150-metre wide and 25 metres deep,” Saad Bin Omar, the head of the centre, said. “The canal will have a main course across Saudi Arabia and Yemen;

however, we have thought of Oman as an alternative for Yemen if the country suffers political instability,” he said. Additionally, the Saudis are threatening to build the Salwa canal across the base of the Qatar peninsula and turn Qatar into an island. There are a lot of ‘moving parts’ at play here.

Gulf Insider October 2019

Current Affairs

Dugong

A critical situation Bahrain has lost around 97% of its live corals in recent years according to Animal and Environment Protection Charity Organization (AEPCO) Bahrain.

“A

healthy ocean depends on coral reefs. If our reefs continue to decline not only would the population of fish decline, but some species will disappear for good. Coral reefs offer shoreline protection and maintain water quality. To lose such a crucial part of the ocean will have rippling environmental, social and economic impacts on Bahrain,” AEPCO’s President Shaikha Marwa Bint Abdulrahman Al Khalifa told Gulf Insider. She added that there are four main factors that are threatening Bahrain’s marine wealth- fishermen activities and their waste, pollution, sand extraction and human recreational activities. ‘’Overfishing has resulted in a drastic reduction in fish populations, particularly shrimp and fish breeds that are solely found in Bahrain. Sand extractions are continuously destroying fisheries, 22

Gulf Insider October 2019

The status of Bahrain’s marine life is critical and in great danger. habitats, corals, and killing marine organisms. With regard to pollution, if you visit any seashore in Bahrain, you will see the appalling state of rubbish that begins at the shore and continues deep into the sea,” said Shaikha Marwa. Of the four main causes, fishermen have attributed the most to the deterioration of Bahrain’s marine life. Overfishing has led to the disappearance of some fish breeds as well as a 75% drop in the population of shrimp. “Despite the existence of a government resolution to temporarily

halt the issuing of fishing licenses for Bahrainis and fishermen work permits for non-Bahrainis, the numbers of fishermen is increasing,” said Bahraini Fisherman and Marine Environment Protection Activist on Social Media, Hassan Al Burhami. “Large numbers of juvenile fish are often scooped up in the nets. These fish are often disposed instead of being returned to sea. Even though trawl nets are illegal, they are still used as many fishermen, particularly unlicensed ones, disregard the law”, said Shaikha Marwa. Over the past few years, a rise in marine creature deaths, such as whales, dolphins and sea turtles has been witnessed. The most recent incident involved a dead Baleen whale, the largest species in the Arabian Gulf, spotted off the northwest coast of Bahrain. Images of the 16-meter creature sparked outrage among animal lovers and activities who blamed

Current Affairs

Shaikha Marwa Bint Abdulrahman Al Khalifa

Nearly 50 kgs of dead fish wash up on the shores of Bahrain

The Baleen whale found floating in Bahrain’s territorial waters

fishermen for their irresponsibility and harmful fishing methods. Mohammed Falamarzi, a Bahraini Fisherman told Gulf Insider; “There are several factors that are affecting the marine environment. This includes the illegal fishing methods, the reclamation of the sea and the rising temperatures. As fishermen, our source of income is being affected as there are fewer quantities of fish in the sea now. This results in the rise of prices and less sales. We must not disregard the climate change and the ever-increasing temperatures; which cause the death of many sea creatures. In my opinion, the solution comes from within. It is our sea and everyone should bear the responsibility of protecting it”. August of this year has been plagued with 12 sea turtles deaths, a dead dolphin pup, a dead whale and masses of dead fish. Marine experts analyse the cause of death for some turtles and concluded that they died as a result of ingesting fishing lines, being wrapped around their flippers, being caught in fishing nets and boating accidents. Similarly, the dead dolphin pup was found with a

fishnet cork in its mouth. “The status of Bahrain’s marine life is critical and in great danger. It is no longer as rich as it once was,” said Shaikha Marwa. Dugongs are found in Bahrain’s seas and there is considerable evidence suggesting that Hawar Island is an important nursery area. Bahrain’s seas support the largest aggregation of Dugongs outside Australia. However, a 2017 study has shown that the Dugong population has fallen by 25% since 1950. Shaikha Marwa revealed that “Dugongs are already listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and could possibly face extinction in the near future.” “With the current rate of overfishing, pollution, sand extraction and fishing waste, marine creatures are threatened every day. If these activities continue, fish populations will further be affected and we will have to build fish farms. This will directly affect Bahrain’s population as they will be consuming fish that have been bred in unnatural environments,” said Shaikha Marwa. The environmental loss will carry a heavy economic impact as fishing industries collapse. Fisheries of Bahrain are the most vulnerable as the Kingdom has a comparatively larger economic dependence on fisheries. ““We have land reclamation projects which has naturally pushed many marine creature populations further out in our seas and even out of our waters. This is because land reclamation disrupts the food chain of many species, particularly reef organisms when reefs are destroyed and shorelines are hardened. Water quality is also severely affected, making the water more acidic, which means many organisms are unable to survive in it,” said Shaikha Marwa. “It’s always harder to bring back species once they are in decline and their habitats are destroyed but if we do not at least try, we will never know. It’s always important to remember that protecting the environment is always cheaper and easier than fixing the damage we have caused to it,” she added. Gulf Insider October 2019

News Roundup

Bahrain: Man Killed In Horrific Accident With A Truck A young Bahraini man died in a horrific accident between his car and an 18 wheeler truck. The Bahraini driver, identified as Saif Salman, was announced dead on the spot by paramedics after the vehicle rammed into the back of the 18 wheeler resulting in most of the vehicle being lodged under the truck. The incident took place on Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Port near the industrial area of Hidd.

New Baggage Rule At Bahrain International Airport Effective October 1, 2019, Bahrain International Airport (BIA) will introduce new baggage acceptance rules to eliminate jams in the Baggage Handling System that cause shutdowns, delays, and inconvenience to passengers and airlines. Items that will no longer be permitted include round and irregular shaped bags, irregular shaped bags tied with a loose rope or string, bags with loose straps, and blanket wrapped bags. Items such as baby strollers, bicycles, wheelchairs, and golf bags will be still allowed. The new system features an 8.6-kilometre conveyer belt and will be capable of processing up to 4,800 bags an hour.

Bahrain: World’s Largest Underwater Theme Park Opens The official opening of the world’s largest underwater theme park, Dive Bahrain, took place on 6th September 2019, following the completion of the initial phase of the project. The park comprises of submerging a 70-meter long Boeing 747, 20-22 meters below the water North of Bahrain,

Gulf Insider October 2019

to become the first attraction of the 100,000 m2 theme park area. Prior to the official opening, the dive park was also inspected by a group of diving professionals from registered dive centers, who were able to ensure all safety requirements are fully met to guarantee a safe diving experience and environment necessary for the public. The MOICT announced that the dive park is open to the public and welcomes those who wish to book their underwater dive experience with any of the registered dive centers listed on the website www.divebahrain.com. In its next phase, the dive park will include several structures in addition to the aircraft, such as a replica of a traditional Bahraini pearl merchant’s house, which is being overseen and sponsored by Diyar Al Muharraq, an artificial coral reef and other sculptures that will be fabricated and submerged to provide a safe haven for coral reef growth and a habitat for sustainable marine life.

Business

Value-Added Tax (VAT) Queries

Your questions about value-added tax (VAT) answered by Mubeen Khadir from Keypoint.

ith VAT a fact of life now for almost all Bahrainbased businesses, Gulf Insider has been swamped by VAT-related questions from readers. In an occasional column, Mubeen Khadir from Keypoint answers some of your questions.

How likely am I to be audited by Bahrain’s tax authority - the National Bureau for Revenue (NBR)? Your likelihood of an audit is determined based on a combination of factors (and sometimes it’s just random). Tax authorities generally target taxpayers in industries where it is likely that VAT is reported incorrectly or where VAT rules are highly complex. Industries that involve lower tax payable to the authority – for example, industries with high zero-rated supplies – may also be subject to higher scrutiny. The NBR will use data analytics to direct audits. For example, the NBR will compare data reported in your VAT registration form against your VAT returns. The NBR will also use your VAT return data to develop a taxpayer profile, which it can then use to conduct targeted reviews when your sales or purchases conflict with your ‘normal’ profile. The NBR will also compare your data against similar taxpayers for reasonableness.

What is the reverse charge mechanism and how does it work? The reverse charge mechanism (RCM) applies when a Bahrain VAT-registered business buys taxable supplies from overseas – it moves the responsibility for the accounting of a VAT transaction from the seller to the buyer. If the purchaser is a fully taxable business, they should be able to recover the input VAT paid on purchases when paying output VAT, so there should be no financial impact. The RCM applies to most services acquired from overseas, including legal services and IT software subscriptions.

Reader’s Response

‘Bahrain electricity charges are lower than Europe, USA and GCC’ says energy field expert Dr. AbdulMajeed Habib Abdulkarim

r. AbdulMajeed Habib Abdulkarim was the Technical and Engineering Advisor for the Minister of Electricity followed by the Minister of Electricity and Water.

With over 42 years of experience on the energy field, Dr Abdulkarim has shares his input on electricity rates. “In terms of electricity tariffs, Bahrain prices are much cheaper than Europe and USA and in the GCC. When comparing electricity tariffs between Bahrain and Dubai, it shows that Dubai is 55% higher than the kingdom. 45 fils/kWhr for the highest tariff in Dubai compared to 29 fils/kWhr in Bahrain. Looking at electricity prices worldwide, you will see the following -Bahrain 29 fils per kWhr is equivalent to 7.7 US cent which is cheaper than India and China which average prices is 8 cents per kWhr. In Denmark and Germany, their tariff is 41 and 35 cents per kWhr.”

What is the difference between VAT-exempt and VAT at 0%? The main difference between VAT-exempt and zero-rated supplies is to do with input VAT recovery - the VAT incurred on purchases. If you make exempt supplies, you cannot recover input VAT on your purchases whereas you can if you make zero-rated supplies. While there is no VAT charged on an exempt supply, VAT is charged on a zero-rated supply – the rate is just 0%. If you make an exempt supply, you are required to specifically note this on your tax invoice.

If you have a VAT question, email us at vat@gulfinsider.com Gulf Insider October 2019

Banking & Finance

Call To Reduce High Interest Rates

“Is it reasonable for commercial banks to make a profit of BD 640 million in six months?” Asks MP .

r. Adel Al Asoomi, Bahrain’s longest continuous serving MP, has asked the government of Bahrain to look into the issue of high-interest rates as he claims it will have an adverse effect on the economy of the kingdom. His demand came after a recent report showed that commercial banks in Bahrain have had an increase in profit by BD241.2 million this year. According to Mr. Al Asoomi, who was

Gulf Insider October 2019

The continuation of imposing highinterest rates by banks will contribute to the worsening of the economic situation in Bahrain.

speaking to Gulf Insider, a recent report mentioned that the combined profits of Bahraini commercial banks have jumped to BD 640 million in the first six months of this year, increasing by BD241.2 million compared with the same period last year. “Is it reasonable for commercial banks to make a profit of BD 640 million in six months?” is the question posed by Mr. Al Asoomi, who added that the high-interest rates imposed by banks on personal and commercial loans are

Banking & Finance

becoming a burden for citizens and traders alike. “The continuation of imposing highinterest rates by banks will contribute to the worsening of the economic situation in Bahrain. Rather than playing a positive role, these banks will have a negative impact - the number of traders facing financial difficulties with their businesses will increase and be

Akram Miknas, President, Promoseven Holdings

Adel Al Asoomi, MP

According to Mr. Al Asoomi, who was speaking to Gulf Insider, a recent report mentioned that the combined profits of Bahraini commercial banks have jumped to BD 640 million in the first six months of this year.

pushed to the verge of bankruptcy if interest rates don’t reduce,” stated Mr. Al Asoomi. As of the 3rd quarter of 2018, the 3-month Bahrain Dinar Interbank Offered Rate (BHIBOR) was 3.95%, compared to 2.725% at end 2017. The 6-month BHIBOR rate was 4.08%, compared to 2.90% at the end of 2017. Leading businessman Mr. Akram Miknas told Gulf Insider; “The interbank rate varies between 6 and 7.5%, depending on the individual applying for the loan. For example, for a businessman with a lot of assets, his rates can go down to 6%, while a consumer or house buyer’s rates can go up to 7.5%. I know people who’ve been charged 8%, which is very high. This is a big issue.” Mr. Miknas added; “The US economy is much better than Bahrain and one of the strongest in the world. Trump asked the Reserve Bank to reduce interest rates so banks can revitalize the market. All I hear is banks in Bahrain are making lots of money while people are struggling to pay them. Life in Bahrain has become expensive due to rising costs, especially utilities. A realistic solution is required.” In July, the Central Bank of Bahrain cut its key policy interest rate on the one-week deposit facility from 2.75% to 2.50%. The CBB also cut the overnight deposit rate from 2.50% to 2.25%, the one-month deposit rate from 3.10% to 2.85% and the lending rate from 4.50% to 4.25%. Shortly after Mr. Al Asoomi’s call to reduce bank interest rates, MP Mohammed Buhamood said in a statement that he would submit a proposal to parliament to allow pensioners to reschedule their loans, allowing them to reduce the monthly installments they pay to banks. Gulf Insider approached the Central Bank of Bahrain with a few questions pertaining to the existing high-interest rates imposed by banks and their plan to address the issue. After following up for a number of days, the Central Bank of Bahrain replied stating “We regret to inform you that the CBB is unable to accommodate your request at this time,”

Gulf Insider October 2019

Finance

In trusts we trust Keypoint Senior Director, Nandakumar Narasimhan, talks about a tried, tested, regulated and confidential way of protecting important assets.

ahrain continues to make changes to its legislative and commercial frameworks as part of ongoing attempts to keep pace with international standards and leading practice, diversify the economy, strengthen the private sector and attract more foreign direct investment. Changes to Bahrain’s trust law are just one of these important developments. As well as being a legal way to hold and protect assets for a specific purpose, trusts are legal bodies that can enter into contracts, establish bank accounts and own financial investments and legal entities. Independently and professionally managed, trusts are created when one party (the settlor) transfers assets (such as property, investments, cash, patents or copyrights) to another party (the trustee) to hold for the benefit of one or more

Gulf Insider October 2019

Trustees in Bahrain are regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain, giving the process additional credibility. parties (the beneficiaries), generally for the long-term. Trustees in Bahrain are regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain, giving the process additional credibility. For private individuals, trusts offer a confidential way of holding family wealth for the long-term. Previously, trusts were believed to cater only to ultra-high net worth individuals

(UHNWIs). This is changing as fees drop and the features and advantages of trusts become better understood. Family trusts can help protect selected assets against claims and creditors – for example, protecting a family home from the failure of a business venture. They can also be used to set aside funds for special reasons, such as grandchildren’s education, or to protect assets for future generations or for charitable purposes. They also help manage the risk of unwanted claims on a settlor’s assets when he or she dies. In certain jurisdictions, where inheritances are subject to tax, trusts can enable taxefficient asset transfers. For businesses, trusts are extensively used for debt restructuring, investments (real estate investment trusts (REITs) and investment funds) and employee benefits plans (ESOPs and savings schemes) because of

Finance

their ability to ringfence assets and provide professional, independent oversight. Ringfencing in this region has traditionally been done using legal entities with nominee ownership. With the increasing emphasis on corporate governance and transparency, the risk of consolidation with legal owners and the growing tendency to litigate for mismanagement, new regulations

separate party, other than the regulated trustee, can become involved with the trust’s activities and jointly discharge responsibilities. This can be useful where families want to involve a family member in the activities of a trust. Keypoint recently established a trust where family members act as Category B trustees. How then do you establish a trust in Bahrain? Summarising the process, the settlor identifies all main parties and engagement terms and conditions are agreed. A trust deed is drafted (in either Arabic or English) and reviewed by legal counsel before it is signed by the settlor and trustee and notarised. The deed is then submitted to the CBB, along with parties’ KYC documents before assets are transferred to the trust. Trusts are not always the solution. They do, however, offer a tried, tested, regulated and confidential way of protecting important assets. As Bahrain strives to maintain its position as a leading financial centre, the growth of a trust ecosystem is an important indicator of its unique advantages.

For more details on Keypoint’s services, please visit keypoint.com

As well as being a legal way to hold and protect assets for a specific purpose, trusts are legal bodies that can enter into contracts, establish bank accounts and own financial investments and legal entities.

based on leading practice are nudging organisations towards using trusts. Following recent regulatory updates, listed institutions which issue shares to employees under an employees’ savings scheme or an ESOP must do so through a trust. Collective investment undertaking regulations have been updated to cover the establishment of REITs, with Bahrain’s first REIT already established and listed on the Bahrain Bourse, which is actively promoting the listing of other REITs. A further change impacts how Bahrain courts enforce orders passed by courts in other legal jurisdictions where trustees are registered and regulated in that other jurisdiction. Highlighting its determination to establish leading practice, Bahrain has introduced Category B trustees, who can act as co-trustees in conjunction with a Category A trustee. This means a

Nandakumar Narasimhan is a senior director with Keypoint, which wholly owns Keypoint Trust B.S.C. (c), a company licensed by the CBB to provide trustee and trust administration services. Keypoint Trust has established a wide variety of trusts, including real estate investment trusts, employee benefits trusts (for share ownership plans), trusts for debt re-organisations and family trusts for clients ranging from investment banks and asset managers to individuals and family offices. Gulf Insider October 2019

Business

Global Security Solutions G4S is a leading global integrated security company with a heritage of more than 100 years.

he need for security services is increasing due to the current instability across the region and the range of potential threats. The challenge of finding a provider offering integrated end-to-end security products and solutions to meet the specific demands of a business further complicates the process. Increased security requirements have also caused many players to emerge into the market and offer fragmented services that, in the long-run, are proving a greater cost rather than a viable investment. Here is where G4S comes into play. With expertise in the assessment and management of security and safety risks for buildings, infrastructure, valuables and people, G4S has a strong presence globally as well as in the Middle East region that complements global outsourcing trends. Established in Bahrain since 1993 with over 600 employees, G4S Secure Solutions is one of the Kingdomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most recognised and respected private security companies in the country. A market leader known for its dependability and quality driven ethics,

Gulf Insider October 2019

Established in Bahrain since 1993 with over 600 employees, G4S Secure Solutions is one of the Kingdomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most recognised and respected private security companies in the country. its main areas of operation are: Manned Security Services including well trained uniformed personnel for events; Cash, Valuables and ATM Management Solutions; Electronic Security Systems including design, engineering, supply, installation, maintenance and integration of various customised security systems;

Emergency Response, Risk Consultancy and soon Facilities Management services. G4S Bahrain has gained tremendous knowledge and experience about the prevalent local scenario. They have grown from strength to strength to emerge as the largest security company in the country. The G4S team draws upon its extensive geographical coverage, expertise, technology and best practices to provide the most viable security solution to its customers. The benefits of this approach are clear. Businesses that rise to the challenge of securing their environments in a more integrated way are better placed to protect critical assets and reputations, reduce costs and deliver a better experience for the people they employ and serve. At G4S, they understand that businesses which look at their security challenges more comprehensively can unlock hidden benefits to help them thrive and prosper.

For more information, call +973 17 714 409, 17 710 994 or visit www.g4s.com/en-bh

News Roundup

Saudi Arabia: VAT should be doubled to 10%, says IMF

Dubai remains fourth-most visited city in the world Dubai has retained its position as the fourth most visited city in the world for the fifth year in a row, according to Mastercard’s Global Destination Cities Index (GDCI) 2019. The city welcomed 15.93 million international overnight visitors last year and the city is expected to continue building on its success in 2019. The UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi, was ranked as the fastest-growing city in the Middle East and Africa, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.7% between 2009 and 2018 in overnight arrivals. “Once again, Dubai has earned and maintained its position as the fourth most visited city in the world in Mastercard’s Global Destinations Cities Index. As the most attractive destination in the Middle East and Africa region for international visitors, Dubai connects people from all over the world with a diverse range of offerings for leisure and business travellers alike,” said Girish Nanda, general manager, UAE & Oman, Mastercard. “In today’s interconnected world, travel has become an important part of how we work and how we live. It is vital for us to understand how travel impacts destinations for the better and the challenges it poses, to ensure local leaders have the information and solutions they need to succeed. As the official payment technology partner for Expo 2020, we look forward to delivering priceless experiences to millions of visitors from across the globe as Dubai hosts the largest event ever staged in the region.”

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has suggested that the value-added tax (VAT) should be doubled from 5% to 10% in Saudi Arabia in consultation with the other Gulf countries. Analysts expect the hike in VAT rate will come only after 2021 once Kuwait and Oman will also be ready to implement it and as a customs union, the increase makes sense across the GCC countries. The UAE and Saudi Arabia introduced the 5% value-added tax from January 2018 with both the countries surpassing their tax collection targets. Thaddeus Best, an analyst at Moody’s Sovereign Risk Group, said as a customs union, it is logical that GCC countries would seek to keep their VAT rates harmonized in order to prevent tax arbitrage opportunities emerging within the GCC. The Kingdom’s non-oil revenues last year increased by 59%, buoyed by the VAT, excises, expatriate levy, and proceeds from the settlement agreements. IMF estimated that the VAT rate increase will add 2.0% to the Kingdom’s GDP in 2024.

Bahrain: Health insurance for expats mandatory by 2020 A compulsory health insurance law for expatriates is expected to be issued and applied by the beginning of 2020 revealed the Vice-Chairman of Solidarity Bahrain Insurance Company. According to the law, employers will be obliged to include expatriate workers and their families in health insurance. This, he noted, will result in a big leap in insurance premiums. Gulf Insider October 2019

Interview

Lalima Mathur

Elite Welcomes Back New GM Lalima Mathur was the first woman in Bahrain to hold the position of a General Manager in a hotel.

he Elite Hospitality Group welcomes back Ms. Lalima Mathur and reassigns her as the General Manager of Elite Grande Hotel. After an eight year gap, Ms Mathur returns to the position she held in 2007. Ms. Mathur has spent more than three decades in the hospitality sector and made history in 2007 by becoming the first woman in Bahrain to become a General Manager for a hotel.

Tell us about your journey in the hospitality sector. I began my career with The Leela Kempinski in Mumbai in 1988, followed by a short stint in Dubai. A good part of my 30-odd years in the industry has been in Bahrain and with the Elite 32

Gulf Insider October 2019

Hospitality Group. The journey has been a very enriching experience. When I started my career, the opportunities to meet and professionally socialize with people were rather limited. But being a Hotelier provided the platform that I wanted. Needless to say that the passion was born almost instantly, this was my calling and since then thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been no looking back. I have enjoyed the years, learned what no book can teach, made life-long relationships and taken much more from the experiences than I have perhaps given to the industry.

When did you begin with Elite Hospitality Group? I joined the Group in 1997 when I first came to Bahrain and have since grown with the company. Having started at

the mid-management level to now has been a very interesting and exciting time. Elite has trail blazed the Bahrain Hotel scene since before I joined. The leadershipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision looks years ahead and I am proud to reiterate that we set a tough benchmark for others to match. Over the years and with changing demands, we have diversified into new hospitality arenas and are constantly upgrading ourselves to match the regional demands.

How does it feel to be reassigned at Elite Grande? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always an advantage being on familiar ground. Although a lot of external factors have influenced the changes that have come about as I start my second stint at the Elite Grande

Interview

Hotel, these changes are definitely for the better. The number of guest facilities has been expanded to add value to the experience of our guests. New food outlets have been added, there is a high-end Spa and Salon (although outsourced) and a roof-top open-air lounge with a breath-taking view of Seef and beyond. Yes, there are some challenges but it wouldn’t be as much fun without them.

How will your experience in Elite Crystal Hotel better your position at Elite Grande Hotel? Every experience is enlightening and sure some of the experiences gathered at Elite Crystal Hotel will be applied at Elite Grande Hotel. However, Elite

A good part of my 30-odd years in the industry has been in Bahrain and with the Elite Hospitality Group. The journey has been a very enriching experience.

Grande Hotel has been on the industry’s scene for many years and has its very own success story. Juffair and Seef markets are quite different from each other, the expectations of guests are very different and hence the solutions are different too. For instance, the age group patronizing Juffair is younger and trendier whereas Seef has a more matured and conventional clientele, although both expect high standards of services and modern facilities.

What are the priorities on your agenda as the General Manager of Elite Grande? As the Team leader, the top priority is always to enhance business levels and constantly better customer service. Seef is a fast-changing market and there are several new segments of travelers

emerging. The No. 1 priority obviously is to continue capturing these new segments. Luckily we have the perfect product to do so. The other priority is more challenging as it is about people. Guest experience perhaps is an aspect of our industry that has the longest shelf life. The smallest of gesture binds the loyalty of a customer and this is what customer service is all about. And as a people’s person, I believe that we can enhance external customer service by first looking after our biggest strength – our internal customers. This is Elite’s philosophy which has been a sure winner. As Richard Branson says ‘’Take care of your employees and they’ll take care of your business”. We take this very seriously.

What does it take to be a successful female leader? I think adapting to an ever-changing environment, learning quickly and sharing that with my core team members has perhaps given me an edge. As far as being a woman running a 24 x 7 operation is concerned, I just take the challenges and do my best as any other individual would do, regardless of gender. I consciously chose this industry, so honestly being a woman has no specific advantages or disadvantages. The hotel operations have to run meticulously irrespective of the time of the day. Moreover, I am blessed with an excellent team of colleagues and co-workers.

Gulf Insider October 2019

Health

Launch of First Bahrain Health Regulatory Conference Boost Bahrain announced the launch of their new race season that will showcase 12 races in the upcoming 8 months and a number of exciting projects.

he National Health Regulatory Authority, an independent regulatory body providing provision of healthcare in Bahrain is holding its ‘First Bahrain Health Regulatory Conference’ 2019 to be held for three days on the 28th to 30th of November 2019 at the Gulf Convention Centre, Manama. The conference is being organized by Education Plus and Promed in collaboration with PowerUp and Perfect Solutions Advertising, with the support of government health entities, the private sector and other professional, industry-related societies in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The first edition of the conference will also feature a complementary exhibition to showcase various stakeholders. The three-day conference will feature keynote speakers, lecture presentations, panel discussions, networking, and workshops on health regulation schemes in addition to providing business opportunities for investors in the healthcare industry. NHRA’s first conference aims to discuss and explore the regional and global health regulation schemes. The conference aims to bring together healthcare providers, the pharmaceutical industries, healthcare organisations, patient safety, medical educators and accreditation standard experts from the region and the globe to share insights on implementing and managing health regulations. The conference aims to attract key healthcare professionals from Bahrain and the GCC region and beyond. It also aims to bring together entities which play a significant role in the regulation of the healthcare sector including, Government healthcare decision makers, health reform and health regulation experts, pharmaceutical and drug company owners, public and private healthcare, providers, investors and interested experts in healthcare business, technology experts and solutions providers.

Gulf Insider October 2019

Global Payment Services (GPS), a leading regional fintech, launched its new headquarters in Seef District.

News Roundup

Bahrain: EWA Readjusted Bills Extends 3 Months, Expats Still Excluded

Bahrain: Taxi Sector To Be Revived, Parking Spaces First Priority

The Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) has been directed to continue re-issuing water and electricity invoices for Bahraini citizens for September, October, and November. Bahrainis will be charged based on last year’s invoices for the same period if they are lower than those issued this year. The first batch of re-issued bills which covered the months of June, July and August did not include expats as well.

New taxi stops in a number of parking spaces in the Capital Governorate have been introduced according to the Ministry of Transportation & Telecommunication. The Parliament discussed providing auto financing programs, modern and comfortable cars for passengers, and employment opportunities for Bahraini citizens in this important sector. The number of cars operating in the taxi sector of Bahrain reached 1278, including 968 taxis for individuals (citizens) and 310 taxis distributed among four private companies.

Bahrain Remains The Best Place For Expats In Middle East Bahrain is ranked as the best place for expatriates to work and live in the Middle East, even as it dropped to the seventh place globally from being on top of the list last year in the InterNations Expat Insider survey. With more than 20,000 respondents, it is one of the most extensive surveys about living and working abroad, sharing insights into expat life in 64 destinations. In the InterNations survey, Bahrain finished first for ‘ease of settling in’, ‘quality of family life’ and ‘cost of living’, which is very favourable when compared to other countries. Bahrain ranked second in ‘personal finance’, ‘working abroad’ and ‘quality of life’. The personal finance metric covers an individual’s financial situation and level of disposable income – indicating that expats in Bahrain are among the wealthiest in the region. The working abroad criteria cover three areas – career prospects and satisfaction, work and leisure, and economy and job security, indicating that expats in Bahrain are comfortable, secure and have a strong work/life balance. The InterNations Quality of Life Index tracks expats’ opinions towards their leisure options, their health and wellbeing, safety and security, and personal happiness. With

globally-recognised hotels, shopping malls and restaurants and an expanding entertainment choice, including the new ‘Dive Bahrain’ underwater theme park with a submerged Boeing 747, Bahrain is an emerging lifestyle destination. New developments such as Bilaj Al Jazayer, one of the biggest beachfront developments in Bahrain’s history, are adding to the island’s attractions.

Gulf Insider October 2019

Lifestyle

Time To Make Aviation History With

IWC Schaffhausen

IWC Schaffhausen is the official partner and timekeeper for the longest flight attempted by Brittan’s iconic ‘Spitfire’ aircraft.

uxury Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen and the Boultbee Flight Academy, in collaboration with Aviation Adventures Ltd hope to make aviation history with the first round-the-world flight in a Spitfire. IWC Schaffhausen supports the ambitious goal of “Silver Spitfire – The Longest Flight” as its main partner and official timekeeper. With a clear focus on technology and development, the Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has

Gulf Insider October 2019

IWC Schaffhausen supports the ambitious goal of “Silver Spitfire – The Longest Flight” as its main partner and official timekeeper.

been producing timepieces of lasting value since 1868. The company has gained an international reputation based on a passion for innovative solutions and technical ingenuity. As an ecologically and socially responsible company, IWC is committed to sustainable production, supports institutions around the globe in their work with children and young people, and maintains partnerships with organisations dedicated to environmental protection. As part of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force, the

Lifestyle

restored British Silver Spitfire fighter plane from the Second World War will embark on an expedition covering more than 43,000 kilometres and 26 countries. British pilots Matt Jones and Steve Boultbee-Brooks, owners of Boultbee Flight Academy-the world’s first Spitfire training school, are piloting the legendary British aircraft as it embarks on its historic journey.

Silver Spitfire

IWC Schaffhausen will be presenting a new Spitfire line in the Pilot’s Watches collection at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva.

Over the last two years, more than 15 specialised engineers from Duxford’s Aircraft Restoration Company have worked to restore an original Spitfire MK IX aircraft, which was originally built in Castle Bromwich back in 1943. “The final result is simply breathtaking. Thanks to the shiny surface of polished aluminium, the beautiful silhouette of this iconic aircraft – with the unmistakable elliptical wings – is visible in its purest form,” said Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen. IWC Schaffhausen will be presenting a new Spitfire line in the Pilot’s Watches collection at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva. To celebrate the

unique engineering expertise of the designers of the legendary British fighter aircraft, all Spitfire watches feature IWC-manufactured calibres. The design is inspired by the puristic instrument design of the Mark 11. The iconic navigation watch was produced in Schaffhausen for the Royal Air Force from 1948 and was worn by many of the pilots and navigators serving at that time. The Spitfire, designed by Reginald J. Mitchell, is one of the most sophisticated developments in the history of aviation. The iconic shape of the legendary British fighter aircraft is the result of a perfectly functional design; its elliptical wings not only make the Spitfire extraordinarily agile and easy to manoeuvre, they also give it its unique silhouette. The characteristic instrument design of IWC’s Pilot’s Watches was likewise the result of engineering to the specific requirements of military aviation. “The colour scheme of the watch design, with its stainless steel case, its black dial and its green textile strap, is reminiscent of the cockpit of a Spitfire. The bronze case, olive green dials and brown calf leather straps give the other models a unique character. Over time, the bronze develops a special patina. The Spitfire is engraved on the back of the watches with a closed case,” said Christian Knoop, Creative Director of IWC Schaffhausen. IWC Schaffhausen’s Spitfire Collection will comprise of 5 models namely- Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Spitfire, Pilot’s Watch Timezoner Spitfire Edition “The Longest Flight”, Pilot’s Watch UTC Spitfire Edition “MJ271”, Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Spitfire and Pilot’s Watch Automatic Spitfire. Asia Jewellers Group, a local and regional pioneer in the trade of the finest international jewelry, watches and accessories, is the exclusive IWC Schaffhausen dealer in Bahrain.

For further information contact Asian Jewelers Group: +973 17534444 or asia@asiajewellers.com

Gulf Insider October 2019

Experts Reveal Life Secrets

Part 15

How to Win in Business and Life Every month Gulf Insider publish 2 pages that reveal brilliant secrets for winning in business and life. The techniques are provided by top international experts and we will often summarize an entire book into a single page so you can learn the essence of their wisdom in minutes instead of hours. Take the time to learn what we reveal each month and you will be rewarded a thousand times over!

‘Rich’ Doesn’t Mean What You Think

et’s define what “rich” means. To do this it’s effective to look at how you live rather than what you have. In other words, it’s far more important to live richly than to have riches. What good is having piles of silver in your basement if you don’t enjoy it? That being the case, the question is how much money do you need in order to live richly? The beautiful thing about this question is that you get to decide what the answer is. Some people live richly on $40,000 a year while others live like paupers on $400,000.

There are four common threads shared by people who live richly:  They live below their means.  They carry no consumer debt.  They love how they spend most of their day.  They realize they have the power to make changes in their lives. The first two themes are almost self-evident. Living richly conjures up images of people who are happy. It’s much easier to be happy if you don’t have to make huge debt payments and if you save money every month. It just takes a big chunk of the pressure off.

People who live rich find a way to love what they do and/or find a way to do what they love. There is just no way to have a wonderful life if you spend most of your waking hours hating what you do. The last ingredient is a little tricky. You need to have the awareness and the power to change your life in order to have a rich life. Most people do have this power — but many aren’t willing to exercise it. They think that living richly is beyond their grasp so they dismiss the very idea. What’s holding you back from recreating your life? Your debt? Savings? Career? All these obstacles can be overcome with focus, hard work and a little time. You are unlikely to ever meet a person able to live richly who tied their satisfaction in life to the house they lived in, the car they drove, the job they had or the money they possessed. Of course you need good health and to be financially stable but that’s really about it. Set yourself up to stay clear of debt. Take care of your health. Automate your savings and find a way to love what you do during most of the day.

How Successful People spend Their Weekends

n her book, “What The Most Successful People Do On The Weekend,” time management expert Laura Vanderkam outlines how to make the most of your weekends by planning ahead, being selective with your time, and indulging what you love most.

1. Make conscious choices - It’s so

easy to plop down on the couch and watch TV, but falling into these routines will suck away the few free hours you have. Instead decide how your time is spent.

Gulf Insider October 2019

Experts Reveal Life Secrets

2. Make appointments for yourself You need to have a plan for the weekend, setting specific hours for activities you want to do. Then you have to commit. If you know you want to read a book, then get the book out and have it set aside and make plans to read it. Say it’s going to be at 1. When that starts, get on it. Be disciplined and commit to the decisions you make. 3. Planning makes weekends happier

- Anticipation accounts for a huge chunk of happiness, which comes from thinking about the events we plan. Vanderkam writes, “As you look forward to something good that is about to happen, you experience some of the same joy you would in the moment.

4. Plan three to five anchor events each weekend - Vanderkam says most

people cringe at the idea of planning their weekends. But placing three to five main, or “anchor,” events on your calender for the weekend doesn’t mean you need to plan them down to the minute.

5. Weekend mornings can be the best time - Weekend mornings are very easily

wasted in laying about. Instead, set them aside for personal pursuits.

6. Establish small habits to create new traditions - “Happy families often

have some special weekend activity that everyone loves but no one has to plan each time,” Vanderkam writes. It could be as simple as making pancakes or taking a stroll on an evening. Whatever you’d like to implement, make it a ritual. Soon they will become traditions, and traditions become comforting memories.

7. Down time - It’s important to schedule down time, because otherwise you may never unplug.

8. Make plans for Saturday night (in GCC) - Planning something for that last

weekend night is an easy way to avoid stressing about the coming work week. That can happen even when you like your job. Vanderkam suggests scheduling something during these hours because it extends the weekend and keeps you focused on the fun to come, rather than the next morning.

5 Public Speaking Tips

n Jeremey Donovan’s book “How to Deliver a TED Talk: Secrets of the World’s Most Inspiring Presentations.” Donovan boils down what exactly makes TED Talks so gripping. Here’s a few tips he came up with:

1. Understand your audience’s emotions, and speak to them

- You can’t just rely on a logical argument to be an engaging speaker. Rather, the way to a listener’s ear is through the heart, which is why the most effective public speakers — from Martin Luther King, Jr. to Adolph Hitler — had ridiculous levels of emotional intelligence.

2. Give the audience something they haven’t heard before - Research into how the

brain produces memories reveals that new events serve as ‘anchors’ for memory — when something surprises you, you remember it most.

3. Big Idea - If you had to say there was one magical element to the best TED talks, it’s that those speakers picked one really, really big idea. Ask yourself: what is the best story I have to tell? Start with that story and what it taught you and then edit ruthlessly. 4. It’s Not About You - When

speaking, your objective should be to give the audience a gift of something that you learned. If you conceptualize your talk that way you can come closer to being relaxed and comfortable. Speak conversationally like you would to someone you care about.

5. Nail Your Opener - How do

you start your talk? The first and best, if you can manage it, is to jump straight into a story. And don’t skimp on the emotion.

Gulf Insider October 2019

News Roundup

Bahrain: New Cleanliness Law Fine To Range From BD50 To BD1000

Bahrain: Inspection Campaign To Eliminate Illegal Street Vendors

Fines concerned with the new cleanliness law starts from BD50 and can go up to BD1000 for violators said the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning. Littering, urinating or spitting are some of the violations that will be heavily penalized under the new law. The law imposes higher fines of up to BD1, 000 for transporting garbage or dangerous substances without a license. He assured that the possibility of reconciliation with the municipality without resorting to the court is there. He explained that this is possible when the violator pays onethird of the maximum amount of the fine prescribed for violations of all kinds before referral to the competent court and two-thirds after referral to the court and before the verdict. The new law will also specify ways of dealing with waste as well as transport and disposal mechanism.

The Capital Municipality Council has announced that inspection campaigns on illegal street vendors will be intensified due to the lack of food standards suitable for public consumption. The officials added that the campaigns organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Health aim at eliminating the phenomenon of illegal street vendors, especially in central markets. The Capital Municipality Council stressed that it will immediately remove and confiscate all equipment or goods belonging to illegal street vendors due to its negative effects on public health and the environment.

$4 Billion New Saudi-Bahrain Causeway The construction for the new Saudi-Bahrain causeway, King Hamad Causeway, will begin in 2021 at a cost of $4 Billion according to the Centre for Information and Studies in the Eastern Chamber of Saudi Arabia. King Hamad Causeway will connect Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, running parallel to the existing King Fahd Causeway. The causeway from Dammam to Budaiya will extend along 75 kilometres in both countries and will include a motorway and two rail tracks, one for passenger trains and the other for freight trains. 40

Gulf Insider October 2019

Car News & Reviews

Jeep Grand Cherokee

BMW 530i

Porsche 718 Cayman GTS

Ferrari F8 Spider

Car Bahrain

Fully LOaded Gulf Insider spends a day with a Porsche 718 Cayman GTS.

liked the look of this car the moment I set eyes on it at the Porsche Centre Bahrain in Sitra. Dark both outside and inside, it just looked so mean and capable! First, a bit of history; “GTS” is an iconic and historic badge for Porsche. The first Porsche model to have the GTS badge was the 356 Carrera GT in 1955, followed by the 904 Carrera GTS in 1960. Porsche resurrected the badge some years ago for their top end models. This GTS has a slightly improved version of the same turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four found in the S, offering higher boost pressure from its turbocharger. This produces an extra 15bhp, which is not enough extra power to leave the S in the dust at the

traffic lights, but it does make a subtle difference. Until a few years ago the 718 had a much larger 3.4 liter 6 cylinder naturally aspirated engine, but improvements in engine technology have enable Porsche to produce a smaller, lighter, more efficient, and importantly more powerful engine replacement. Having the GTS badge on the car means it comes with lots of extras included in the price. These include slightly tweaked body styling, black detailing, a wider and restyled front grille, Sport Chrono, rear limited-slip differential, sports exhaust, brake-based torque vectoring, adaptive dampers with a lower ride height, sports seats, and Alcantara leather. The GTS offers 20 inch alloy wheels

as standard. That’s 2 inches wider than the base Cayman, and 1 inch more than the Cayman S (though buyers can choose 20 inch wheels as an optional extra on these other models). So, with its wider wheels, lower suspension, and a much more powerful engine the GTS is a certainly a more exciting drive than a base 718 – by a long way. Zero to 100 kph can be achieved in just 4.1 seconds, which is the same as the S model. Top speed is 290 kph. The Porsche 718 Cayman GTS has never been so much fun to drive, but speaking on a personal note, the day we took this car was a particularly bad day from traffic in Bahrain, the two round trips between the Gulf Insider offices in the Seef and Porsche Centre Bahrain in

Nicholas Cooksey, the author of this article is the publisher of Arabian Magazines, Gulf Insider Media, and a jury member with the Middle East Car of the Year Awards (MECOTY). 42

Gulf Insider October 2019

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designed to hug me over tight corners at high speeds, hugged me in great comfort as if they were tailor made just for me. I also appreciate the Alcantara leather which has a wonderful feel to it. So it wasn’t so bad. I didn’t feel the least bit uncomfortable at the end of the journey from so much time spent being seated. Despite the above, we were still able to take it for a decent spin around some empty roads and loved the thrills the car offered. The 718 is relatively small and light, so great fun to drive particularly as the superb steering and overall balance is as good with this car as with any other on the market, at any price.

This GTS has a slightly improved version of the same turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four found in the S, offering higher boost pressure from its turbocharger. Porsche 718 Cayman GTS comes with 2-year Porsche Worldwide Warranty which is extendable to up to 9 years.

For further information, please contact Porsche Centre Bahrain on 17 459 911.

Porsche 718 Cayman GTS

Prices start from BD 31,787

Sitra took an astonishing combined time of 2 hours, 40 minutes! The only good thing about this (desperately looking for a silver lining here) was we were able to experience how the car feels in slow heavy traffic… So how was sitting in this low seated sports car for nearly three hours at an average speed of 27 kph (as revealed by the onboard computer)? The interior felt like a comfortable cocoon. The sound system was great and the sports seats, which are

Alternative options: Mercedes-Benz C 43 Coupe Starting Price: BD 32,000

BMW M4 GTS Price on application

Gulf Insider October 2019

Read our Reviews Online (Scan the QR Codes for the Review)

Chevrolet Silverado

Volvo S90

Volvo XC 40

We go to the UAE to review this Big Boy’s Toy in the desert

Sweden’s alternative to big German luxury cars

How does this Swedish compact SUV compare to rivals from Germany and Japan?

Price on Application

From BD 19,900 Motorcity, 17 736 222

Dodge Challenger

Hyundai Sonata

Porsche 911

3 days driving the latest generation of an iconic American muscle car

We go to Korea to drive the latest offerings from Hyundai

Dodge Challenger SXT BD 12,555 Behbehani Brothers,17 459 955

Our reviewer finally drives his dream car – on Germany’s unrestricted autobahns! Did it live up to his dream?

First Motors, 17 121 121

From BD 49,146 Porsche Centre,17 459 911

Mercedes GLE 450

Hyundai Palisade

BMW X3 and X4 M

Why driving this big luxury SUV put us in a good mood

Hyundai’s big ‘Flagship’ From BD 19,000

We go to America to experience 2 highly powered luxury SUVs

National Motor, 17 457 211

From BD 31,995

Al Haddad Motors,17 785 454

Gulf Insider October 2019

From BD 8,600

First Motors, 17 121 121

From BD 16,900 Motorcity, 17 736 222

X3M Competition from BD 35,500 X4M Competition from BD 36,500 EuroMotors, 17 750 750

Car Bahrain - Read Our Reviews Online

Ram 1500 When you think of pick-up trucks you don’t usually think of luxury. Enter the Ram 1500

Volvo V40 Cross Country This rival to the Golf GTI was so good we bought one – can’t say better than that!

Porsche Macan The second generation of Porsche’s biggest selling car From BD 22,242 Porsche Centre, 17 459 911

From BD 16,800

Behbehani Brothers, 17 459 955

From BD 9,995 Motorcity, 17 736 222

Ferrari 488 GTB

BMW 7 Series

BMW 8 Series

We spend a thrilling day driving this pre-owned Ferrari

BMW’s iconic big luxury saloon reviewed

BMW takes luxury and comfort to the highest possible level

Price on Application

Euro Motors, 17 734 734

Audi e-tron Very quick, extraordinarily quite, and 490 lb-ft of torque From BD 35,000

Audi Bahrain, 17 459 933

From BD 44,500 EuroMotors, 17 750 750

Mercedes AMG GLE 43 Mercedes new 385 hp mid-size SUV From BD 29,995

Al Haddad Motors,17 785 454

From BD 44,500 EuroMotors, 17 750 750

Nissan Maxima SR This 3.5 liter V6 offers 300 hp, making it Nissan’s ‘sporty’ saloon From BD 12,000

Y.K. Almoayyed,17 732 732

Gulf Insider October 2019

Car Bahrain

The Iconic 5 Series Gulf Insider drives the 530i, BMW’s iconic mid-sized luxury sedan.

MW have set the standard in high-end sedans for decades. The 3 and 5 Series were (are) the cars by which other car brands sought to emulate and try to beat. But over recent years there’s been a huge rise in the popularity of SUVs - at the expense of sedans. So the biggest rival to the latest BMW 5 Series isn’t a similar sized luxury sedan from a rival manufacturer, but BMW’s own SUV version of the 5 Series. The X5 costs just a couple of thousand Bahrain Dinars extra, yet comes equipped with six-cylinder

The 530i is a supremely comfortable car with a wonderfully quite interior, and the controls are extremely logical and user friendly.

engines, all-wheel drive and newer technology. So buyers of the 530i have definitely decided they prefer driving a sedan over an SUV. The 530i is a supremely comfortable car with a wonderfully quite interior, and the controls are extremely logical and user friendly. Under the bonnet is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. Once the 530i badge meant a 3 liter engine, but advanced engine technology has enabled all car brands to build smaller engines that are lighter yet more powerful. This engine produces 185kW of power and 350Nm of torque, which is

Nicholas Cooksey, the author of this article is the publisher of Arabian Magazines, Gulf Insider Media, and a jury member with the Middle East Car of the Year Awards (MECOTY). 46

Gulf Insider October 2019

Car Bahrain

who insists on the latest just for the sake of it, it doesn’t really matter as the system does everything you need and is better than its nearest rivals for integration and ease of use. Also, the 5 Series has the classiest interior among the options. I very much enjoyed driving this car around different types of roads in Bahrain. The cabin of the 5 Series is a comfortable place to be.

To arrange a test drive in Bahrain call Euromotors on +973 17 750 750

BMW 5 Series prices start from

substantially more power than the older three liter six cylinder engines. BMW claims zero-100kph acceleration takes 6.1 seconds. The eight-speed auto transmission is as smooth as it’s possible for any car to be. That’s unless you put this car into Sport mode and with the paddle-shifts it becomes quite sporty. The sports suspension also then comes into play, adding to the experience. The 530i comes with lots of equipment fitted as standard. There’s keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, memory function seats, adaptive LED headlights with auto high beam, 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio, auto-dimming mirrors, and 11-colour interior LED lighting.

There is a 12.3-inch digital display, and an infotainment that occupies a 10.25inch screen in the centre console, which has voice, touch and scroll-wheel inputs as well as Bluetooth and USB inputs. Safety wise, there’s nine airbags, adaptive cruise control with stop-andgo function matched to speed-sign recognition, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist and lane centering, blind spot monitoring with side-collision warning, plus front and rear cross-traffic alert. Another rival to the 5 Series, also from BMW, is the 3 Series which has grown in size and offers an alternative for less price. The 3 Series and X5 have the newer iDrive 7.0 infotainment system, but unless you’re a tech-nerd

BD 19, 995 (including VAT)

Alternative options: BMW X5 Starting Price: BD 34, 995

BMW 330i Starting Price: BD 23,995

Mercedes E300 Starting Price: BD 29, 500

Own your BMW 5 Series now and get 5 years warranty/ 200,000 kms. Gulf Insider October 2019

Read our Reviews Online (Scan the QR Codes for the Review)

Porsche Cayenne

BMW X2 M Sport

Jeep Wrangler

At the Cayenne back at the top of the competitive luxury SUV market?

BMW’s newest and most compact luxury SUV

Does this Jeep offer the most fun off-roading on the market today?

From BD 17,995

From BD 32,954

Euro Motors, 17 750 750

From BD 12,799 Behbehani Brothers,17 459 955

Subaru WRX STI

AUDI A8

Renault Duster

This 300 hp 2.5 liter turbocharged engine racer is a monster

A couple of days experiencing Audi’s top of the range luxury saloon

We visit Jordan’s desert to discover the off road capabilities of this reasonably priced SUV

From BD 35,700

From BD 5,875

Porsche Center ,17 459 911

Audi Behebani, 17 459 933

Genesis G70

Ferrari Portofino

Why this compact luxury saloon from Korea’s new luxury marque is set to take on all competition

Ferrari’s new 591 hp entry level model

From BD 15,540

First Motors,17 121 149 48

Gulf Insider October 2019

From BD 95,000

Euro Motors,17 750 750

Renault showroom,17 705 705

Bentley Bentayga V8 2 Reviews

From BD 13,995

Motorcity, 17 736 222

It signaled the arrival of the Super Luxury SUV to the world. Price on Application Behbehani Brothers,17 459 955

Taking extraordinary a step further!

A model of success: Discover the new Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV facelift. The new GLC SUV Facelift delivers a captivating brilliance that runs from the head to tailpipe. Illustrating the meaning of versatility, spaciousness, practicality, heightened performance and comfort are the beginning of its effortlessly elegant character.

Starting from

BD 21,500* 2020 Model Year* Price inclusive of VAT* Terms & Conditions Apply*

Al Haddad Motors, Kingdom of Bahrain. Tel: 17785454 marketing@alhaddad-mercedesbenz.com, www.bahrain.mercedesbenzme.com

Car Society

Zayani Motors, the exclusive distributor of MG in the Kingdom of Bahrain, unveiled MGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brand-new mid-size SUV, the MG RX8.

Gulf Insider October 2019

Gulf Insider goes to the Italian carmakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hometown of Maranello for the 2019 Universo Ferrari. (Read our experience on page 52)

Read our Reviews Online (Scan the QR Codes for the Review)

Porsche Panamera GTS The Panamera just got even better

Ferrari GTC4 Lusso 2 Reviews

Driving this car makes a statement to everyone else on the road that you are not a normal traffic user

2 Reviews

Ferrari 812 Superfast

Ferrari’s FF replacement Price on Application

Euro Motors, 17 734 734

Price on Application

From BD 43,702 Porsche Centre,17 459 911

BMW 3 Series

Audi Q8

Rolls-Royce Cullinan

The elegance of a 4 door luxury coupe with the versatility of an SUV

The first ever SUV produced by Rolls Royce

The ultimate luxury compact From BD 17,995

Euro Motors, 17 750 750

2 Reviews

Euro Motors, 17 734 734

From BD 32,490

Audi Bahrain, 17 459 933

Mercedes Benz A – Class

Bentley Continental GT

The new high tech entry level compact from Mercedes

Looks rich, proud, and powerful – but with beauty

From BD 15,530

Price on Application Behbehani Brothers, 17 459 800

Al Haddad Motors,17 785 454

From BD 170,000

Euro Motors, 17 750 750

Lamborghini Urus Lamborghini’s first ever SUV unveiled in Bahrain From BD 95,000 Behbehani Brothers, 17 459 800

Gulf Insider October 2019

Car Bahrain

Universo Ferrari in Maranello, Italy

Charlie Cooksey travels to the home of Ferrari in Italy for the first ever Ferrari dedicated exhibition.

ver since I’ve been involved in the automotive industry and motor journalism – Maranello, the home of Ferrari, is somewhere I’ve been really keen on visiting. Thankfully I was one of the lucky few invited to Universo Ferrari, the first exhibition dedicated to the world of Ferrari with a series of exclusive tours held in September on the Fiorano race circuit. It’s an event long-awaited by customers, fans, media, and Ferrari enthusiasts. Universo Ferrari showcased the incredible history and glory of the brand.

The F8 Spider is the latest addition to a prestigious bloodline of opentop V8s which started with the 308 GTS in 1977.

Museo Enzo Ferrari, Modena When I landed in Milan, before heading to Maranello I was driven to Modena. It was my first time visiting this beautifully old and traditional Italian city. In Modena we visited Museo Enzo Ferrari, a museum dedicated to the life and work of Enzo Ferrari - the founder of Ferrari. Dozens of Ferraris were on display including the world’s most valuable classic car - the 250 GTO from 1962, one of which famously sold for $US 48.4 Million US dollars (the highest price tag from any car in history). I

Ferrari F8 Spider

Gulf Insider October 2019

Car Bahrain

Universo Ferrari, Maranello

found myself lost in the history and admiring the cars from the 40s to today. This museum is heaven for Ferrari enthusiasts.

Maranello could be called ‘Ferrari Town’ – for every Italian flag flying there’s maybe ten Ferrari flags. All the restaurants, shops, and bars seem to have some sort of Ferrari theme, and the people hold a strong sense of pride for the brand. In a large hall we gathered around the SF90. This single- seater is currently used in the Formula 1 by Scuderia Ferrari, the most successful Formula 1 team ever and this year celebrating its 90th anniversary. We watched a short film on the history of Ferrari racing including vintage clips of Ferrari crossing the finish line – first, of course! In another large hall we witnessed the unveiling of the newest V8 droptop… the F8 Spider, a spectacular show where a gleaming and well-lit yellow F8 Spider was driven onto a turning stage. It grabbed everyone’s attention. The retractable hard top takes just 14 seconds to deploy or retract and can be closed or opened while the car is on the move up to 45 km/h. The F8 Spider is the latest addition to a prestigious bloodline of open-top V8s which started with the 308 GTS in 1977. It has a herd of horses under the bonnet knocking out a whopping 710 horsepower at 8000 RPM and torque peaking at 770 Nm at 3,250 RPM. The engine itself is a further-developed version of the V8 that won “International Engine of the Year Award” for four

Gulf Insider October 2019

Car Bahrain Ferrari 812 GTS

The 812 GTS is packed with a 6.5 liter naturally aspirated V12 kicking out 789 horses and 529 lb-ft of torque at 8500 RPM.

consecutive years (2016, 17, 18 and 19). After the F8 Spider presentation, the seats we were sat on began to turn around – a cool feature that got everyone excited with clapping and whistling! It’s V12 Spider time. In a similar fashion to the F8 Spider, the 812 GTS was unveiled. She’s a beauty, but a monstrous one. After a presentation on the history of the Ferrari V12’s, I learned that there is history and heritage in the shape and design of the 812; it’s strongly reminiscent of the 250 GTO and 365 GTB4 – especially from a side profile. With the roof down, the front-engine 812 GTS looks so elegant. More importantly, with the roof down, you can hear the V12 even better. The electric rear screen (wind stopper) makes the car truly useable with the top down, especially at speed. With the top up, it can be left open to hear the naturally-aspirated V12’s unique soundtrack. I do often wonder if anyone ever actually uses the radio when driving a Ferrari. The 812 GTS is packed with a 6.5 liter naturally aspirated V12 kicking out 789 horses and 529 lb-ft of torque at 8500 RPM. It’ll do a 0-100 sprint in under 3.0 seconds, while 0-200 in just 8.3 seconds. Top speed matches that of the Superfast at 340 kmh. For the first time in my time covering Ferrari events, they’ve launched two new awesome products in one show. Both of them remarkable. Now, when will we have them in Bahrain?

Euro Motors is the exclusive distributor for Ferrari in Bahrain. For more information call +973 17 734 734

Gulf Insider October 2019

Read our Reviews Online (Scan the QR Codes for the Review)

Camp Jeep

Volvo XC90

BMW X7

Two-day event attracts people who love Jeep, off-roading and adventure

The SUV offering so many different seating configurations

Luxury in every nook and cranny

For information on Jeep models

From BD 23,900 Motorcity, 17 736 222

Behbehani Brothers, 17 459 955

NEW

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan 2020

MINI Countryman Cooper S ALL4

A sedan version to their A-Class, smaller compact car

The Biggest MINI Ever!

From BD 14,700

From BD 15,000 Euro Motors on 17750750

From BD 40,000 EuroMotors,17 750 750

NEW

Audiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new RS 6 Avant The 600 Horsepower Monster Price on Application

Audi Bahrain on +973 1745 9933

Al Haddad Motors +973 1778 5454

Looking to buy a new car in Bahrain? Audi Q7 The new Q7 has just had a major facelift From BD 30,300 Audi Bahrain, 17 459 933

Enjoy 47 recent test drives and car reviews just scanâ&#x20AC;Ś Gulf Insider October 2019

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why spend more? Gulf Insider spends a few days with the entry level Jeep Grand Cherokee, which sells for just BD 12,995.

ehbehani Jeep lent me this entry level Grand Cherokee for a long weekend to drive around Bahrain and enjoy. It was interesting to compare this entry model Jeep as just a week earlier I had driven a top of the range SRT model from Venice International Airport all the way to a skiing village high in the Dolomite Mountains to

attend Jeep Camp 2019. It was a four hour journey that started on motorways and ended with climbing bending mountain roads. To read about this experience just scan the QR code at the bottom of this feature. This is a real Jeep. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just look tough, it is tough - as capable off road as on road. Despite this, it manages to be enjoyable to drive on tarmac with

precise steering and all sorts of nice in-car comforts. There are ten different models of the Grand Cherokee, plus almost unlimited options packages available to allow customers to make their Jeep unique. Interiors depend very much on which model you go for. On the standard model that I drove it was fairly simple and practical with much use of good

Nicholas Cooksey, the author of this article is the publisher of Arabian Magazines, Gulf Insider Media, and a jury member with the Middle East Car of the Year Awards (MECOTY). 56

Gulf Insider October 2019

Car Bahrain

to include blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert as standard. The Grand Cherokee’s base engine is a V6, but a V8 is optional on Limited trims and above. Towing capacity is a respectable 6200 pounds for the V6 models, and 7200 pounds with the V8. The V6 Grand Cherokee is fuel efficient by SUV standards, the V8 – with its greater towing capacity less so. I enjoyed this entry level model for the few days I had it. Starting from just BD12,900 in Bahrain, the Jeep Grand Cherokee must be one of the best value for money SUVs available.

This is a real Jeep. It doesn’t just look rugged, it is rugged and is as capable off road as on road. Jeep Camp 2019

Scan the QR code

All Jeeps offered at Behbehani Brothers WLL come with a 5 year 100,000 km warranty.

quality plastics, but top of the range models such as the SRT I had driven a week earlier, they are luxurious with the use of soft-touch materials and leather armrests, upper door panels, and dashboard. The infotainment system—called Uconnect—is excellent. There’s a standard 5.0-inch display, or buyers can opt for a larger 8.4-inch touchscreen. Rear-seat entertainment and in-car Wi-Fi is also available, and particularly useful for keeping children entertained while they sit in the back. There’s a huge amount of storage space, which can be substantially increased by putting down the rear seat which splits and folds in a 60/40 fashion; the operation is simple and quick, requiring just one action to release the headrest and fix the seat into its flat position. The current model has been improved

For more infomation call Behbehani Brothers on +973 1745 9955

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Prices start from BD 12,995

Alternative options: Ford Explorer Starting Price: BD 13,000

Dodge Durango Starting Price: BD 12,555

Gulf Insider October 2019

Car Bahrain

Photo of the Month

Photo taken by Charlie Cooksey at the Intercontinental Regency Bahrain Got some cool car photos we can feature? Send them our way! Editorial@gulf-insider.com Follow us 58

Gulf Insider October 2019

carbahrainbh

Car Bahrain

10.09am on Pudong. N 31° 14’ 08’’ E 121° 30’ 04’’.