Big December 2016

BUS ESS a Gulf Business magazine for today’s entrepreneurS

IN Gulf

december 2016 / Vol-10 No:12

INFLUENCing change how to use digital influencers to shape your brand

An Open Letter to Bahrain’s Ministry of Justice DISPLAY UNTIL december 20, 2016

special edition

JEWELLERY ARABIA 2016

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The best ticket rates to all destinations Great deals on hotel bookings around the world Most competitive rates for car rental services Complete honeymoon packages for newlyweds Huge variety of cruise programs at unbeatable prices Dynamic vacation packages for groups and independent trav november 2016

vellers november 2016

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The L.U.C Collection Each part is a masterpiece The mysteriously shaped date lever springs into action, commanding the date wheel to perform an instant 11.6129-degree jump corresponding to one day. Once its task is accomplished, it takes a 24-hour break. Like every component in the L.U.C Calibre 96.13-L, each date lever is hand-decorated and finished by the artisans at Chopard Manufacture. The L.U.C Lunar One watch bears the prestigious “Poinçon de Genève” quality hallmark and houses a movement that is chronometer-certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC).

L.U.C LUNAR ONE

December

BUSINESS Contents Gulf

58 38 VIRGINIE DREyER

Creating Meaningful Jewellery with Symbolic Value

CELEBRATING UNfoRGETTABLE MoMENTS Interview with Pandora Bahrain owner, Suhair Al-Awadhi

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40 NooRA AL zAIN & KARIMA SHARABI

Spreading the Generous Light Through their Artistic Jewellery

88 THE ENDURING LEGACy of GoLD, DIAMoNDS AND PEARLS

By Dr. Mukhtar Al-Hashimi 6

december 2016

RASHA LABABIDI & ANGIE HALL

Talking Business Behind the Wheel of a Bentley

You are one step closer, to becoming a Bentley owner.

Enquire our offer.

The world’s most stylish grand tourer. Reimagined. Restyled. Reborn.

AHMED ZAYANI & SONS W.L.L

131 SHK. Salman Highway, Zinj 358, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain P.O. Box 26332, For information call +973 17 238822 / 17 238190.

Or visit www.ahmedzayani.bentleymotors.com

BENTLEY BAHRAIN

December

BUSINESS Contents Gulf

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AT A GLAncE CovEr STory 78

BEJEWELLED HERITAGE The Enduring Legacy of Gold, Diamonds and Pearls

EnTrEPrEnEurS

ExHIBITING PERfECTIoN Arabian Exhibition Management CEo, Stephen Key, Talks Jewellery Arabia 2016

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YASSER ABDuLAzIz & AHmED ALRAWI How organising recreation Just Got a Lot Easier

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SvEnJA ScHuETzE Bringing the Taste of the Mediterranean to Bahrain

ConTrIBuTorS 84

AnITA mEnon Why Digital Influencers are the Brand-Shapers of Tomorrow

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ALEx SucHY von WEISSEnfELD An open Letter to Bahrain’s Ministry of Justice

rEGuLArS

STyLE fILE

The Classiest fashion Pieces

GADGETS

The Coolest Lifestyle Items

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fASHIon Bold statements

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GADGETS The latest in electronics

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HoTEL LISTInGS All they have to offer

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QuoTED What the vIPs said

BIG Words

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to brace yourselves for the landmark event of the year: Jewellery Arabia 2016 – where some of the largest retailers in the industry from across the globe will display their latest collections. To celebrate the largest and most prestigious jewellery exhibition in the Middle East, Business In Gulf magazine is proud to present our annual Jewellery Arabia Special Edition. To tell us a little more about the event, we have a talk with Stephen Key, CEO of Arabian Exhibition Parth Vaya Management, the organising body of Jewellery Arabia.

Deputy Editor To educate our readers a little more about the business 8

december 2016

of fine jewellery, we bring you an insightful article on the history of the gold, diamond and pearl trades.

We also have a look at some of the most expensive, as well as the most supposedly ‘cursed’ items of jewellery in history. With the mercury steadily falling as we near the end of the year, make sure to cover up, and don’t forget to switch on your hazard lights while driving in the fog! Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram @businessingulf, or visit our website, www.businessingulf.co for more news and updates.

As always Have a good read!

THE JOY OF GIVING EXPLORE A UNIVERSE OF GIFTS

Sterling silver charms from BHD 19

pandora.net

Explore the new Christmas collection and find the perfect gift at pandora.net.

Bahrain City Centre, Tel: +973 17 405 400 Muharraq Seef Mall, Tel: +973 17 420 707

BUSINESS Gulf

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NewsFlash

The latest headlines from around the globe

HoNdA builds New fActory iN cHiNA JAPAN: HoNdA receNtly ANNouNced tHAt it will build A New fActory iN cHiNA, As tHe JAPANese AutomAker exPANds its reAcH iNto tHe world’s biggest veHicle mArket. tHe firm, wHicH AlreAdy HAs severAl fActories iN cHiNA, will build its New PlANt iN tHe city of wuHAN. tHe PlANt will be Able to Produce 120,000 veHicles A yeAr iN tHe begiNNiNg, eveNtuAlly doubliNg to 240,000 uNits.

VolkSwAGEN oN TRAck AfTER ‘DiESElGATE’ blow

Iran in major deal with France’s Total

IRAN: Iran recently signed a deal with France’s Total to develop a major offshore gas field, its first big contract with a Western energy firm since sanctions were loosened in January this year. Total will lead a consortium also including China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and Iran’s Petropars to develop Phase 11 of the South Pars field under a 20-year contract worth $4.8 billion.

GERMANY: German auto giant Volkswagen posted net profit of $2.49 billion for the third quarter and raised its full-year forecasts, turning the tide from a massive loss a year ago over its emissions cheating scandal. The carmaker, once a paragon of German industry, has been plunged into its deepest-ever crisis after it emerged in September last year that it installed emissions-cheating software in 11 million diesel engines worldwide.

$6

billion Worth of the Mars One Project that will aim to colonise Mars by 2027

ArmAcell to build fActory in bAhrAin bAhrAin: German insulation provider Armacell has announced plans to build a new manufacturing facility in bahrain, which will create about 100 jobs within the first three years of operations. the factory, which will be located at the bahrain international investment Park, will produce elastomeric rubber insulation for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning market in the Gcc and Africa. Armacell has about 2,800 employees and 23 production plants globally.

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December 2016 october 2016

LuLu Group expand to uS

USA: LuLu Group International, the Abu Dhabi-headquartered retail and hospitality group, further expanded its operations by opening its food processing and logistics bases in the US. Y International, a wholly owned subsidiary of the group, launched its operation in Lyndhurst, New Jersey this month.

SAuDi fEARS oVER bANkRupTcY

kSA: Two of Saudi Arabia’s senior officials have warned that further cuts are needed to the kingdom’s swollen public sector otherwise the country faces bankruptcy in three years. According to civil service minister khaled Al Araj, the kingdom’s public sector, which employs more than 70 percent of the workforce, is extremely unproductive and its employees have a poor work ethic. Along with other Gcc governments, Saudi Arabia is struggling with falling revenues in a climate of low oil prices – its deficit was nearly $100 billion last year.

Marks & Spencer to close 60 stores

irAq Asks oil mAjors to downsize costly dubAi offices

UK: Marks & Spencer has announced it will close about 60 clothing and home stores over the next five years, in an effort to turn around its struggling business. Details of the restructure came as M&S reported an 88 per cent fall in pre-tax profit in the six month to the end of September as sales of clothing and food declined.

irAq: Iraq has asked international oil companies (IOCs) to shut down prestige offices in Dubai, through which they used to run their oil operations in Iraq.

This is part of an effort by Iraq to reign in their budgets following the global collapse in prices of crude oil, a major source of revenue for the country.

41, 515 per km2 Population density of Manila, Philippines – the highest in the world

Gulf lagging in gender gap reforms

UAE: The Middle East continues to have the world’s worst record when it comes to gender inequality despite efforts in countries like the UAE to address the balance, according to a new report. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2016 showed that progress towards parity in the key economic pillar has slowed dramatically with the gap and is now larger than at any point since 2008.

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau

Android controlling 87.5% of smartphone market USA: Google’s Android operating system captured a record-high 87.5 percent of the global smartphone market in the third quarter, a research firm said. The survey released by the firm found Android’s share increase from 84.1 percent in the same period a year ago, while Apple’s iOS saw its share slip to 12.1 percent from 13.6 percent.

Trade worries for Canada afTer Trump win

cAnAdA: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he looked forward to working with Donald Trump after the businessman won the U.S. presidency in a victory that could hurt Canada’s exporters and wreck plans to impose a national carbon price. The left-leaning Trudeau, who supports free trade and higher immigration, is ideologically removed from the Republican U.S. president-elect.

December JUly 2016

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Saudi

Kuwait

bahrain

Jeddah ranked ‘worst airport in the world

US giant GE opens Kuwait tech hub

Karl Lagerfeld opens first store in Bahrain

KSA: The Guide to Sleeping in Airports website, which evaluates overall airport experience each year based on passenger feedback, ranked King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah the worst airport in the world. It was ranked ahead of Juba International Airport in South Sudan, Port Harcourt International Airport in Nigeria, and Tashkent International Airport in Uzbekistan.

The airport is currently being upgraded, with a new terminal and gates originally scheduled to open in mid-2016 to resolve capacity issues.

KUWAIT: US-based giant General Electric (GE) recently announced the opening of the GE Kuwait Technology Centre (GEKTC), a flagship facility that will foster localised research and training for the power sector. Approved by the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), the 6,000 sq met facility is the first facility of its kind outside of the United States by GE.

BAHRAIN: Luxury French fashion brand Karl Lagerfeld recently opened their first outlet in Bahrain. The 70-square metre boutique is located in the country’s premier shopping mall, City Centre Bahrain. The first store will offer Middle Eastern consumers a wide-ranging selection of accessories in the brand’s signature accessible-luxe style, from iconic bags and footwear to small leather goods.

“Building a culture and environment with aligned purpose, habits, and incentives can give organisations a competitive advantage that is sustainable and will benefit clients, the providers themselves and ultimately society as a whole.”

Global head of the Centre for Applied Research, State Street, Suzanne Duncan

$160 billion King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Jeddah 16

december 2016

Estimated share of GCC exports to China in the year 2020.

KSA: State workers in Saudi Arabia are to be paid according to the Solar Hijiri calendar – the calendar most commonly used in Iran and Afghanistan – rather than the Gregorian calendar, according to local media. The decision to use the Gregorian rather than Islamic Hijiri calendar has made the working month longer for Saudi government workers and also included the loss of 11 salary days.

“Fintech is the future of financial services and it is key to opening up many sectors in emerging markets and driving financial inclusion.”

CEO of Dubai International Financial Centre Authority, Arif Amiri

UAE nuclear energy plants to sell power

UAE: The Barakah One Company, a subsidiary of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), has announced a deal for the purchase of electricity generated at the underconstruction plants in Abu Dhabi. The power purchase agreement has been signed with the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company (ADWEC).

KSA: HyundAi EnginEEring And ConStruCtion rECEntly SignEd A ContrACt to build A projECt for SAudi ArAmCo’S utHmAniyAH plAnt for $727 million. HyundAi ExpECtS tHE ContrACt to bE ComplEtEd by novEmbEr 2019. dESpitE lowEr oil priCES, SAudi ArAbiA iS prESSing AHEAd witH invEStmEnt, looKing to gAS to mEEt riSing domEStiC dEmAnd.

14.6 % Portion of

Bahrain’s real GDP made up by the manufacturing sector.

qatar

uae

oman

Qatar’s Nebras to buy stake in Indonesian power giant

UAE issues law to encourage reading

Oman to build new water plant

QATAR: Qatar’s Nebras Power plans to acquire a 35.5 percent stake held

by French utility Engie, in Indonesia’s largest independent power producer PT Paiton Energy by the end of 2016.

Engie currently has a 40.5 percent stake, with the remainder held by Japan’s Mitsui, Tokyo Electric Power, and Indonesia’s PT Batu Hitam.

UAE: The UAE on Monday issued the first law of its kind which aims to cement the importance of reading in the country. The law also will grant employees dedicated time to read during working hours, and consolidates the cultural image of books in the society and obliges coffee shops in shopping malls to offer reading material for its customers.

OMAN: State-owned Oman Power and Water Procurement Company has issued a tender for building a new independent water project (IWP) to meet the domestic water demand. Demand for potable water in the country’s northern region is projected to grow by 6 percent per annum in the next five years from 238 million cubic metres in 2013 to 349 million cubic metres by 2020. december 2016

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news

Gulf Air Wins 3 Major IT Awards

Gulf Air Director of Information Technology, Dr. Jassim Haji (right), accepting an award on behalf of the airline.

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december 2016

BAHRAIN: Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, recently took home 3 awards for its Information Technology achievements: “Technology Innovation of the Year” at the Aviation Business Awards 2016, “Hospitality and Tourism Deployment of the Year”at the seventh annual Computer News Middle East (CNME) ICT Achievement Awards, and “Best Airline in Technology – MiddleEast” at the Global Enterprise Connect (GEC) Awards 2016. The awards were accepted by Dr. Jassim Haji, Gulf Air Director of Information Technology, on behalf of the airline.

news

Yas Island to open world’s largest skydive, climbing centre UAE: Developer Miral recently announced plans to bring the world’s widest flight chamber and tallest indoor climbing wall to Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island in 2018. Visitors will be able to mimic the experience of skydiving within a chamber of an unmatched width of 32 feet. The $100 million centre, ‘CLYMB’, will also feature the world’s tallest indoor climbing wall.

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EvEnt

tEQUILa sUnrIsE Cantina kahlo BrinGs the aUthentiC taste oF MeXiCo to Bahrain

T

Ruben Beltran Palafox, Head of Economic, Cultural & Cooperation Section of the Embassy of Mexico in Ryadh (middle), cutting the ribbon with Ritz-Carlton Bahrain GM, Christian Zandonella (third from left)

he Ritz-Carlton recently opened Cantina Kahlo, a restaurant serving authentic Mexican cuisine. The restaurant’s team is led by Chef Torres, who joins the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain after honing his skills in the most renowned Mexican restaurants in Miami, USA. The hotel also opened the Kahlo Club, an outdoor lounge adjacent to Cantina Kahlo. The lounge, which is situated in the luscious garden lagoon and serves a light menu to act as an extension of the new dining concept presented at Cantina Kahlo.

InspIrIng InnovatIon Zain Bahrain hosts international speaker hitendra patel T

elecom provider Zain Bahrain recently hosted an exclusive seminar by renowned international speaker Hitendra Patel at Zain Bahrain headquarters in Seef. The event, entitled ‘Accelerating 10X Growth through Innovation’, focused on the importance of innovation, and how to generate value by predicting trends and creating sustainable innovation programs for growth. Mr. Patel is the Managing Director of the Centre for Innovation, a global consultancy which helps companies build innovation capabilities.

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General Manager of Zain Bahrain, Mohammed Zainalabedin (right), with Hitendra Patel

Shell Star Automatic

EvEnt

BUILDIng tHE FUtUrE BipeX 2016 CoMes to a Close T

he Bahrain International Property Exhibition (BIPEX) 2016 was held at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC) earlier this month. The 3-day event was officially inaugurated by His Excellency Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister. BIPEX is an annual event that brings together major Bahraini real estate companies to highlight projects for investors and visitors. The exhibition also serves as a platform bringing together experts to exchange views and experiences in the real estate field.

First day of BIPEX 2016

CELEBratIng

HErItagE MaJor tUrnoUt at Bahrain sea FestiVal

M

ore than 4,000 people attended the 10-day ‘Sea Festival’ held at Bahrain Bay last month, which was organised by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA). The event aimed to showcase the Kingdom’s rich link to the sea, tying it to several Bahraini sea-related traditions and cultural activities. The 10-day festival included a multimedia photo gallery and video display that demonstrated the history of pearl diving. In addition were several workshops that showcased the sea-related handicrafts, which included the making of fishing and diving equipment.

Traditional dhows at the Bahrain Sea Festival

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december 2016

EvEnt

LIgHts, CamEra, aCtIon! th

the Capital ClUB Bahrain Marks its 7 year anniVersary with hollywood-style CeleBration

D

azzling celebrity glamour enveloped the atmosphere as Capital Club Bahrain marked its 7th anniversary in a Hollywoodstyle party this month. The stunning event took place at the Club’s premises situated on 52nd floor of the Bahrain Financial Harbour and was attended by over 400 guests from Bahrain and around the region.

The entertainment was spread over two floors with a jazz band, DJs, and each meeting room transformed into a celebrity theme centring around actors, actresses and pop stars. To further commemorate the momentous occasion, a special fragrance - ‘Seven’ - was concocted exclusively by renowned perfumer Shoaib Malique of ‘Dar Al Teeb’, and distributed to guests. The sophisticated scent was created to reflect the essence of the club’s fantastic journey, capturing all the emotions gathered over the years and presented in a charming bottle as a forever memento.

Stefan Mathis & Aline Mathis

Gareth & Kay Brown, Joanne & Simon Bromyard

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december 2016

From left: Wafa Al Bushara, Jamal Fakhro, Judith & Faisal Jawad, Sumeet Jhingan & Fatima Ebrahim

Sheryl & David Mays

Darius & Aiste Anusaite Daubaras, Sumeet Jhingan

Clare Becket McInroy & Friends

Abdulwahab Al Hawaj, Jawad Al Hawaj, Jano Mouawad & Khamis Al Muqla

SmArt SerVIceS VIVA LAunches new smArtphone InsurAnce And Auto-pAyment serVIces VIVA Bahrain has recently expanded its list of services to include a smartphone insurance plan as well as an innovative auto-payment system. The insurance plan covers all Samsung and Apple iPhone 7 devices purchased through VIVA’s Unlimited Smart Plans or device add-ons. The auto-payment system allows VIVA Postpaid customers to automate their monthly bill payment.

VIVA Auto-pAy

VIVA protect

VIVA Bahrain has expanded its newly launched smartphone insurance plan “VIVA Protect”, to now provide protection against Samsung devices including S7, S7 edge and Gear VR devices, as well as Apple iPhone 7 devices. The yearly insurance plan covers screen breakage and liquid damages, offering repairs or complete replacement for registered VIVA customers. VIVA Protect provides three months complimentary coverage on selected iPhone and Samsung smartphones acquired with VIVA Unlimited Smart Plans or device add-ons. VIVA customers can extend the insurance coverage with low monthly instalments of BD 2.5 only for four to 12 months. Offering maximum flexibility, VIVA customers who have registered to VIVA Protect can receive a device replacement for a low deductible of only BD 15 if claimed within the first three months or BD 30 if claimed within four to 12 months.

For more details, please visit www.viva.com.bh/viva-protect.

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VIVA Bahrain also announced the launch of its latest innovative service – VIVA Auto-pay – which allows Postpaid customers to automate their monthly bill payment and enjoy peace of mind.

Customers can register for free on VIVA’s Mobile App or Self Care Portal on www. viva.com.bh to settle their bill using their credit card and select to enrol in VIVA Auto-pay during the payment process. The customer’s bill will then be automatically settled on the 3rd of every month. Additionally, VIVA Auto-pay allows customers to schedule auto payment for all the Postpaid lines registered under the same CPR and hence offering more flexibility and payment convenience. VIVA Auto-pay is only one of many secure and convenient payment channels providing a total of 700 points of payment across the Kingdom. VIVA’s App and Self-Care portal allow customers to settle all their bills in one go, while keeping track of their bills, activities and benefits. “Quick Pay” is one of the easiest payment options, which involves a single online transaction with no need to register or log in, available on VIVA’s website and Self Service machines in VIVA’s retail shops. Additionally, customers can make payments on SADAD machines located at major malls and stores around Bahrain.

For more information on VIVA’s many payment options, please visit www.viva.com.bh/ personal/help-support/payment-methods.

Your Home. Our Passion.

Privileged Banking

“ElitE” – the world of finest banking services from arab bank

Arab Bank’s Elite Program is a unique and highly personalised banking service that is tailor-made to meet the requirements of the most valued customers both in Bahrain and the region. Elite members enjoy a world of privileges that have been carefully designed to meet their evolving personal banking requirements.

Personalised Attention

At the heart of the Elite program comes the personalised service by a dedicated Relationship Manager, offering Elite members the highest levels of personalised attention and expert advice. The service is offered through specially designed Elite centres across the Bank’s branches locally and regionally, allowing Elite members to conduct their banking transactions conveniently with utmost levels of privacy and comfort.

Elite members are also recognised throughout the Bank’s regional network to ensure that they continue to enjoy the personalised and refined service they are used to at home

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whenever they visit any of our branches in the region. Furthermore, Elite members have 24-hour access to their Arab Bank accounts worldwide through the Bank’s advanced digital banking services including the award-winning Arabi online service (the internet banking service) and Arabi mobile (the smartphones / tablet banking application). Elite members also have the ability to transfer funds free of charge from their account to any of Arab Bank’s branches worldwide.

Diverse Privileges

Through Arab Bank’s subsidiaries, Elite members can take advantage of

a diverse range of investment options that include asset management, global and regional brokerage, and shariah-compliant products, amongst many others.

Offered exclusively to Elite customers, Arab Bank Visa Signature Credit Card and the Elite Visa Platinum Debit Card are also among the value-added privileges of the program. They offer a range of prestigious benefits and distinguished features. The Visa Signature Credit Cardholder is automatically enrolled in the ‘Arabi Rewards’ program, which allows customers to reap many benefits by using the credit card.

Mr. Odeh Al Masri, Head of Consumer Banking – Bahrain, stated, “At Arab Bank we continue to introduce comprehensive and well-integrated banking solutions in order to optimise our clients’ banking experience and provide them with the best value.” He continued, “Through the Elite program, we leverage our long history and extensive local, regional and global network to offer our most valued customers access to a wide choice of banking services to meet their requirements and lifestyle.”

CROWNE PLAZA BAHRAIN THE PERFECT DESTINATION FOR BUSINESS

PERFECTLY POSITIONED: Welcome to Crowne Plaza Bahrain, one of the earliest business hotels on the island, with rich heritage and history. Placed right in the heart of Bahrain’s business district, only 10 minutes from Bahrain International Airport, it has easy access to the Bahrain Financial Harbour, major shopping areas and many other popular tourist attractions. Crowne Plaza Bahrain is always the perfect destination for business or leisure.

One of the Crowne Plaza Bahrain’s King Deluxe Rooms

staY eXPerience: Crowne Plaza consists of 246 units categorised as Standard, Deluxe and Executive rooms including junior suites. Unique to Crowne Plaza we offer ‘Quite Zones’ which limits operational noise to guarantee peace & quiet. All rooms have been designed to provide maximum comfort and have great amenities – including high-speed wireless internet available throughout the hotel that will allow you to conduct your business seamlessly. Additionally, all guestrooms have the unique Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage Toolkit – an enhanced level of comfort that includes luxurious bedding, a Guaranteed Wake-up call, Quiet Zone floors and relaxing amenities. The guests also have free access to the temperature controlled pool, sauna, tennis court, squash court and bFit, the fitness centre where you can enjoy a brisk workout during their stay.

For Your Palate: The hotel offers a wide choice of 6 restaurants including an all-day dining restaurant and a lobby cafe. La Mosaique Buffet Restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering a choice of theme nights throughout the week. Waves Seafood Restaurant, serving Bahrain’s finest seafood, is a must for seafood lovers. Spices Restaurant serves traditional Indian food. Harvester’s Pub has the best pub grub on the island & a live band every night. Tracks Sports Bar is ideal for sport buffs.

One of the meeting rooms at the Bahrain Conference Centre

Your reliable and eFFicient business Partner: The Bahrain Conference Centre, attached to the hotel complex, is a leading venue for seminars and exhibitions, catering to more than 2000 delegates. Supporting the 1200 square meters of primary conference and banqueting area is a further 8 individually appointed meeting rooms. Crowne Plaza’s 8 storey car park building within the facility to park 500 plus cars is an added advantage. From private banquets, to cocktail receptions, the flexibility and versatility of the space is really the best in Bahrain. Our dedicated Crowne Meetings team and wedding specialists are experienced in every aspect of both conferences and wedding celebrations offering the best choice of menus along with a fantastic setting that will really impress your guests or delegates with that wow factor. Special amenities are nothing without special service, and here the hotel truly shines.

Whether parking your car, acting as your personal Concierge or offering you timely service for your conferences, our savvy and friendly colleagues go the extra mile to make your stay in crowne Plaza bahrain, business-efficient.

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Yasser Abdulaziz (left), and Ahmed AlRawi

Fever Pitch Yasser Abdulaziz and Ahmed Alrawi change the Way We Organise recreation 34

december 2016 August 2016

EntrEprEnEur nyone living in the Middle East would attest to the near-religious following that the sport of football enjoys in the region. Realising a need for structure to Bahrain’s most popular recreational activity, two young entrepreneurs and football fanatics created Malaeb. The revolutionary app allows customers to book football pitches and organise games on the go. We talk to company CEO Ahmed AlRawi and COO Yasser Abdulaziz to find out more.

Could you give us a brief overview of your educational and career backgrounds prior to starting Malaeb?

Ahmed: I studied computer engineering, and have always been passionate about technology. I also have had some experience in tech start-ups, having started my first business, Selfie Station. I sold it recently to work full-time on Malaeb.

Yasser: Having graduated from the University of Bangor in Wales with a BSc. in accounting and finance, I went on to start my professional career at Unilever. I spent just over 2 years at the company, working in the finance department. I quit shortly after we launched Malaeb in Bahrain in order to dedicate myself to it full-time.

What inspired you to start Malaeb?

Yasser: Being someone who plays football three to four times a week, booking a pitch was always a lengthy and annoying process. I started thinking about a solution, talked to a couple of friends and came up with the idea for Malaeb. After the first couple of meetings with Ahmed, we saw the opportunity to create a network for football lovers.

How does the app work exactly?

Ahmed: We made sure the app is in the simplest and most user-friendly form possible.

Once you open it, you get a list of the football pitches in your country. Then, when you find the location that suits you, you can select the duration, day, time, and you’re good to go!

How many people do you currently have working for Malaeb?

Who did the design work on the app?

Ahmed: Malaeb started with a small team of 2 co-founders and now has grown to 6 full-time team members. I had the vision of the app design by analysing the functionality and being inspired from other designs.

We then we got additional help from Limefish Design, a local branding agency, to bring this vision to reality.

In which countries is the app currently operational?

Yasser: We are currently working in Bahrain and Kuwait and have recently started doing the groundwork to launch in Saudi Arabia as well. We hope to be up-and-running there by late November.

What have been some of the biggest challenges you faced when setting up the business?

Ahmed: We have had some difficulties finding the development talent to join our team in order to build the amazing app we had envisioned. I have the technical background that would enable me to build a prototype, but I’m a horrible developer and we needed experienced engineers to join us. We have also had some financial challenges seeking investment initially, until we raised our seed round from Tenmou a few months ago.

Malaeb user interface on an Andoid device

How have you tried to market this app to your target audience?

Which methods seem to be the most effective?

Ahmed: We have experimented with a number of channels to reach out to our target audience, but most of our customers come through word of mouth! The day of our launch in Bahrain, we only shared a WhatsApp broadcast with our friends and then it started flying around in football groups all around the Kingdom, which generated over a thousand downloads overnight. Also, when a user tries the app and books seamlessly, he or she would recommend it to friends so that they could use it as well.

How exactly do you make a profit from the app? What is the business model?

Yasser: We have a commission model where we charge the pitches a commission for every booking that comes through the app. It’s a very straightforward business model that ensures that both parties are satisfied with the amount that they are paying or receiving.

What advice do you have for any aspiring entrepreneurs out there, hoping to blaze

“We embrace a culture of experimentation with whatever ideas we have, and we try to validate them through small tests.”

their own path?

Yasser: Well, we’re aspiring entrepreneurs ourselves, and we’ve barely taken a few steps in this journey. One idea that definitely resonates with us is not being afraid to try and fail. We embrace a culture of experimentation with whatever ideas we have, and we try to validate them through small tests. This is a crucial step for anyone thinking of launching a product – getting actual feedback from customers in order to validate their idea.

Outside of work, what are some of your hobbies and interests?

Ahmed: Reading, playing with electronics and technology, and of course, playing football.

Yasser: Football! Whether that’s playing, watching, or discussing it with friends.

What are your favourite football teams, respectively?

Yasser: I’m a devoted Arsenal fan.

COYG (Come On You Gunners)!

Ahmed: I don’t have a favourite team, mainly because I don’t watch football that often.

What are your future plans for Malaeb?

Yasser: We are currently trying to focus on launching across the GCC within the next year but we definitely won’t stop at that – we have even bigger plans in sight for the future. When it comes to the app, we will be launching the teams feature quite soon. We will also keep developing new social features and adding more locations for our users.

To find out more about the app, follow on Instagram @malaebapp or visit the website: www.malaebapp.com

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Mediterranean

delight

Foodie Svenja Schuetze Lives the dream by running Her Own restaurant 36

december 2016 August 2016

EntrEprEnEur

o any remotely healthconscious individual, it’s no secret that the Mediterranean diet is considered one of the world’s healthiest. Keeping in mind the value of serving such a tasteful and nutritious cuisine to the Bahrain market, young Svenja Schuetze decided to take initiative. The result was Florence Restaurant, an increasinglypopular new outlet in Adliya.

Could you tell us a little bit about your educational and work background before starting Florence La Maison Mediterraneenne?

I am 24 years old, originally from Germany, and moved to Bahrain 4 years ago to study International Business at Royal University for Women. I started the restaurant project in July 2015 and completed it earlier this year. Since the official opening, I’ve been spending the majority of my time in the restaurant overseeing the operation.

What inspired you to start the restaurant?

Have you had any formal training in the culinary arts?

Bahrain is a growing and open country with a huge cultural diversity that opens many opportunities. It had always been a dream of mine to have my own business, especially one related to food and hospitality. So, when the opportunity knocked, I took it. I had no training in the culinary arts but was always very curious about the food and beverage industry. I was always reading about it, wanting to learn more about new trends, and what people are mostly interested in.

What was the biggest challenge you faced when setting up the restaurant?

The biggest challenge was surely the intense competition in Bahrain and especially in Adliya. Furthermore, strategic locations to open a restaurant are becoming rare to find, and mostly very expensive to rent or buy. The selection of material and equipment in the country are limited as well. Since Bahrain is a small country, you have to outsource or even manufacture some of the products by yourself like we did. This ends up being more expensive than buying them from local markets.

What marketing methods have you employed to introduce your restaurant to your target market?

Which method has proved most effective?

To be honest, we didn’t use

“Customising and adapting to the culture and society you live in is very important to succeed in your business.”

Florence Restaurant in Adliya

many marketing strategies at all. We took advantage of our location and the attractiveness of our venue.

We basically relied on word of mouth and it worked pretty well. For us, it’s very important that whoever tries the restaurant comes back and talks positively about it.

Your restaurant is one of many in Bahrain. What distinguishes Florence from its competitors?

The venue itself plays a big role. The Mediterranean vibes, the friendly atmosphere and the originality of our dishes are also what distinguish us from our competitors. Our goal was to always open an authentic restaurant that welcomes everyone and makes you feel like you are outside Bahrain enjoying delicious, healthy and fresh made food and mocktails.

Florence is authentic, friendly and very peaceful. It was built with lots of passion and people are feeling it.

Where have you drawn inspiration from, with regards to the food or style of the interiors?

It’s the Mediterranean cuisine in general, the rich flavours and the freshness of the ingredients combined together that inspired me to

open this restaurant. I also believe that customising and adapting to the culture and society you live in is very important to succeed in your business.

What advice do you have for any aspiring entrepreneurs out there hoping to start their own successful venture one day?

I always hear: “I’m not a lucky person”, “I didn’t have any luck in life”, or “I’m not rich enough to do what I want”. Well, I believe there isn’t an unlucky person, and everybody has all the luck they need. People just need watch out for any opportunity that passes them by, take a calculated risk and grab it.

It all starts by following your passion and believing in it.

What are your future plans for Florence?

We’re thinking of expanding the business to include high-end catering services.

We hope to accomplish this by opening a central kitchen and catering to events and private parties. Somewhere down the line, we would also like to open branches in other gulf countries such as the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.

To find out more about Florence Restaurant, follow on Instagram and Facebook @florencebahrain.

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Gold StandardS Virginie dreyer talks about creating meaningful Jewellery with Symbolic Value 38

december 2016 August 2016

EntrEprEnEur

fter a number of years working as a lawyer in Paris, Virgine Dreyer decided to explore her creative ideas upon moving to Bahrain. Inspired by the artistic feats of local goldsmiths, she trained in graphic art and design.

Today, she is the proud founder of TinyOm, a popular line of jewellery based in the kingdom.

How would you describe the style of your jewellery, and what themes do you incorporate into your designs?

What inspired you to start TinyOm?

TinyOm creations are all available in 18-carat rose or white gold. But my favourite material is rose gold for its beautiful, delicate colour! For the chakra collections, I also use precious stones, as each chakra is associated with a colour and a stone. I have also incorporated diamonds in some collections.

I was seduced by the art and craftsmanship of local goldsmiths in Bahrain, and began to visualise creating my own line of jewellery. As I am passionate about yoga, which I practice and teach, I was moved to base my creations on its philosophy. I wanted to create jewellery with a symbolic value and meaning.

How long does it usually take to design a new product? Where are the products actually manufactured?

There is no fixed time period.

Sometimes I work on a design for months and might even finally give up. Sometimes I come up with a design, almost by magic, in a couple of hours.

All TinyOm creations are handcrafted in the workshops of the Al Zain jewellery house in Bahrain.

My jewellery style reflects my desire for purity, simplicity and beauty. My inspirations come from universal symbols, ancestral tales and the beauty of nature. Each TinyOm piece is designed with a protective purpose. The chakra collection, which is the signature collection of TinyOm, was inspired by the meaning of the seven chakras and their beautiful symbol, the lotus flower.

Do you have any favourite jewellery designers or brands?

I greatly admire the works of Vanrycke, and Maison Dauphin, two well-known French jewellery brands.

What materials do you prefer to use in your jewellery, and why?

Where are your products available for sale?

In Bahrain, my products are currently available at Words BookstoreCafé, and Al Zain jewellery shops in Seef Mall, City Centre and Moda Mall. They will soon be available at The Four Seasons Hotel in Bahrain Bay. I also have several points of sale in the United States. We also offer delivery worldwide for customers who shop online through our website.

Chakra pendants by TinyOm

“My jewellery style reflects my desire for purity, simplicity and beauty.”

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when trying to set up your business?

As my business has grown, different problems and opportunities have demanded different solutions. The solutions I found when I set up the business might not have worked anymore today. So I guess the difficulty is to constantly plan ahead and adapt myself to the evolving circumstances. I also sometimes find it frustrating to spend so much time on the business aspect of the company.

I have days where I really shut the doors to all the business problems so I can just focus on the creative aspects of my work.

What avenues or methods have you used to market your products? Which methods have proved most useful?

I’ve stuck to the most important marketing tools available to entrepreneurs today – Facebook, Instagram, Google ads, newsletters, blogging etc. I am very careful

with maintaining the purity and simplicity of the TinyOm philosophy and image. I do all of the product photography myself because I want to make sure the pictures tell a story and create an emotion. If someone on Instagram talks about your brand with passion, it is because you have created a special connection with this person.

This is the key!

What are your future plans for TinyOm?

My immediate plans are to launch my new collections at Words Bookstore Café this month. There will be exclusive ‘one of a kind’ pieces available as well as pieces from Tiny Om’s previous collections including the ever-popular Chakra collection. Thinking long-term, I’d like to launch TinyOm for men. I think there is still so much to do in this area. And, if I dream big, opening a TinyOm shop in New York or London would be the ultimate goal. But most importantly, I want to continue designing beautiful jewellery!

To find out more about TinyOm, follow @ tinyomjewellery on Instagram and Facebook or visit www.tiny-om.com.

Double ring design by TinyOm

What inspired the name of the brand, ‘TinyOm’?

TinyOm is named after the Om mantra, which celebrates the birth of the universe, imitating its original vibration.

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Noora Al Zain (left), and Karima Sharabi

Spreading

the generouS Light Noora Al Zain and Karima Sharabi Sell Artistic Jewellery that connects different cultures 40

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EntrEprEnEur oping to inspire positive change in peoples’ lives, artist Karima Sharabi, and experienced jewellery professional Noora Al Zain decided to join forces. Since its inception in 2015, The Generous Light Co. (TGLC), has become an entity that represents connectedness and belonging: a crosscultural brand that people worldwide can relate to.

How did the two of you meet, and what inspired you to start this business?

Noora: Karima and I first connected when I saw her calligraphy artwork on social media. I fell in love with her designs and contacted her because I wanted to have a custom design made for myself.

When she sent me the designs she had created for me, I immediately imagined them as jewellery and that is where the journey began.

Karima: Noora contacted me after she saw my work on Instagram and asked me to create a design with the Arabic word for “purity.” I created a variety of sketches for her and she ended up choosing one in the shape of a dancer. I thought that the idea of turning them into jewellery sounded exciting.

What aspects of the business does each of you handle? Does either of you have a formal background in design of any sort?

Noora: I graduated with a degree in Graphic and Communication Design at the University of Leeds, England, and later went on to do a course in Jewellery Design. I also spent a lot of time working on the rebranding project for Al Zain Jewellery. Currently, I work as part of their creative team to

develop campaigns as well as new collections. I handle the business management and the creative direction of The Generous Light Co. Karima: After studying IB Art at the higher level here in Bahrain, I went on to study at Parsons School of Design in New York.

Although I ended up switching schools and getting a BA in Political Science from McGill University, my heart was always in art. Most of what I have learned is self-taught. I am the artist and creative director of Chamkana, a brand under TGLC. This line of products is based on my Mystical Arabic Tattoo Designs – Arabic words formed into symbols and shapes.

How long does it usually take to design a new product?

Where are the products actually manufactured?

Noora: The process of creating a new product takes about 3-4 months from start to finish.

This would include designing the product, sampling and the production of the full collection.

At the same time, we work on developing the concepts for the supporting collateral; from photoshoots and copywriting, to artwork, which then goes to printing. Fortunately, because my father owns a jewellery factory, we get to produce all the samples locally. We also produce some of our silver and gold products at the Al Zain factory.

Furthermore, we also work with suppliers in Turkey, Lebanon and India for our other products!

From where do you draw inspiration when coming up with new designs? What themes do you try to incorporate into your products?

Noora: Personally, I get my inspiration from the beauty of nature, from different cultures and beliefs. I love creating pieces that have a little knowledge behind them, that the wearer could relate to or learn something from.

Karima: I get a lot of inspiration for my calligraphic designs from eastern spiritualists like Hafiz, Rumi, and Khalil Gibran as well as Native American leaders who

were in close connection to nature and their surroundings.

My biggest inspiration however, comes from my clients and their stories. The fact that we all have similar stories of struggle and strength and are much more connected than we realise, is extremely beautiful and humbling to me.

Do you have any favourite jewellery designers or brands?

Noora: My parents are my biggest inspiration in the jewellery industry. I have grown up watching the process of creation, which I have fallen in love with, through them. My father followed in his father’s footsetps by opening the Al Zain factory, with my mother later joining him. Everyday, I am inspired by their designs, creativity and determination to build the brand.

Karima: I have always admired the work of Egyptian jewellery designer Azza Fahmi. Her jewellery was the first I had seen that incorporated Arabic script, using secular, universal poetry and quotes. I also love how she mixes gold and silver within each piece, and that some of her designs are inspired by tribal Arabic ornamentation.

What materials do you prefer to use in your jewellery, and why?

Noora: I’m a sucker for all natural stones and pearls. I am fascinated by how each stone is unique and love that stones have healing powers.

Karima: I also love stones and the idea that each stone has a different vibration and healing energy. I am also drawn to the warming qualities of wood and would love to combine it with gold and silver.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when trying to set up your business?

Noora: Every startup faces challenges. Our main struggle was finding the right suppliers.

Another challenge that we faced was the accounting, and creating a strategy and system as soon as we started our operations. There was so much going on right from the beginning, with only the two of us to handle everything.

So, if I could go back in time,

Some examples of TGLC’s designs

I would make sure I had a system in place for accounting from day one!

Karima: It’s quite tough being a mother, an artist, and running a business simultaneously.

I am an artist first and a businesswoman second, so organisational skills are not my forte! I have however, learned so much over the past year about business; about suppliers, materials, marketing, social media, sales, and dealing with people.

What advice do you have for any aspiring entrepreneurs out there?

Noora: My advice is to take your time prior to your launch.

To really spend time developing your strategies, studying the market, and being as organised as possible with documentation, budgeting and accounting.

Karima: I think it is best to start small and master whatever service or product you have to offer and then expand gradually. You can learn so much from focusing on just one thing that you love or one little idea that you really believe in. Belief is key because there will always be bumps in the road, challenges and trials. But with a good idea, intention, and focus, everything ends up unfolding exactly as it should.

To find out more about The Generous Light Co., follow on Instagram @ thegenerouslightco or visit their website: thegenerouslightco.com

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GUCCI 1

GUCCI TIMEPIECES ON THE WOMEN’S COLLECTION SPRING SUMMER 2017 RUNWAY Gucci Timepieces, one of the most reliable and consistent fashion watch brands, with a clear design approach and positioning, has been designing, developing and manufacturing iconic Gucci watches since the early 1970s. Rigorously made in Switzerland, Gucci watches are recognised for their innovative and contemporary design, quality and craftsmanship. Since January 2010, Gucci Timepieces has also been distributing the Gucci Jewelry collections, capitalising on the expertise gained in the watch sector and leveraging the synergies between the watch and jewelry industries.

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Models on the Gucci Women’s Collection Spring Summer 2017 runway wore the following timepieces:

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Look 1: New Gucci Timepieces design featuring a rainbow-coloured plexiglas case and bangle bracelet, accented with a white mother of pearl dial.

Look 2: Le Marché des Merveilles collection, carved case with a rotating feline head cover painted with enamel and an antique silver-coloured rigid bangle with black-yellow-black enamel stripe.

Look 3: Le Marché des Merveilles collection, carved antique silver-coloured case with a rotating feline head cover and an antique silver coloured rigid bangle with blue-red-blue enamel stripe.

Look 4: Le Marché des Merveilles collection, carved antique silvercoloured case with a rotating feline head cover with diamond and rubies setting and a black lizard strap.

Look 5: The new Dionysus watch from Gucci Timepieces, antique silver-coloured case and a carved antique silver-coloured bangle with black enamel detailing.

Look 6: New Gucci Timepieces design featuring a rainbow-coloured plexiglas case and bangle bracelet accented with with strass studs.

Look 7: Le Marché des Merveilles collection, carved antique silver-coloured case and turquoise-coloured dial.

Look 8: Le Marché des Merveilles collection, carved antique silver-coloured case with a rotating feline head cover and an antique silver-coloured rigid bangle with green-red-green enamel stripe.

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BEATS ALL DEALS

SAVE MORE ON

JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 2016 ®

/azayani.bahrain /ahmedzayani_bahrain www.ahmedzayani.com Showroom Timings: Sat - Thurs, 8am - 7pm

CALL NOW 17 238822

Patek PhiliPPe enriching its Collection With Seductive Continuity

Patek Philippe enriches its regular collection by introducing a brand-new lineup of stunning timepieces.

The broad selection of debuts includes new complications, a model that celebrates the 20th anniversary of a bestseller and revisited classics that will delight connoisseurs and admirers of fine watchmaking.

 20 years since its

introduction, the Annual Calendar has been crafted in 21 versions. These include ladies’ diamond-set models with mother-ofpearl dials, not to mention the numerous variations in platinum, yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold with eclectic dial designs. The new Ref. 5396 is model No. 22.

 The new World Time

watch Ref. 5230 supersedes all previous models of its lineage because politically motivated modifications of the World Time order called for a new time-zone scale. Patek Philippe took this as an opportunity to subtly rework the dial and case of the new Ref. 5230.

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 The new Grandmaster Chime

Ref. 6300 comes with a novel and distinctive exterior. Featuring 20 complications, among them 5 strikework functions, it redefines the benchmark. Its hand-guilloched white-gold case clearly distinguishes it from the totally hand-engraved Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175 that was crafted in a limited 7-watch commemorative edition.

 Patek Philippe

 Aficionados, collectors, and connoisseurs of

mechanical timepieces will be awed when by the new Patek Philippe World Time Chronograph Ref. 5930. It combines the Genevan manufacture's patented World Time mechanism with a proprietary self-winding chronograph movement that comes in a round white-gold case and a dial with a blue, manually guilloched centre.

presents the Calatrava "Timeless White" Ref. 7122 for the woman's wrist. With the timeless beauty of the bright white dial, innovative gemsetting artistry featuring white flawless diamonds, and a refined case design, it is compellingly seductive.

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Jaeger-LeCouLtre The ReveRso one ColleCTion The Reverso One collection pays eloquent tribute to femininity by embodying its every nuance in a range of models nurtured by creativity. While reviving the elongated shape of 1930s watch cases, the Reverso One has its finger firmly on the pulse of today’s fashion trends. On the dial, the new Arabic numerals radiate a sense of airy lightness, as if they had been handwritten in a lively, buoyant script. The four corners of the watch face evoke its proud heritage, while the case features the same slightly cambered profile of the historical models that gently hugged the wrist.

reverso one Duetto Moon

Jaeger-LeCoultre wished to endow this collection with its horological expertise and thus invites women to succumb to their desire for a complicated watch. Powered by a mechanical manuallywound movement, the Reverso One Duetto Moon displays two faces representing two separate worlds. On one side, it reveals the most feminine of horological complications, the moon phase. The mother-of-pearl lunar disc offers a striking and romantic depiction of the heavenly body, standing out against a spangled blue stay drawing the gaze into the depths of a dreamy night. The infinitely graceful dial stage-setting is composed of overlapping circles and radiant beams. Thus associated with the moon phase, the Duetto concept thus associated with the moon phase display, the Duetto concept based on two back-to-back dials driven by a single movement makes the Reverso One Duetto Moon a magnificently accomplished watch. It comes in an alligator strap version or with a steel or gold bracelet delicately accentuating the visual emotions it so artfully stirs.

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Chopard

The Imperiale Collection An authentic classic by Chopard, the Imperiale watch now welcomes a new variation highlighting the ultimate imperial colour, purple.

Imperiale Watch

Cocktail ring in 18ct white gold encircling a facetted amethyst and set with diamonds Ref. 829563-1010

When the codes of contemporary elegance draw inspiration from the grandeur of the Roman empire, a true classic is in the making. The Imperiale watch distils a wealth of details representing subtle nods to the finest hours of the imperial age. Noble Roman numerals frame the delicately engraved dial centre that evokes the motifs of the embroidered cushions on which monarchs used to place their royal insignia. Purple, the ultimate imperial colour, makes its grand

Watch in stainless steel, bezel set with diamonds, crown set with an amethyst, purple alligator strap Ref. 388532-3012

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Imperiale Jewellery

To accompany these horological creations, Chopard also introduced long ear pendants that are both sophisticated and contemporary, with a design inspired by the motif adorning the watch dials. Dainty diamond-set 18-carat white gold ‘cages’ surround facetted amethysts or gently clasp long drop-shaped amethysts.

Watch in stainless steel, crown set with an amethyst, purple alligator strap Ref. 388532-3010

Earrings in 18ct white gold set with amethysts (48.4cts) and diamonds.

Ref. 849570-1001

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entry on this new model, echoing the cabochon-cut amethyst shaped like a lotus flower and adorning the crowns of the Imperiale models.

Hublot Big Bang Unico Usain Bolt: a new chronograph for the world sprint king

s

ince 2010, Hublot has been standing alongside the greatest sprinter of all time and shares the same quest with Bolt. a quest for the precise and perfect measure of time, the desire to stand the test of time and to always surpass oneself and set new challenges. In order to mark 2016, a milestone year for usain Bolt, Hublot has created two new limited editions imbued with all that embodies the strength, determination and success of the fastest man in the world.

The Big Bang UNICO Usain Bolt comes in two limited editions. In a 45mm Big Bang case, the second hands of its flyback chronograph movement measure time with a hand shaped like a lightning bolt. Its design tinged with green and gold, and its strap marked with the silhouette of the Jamaican flag, evoke the athlete’s origins. On the sapphire case back that reveals the UNICO manufacture movement, the silhouette of “Lightning Bolt” displays his emblematic victory sign.

Black, formal wear - a tribute to the legend An All Black version in the Jamaican’s lively colours, paying tribute to the path of a legend seeking a new record. 250 pieces cut in ceramic. The Big Bang Unico Usain Bolt has the screws of its bezel in the gold of the 6 Olympic medals already won by the greatest record holder of all times.

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Triple gold - hat trick Gold for the Big Bang Unico Usain Bolt. Case and bezel in 3N 18k yellow gold, gold shiny strap in calfskin sewn onto rubber. A model that symbolises the challenge Bolt has set himself - winning his third Olympic triple gold at Rio. 100 pieces symbolising victory to wear on your wrist.

W

hen Mr. Winston founded his eponymous jewellery emporium in 1932, one of his pursuits involved the acquisition of important estate jewellery, which he would then re-cut and re-set allowing the intrinsic beauty of the stones to prevail. For him the emerald cut was the most elegant and flattering cut for precious stones and became intimately associated with the creations of the New York jeweller.

Harry Winston EmErald

It is precisely this emerald-cut shape that has inspired the sophisticated profile of the white or rose gold case of the new Harry Winston Emerald timepiece, a motif which is reinforced on the dial with the iconic emerald-cut Harry Winston logo applied in gold at 12 o’clock.

The vibrant blue colour of the dial and strap are a clear allusion to Harry Winston’s Hope diamond and transport the wearer directly to the heart of the jeweller’s universe. The intense blue colour of the dial emanates a brilliant glossy sheen and glows with the sparkle of three brilliant-cut diamonds set at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. The bezel, crown, lugs and ardillon buckle have been set with 67 brilliant-cut diamonds, equivalent to 0.53 carat.

The Harry Winston Emerald timepiece is presented in white gold with a blue lacquered dial and is also available in rose gold with a snowy white satin sunburst dial. Both models come on a choice of double tour satin straps that match the colour theme of the dial, or on elegant rose or white gold Milanese bracelets. The exquisite craftsmanship behind the fine Milanese mesh straps is translated into a supple, pliant bracelet that sits beautifully on the wrist.

Harry Winston Harry Winston Emerald Collection

Harry Winston is proud to unveil Harry Winston Emerald Collection, a new timepiece collection straight from the heart of America’s legendary “King of Diamonds”; a contemporary classic. The intense blue dial, the diamonds and the distinctive shaped case allude directly to Mr. Winston’s extraordinary legacy.

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PATTERNS OF FROST

Reflecting the minimalist beauty of winter and the trend for mixed stone cuts is the hand-finished Patterns of Frost jewellery series, comprising a statement ring, a pendant necklace and stud earrings.

CELESTIAL TALES

VINTAGE STAR

A night sky motif in midnight blue enamel, with a star-shaped cubic zirconia and inscribed with the beautiful engraving; “I love you to the moon and back” is a keepsake that women can wear close to their hearts. Style it with the Entwined hoop earrings in shiny sterling silver to add on-trend details and elegant emotion to classic structured looks.

PANDORA

A WINTER’S TALE

Inspired by the unique beauty of a starry galaxy is the stylish Entwined bangle and matching hoop earrings. Their sleek and contemporary expressions make them ideal for mixing and matching with other silver styles.

A silvery solar system casts its light upon the abstract wonders of a wintry landscape, bestowing bright nuances of blue, white and gold on vivid handfinished jewellery. Contemporary constellations, lustrous orbs and frosted clusters of stones shine brightly with heavenly sheens and embellishments – brought to life with high-end craftsmanship and an ever-evolving expression of femininity and style.

TIMELESS ELEGANCE

Tapping into the trend for heritageinspired jewellery and square shapes is the Timeless Elegance ring. Beautifully crafted from 14k gold, the embellished ring showcases a cubic zirconia centre stone in a striking Danube cut.

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GEOMETRIC BEAUTY

The Timeless Elegance jewellery series combines vintage detailing with on-trend abstract shapes and luxurious 14k gold. Danube-cut cubic zirconia centrepieces, framed by stone-embellished halos, create the signature look of these jewellery classics: a necklace pendant and stud earrings.

Your Home. Our Passion.

Customised Collections for Men, Women & Children Mia Moon Jewellers introduces a number of brands to add to their lineup: Fred, Carlos Barberis, Stefan Hafner, Verdi and Mattioli. Featured below are a few pieces from their exciting new collections. i

ioiell

iG Verd

Carlo Barberis Peacock Collection

Fred llection

Pain De Sucre Co

Carlo Barberis Fireworks Collection

Fred Force 10 Collection

is Carlo Barberon Collecti on st le ar Ch

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IntervIew

Celebrating

Unforgettable MoMents

Interview with Pandora Bahrain Owner, suhair al-awadhi Starting out as a familyrun shop in Copenhagen in 1982, Pandora has since become one of the largest jewellery brands in the world. Today, Pandora’s operations span 90 countries on 6 continents and 9500 points of sale. We interview the owner of Pandora’s franchise in Bahrain, Suhair AlAwadhi, who tells us more about the brand’s increasing popularity in the kingdom.

How did you get into the jewellery industry?

In the retail industry, you have to explore and analyse the opportunities in front of you. Being a woman, I adore jewellery and thought it would be an interesting venture to get involved in.

When exploring different options, I fell in love with the Pandora brand, and decided to bring it to Bahrain.

When did Pandora start operations in Bahrain and how many outlets do you have?

I opened up the first Pandora store at Bahrain City Centre in October 2013.

Due to high demand and customer awareness of the brand, I opened a second outlet in Seef Mall, Muharraq, in February 2015.

In which GCC countries is Pandora present? Which GCC country has the biggest market?

Pandora is currently present in all GCC countries with the UAE being the biggest market in the region today.

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What is the Pandora brand’s target demographic in Bahrain?

How would you describe Pandora’s ideal customer?

There is no target demographic as such. Pandora’s products are meant for all females in Bahrain, local or expat, from the ages of 14 and above.

What marketing methods have you used to promote the Pandora brand, and which ones seem to be the most effective in terms of Return On Investment (ROI)?

We have used almost every channel of marketing available to promote the brand over the years. Today, I believe that social media is the most effective in terms of ROI.

What do you think distinguishes the brand from its competitors in Bahrain?

Pandora jewellery is expertly crafted and lovingly hand-finished by the company’s talented craftspeople. Each hand-finished piece goes through a vigorous quality control process to ensure that it lives up to the impressive standards that define the Pandora brand.

How have sales been affected by the recent government subsidy cuts? Do you find that

people are less willing to spend on fine jewellery?

So far, Pandora’s sales have not been affected and neither I do I think they will be anytime soon. This is due to the ever-expanding base of loyal Pandora clients in the country.

Does there seem to be a particular time in the year when jewellery sales go up? If so, why is that?

Yes, the jewellery sales go up at various times during the year, namely: Eid, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and Christmas.

What new products or collections

by Pandora are you planning to introduce to the kingdom?

Pandora recently unveiled the Pandora Rose Collection, which is created with a unique blend of metals, and gives the jewellery a rose-coloured hue. We are proud to introduce this exciting new collection to Bahrain’s market, and are sure that our customers will love it!

What are some of your future plans for Pandora in Bahrain?

My plan is to increase the number of Pandora outlets in the kingdom. We are always on the lookout for a suitable location to set up shop that would enable us to reach as wide a customer base as possible.

Pandora outlet in Seef Mall, Muharraq

eaCh handfinished pieCe goes throUgh a vigoroUs qUality Control proCess to ensUre that it lives Up to the iMpressive standards that define the pandora brand.

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Exhibiting Perfection

Arabian Exhibition Management CEO, Stephen Key, Talks Jewellery Arabia 2016 Boasting nearly four decades of success catering to a wide variety of business sectors, Arabian Exhibition Management (AEM) is considered a pioneer of professional exhibition and conference organisation in the region. We speak to the company’s CEO, Stephen Key, who sheds some light on what to expect at Jewellery Arabia 2016, and the impact of the annual exhibition on the country’s economy.

AEM has been organising trade shows for almost forty years.

What does your portfolio of events include?

Could you give us an indication of just how large the Jewellery Arabia exhibition is on a worldwide scale?

Could you give us a brief overview of the process involved or timeline in actually organising and setting up the exhibition?

How many participating countries will there be at this year’s event? Which country’s pavilion will be the largest?

AEM has been organising shows since 1977. Our portfolio of events includes 5 oil and gas shows – three in Bahrain, one in Kuwait and one in India. We are also responsible for the annual Autumn Fair in Bahrain, and the Jewellery Arabia Kuwait exhibition, the inaugural edition of which was held last year.

At the Jewellery Arabia 2016 show, which will be held at the end of this month, our regional, Asian and international teams will be selling space for the upcoming show in 2017. At the same time, we will be planning our marketing strategies for Jewellery Arabia 2017. Sometimes, even a year just does not seem like enough time!

What do you think makes Bahrain the ideal location for an exhibition of this size?

Its central location in the GCC and its proximity to the causeway to the largest market in the Middle East is one major contributing factor. This, combined with the Bahraini government’s excellent system of customs, clearance, security and assaying, make Bahrain the perfect location for this event.

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Yves Piaget, chairman of the luxury Swiss watch company, Piaget SA, was quoted as saying he felt that Jewellery Arabia was the “3rd most important show in the world, after Baselworld [in Basel, Switzerland] and JCK in Las Vegas [USA]”. This is high praise indeed from a world leader and trend setter in the jewellery industry.

Jewellery Arabia 2016 has attracted 30 participating countries. The Indian pavilion is the largest this year, closely followed by Hong Kong and then Thailand.

Could you tell us the names of some of the international brands, as well as the upcoming local designers that will be participating this year?

This year, we’ll be seeing a number of international exhibitors such as Harry Winston, Hublot, Jade Jagger, Officine Panerai, Serafino Consoli, Audemars Piguet, Escada, Gucci, Aigner and many more. Some upcoming local designers include Mariam Al-Shaikh and Amal Al Majed, amidst well-established local jewellers with their new designs. These include Al Zain Jewellery, Al Hawaj, Mattar Jewellers, Kooheji Jewellers, and M.M. Sharif Hatam & Sons.

Is entrance free for all members of the public? If not, how much is the entrance, or is it invitation only?

Entrance is most definitely free for the public. Visitors can fast track their entry into the event by pre-registering ahead of time instead of standing in queues. They can do this via our Jewellery Arabia 2016 website.

What does hosting an event such as this do for the country’s economy?

International research into the exhibition industry shows that for every dollar spent on exhibition space, there is a multiplier effect of 7 times this amount spent in the local economy. This amount includes visas, tickets, hotel accommodations,

“JEWEllEry ArABIA 2016 HAs AttrACtEd 30 PArtICIPAtIng CountrIEs. tHE IndIAn PAvIlIon Is tHE lArgEst tHIs yEAr, ClosEly folloWEd By Hong Kong And tHEn tHAIlAnd.�

stand fittings, taxis, shopping, restaurants, etc. This is why exhibitions and conferences are a high priority for the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA).

How does the exhibition influence the jewellery industry in Bahrain?

The main influence of this exhibition is that it attracts buyers to Bahrain to spend on jewellery and watches who may not otherwise visit the country. Jewellery Arabia also puts Bahrain, and its gold and jewellery market, on the international radar.

What is the most challenging aspect about setting up an event of this size?

With the well-organised and efficient security systems put in place by the Ministry of Interior, the most difficult challenge of safety and security at Jewellery Arabia is made relatively easy. To give an idea of the scale of this issue, around one billion dollars of jewellery and watches have to be kept safe and secure during the course of the exhibition.

What major event does AEM have next on its agenda?

One of the major events on our agenda is the annual Autumn Fair, which is yet another show that fills the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIECC) to capacity. The upcoming edition will take place from 25th January to 2nd February 2017.

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8 Most Notoriously Cu Tales of death and destruction seem to follow certain famous jewels. There are stories of ancient warlords fighting bloody battles, kings and queens suffering agonising ends, Russian princesses leaping off buildings, fortunes ruined, careers dashed, companies bankrupted, marriages imploded – all because of sparkling stones. But while certain gems do seem to be associated with misfortune, some of the dark histories behind famous gemstones have been entirely fabricated or significantly embroidered.

Nevertheless, these stories continue to fascinate.

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The koh-i-noor DiamonD

2

This 186 carat diamond can be seen in the Tower of London on display as a massive part of the Crown Jewels. The diamond was taken from India in 1850 and given to the British Royal Family. Today, it’s currently set into the Crown of Queen Elizabeth (which is the crown that is on display). Thankfully for these royal women the curse only affects the men who wear it. Every man who has worn the stone has lost his throne.

Black Prince’s ruBy

They might call it a ruby but this fiery red rock isn’t a ruby at all. It in fact is a large spinel, a hard glassy mineral worth much less than a ruby gemstone, giving it its infamous name “The Great Imposter”.

This blood red ruby has a bleeding yet glorious history. The first record dates back to 14th century when it was pillaged

by Don Pedro the Cruel, emperor of Seville, Spain from the Moorish Kingdom of Granada. From one conqueror to another the “ruby” was next famously owned by the Black Prince – Edward of Woodstock, so known because of the his success in the battlefield during the Hundred Year’s war. The next conqueror with yet another success at war was King Henry V who had set the Black Prince’s Ruby in his helmet and wore it when he defeated the French at the Battle of Agincourt. The gem passed on to British Royalty who almost lost it twice but now it sits regally at the dead-centre of the Imperial State Crown of England exactly above the Koh-i-Noor Diamond.

rsed Jewels of All Time

4

la Peregrina Pearl

La Peregrina (literal translation “the pilgrim” or “the wanderer”) has most certainly wandered the hands of many rich, royal and famous. Discovered in the Gulf of Panama in 16th century, this large pearl was a gift from King Philip II of Spain to his betrothed Queen Mary of England before their marriage as a token of his love in 1554. Queen Mary also nicknamed Bloody Mary, for ordering execution of hundreds of Protestants during her reign, was abandoned by King Philip and died without an heir. After her death, La Peregrina was given by the king to Elizabeth I, Queen Mary’s half sister, when he proposed to her. It remained with the Spanish Royalty until Napoleon Bonaparte seized the Spanish crown and the pearl.

The Pearl came in to much lime light because of its legendary owner, the glorious actress Elizabeth Taylor. It was a Valentine’s gift from then-husband Richard Burton. And while she got married for total eight times, the pearls remained with her throughout her topsy-turvy relationships.

3

The Delhi PurPle saPPhire

This jewel was discovered just 30 years ago by Peter Tandy, curator at the Natural History Museum in London. Many suspect the gemstone (which is not technically a sapphire) was part of the looted treasure stolen from Temple of Indra in Kanpur during the bloody Indian Mutiny of 1857. The cursed quartz was brought into England by Bengal Cavalryman Colonel W. Ferris, who eventually went bankrupt, as did his son (after he inherited the stone). It was then purchased by writer Edward Heron-Allen, who later claimed it brought him nothing but bad luck. So he gave it away to friends, who promptly returned it after experiencing mountains of misfortune including a singer who lost her singing voice after possessing the stone. The jewel was eventually sealed up and sent away to the family banker with the instructions that it should stay forever locked away until Heron-Allen’s death. Only after three years after his death would his banker be allowed to donate it. And under no circumstances was Heron-Allen’s daughter ever allowed to touch or possess the stone.

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5

The Black orlov

The Black Orlov, a 67.50-carat, cushion-cut diamond, was unearthed in India during the early 1800s. Despite its name, the Black Orlov is actually a deep, gunmetal gray in colour. According to lore surrounding the Black Orlov – which is similar to the supposed back-stories of many “cursed” gems – the diamond was stolen from a sacred shrine in Southern India. Legend has it the diamond was later acquired by the Russian princess Nadezhda Orlov, also known as Nadia Orlov, whom the stone was named after. It’s rumoured that Princess Nadia, along with two of the Black Orlov’s other owners, upon attaining the diamond, committed suicide by jumping off of buildings, but these stories have not been substantiated.

In 1947, Charles F. Winson bought the diamond and cut it to its current size, also placing it in a setting surrounded by 108 diamonds and hanging it on a necklace of 124 diamonds. It has since been purchased and resold by a succession of private owners, and has been displayed at several museums, including the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and London’s Natural History Museum.

6 The regenT DiamonD

The Regent Diamond gained its fame when Napoleon chose to decorate his battle sword with it: the stunning, mammoth diamond is 140.64 carats in size, with a very slight, blue cast. The diamond was said to be discovered at the Golconda mine in India, and spirited out secretly by a slave, who hid it within a cut on his leg. In 1792, all the Crown Jewels of France were stolen, and the Regent Diamond was among the missing gems. Napoleon retrieved the stone for his own use in 1801. Napoleon married twice, and his latter wife was an Archduchess of Austria: she went back to her home country after her husband’s death, and the Regent passed into Austrian ownership. In time, the stone returned to France, as the generous gift of the Archduchess’ father.

Currently, the diamond remains set in a diadem designed for the French Empress Eugenie, and is on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

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7

The Blue DiamonD

8

The hoPe DiamonD

This is easily the most memorable of all ostentatious jewellery, and just about everyone who owned a piece of this jewel went bananas. Rumour has it the original stone was stolen from a Hindu idol and acquired by Jean-Baptiste Tavernier. Here’s a list of just a few of the folks who owned this diamond and what happened to them: Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI (beheaded), Princess de Lamballe (beaten to death by a mob), Jacques Colet (suicide), Surbaya (stabbed to death by her royal lover who gifted her the stone) and Simon Montharides (died in a carriage crash with entire family). And then there’s the story of Mrs. Evalyn McLean, who purchased the Hope Diamond from Cartier in 1911. Claiming she could reverse any curse, McLean threw lavish “finding the Hope” parties where she would hide the gemstone somewhere in her estate and invite guests to look for it. Sadly the gem would get its hold of the family. In the end McLean’s son was killed in a car crash, her daughter died of an overdose, and her husband would leave her for another woman and eventually die in a sanitarium.

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The Blue Diamond is the only precious stone whose current whereabouts are unknown – and whose existence has even been questioned. But it continues to be a source of bitter, ongoing drama. The story begins in 1989, when a Thai janitor employed at the Saudi royal family’s palace crept into Prince Faisal bin Fahd’s bedroom and stole a large amount of jewellery. Allegedly, he hid the jewels in the bag of his vacuum cleaner, then smuggled them to Thailand, although Thai authorities maintain that there is no evidence that the Blue Diamond even exists. According to the Thai press, after Saudi authorities alerted Thai police of the crime, they captured the thief, but not before he sold off some of the jewels. Thai officials returned what was left of the loot to the royal family, who asserted that the Blue Diamond was still missing and that about half of the returned jewels were fakes. The murders and disappearances of several Saudi diplomats and businessmen who had flown to Bangkok to investigate the robbery have been linked to the so-called “Blue Diamond Affair”. In 1995, Chalor Kerdthes, the police officer in charge of the initial investigation, was sentenced to death for ordering the murder of the wife and 14-year-old son of the Thai jeweller who had been accused of making the imitation jewels.

Because of all the deaths associated with the mysterious gem, the Blue Diamond is said place a curse on anyone who handles it illegally.

Crowning glory 8 Most ExpEnsivE piEcEs of JEwEllEry EvEr MadE Archaeologists have shown that humans have been creating and wearing jewellery for thousands of years. From simple shell necklaces to bejewelled crowns and bracelets, people have a long history of covering themselves with expensive and expressive art and decorations.

The following looks at 8 of the most expensive pieces of jewellery ever made.

7. Chopard 201-Carat Watch $25 Million

Known for their luxury watches, Chopard combines their expertise with time-pieces and their other specialty – jewellery – to create this interesting piece. In total, there are 874 diamonds of various sizes with the largest coming in at 15 carats. Adding that little extra wow factor is the mechanism which makes the largest three diamonds move apart, revealing the watch underneath.

8. The Winston Blue ~ $23.8 Million

When this 13+ carat monster came across the auction block at Christie’s in Geneva, it was believed it would bring in at least $21 million. The background of the diamond is not well known, although most experts agree that the diamond likely came from South Africa where most of the world’s blue diamonds originate.

6. The Hutton-Mdivani Jadeite Necklace } $27.4 million

A Cartier piece, the Hutton-Mdivani Jadeite necklace has been in the possession of some famous people over the years. The necklace itself is composed of 27 emerald green jadeite beads. The finishing touch is provided by a ruby, diamond, platinum and gold clasp to secure the necklace around the wearer’s neck.

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5. The Zoe Diamond $32.6 Million

In 2014 the collection of Rachel Mellon, wife of the late philanthropist Paul Mellon, came up for auction at Sotheby’s. The pinnacle of the collection, and most sought after by potential buyers, was the Zoe diamond. This particular stone was classified as a 9.75 carat fancy vivid blue diamond. Originally believed capable of fetching around $15 million, the Zoe diamond shocked everyone when the winning bid came in at $32.6 million.

4. The Graff Pink ~ $46.2 Million

In 2010, auctioneers at Sotheby’s expected this particular ring to do well when it went up for sale. They had no idea it would fetch well over $40 million, making it one of the most expensive pieces of jewellery ever. This particular ring, which features a 24.78 carat pink diamond, was at one time owned by famed jeweller Harry Winston.

3. L’Incomparable Diamond Necklace } $55 Million

2. Pink Star Diamond Ring $72 Million

Until November 2013, the Graff Pink held the record for most expensive diamond ring ever sold at an auction. Then the Pink Star Diamond came along. Put on the block at Sotheby’s, the massive oval shaped diamond weighed in at 59.6 carats.

The diamond was cut from a 132.5 carat rough diamond mined by DeBeers in Africa. Experts who witnessed the sale of the diamond said its size and quality surpasses anything known to exist in private and royal collections around the world.

The L’Incomparable Diamond Necklace is the most valuable necklace in the world and features the world’s largest internally flawless diamond, the 407.48-carat Incomparable diamond.

Complementing the massive yellow diamond are 230 carats worth of smaller diamonds. What’s more amazing about this piece is that it came to be thanks to a little girl who discovered a rough 890 carat diamond in a rubble pile in Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 1980s. After being sold among numerous dealers and traders, the diamond underwent four years of studying and cutting to reach the point it is at today.

1. Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond | $80 Million

Coming in at number one is the Wittelsbach-Graff diamond. This piece started out its life as a 35.56carat deep blue diamond which found its way into both the Austrian and Bavarian Crown Jewels. In 2008, London jeweller Laurence Graff bought the stone for $23.4 million and immediately went about altering it. In a move that infuriated other jewellers, Graff removed nearly 4.5 carats from the blue diamond which actually ended up enhancing its clarity and value. In 2011, it was reported that Graff had sold the Wittelsbach-Graff diamond to a member of the Qatari royal family for $80 million.

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@rawasichocola2 @rawasichocola 10 CO-EDS july 2016 10 CO-EDS july 2016

Call: +973 17822204

When Money is no object The Rise of Blockchain & Cryptocurrency: Part 2

By Jose Paul Martin This is Part II of the two part series on Blockchain & Cryptocurrency.

In Part I, we introduced you to the concept of blockchain and how it could form the building blocks of a new financial system. And why banks are taking a great deal of interest in this, and the possibility of this going mainstream as well as the three most promising cryptocurrencies to keep an eye on. In Part II, we’ll touch upon how you can buy, sell, earn or even trade and invest in cryptocurrencies as well as how governments are viewing this new phenomenon and the level of security this protocol provides.

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is blockchain technology secure?

Yes & No. Anything created by man, has its flaws.

Including the current fiat currencies we use.

Cryptocurrencies are not immune either - Mt. Gox, the biggest Bitcoin exchange disaster, in which almost 4 percent of the finite supply of Bitcoin (at the time worth $450 million) was lost through that exchange - is just an example of how things can and do go wrong.

Also with the DAO Hack (DAO stands for Distributed Autonomous Organization, an example of how a democratic organisation can be set up) - millions of ‘dollars’ worth of Ether cryptocurrency were removed or stolen.

And the most recent issue was with Bitfinex (the largest cryptocurrency exchange) and that caused the Bitcoin cryptocurrency to fall by 30% before recovering half way. This goes to show that it’s not immune and hackers will do what hackers do.

Think about this for a moment – building trust, verifying, identifying, clearing, settling and record keeping were done by middlemen or intermediaries (Banks, Google, Paypal, Uber, Apple) - but they’re vulnerable to hacking as they’re centralised.

But because there are checks and balances with Blockchain - the system corrects itself. The proponents of cryptocurrency believe that such issues actually strengthen the currencies as it is easier to trace the root cause of the problem, unlike with existing systems such as SWIFT - which took months before they even disclosed that there was a hack.

So why would I spend all this time and effort to talk about this? For one, you need to know, just like I did. Technology will evolve, and so will our love with currencies. What comes next is anyone’s guess - but with this knowledge, you can stay ahead of the 99% before the crowd starts to pour in.

how can i start with cryptocurrencies?

Opening a cryptocurrency “account” does not require you to prove who you are, or provide any sort of government ID, reference or disclosure of financial information.

Although providing this will help the companies that provide cryptocurrency services, enable more advanced features - it’s not a must, it’s optional.

Before you start, you’ll need a special wallet – yes, somewhere to purchase (receive), store or spend (send) and even earn your cryptocurrency. These wallets work both on your mobile or desktop and there are some that are like USBs or what we call hardware wallets. It’s like your own private bank account.

The value of the cryptocurrency coins stored in the wallet, could rise as economic activity increases, even without interest payment. This encourages people to save instead.

You can check the price / chart of these cryptocurrencies at CryptoWat.ch or CoinGecko.com or TradingView.com or check them against various fiat currencies at BitPay.com to see how they’re doing.

how do you buy cryptocurrency?

Ok, so once you have your wallet setup – in order to fund it, you have to purchase the cryptocurrency. Whilst there are many options to do so, some are simple, some require a bit of technical knowledge (and this is where my tiff with cryptocurrency begins).

You can buy from private vendors (exchanging your fiat currency for the cryptocurrency) like LocalBitCoin.com or even use a cryptocurrency ATM like the Bitcoin ATMs popping up around the world (see Figure 1).

You can also use an exchange service to exchange one form of cryptocurrency for another - which is what I’ve done.

What is cryptocurrency mining?

In order to bring this currency into circulation, you require massive amounts of computing power – remember this is guided by mathematical formula. So the process of making this calculations requires a distributed network of very powerful computers to verify all cryptocurrency transactions. For contributing to this processing power, “miners” or individuals who share their computer’s processing power are rewarded with the cryptocurrency.

how do i use / spend the cryptocurrency?

Your wealth has suddenly increased that you’re itching to spend it. It’s the fruit of your labour, why not? There is a growing market of cryptocurrency accepting merchants, even online retailer Overstock is into the game and you can use Bitcoin to pay for products sold on their site. As this catches on, more and more will be coming online. One such site is Gyft.com - unfortunately, it’s only for those based in the US (which is unfortunate for online consumers). You could also sign up for a BitPay Visa card that enables you to use the card at any store or even withdraw at an ATM - again, you can only sign up with a US address.

how do i accept cryptocurrency for my products / services / business?

Just like you would have a normal merchant account, there are cryptocurrency merchant services to enable you to setup a payment gateway or shopping cart. Two merchant services worth looking at are Coinbase.com and Bitpay.com. Signing up with BitPay is a straightforward process, except you can’t add a bank account if you’re based in the Middle East!

how do i trade / exchange the cryptocurrency?

In order to trade a crypto currency, you can head over to Poloniex.com or Bitfinex.com or for only trading Bitcoin, try Kraken.com.

how do i invest in cryptocurrency?

Figure 1: Cryptocurrency ATMs around the world

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Because of the restricted supply, the supply and demand equation kicks in and as the

UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE KHALIFA BIN SALMAN AL KHALIFA PRIME MINISTER OF THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

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EDIT I

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The 25th Middle East International Jewellery & Watch Exhibition

ESTD

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register online at www.jewelleryarabia.com

Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre

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22 - 26 November 2016

ESTD

1992

FIND US ON

ORGANISERS

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demand soars as more and more people use it as a means of exchange. Those who purchase these cryptocurrencies in the early days are fortunate enough to see massive increase in value as it catches on - this is part of what we call the network effect, i.e. it becomes more valuable as more people start using it. Take for instance the case of Bitcoin, seen in Figure 2.

services - you see a new dynamic play out.

But as in the case above, the cryptocurrency is still in its infancy, being around for just less than 5 years since 2011. Currencies generally take time to mature, there’s a cycle that should pan out. By the looks of it, these cryptocurrencies are following the pattern similar to that of Gartner’s Hype Cycle of Innovation (Figure 3), as we enter the Slope

Figure 2: Progression of Bitcoin’s value over the years You see, as fiat currencies are suffering from inflationary pressures and losing value as more and more is being “printed” i.e. increasing supply. The cryptocurrency will also increase in value, because the fiat currency is actually decreasing. And as the demand for the cryptocurrency increases, with more people exchanging goods and

of Enlightenment and pass into the Plateau of Productivity.

I’m guessing there will be a huge interest in cryptocurrency in the coming few years. And you should certainly be looking out for asymmetric bets (i.e. where you risk $1 to make $5, $10 or $100) so that you can profit from it.

“Those who purchase these cryptocurrencies in the early days are fortunate enough to see massive increase in value as it catches on - this is part of what we call the network effect.”

What do i have to worry about, is it illegal or legit?

That’s a tough question. If you understand the world of finance, you will wonder what is legal and illegal. Is taxing an individual legal, apparently some countries think it is, while others think otherwise.

Whenever you talk about cryptocurrency and the independence of the currency from any government support - you wonder whether it is legit.

Well, think of it like your PayPal account where you have digital currency in either US Dollars or Singaporean Dollars or other currencies. Today, PayPal works with various governments across the world to make it more accessible. On the other hand, Ripple, a new cryptocurrency, is doing this today in the financial world… a smart move.

Unlike fiat currencies - cryptocurrencies are not issued or controlled by a central bank.

However, there is a limit on the circulation supply and it’s controlled issuance. Different countries treat it differently. For example Switzerland treat it as currency, US treats it as convertible decentralized virtual currency and Australia treats it as an asset, not a currency and thus subject to taxes on the gain.

Governments are looking for ways to tax citizens, to collect more revenue. It’s a known fact. But what if you can’t tax so easily - which is why gold was outlawed at a point in time in the United States and how many people were arrested? I’ve heard none.

And would it be used for illegal activity?

You might have heard of this thing called The Silk Road, a black market which was cracked down by the FBI… Well, money knows no religion, race, it’s color blind and doesn’t care who owns it. Just like a scalpel can be used in the skillful hands of a surgeon, it can also be used a weapon to murder people. What you do with it is dependent on the individual. But what is surprising is that banks are now warming up to the concept of Blockchain & Cryptocurrency.

stay Abreast…

Keeping abreast of the developments in blockchain and cryptocurrencies is going to be a task in itself, so I’d recommend following the headlines on CoinDesk.com. With each day, developments are taking place and if you’re going to be investing in blockchain and cryptocurrencies - you might as well add this site to your reading list.

Figure 3: Gartner’s Hype Cycle of Innovation

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Jose Paul Martin is a private equity investor & advisor with over 14 years of experience in strategic & financial advisory and currently focuses on the Information Technology, Healthcare & Education. He is also the Managing Director of Eqoris Advisors - a boutique corporate advisory firm based in Bahrain.

ALGERIA, BAHRAIN, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM, COLOMBIA, CÔTE D’IVOIRE, DJIBOUTI, EGYPT, GABON, GHANA, INDONESIA, JORDAN, KENYA, KUWAIT, MALAYSIA,MEXICO,MONGOLIA,MOROCCO,MYANMAR,NIGERIA,OMAN,PAPUANEWGUINEA,PANAMA,PERU,QATAR,SAUDIARABIA,SOUTHAFRICA, SRI LANKA, THAILAND, THE PHILIPPINES, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, TUNISIA, TURKEY, UAE: ABU DHABI, UAE: DUBAI, UAE: RAS AL KHAIMAH, VIETNAM

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Stills from the Jewellery Arabia 2015 exhibition

Bejewelled

Heritage

The Enduring Legacy of Gold, Diamonds and Pearls

By P r o f e s s o r M u k h ta r a l - h a s h i M i

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Jewellery Arabia is one of the most prestigious jewellery exhibitions in the world; one that houses a number of reputable international and regional brands. Such events generate high sales and contribute directly and indirectly to the economy of Bahrain. Examples of this contribution include branding the country, boosting tourism, and benefitting the local jewellery retailers. With this year’s edition right around the corner, we take a look at three precious materials that have captured the wonder and imagination of the exhibition’s patrons for the last 25 years: gold, diamonds and pearls.

gold

Throughout history, almost all societies and civilisations have valued gold as an important commodity for its beautiful colour, appearance and social value. The natural qualities of gold, its scarcity, and its durability have made it a perfect currency and medium of exchange.

History of Gold Trade

In the 7th century, the first gold coins were produced by the Lydians on the eastern coast of Asia Minor. In Ancient Greece, gold was one of the commodities that symbolised wealth and the exchange of gifts.

The natural scarcity of gold has resulted in its having high value, meaning the acquisition of gold has always been limited to and associated with the segment of society where monopoly and control of acquisition were part of the game. As it was in the past, today, money and gold have a close connection to the economic status of countries, since both determine the value of things such as products traded on the market. Throughout history, gold has emerged as a product of great value and a symbol of social power and wealth.

In 1717, when Isaac Newton as Master of the Mint set the price of silver as a ratio of gold, this exchange ratio set the initial standard for the value of gold as a standard for exchange. Later, in 1816, it was made a legal standard, which resulted in Great Britain dominating and influencing the economies of many nations. In 1870, an international gold standard developed, which was fully reinstated and adopted in 1930, marking the beginning of the gold standard economy.

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In the 19th century, which is referred to as the modern era, significant deposits of gold were discovered in countries like the United States and Australia. In the first half of the 19th century, gold production was 1200 tonnes, and this increased to 10, 400 tonnes. South African gold output increased to 35, 545 tonnes from 1900–1940. This increase in production facilitated the wide proliferation and circulation of gold coins and resulted in the replacement of the early dominated silver coins. However, in the late stages of the 19th century, the circulation of the gold coinage was stopped.

Gold Jewellery Consumption

The global gold jewellery consumption for year 2015 was 2397 tonnes. Globally, the top consumers are China, India, the Middle East and the United States. Bloomberg Intelligent Analysis data shows that these regions’ gold consumption has remained the same between 2011 and 2015. In 2015 the consumption of gold jewellery for China was 753t, for India 668.5t, Middle East 230.3t and United States 119.8t. According to these figures, this means that the Middle East is ranked third globally in term of consumption of gold jewellery.

Given the population size, it indicates that the Middle East has the highest purchasing power per capita.

Bahrain’s Gold Industry

In Bahrain, the government ensures the quality of the jewellery trade in the country through its well established “Precious Metals and Gemstones Analysis Directorate” at the Ministry of Commerce and Trade. All gold items have to be sent for testing at GPTL before being sold to potential customers.

Such practice ensures standards and serves as a form of consumer protection for the customer. According to the official figures, the gold market has been flourishing and on the increase since 2013. The number of bars and other jewellery items sent for testing at the Gem and Pearl Testing Laboratory of Bahrain (GPTL) has doubled, from 6,000 at the end of 2013 to 13,000 at the end of 2015.

HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa opens the Jewellery Arabia 2015 exhibition

diamond

Diamonds are one of the most durable, valuable elements in the world. For example, a cut and polished stone weighing around seven grams can sell for millions of dollars at auction, and are considered a good investment. In the jewellery industry, the price of the diamond depends on the four “Cs�: cut, colour, clarity and carats.

Cut is the technique whereby a gemstone is cut, and this can decrease or increase its value. Diamond cuts come in diverse shapes and sizes, from round brilliants to hearts or pears. The quality of the cut is determined by three features: brilliance, fire and scintillation. Most diamonds are colourless with either yellow or brown tints. Clarity refers to the absence of blemishes. Regarding visibility, the richer the gemstone, the superior its value will be; the fewer the birthmarks, the more the rare the diamond. Finally, the carat is a unit of measurement for a precious stone, that weighs about the same as a paper clip: the higher the carat weight the more valuable the gemstone.

Brief History of the Diamond Trade

Historically, literature reveals that diamonds were first mined, traded, valued and worn

in India. This later expanded from India to different countries and cultures such as China and Mesopotamia around the fourth century B.C. Generally, international diamond trading was done through two main routes: the southern trade routes through Aden, Ethiopia and Egypt, and the northern route through Arabia, Persia, Armenia and Turkey. Afterwards, it perforated through different civilisations during different times by different traders such as the Italian traders or discoveries such as the Portuguese discovery. During the 15th and 16th centuries both Amsterdam

and Antwerp were known for enriching the diamond trade with cutting and polishing crafts and techniques. Diamonds would come from Goa in India to Lisbon, which became a very significant and vital trade city for diamonds. Afterwards, diamonds were sent to Antwerp from Lisbon for cutting, making the Belgian city an attractive place for workers skilled and experienced in handling precious metals and gems.

Later, in the early 18th century that trade of diamonds shifted to Brazil and South Africa, while London became the world’s largest diamond sorting centre.

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How Diamonds are Formed Diamond is the hardest natural substance in the world, taking between 90 million and 3.3 billion years to form. The natural formation of diamond involves intense heat and pressure formed in the strata of the earth. Diamonds consist of pure carbon but are formed in the isometric system. Other than carbon, diamonds are formed through the crystallisation of small amounts of elemental materials.

The Skill of Cutting and Designing Diamonds

The cutting process of a diamond is a critical step. It should start with the planning step using 3-D visualising computer software. The program scans the rough diamond to identify the optimal cutting shape to convert the rough diamond into a valuable commercial diamond that is attractive to the customer. The best fit cutting has to meet a number of factors: the shape must meet market demand, while ensuring that one cuts diamond with minimum waste to gain the maximum profit. Colour retention during the cutting is important in order to maximise the price of the coloured diamond. The final stage is the polishing and cleaning of the diamond using acids, followed by quality checking and certification.

How to Test the Value of Diamonds

The first parameter of pricing the diamond depends on diamond size. The evaluator develops an estimate of the diamond price by categorising different diamond sizes.

Every category has an average value for each size class to be associated to any given new diamond and later determine the variation in the price. The final decision of price depends on other distinctive criteria such as diamond type, physical properties and distinctive kind of diamond.

This means that pricing of the diamond starts with the categorising of size and associating value to cut, colour and clarity.

“A CuT AnD polISHED STonE WEIGHInG ArounD SEVEn GrAmS CAn SEll For mIllIonS oF DollArS AT AuCTIon, AnD ArE ConSIDErED A GooD InVESTmEnT.” 82

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Pearls

The pearl industry suppliers are divided based on the type and colour of the pearls that that are produced by specific types of oysters or mussels in fresh water regions such as India and Japan. For example, those from the South Sea water around Australia, Indonesia, and Myanmar are renowned for their large, white pearls, while Japan’s pearls are highly valued for their lustrous character. India is recognised to be one of the last producers and handlers of natural pearls. Interestingly, the largest stock of natural pearls is in India and the majority comes from Bahrain during a period when pearl harvesting was the main source of living for Bahrainis. Bahrain’s pearl fishing practice is on a much smaller scale now than it was before the discovery of oil. However, today the Japanese are considered experts in seeding oysters and the Mikimoto family continues to be one of the largest pearlproducing dynasties.

Bahrain’s History of pearl Trade

Evaluation of pearls

Pearls are formed inside the shell of certain molluscs when an attack from outside injures the mantle tissue. Historically, pearls have been associated with various cultures. For example, Ancient Egyptian royalty were buried with pearls while in Rome pearls were considered a symbol of status associated with power and wealth, and a prized accessory. In Hindu religion, some writing linked pearl with weddings and the beginning of new life. In ancient Arabic culture, pearls were considered droplets from heaven, and Chinese legends held that pearls fell from the sky when the dragons fight in the clouds. People in the Middle East have always shown a love for wearing pearls with strongly rooted heritage of economic value for the pearl in terms of trade and cultural acceptance within the society.

Since the earliest times and until the 1930s, Bahrain was considered the centre of the pearl trade in the region. Bahraini people’s livelihood was highly dependent on the revenues gained from the pearl industry, and they developed chains of trade with other nations to earn money and support the national economy. The Bahraini pearls are located and distributed in areas called pearl beds found in warm and shallow waters.

These pearls are regarded among the best in the world for beauty, purity and perfection of shape. These qualities led to the branding of the Bahraini pearl as ‘Pearl of the Gulf.’

However, the Bahraini pearl industry rapidly declined from 509 boats leaving to pearl fisheries and manned by 19, 300 people in 1930 to 83 boats and manned by 2000 people in 1950. However, in an effort to boost the pearl industry the government established GPTL to ensure quality and certify pearls according to internationally recognised standards concerning the number, size, and weight of the pearl.

Countries With pearls

Today’s pearls mainly come from Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Myanmar, China, India, Philippines and Tahiti. However, Japan controls 80% of the world pearl market followed by Australia and China respectively.

Pearls are judged on the basis of various characteristics that determine its quality, beauty and value. Pearl quality is determined by five main criteria. The first is the pearl lustre, which is the most important since good pearls should be shiny, reflective and not dull. Pearls that do not shine are of low quality. The second aspect is the surface of the pearl, with the absence of flaws increasing the value and their presence reducing it. The third is the shape, since a perfectly spherical pearl is higher in value than a less round one. The fourth criteria is the colour, which could range from base colours such as white, rose and black to silver, cream and gold. However, this is mainly influenced by personal preference and taste. The fifth criteria is the size, which is the measurement of the pearl diameter.

The larger the pearl diameter the more valuable it will be.

Professor Mukhtar Al-Hashimi Ahlia University, Bahrain Email malhashimi@ ahlia.edu.bh Instagram “Prof_Mukhtar” Mobile +973- 39664117

Why does a follower choose to follow a certain digital influencer?

For a follower, the social media landscape is rampant with opportunities where they have access to information that is tailored to their needs. The decision to follow a particular influencer would depend on:

Why Digital Influencers Are The New Brand-Shapers With social media pervading every inch of the world around us, it has been observed how certain individuals have managed to shape the opinions of thousands and millions around them. Their followers consider them icons of fashion, technology, lifestyle, food etc. and stalk their social profiles to know their next move. These ‘certain individuals’ who the marketing teams call ‘Digital Influencers’ are the celebrities of our times and know how to brand and market themselves brilliantly. It is important to acknowledge that their rise to fame as digital influencers is not just based on luck or circumstances.

These digital influencers work tirelessly to create new content and images to keep up with the expectations of their followers.

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 How credible the information that the digital influencer provides is.  How beautifully the content has been packaged.  How inspirational or relatable is the offering.

A digital influencer who understands and implements the basics will find their follower base increasing regularly.

Most brands and their marketing teams understand the advantages of using a digital influencer and how they can shape the opinions of the masses. They rope in digital influencers for their brand building exercise, communication of brand messages and building connections with their customer base; organically and directly.

Brands need to pick the right kind of digital influencers to represent their brand depending on the relevance (authority), reach (total number of social followers), and resonance (frequency of publishing) with the brand’s target audience. Gender and location are also important components to consider when

determining the appropriateness of including an influencer in a particular campaign. Digital Influencers with sizable followings, who create content relevant to the brand are solid targets for outreach and also seek out influencers who have posted about the brand’s competitors on social media.

How should brands deal with digital influencers?

Personalisation is crucial when brand managers or PR (Public Relation) agencies want to reach out to social influencers. Emails sent out to influencers shouldn’t look like bulk emails. Digital influencers must be made to feel special and appreciated for their efforts. Brand managers ought not to assume that a digital influencer will be flattered by the sheer opportunity of working with a brand. Usually, established digital influencers have a rate card based on the number of followers they have, the services they provide and the number of social media channels they use. Digital Influencers run their influence-related service like a business and PR agencies/Brands must treat them professionally and not like hobbyists.

What value does an influencer bring to your brand?

As a PR agency or a Brand manager, it is very important to do research beforehand about the influencer that they plan to use for their brand. It is critical to figure out the influencer’s

“ The brands and PR agencies that have their vision set in the future will be quick to change their marketing strategies to accommodate this growing trend.” strengths such as which of their social channels has more followers and why and what is the target audience that interacts the most with the influencer on their social channels. Armed with this information, it will be easy to devise a custom marketing plan utilising the strengths of the influencer. At times, a meeting with the influencer can give rise to several unexplored facets of a marketing campaign because they may have experience of working with several brands and campaigns and are in tune with the market trends. A campaign with a digital influencer has steady benefits for a brand where the influencer can communicate the brand’s messages with creative content and images. The brand can experience a growth of their digital presence as well as an increased awareness of their brand offerings. Some of the examples of how digital influencers can be used are: restaurants can call upon influencers for food reviews, hospitality brands invite

influencers to experience their service, food product brands get influencers to endorse their brands and food bloggers develop recipes using the brand’s products.

These days brands park a sizeable budget for social media marketing activities because they understand that the call-to-action and the resultant ROI (Return on Investment) is considerably high. Likewise, it would be advisable to allot a budget for digital influencer activities for the year. If these social influencers are treated well they will go out of their way to promote the brand but it is important to note that protecting their credibility is of utmost importance to these influencers. It would be unfair to expect an influencer to write only good things about the brand even if their experience of the product or the service has been otherwise. That freedom of either being honest or bailing out (skipping the endorsement) must be given to the influencer. This can be seen as a great feedback mechanism for the brand itself to better their product/service.

A well designed marketing budget and plan around digital influencers will lead to far-reaching results and a healthy, long term relationship with these influential individuals/groups.

Influencer marketing is getting more sophisticated by the day, and is here to stay. The brands and PR agencies that have their vision set in the future will be quick to change their marketing strategies to accommodate this growing trend.

Anita Menon is the founder of the digital marketing firm The Butterfly Effect.

She converges her business consulting skills with her passion for social media to create digital marketing solutions for enterprises and individuals. www.thebutterflyeffect.co

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We Need More!

An open letter to Bahrain’s Ministry of Justice

By Dr. Alex Suchy von WeiSSenfelD

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To all those of you who have been following my articles in various magazines in this country, first of all – Thank You! Secondly, I’m sure it doesn’t come as a surprise to you when I say that in my daily business as a management consultant, I come across a multitude of clients who wish to either establish a business entity in Bahrain and/or add certain activities to their existing license as they have successfully grown their establishments over the years. For the “uninitiated”, let me explain briefly that both the first-time registration as well as the adding of activities to a Bahrain-based company has always required a strong constitution on the side of the entrepreneur as well as their consultant.

international laws (the latter of which is more commonly the case with Powers-of-Attorney than with company documents in general).

Once the notary service has satisfied itself that a document placed in front of them matches the Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Tourism approved version, the (new) entrepreneur can sign the document with his partner(s) and the notary will attest to the authenticity of the parties before him or her with their signature and official seal after this administrative act is properly registered in the notary roll, kept by the Ministry of Justice in Bahrain. All this is the last, but, many might say, the most important part in the company registration process and, unfortunately, also currently the cause for great distress in the entrepreneurial community.

Meeting the Demand

A Weak Link in the System

Changing rules and regulations, especially in recent months, have assisted in improving the situation greatly. I think I also speak on behalf of my colleagues out there when I say that the amount of new registrations in Bahrain and the expression of faith in this country, are very encouraging.

We are all working hard to “advertise” and make Bahrain the business-friendly and investor-friendly hub in the Gulf it deserves to be. We’ve been doing this, I would like to say, with increasing amounts of success lately. However, the best chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

Please don’t misunderstand me; I’m not saying that I think the part in the registration process I’m discussing here reflects any weakness in itself. I’m simply saying that it needs more support in order to be the strong link in the chain of company registrations we need it to be – the Notary Public Service of the Ministry of Justice!

The Process

Once a client and his consultant have jumped through all the hoops a potential 3rd party regulator, like the Ministry of Education, the Central Bank or the Supreme Council for the Environment could throw at them and they have received final approval for an activity, the application file is sent back to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Tourism for final review of the draft Memorandum & Articles of Association.

Once these are approved and found to be in accordance with the Kingdom’s Commercial Companies Law No. 21/2001 and its regulations, client and consultant find themselves in front of a division of the Ministry of Justice, the Notary Public Service, in the Bahrain Investors Center.

These notaries are specialized in company contracts, amendments to the original Memorandum & Articles of Association and Powers-of-Attorney. Their job is to review, notarize and/or reject them if they find that they are in violation of Bahrain or even

This team of extremely hard-working notaries, registrars and cashiers at the Bahrain Financial Harbour, the new home of Bahrain’s Investors Center, is simply overwhelmed with the amount of notarization requests. New opportunities for investors in the Kingdom have increased and so has the number of applications for notarizations of amendments to existing company documents and/or expressions of a person’s will.

We need more of them! We need more notaries, registrars and cashiers to provide a pleasant experience for all those we are welcoming as new investors to the Kingdom.

We need to let them have an experience that reflects the welcoming nature of Bahrain and its citizens.

Your Excellency, help us to improve Bahrain’s image even further at the crucial point where foreign investors personally interact with the government and feel the efficiency of the country’s strong legal system.

Respectfully Yours, ASvW Dr. Alex R. Suchy von Weissenfeld is a Senior Consultant and Area Manager Middle East for C&S International LLC, an internationally active business consultancy out of Vermont, USA. He has spent the last 10 years in Bahrain and has held several academic positions with several local and international universities during this time. For the last 5 years, however, his focus has been on forming companies all around the globe and helping corporations and individuals use these International Business Companies to achieve their personal and professional goals.

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t a e s t in the ho With

I D I B A B A L A H S RA Powered december by 2016 88

L L A H E I G N A d an

, D N U O R A E IM T IS H T !

S E CONTINU S IE R E S Y E L T N E HALL, B IE G G N IN A O D N A I ID OUR ONG B A B A L RASHA H IT W .

T S A U H D C O A M E V D A N H A I E K W A R E M EGY FIRM T A R T S D E S A -B E A U F O S FOUNDER september december 2016

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First things first, how did the two of you meet?

Angie: We met while working in the hospitality sector nearly 20 years ago – and quickly formed a strong bond while opening a hotel. It was always hard work but we were joyful. We realised that we got so much joy out of what we did, and that shared approach resonated with us.

Rasha: We always say that we fell in love at first laugh. We found common ground that has stayed true for two decades.

Could you briefly describe what exactly your firm does?

Rasha: We are destination makers.

We develop compelling, thoughtful and differentiated concepts and strategies for hospitality and destinations. This includes large-scale master plans or mixed-use developments, retail and all the components that hospitality entails – full hotel programmes, restaurants and spas.

What inspired the two of you to start Meraki and Modus? Where does the name come from?

Rasha: We are industry insiders and throughout our careers, have always been sitting on the client side of the table.

We’ve always brought in consultants that could deliver on our needs, but didn’t have a solid understanding of our markets.

Angie: We were inspired because there was a clear lack of industryspecific critical thinking and market understanding. We wanted to fill that void, and develop work that wasn’t only compelling, but also relevant to the market and the client.

Rasha: Meraki is an old Greek word meaning the soul, creativity or love put into something, or the essence of yourself that is put into your work.

Angie: And Modus is Latin for the manner or method in which things are done.

Rasha: In other words, the method and the madness – you need a bit of both to create places that are truly interesting and offer business longevity.

What aspects of the business does each of you handle?

Rasha: We play to our strengths – I focus on strategy and marketing and the day-to-day running of the business.

Angie: I am the head of ideation. For me, ideation means not just being creative, but coming from a point of experience.

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AT, "THE ABILITY TO ‘SIT IN YOUR CLIENTSIN’ SE AND SEE THE WORLD FROM THEIR pO RITBUOF S VIEW IS A CORE qUALITY THAT CONT E OUTE ."

TO THE LONGEVITY OF A BUSINESS LIK RS An idea must have magic but also be feasible. I would say what bonds us is that we are both critical thinkers. Rasha and I have lived and worked across 70 markets – we are true globalists. We always think of strategy from a local as well as international point of view. We have a broad understanding of culture and history. Our team is also very global, and their experience covers an even wider geographic pool.

Rasha: There are always trends! The key one is that there is a deep desire for things that are more authentic, more considered, and more communitycentric developments.

Since founding the company in 2013, what would you say has been your proudest moment?

Angie: Stamina, conviction, tenacity, and a general love of what you do.

Rasha: That is difficult. When I look back at our body of work, I have so many proud moments. It has been and continues to be a wonderful journey.

All our clients’ successes are a big part of our happiness, and we take a lot of satisfaction from that.

Angie: There is joy every day in what we do, and we don’t get jaded – everything we do excites us and gives us energy.

That is another thing that bonds us as not only partners but as humans. Everything is a big deal to us, things matter and we extend that into the business.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when initially setting up the business? How did you overcome them?

Rasha: We were not prepared for how fast our business would take off. Angie and I had a wonderful notion of sitting poolside and slowly easing into the creation of our new company. However, within weeks of setting up, we landed two significant clients and haven’t looked back since!

Angie: One of the challenges was getting the right team on board quickly.

Luckily, we nurtured an extensive list of associates and colleagues that had the same entrepreneurial spirit as us, who were ready to make a change.

Are there any new trends in the hospitality and retail sectors that seem to be picking up?

Angie:….and more casual in attitude, regardless of their price point.

In your opinions, what are some of the most important qualities of a successful entrepreneur?

Rasha: We embrace our feminine side as we feel it plays an important part in business today. We have an approach that is considerate, thoughtful and instinctual. Being able to draw from our corporate experience is also very important as it allows us to bring structure and processes to our work.

The ability to ‘sit in your clients’ seat, and see the world from their point of view is a core quality that contributes to the longevity of a business like ours.

Outside of work, what are some of your hobbies and interests?

Rasha: We love travelling, discovering, learning, and interacting with all kinds of people. Ultimately, our inspiration for what we create comes from our discoveries and journeys.

What are some of your future plans for M&M? Rasha: Our plans are to continue our geographic expansion. Right now, about 50% of our work is UAE-based and 50% is international.

Which Bentley did each of you like the most? What are your opinions on it?

Angie: The Bentayga SUV, because the higher seating position means you can see the world! It’s got all the hallmarks of a classic, yet it is packed with technology!

Rasha: The Flying Spur would be a great company car, allowing us to work in the back and arrive at meetings feeling like a million dinars!

Rasha Lababidi (left), and Angie Hall

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Fashion

Statement pieceS to make a laSting impreSSion Business people, be bold. BIG’s picks from global fashion powerhouses Hugo Boss

‘Women Z’: ItalIan VIrgIn Wool Cotton Blend PonCho A new metropolitan classic, the poncho for women is beautifully rendered by HUGO in soft wool and neutral plaid.

Hugo Boss, City Centre BD 126

Hugo Boss

‘narVIk W’: SlIm FIt, ItalIan StretCh Cotton SPort Coat For a tailored, comfortable look and feel, this BOSS jacket for men features a close, slim fit and the finest Italian fabric.

Hugo Boss, City Centre BD 187

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louis Vuitton

eSSentIal V leather Belt For Women

The Essential V buckle adds a sophisticated signature to this exotic belt in distinctive ostrich skin.

Its timeless colour makes the piece a high-end wardrobe essential.

Louis Vuitton, Moda Mall BD 776

Bulgari

Karen Millen

This distinct Eau de Toillette, rich in natural Mediterranean ingredients and tinged with true density, is a bold, original creation – a fragrant imprint on the skin.

Bulgari, Moda Mall BD 27

Shaped to classic, court silhouette that elongates the legs and patterned with an ombré design that catches the eye, these patent heels will rejunivate pared-back tailoring.

Karen Millen, City Centre BD 86

aqVa amara 100ml For men

omBre Patent CoUrt

gucci

Snake PrInt gg SUPreme ZIP aroUnd Wallet

The kingsnake, thought to symbolise wisdom and power, emerges as one of the signature details of Alessandro Michele’s collections.

Here, it is printed at the centre of a zip around men’s wallet made in GG Supreme canvas, a material with low environmental impact.

Gucci, Moda Mall BD 216

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LifestyLe

To add more power To a high-flying lifesTyle

GeorGe soft touch WhIte fraGrance dIffuser

George is an easy-touse fragrance diffuser, that can add ambience to your home with the “Soft� touch of a button.

With its soft and rubbery case, George soft touch has an elegant bodywork, combined with the sporty contrast of the brushed steel air vents. And thanks to the variety of scented capsules, you can meet a new George every day.

Virgin Megastore, City Centre Bahrain BD 45

Ihealth hs5 WIreless Body analysIs scale lIte

Measure, track and share 9 different characteristics of your body composition on the free iHealth mobile app. You can use it online or off. The scale allows you to log calories and daily activities, and share your results instantly with friends, family or your doctor.

Virgin Megastore, City Centre Bahrain BD 52

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Just moBIle alupocket Iphone Wallmount

Just Mobile AluPocket™, is the perfect storage solution for your iPhone. Crafted from high-grade aluminium and moulded plastic, AluPocket™, will hold your device firmly in place using soft plastic grips - even if it’s in a case. AluPocket™, is the perfect charging solution, too, thanks to its cable slot and connector recess. Just mount it near your power supply or computer. And because AluPocket, attaches to any flat surface using glue-free tape, it can be easily removed without damaging your walls.

BelkIn Wemo netcam hd+

The high-definition camera

by Belkin works with other WeMo products: WeMo Switch, WeMo Motion Sensor, WeMo Insight Switch and WeMo Light Switch; sensing motion and lights come on automatically!

The premium HD wide-angle glass lens allows for ultra-clear viewing day or night. It is also easy to install – simply set up your camera from your smartphone or tablet in minutes.

Virgin Megastore, City Centre Bahrain BD 13

RadioShack, Seef Mall BD 100

merlIn WIfI controller

Wirelessly connect, monitor, and control all your infrared (IR) devices at home over a network and the Internet.

The Merlin WiFi Controller provides a new level of home automation and control flexibility, enabling networking for your appliances without wiring. The easy-to-setup controller can be used to learn IR commands of virtually all IR-controlled home appliances.

Virgin Megastore, City Centre Bahrain BD 28

auvIo ruGGed stereo Bluetooth speaker

The Auvio Stereo Bluetooth Speaker is perfect for taking to the beach, pool, camping or other outdoor activity.

It allows you to play music wirelessly from your phone, tablet, pc or any other bluetooth device. The longlasting battery enables you to enjoy audio for up to 6 hours.

RadioShack, Seef Mall BD 31

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the BIG

hotel guide Your guide to the Kingdom’s hotel outlets

Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq thalaSSa Sea & Spa  Dining

Fiamma: Italian Restaurant

Designed with an indoor and an outdoor seating area, this outlet will serve authentic Italian food.

Opening Hours: Thursday - Saturday 12:30pm to 3:00 pm, Every night except, Sunday: 8:00pm to 11:00pm (Fiamma is closed on Sundays)

Saraya: All Day Dining / International

Exquisite buffets with flavors from across the world.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner available. Saturday lunch buffet (18 BD net including soft drinks).

Opening Times: Daily 6:30am to 10:30am, (11am on weekends) Lunch: 12:30pm to 3:30pm, Dinner: 7:00pm to 10:30pm

Wok: South East Asian Restaurant

The perfect combination of stones and wood in the décor to reflect an authentic Asian feel. Dinner buffet every Thursday (18 BD net excluding beverages).

Opening Hours: Wednesday to Monday: 7:00pm to 11:00pm (Wok is closed on Tuesdays)

Tapas: Restaurant

It services a wide range of exciting tapas, and the best cocktails on the island. Tapas bar has a truly vibrant and lively atmosphere with its Cuban band.

Opening Hours: Daily: 11:30am to Midnight

La Mer: Seafood Restaurant

Sheraton hotel Bahrain 

Shopping

Al Safir Restaurant

Opening Hours: Daily: 9am to 9pm

It is the signature restaurant of the hotel, guests will enjoy the freshest seafood and catch of the day. Saturday lunch buffet (18 BD net including soft beverages, 26 BD net including selected alcoholic beverages).

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 7:00pm to 11:00pm, Thursday to Saturday: 12:30pm to 3:00pm

For Information

Pashawat: lebanese Restaurant

Dining

Gastronomical buffets for breakfast lunch and dinner as well as superb á la carte options.

Opening Hours: Breakfast 6:30am - 10:30am Lunch 12:30pm – 3.30pm, Dinner 7:30pm – 11:30pm

Soie Chinese Restaurant

Alhilal Bookshop Alhilal Bookshop: +973 17 531 665

Spa & Salon

Image Spa & Leisure

Relax in the dramatic ambience with dark wood floors, oriental ornaments and lanterns.

Opening Hours: Daily: 6am to 10pm

Opening Hours: 7:00pm – 11:30pm (Closed on Saturdays)

Opening Hours: Daily: 7am to 10pm

Golestan Restaurant

Sheraton Health Club Sheraton Fitness

Discovery of traditional Iranian dishes with freshly oven-baked breads served at the table.

Opening Hours: Daily: 9am to 8:30pm

Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday Lunch 12:30pm – 2:45pm, Dinner 7:30pm – 11:30pm Friday: Lunch 12:30pm – 3:45pm, Dinner 7:30pm – 11:30pm (Closed on Sundays)

Image Spa & Leisure: +973 17 524 570 Sheraton Fitness: +973 17 524 570 Sheraton Health Club: +973 17 533 533

For Information

It is open in the evenings and offers a delightful Lebanese cuisine. Special offer every Tuesday (40 BD net for 4 persons).

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 7:00pm to 1:30am (Closed on Saturdays and Sundays)

Spa & Salon

Thalassotherapy

(Call for Appointment) Summer offer BD175 per couple (120 mins)

nightlife

Amber Bar

Opening Hours: Daily: 6pm to 2am

Lagoon Pool Bar

nightlife

Opening Hours: Daily: 8am to 8pm

An Nada Lounge

Lobby Lounge Bar

Opening Hours: Daily: 7:00am – 10:00pm

Opening Hours: Happy Hour: 1:00pm to 7:00pm Daily 1:00pm – 1:00am

Opening Hours: Daily: 8am to Midnight

For Information & Reservations

For Information

Opening Hours: Daily: 11:30am to Midnight

Espressamente Illy

A perfect place to meet and enjoy a cup of espresso, refreshing beverages and light snacks.

Al Safir: +973 17533533 ext 259 Soie Chinese Restaurant: +973 17 533 533 ext. 497 Golestan Restaurant: +973 17 533 533 ext. 375 Espressamente Illy: +973 17 533 533 ext. 1790

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december 2016

An Nada Lounge: +973 17 533 533 ext. 293

Tapas BAR For Information & Reservations

Hotel: +973 1763 6363 - Concierge: +973 39349659

the K hotel  Dining Kolors

Enjoy an assortment of culinary delights with their special Themed Nights everyday of the week.

Opening Hours: Daily: 7pm to 11pm

Friday Brunch

Discover The K difference in Friday Brunch!

IS YOUR HOTEL LISTED ON THIS PAGE?

Opening Hours: Friday, 12:30pm to 4:30pm

The K lounge

Some new dishes include the world famous Angus steaks and exceptional desserts with that extra K flavor.

Our ongoing promotions include: Daily Happy Hour from 5pm to 7pm, Coors Light & Burger Treats, Ladies Night from Saturday to Wednesday all cocktails free of charge for Ladies.

Opening Hours: Daily: 11am to 2am

Kenza Lounge

Outdoor seating and Arabesque interiors, experience the finest Lebanese dining.

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 7pm to 2am

Be included in Business In Gulf’s hotel guide and benefit from the exposure the magazine offers.

nightlife The K lounge

Opening Hours: Daily: 11am to 2am

Champions Sports Lounge Opening Hours: Daily: 11am to 2am For Information & Reservations

K Hotel: (973) 1736 0000 Klouds: (973) 1736 0000 ext. 4019 K Pool: (973) 1736 0000 or email banquet@thekhotel.com

the ritZ-Carlton, Bahrain  Dining La Med

Casual dining in generous surroundings is brightened with natural sunshine and views of the turquoise blue waters of the Gulf. Opening Hours: Daily: 6:30am to 11pm Iftar: 6pm - 11pm, daily (BD 22++ per person)

Plums

The specialty being premium beef and fresh, top quality seafood, it provides guests with the ultimate in dining pleasure. Opening Hours: Dinner: 7pm to 11:30pm

big@maxmediaco.com Tel: +973 17 402482 Fax: +973 17 402483

For Information & Reservations Hotel: +973 1758 0000

Spa & Salon

Shopping

Elie & Jean Beauty Center Gents Saloon

Chopard Boutique Opening hours: Daily: 7am to Midnight

Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday: 9:30am to 8pm, Friday: 10am to 7pm

Mohd Sharif Hatam & Sons

Sports Club & Spa (Membership only)

Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday 10am to 2pm – 4pm to 8pm For Information

Chopard Boutique: +973 17 580 667 Mohd Sharif Hatam & Sons: +973 17 580 889

Limited offer from June 1 to 30 ‘Touch of Aloha’ (BD 55 for 90 minutes). Daily, 9am to 9pm.

Opening hours: Daily: 5:00am to 10:30pm For Information

Elie & Jean Beauty Center - Gents Saloon: +973 17 580 798

Nirvana

Nirvana brings royal flavors to The Ritz-Carlton for a dining adventure rarely enjoyed outside of India.

Opening Hours: Lunch Noon to 3pm Dinner 7pm to 11:30pm

La Plage

Indulge in a new and enticing menu of ArabianMediterranean Fusion Cuisine. Formerly known as Overlook, La Plage is the perfect venue for those seeking the vibrant outdoor scenery of the Arabian Gulf. Opening Hours: Daily: 10am to 6pm

The Ritz Gourmet Lounge

Experience authentic chic ambience like in a Parisian along with homemade pastries and richly decorated desserts.

Opening Hours: Daily: 7am to Midnight

Cantina Kahlo

The new authentic Mexican restaurant offers a scrumptious menu created by Chef Cesar Daniel. Featuring a wide range of delectable dishes and an impressive range of cocktails. Opening Hours: Daily: 12pm-12am december 2016

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Gulf hotel  Dining Al Waha

Oceanic cuisine night with impressive selection of Australian & New Zealand seafood Opening Hours: Breakfast 6:00am – 10:30am Lunch 12:00pm – 3:30pm, Dinner 7:00pm – 11:00pm Friday Brunch: 12:30pm - 4:00pm

China Garden

A varied selection of food influenced by distinct Chinese regions creating Cantonese, Szechuan and Peking specialties.

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday Lunch 12:00pm to 3:00pm, Dinner 7:00pm to 11:00pm (Closed on Sunday)

Fusions

Takht Jamsheed

Fusions is a contemporary and stylish rooftop restaurant boasting unrivalled views over the hotel’s tropical gardens and Manama skyline.

Taking inspiration from Persia’s royal palace of Takht Jamsheed, the Gulf Hotel’s chic restaurant offers a fine dining experience fit for a king.

Opening Hours: Sunday to Friday 6pm – 12am (Closed on Saturday)

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday Lunch 12:00pm – 3:00pm, Dinner 7:00pm – 11:00pm (Closed on Mondays)

La Pergola

Lavish Mediterranean seafood basket for BD 23++ at the incredible Italian restaurant Opening Hours: Lunch 12:00pm – 3:00pm Dinner 7:00pm – 11:00pm

Zahle

The menu boasts an extensive selection of hot and cold mezze, grilled meat and regional Lebanese fare, such as beautifully presented shish kebab served in a golden box atop warm Arabic bread and burning coals.

Margarita Mexicana

Authentic Mexican food freshly prepared at guests’ tables to guarantee that the menu and fine dining experience are as authentic as possible.

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, Weekdays: 7:00pm – 1:00am, Weekends: 7:00pm – 2:00am Saturday Lunch 12:00pm -3:00pm Dinner 7:00pm – 2:00am

Opening Hours: Sunday to Friday 6:00pm – 12:00am (Closed on Saturdays)

nightlife

Royal Thai

Celebrating Songkran with special Thai buffet this October Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday Lunch 12:00pm – 3:00pm, Dinner 7:00pm – 11:00pm (Closed on Mondays)

Sherlock Holmes Opening Hours: Daily: 12:00pm – 2:00am

Typhoon Bar and Lounge Opening Hours: Daily: 5:00pm – 1:00am Happy Hour: 5:00pm – 7:00pm

Vintage Wine Bar

Sato

October Oyster Promotion with three different cooking methods of your choice.

Opening Hours: Lunch 12:00pm – 3:00pm Dinner 7:00pm – 11:00pm

Opening Hours: Daily: 5:00pm – 1:00am For Reservations +973 1771 3000

the DoMain Bahrain hotel  Dining

Txoko

A playful and vibrant venue crowning the top floor of The Domain Hotel and Spa. Opening hours: Daily 4:00pm – 2:00am

the WeStin & le MeriDien, City Centre 

Imari

Txoko

Le Sauvage

Cosmopolitan Japanese restaurant and lounge.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 6:00pm – 12:00 am

Dining

Enjoy our inspired multi-cuisine buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Thursday Seafood night BD 20 net with soft beverages and 34 net with selected alcoholic beverages. Opening Hours: 6:30am - 11pm

nightlife

Nasmat

Visit this poolside bar to relax and unwind. Weekends wind down with beverage packages and funky lounge music every Thursday and Friday from 6:30pm –11:30pm.

Bizzare Lounge

Rich purple hues and plush décor make this a chic lounge for after-hours. Newly installed TV’s and BeIn Sports package allows you to enjoy all the biggest sports events. Open Sunday to Thursday from 4pm – 2am, and Friday & Saturday from 12noon – 2am with all-day happy hour every Tuesday on selected beverages.

Mezzanine Lounge

An art decor style bar with an intimate setting.

Opening Hours: 12pm – 2am december 2016

Le Domain

A chic and cozy lounge with widescreen TVs and charming private pods. Opening Hours: 11am – 1am.

Fresh, light and passionate cuisine from the south of France.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 6:00pm – 12:00 am

Spa

Figs & Olives

Nasmat Heavenly Spa by Westin

Conveniently located on the third floor of The Westin Bahrain City Center, the Heavenly® Spa by Westin provides the perfect escape from the arduous of city life. 20% off all treatments from 9am - 1pm, Sun - Wed. Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm For Information & Reservations

Boudoir

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French Steakhouse, open grill kitchen.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 6:00pm – 12:00 am

Le Meridien: 17 171 1441, The Westin Bahrain City Centre, 17 171 122

A casual duet eatery of both classic Italian and Lebanese comfort foods.

Opening hours: Daily 6:30 am – 10:00 pm

The Cigar Lounge

Refined and masculine social space with walk in humidor.

Opening hours: Daily 6:00 pm – 12:00 am For Information & Reservations Hotel: +973 16000 400, 16000 200, 16000 222, 16000 333.

gym & Spa

Bodylines Fitness & Wellness Club

DoWntoWn rotana 

Relax at one of our leisure facilities at Bodylines Fitness & Wellness Club featuring a rooftop swimming pool, a gym equipped with latest machines and professional instructors. After your workout, unwind with a wide selection of massage treatments. *All price is subject to 10% service charge and 10% government levy.

For Reservations or more Information: +973 1311 9999 or email fb.downtown@rotana.com.

Dining Teatro

Indulge in a special 4 course Italian set menu paired with sparkling bubbly and live entertainment for only BD 24*. 8 pm till 11 pm starting from 16th October.

Asian Wine dinner on 20th October for only BD 25.

Sushitini night very Tuesday from 6:00pm to 10:00pm.

1BD cocktail offer from 7pm-8pm daily. Enjoy 50% off the a la carte menu between 6pm-8pm.

Flavors on 2

Indulge in a lavish special buffet featuring a large display of salads and a variety of grills such as steaks, seafood and Kababs for only BD 12* including soft drinks and juices. From 14th October onwards.

nightlife

Sundeck Pool Bar

Chill by the pool with your family and friends while enjoying our special Bucket Hour promotion, every day from 6 pm till 8 pm at Sundeck Pool Bar. Order a bucket of 6 Beers and get a free snack for only BD 18*.

Enjoy a Friday BBQ Brunch for only 15*.

al Safir hotel  Dining

Yalla Yalla

In place of Savoy Café, Yalla Yalla offers lunch and dinner bufftets as well as an ala carte menu.

Spa & Salon

Opening Hours: Daily: 6:30am - Midnight

Come in and relax to soothing music as our therapists provide the perfect treatment.

Bennigan’s

Enjoy tasty food and spirited conversation.

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 6:00am - 1:00am

raMee GranD hotel & Spa 

Spa & Salon

Cucina Italiana

The place where Italian Food is served with style & passion.

Dining

Featuring a dynamic menu, the Lemon Tree is the place to enjoy our signature casual dining, delicious breakfasts, Friday family brunches, scrumptious dinners and those all-day quick nibbles. Breakfast Buffet BD10 net, Daily, 6:30am-10:30am. Business Lunch Buffet BD9 net, Saturdays-Thursdays, 12:00pm3:00pm. Friday Brunch BD15++, 12:00pm-4:00pm.

Seafood Night, Thursdays, 7:00pm-11:00pm, BD15++ Opening Hours: Breakfast: 6.30am – 10.30pm Lunch: 12.00 pm – 3.30pm, Dinner: 7.00pm – 11.30pm

Dining

La Perle

Enjoy a delicious range of culinary specialties with an extensive selection of appetizers, salads and desserts to complement your choices Seafood and fishes.

Opening hours: Daily: 7:00pm - 12:00am

Zytoun

Mediterranean Grill buffet restaurant serving a variety of Mediterranean and international foods.

Opening hours: Daily: 6:30am - 11:00pm

nightlife

Le Bellevue

A relaxed yet elegant bar offering one of the most stunning views of the sea and city skyline. Light live music in the evenings.

Opening hours: Daily: 4:00pm - 2:00am

Pool Bar

Pool bar is open on weekends during DecemberFebruary and every day from March 1 until November.

(Closed during Ramadan).

For Reservations

Lemon Tree: +973 17111999

Ruka

Ruka aims to present itself as the region’s most luxurious Japanese restaurant/lounge. With breathtaking views of the Bahrain from the 24th floor, the vast azure Arabic Gulf & the infinite cerulean skyline, Ruka’s connotation to its name certainly holds true to its very core. Unlimited sushi Monday’s for BD15++, 7:00pm onwards. Daily lunch menu BD8 net Buy one cocktail get one free 4:oopm - 7:00pm daily Opening Hours: Daily: 12:30pm – 3:00pm and 6.00pm -11:30pm For Reservations Ruka: +973 17111971

Reborn

The Spa at the Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa is 5,000 square feet of pure serenity. Inspired by wellness techniques from around the globe, our spa features 13 treatment rooms with a unique selection of facials, massages & treatments designed specifically for women, men & couples.

Opening hours: 10.00am – 11.00pm 7 days a week Health Club: 6.00am - 11.00pm Pool Bar: 10.00am – 6.00pm For Information Reborn: +973 17 111980

nightlife

Ibrida

Ramee Grand’s very own club and steak-house is the heart of Bahrain’s biggest nightlife entertainment and has steadily become the perfect venue for the after-work crowd to unwind or for weekend revelers to dance the night away. Ladies and couples free entrance from Tuesday-Friday. Mohombi Live, August 25th, and Alexandra Stan Live, last Thursday of September. Early Bird for BD10, Presale for BD15, On Door for BD 25. Doors open at 7:00pm.

Opening Hours: Club: 8.00pm – 2.00am Restaurant: 7.00pm - 11.30pm For Information

Ibrida: +973 17 111972

Rasoi

Rasoi takes you on a culinary journey with its extensive buffet display, open exhibition kitchen and live cooking areas. Soothing music from a live ghazal band while you dine creates the perfect atmosphere for our guests to relish the sophisticated blend of flavors, which celebrate the vibrancy, of Indian cuisine. Make a reservation for 2 adults or more during weekdays and get a free bottle of grape by our Sommelier

Opening hours: Daily: 9:00am -8:00pm

Opening Hours: Daily: 12.30p.m - 3.00p.m and 6.30p.m - 11.00p.m

For Reservations

For Reservations

Hotel: +973 1729 8008

For Information & Reservations Al Safir Hotel & Tower: +973 1782 7999 Email: alsafirh@batelco.com.bh Bennigan’s: +973 1781 3750 Website: bennigans.com.bh Cucina Italiana: +973 1700 1317 Website: cucinaitaliana.com.bh

Opening Hours: Daily: 6am - 2am

Lemon Tree

novotel al Dana reSort 

Ann Beauty Salon

Rasoi: +973 17111973

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iBiS Seef ManaMa 

MerCure GranD hotel Seef 

SEEF RESTAURANT

NEYRAN RESTAURANT

Dining

Enjoy a wide range of succulent dishes from around the globe in a casual and tranquil setting. The a la carte menu is available throughout the day and our chef’s special is freshly prepared daily. Whether you’re looking to grab a quick bite or to have a more relaxed sumptuous meal, the restaurant is the perfect choice to satisfy those yearnings.

Opening Hours: 4 AM to 11 PM daily, 7 days a week Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Breakfast timings: Intercontinental breakfast is from 4:30 AM – 6:30 AM Breakfast Buffet is from: 6:30 AM – 10:30 AM Intercontinental breakfast is from: 10:30 AM – 12 PM Lunch: 12 - 3:30 PM Dinner: 7 – 11 PM Come try out our special Combo offer for lunch & dinner! Revel in one of our culinary delights for your main course from the menu. Add BD 1 for a delicious salad and soft drink.

SEEF CAFÉ

The ideal place to meet with family and friends and enjoy a delightful array of cold and hot beverages, mocktails, light snacks, and sweets, while watching your favorite sports team play on our big screen TV. Opening Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week For information & reservations:

+973 17386020 or e-mail H6303-RE@accor.com

Dining

Specializing in flavors from Europe with hints of Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines, Neyran’s menu presents a reflection of striking aromas and essences. Guests can start or end their day with a meal from our extensive deluxe buffet for breakfast, lunch or dinner whilst our a la carte menu provides limitless choices anytime of the day in general surroundings brightened with natural sunshine.

Opening hours: 06:30 - 23:00, every day

CASA BAR & TERRACE

Shades of Oak and yellow surroundings, brightened with natural sunshine, Casa Bar provides that chic and stylish setting with stylish décor and the comfiest furnishings all in a Moroccan style. Casa Bar’s cigar collection epitomizes graciousness with a menu that has been created to complement the tastes of aficionados who will find the humidor stocked with some of the finest premium cigars. Don’t miss out on Casa Terrace, on the mezzanine level, where you can enjoy the finest open-air hospitality with a beautiful view of Manama and the Seef skyline. Unwind with live entertainment, a wide variety of shishas, light meals and sandwiches...with your favorite drink!

Opening hours: 14:00 - 02:00, every day.

SAMA POOL & BAR

Marvel at the panoramic city and the sea views, the endless skyline framed against the beautiful sunsets from Bahrain’s highest roof top at Sama Pool Bar. This urban oasis is an unmatched visual feast and the perfect place to enjoy an evening of barbecued grill or gather with a group of friends over light snacks and beverages. The ‘sky’ high experience is completed as you dive into the clear blue water of the pool, with the open-air pool deck a refreshing relief from the city’s buzz throughout the day. The Sama Pool Bar is also a coveted venue for pool parties, family barbecues, farewell gatherings, weekend treats, corporate events, anniversaries or for that special event to celebrate with your friends and family.

Opening hours: 10:30 - 19:00, every day.

the DraGon hotel anD reSort  Dining

MUJU RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE

MUJU’s contemporary style and timeless sophistication blends with a warm and inviting ambiance that combine to make the ideal venue for lunch, dinner or cocktails.

MUJU’s exquisite international menu has a wide variety of delicacies for even the most discerning of palates.

Whether for lunch or dinner, its timeless classics and seasonal specials are a treat to the taste buds. With its warm ambiance, breath-taking sea views and culinary masterpieces, MUJU restaurant and lounge is an indulgence to your senses. Laze away an afternoon or watch the sunset, sipping cocktails while enjoying an appetizing selection of treats from the lounge menu.

Opening hours: Everyday 12pm till 5am

YAMIN JANA MEDITERRANEAN SEAFRONT

RESTAURANT Treat yourself to a refreshingly different dining experience at Yamin Jana, a Mediterranean-Style seafront lounge with an Arabic twist. Allow yourself to be transported all over the Mediterranean when sampling tapas in true Spanish style, as well as authentic Lebanese mezze. The beverage selection is as vast as the Mediterranean, with great beverages and an amazing variety of different shisha flavors. Yamin Jana seats 140 guests on a beautiful al fresco wooden deck. Watch the evening come alive when the whole of Amwaj and all its lights breathe life into the lagoon in front of the Dragon Hotel & Resort.

Opening hours: 11am to 2 am every day.

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For Reservations

+973 17 58 44 00 H5685@accor.com/H5685-RE@accor.com

CORNERS

Corners is the first pub to open in Amwaj Islands. A place to socialize and unwind whilst enjoying the latest in live sports, bands and DJs including resident DJ. With a diverse selection of food, including traditional pub grub as well as International classics to treat the taste buds, Corners is your ultimate Gastropub.

Opening hours: 2pm to 2am For Reservations

+973 1603 1111/ +973 1603 3833 fo@dragonresorthotel.com

SWiSS-Belhotel  Dining

SWISS-CAFÉ RESTAURANT

al areen palaCe & Spa  Dining

RIMAL RESTAURANT

Rimal offers all-day dining in a light and airy setting that provides a spectacular view of the resort. Catering to Middle Eastern and global tastes, guests can indulge in a sumptuous breakfast buffet or select from an extensive a la carte menu.

Opening hours: daily Breakfast served daily: 6:30am - 10:30 am Last Order: 11:00 pm

SAFFRON RESTAURANT

Resplendent in majestic shades of gold and maroon, with a beautiful high ceiling, traditional Middle Eastern accents and a spectacular view of the resort’s grand outdoor pool, this signature dining venue introduces a new menu inspired by modern Bahraini dishes, combining elements of enticing European and Khaleeji fusion.

Opening hours: daily For lunch: 11:30 am-3:00 pm For dinner: 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm

KEIZO RESTAURANT

Keizo offers guests surprising signature dishes from traditional Far East cuisines contemporarily prepared and elegantly presented. Highly experienced chef and multi-talented sushi chef all make up this exceptional dining venue.

Opening hours: Thursday, Friday and Saturday For lunch: 11:30 am-3:00 pm Open daily for dinner: 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm Closed on Sunday

An all-day dining restaurant located on the 10th floor, with a panoramic terrace overlooking the city.

Opening hours: 6:30 AM - 11:30 PM, everyday Essential Food Deals (Valid until last evening before Ramadan): Business Lunch Buffet: 12:30 PM - 3:00 PM, Saturday to Thursday (7 BD net per person including soft drinks and mineral water) International Dinner Buffet: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM, Saturday to Thursday (8 BD net per person including soft drinks) Arabic Dinner Buffet: 7.00 PM - 11.00 PM, Thursday and Friday (8 BD net per person including soft drinks) Friday Seafood Lunch: 12.30 PM - 3.00 PM (Net BD 12 per person including soft drinks) Summer Lunch Buffet: 12:30 Pm - 3:00 PM, Saturday to Friday (BD7 net including soft drinks)

CAFECCINO

Lobby Café serving a variety of salads, sandwiches, pastries, hot and cold beverages in a casual ambience.

Opening hours: 24 hours, everyday

B28 bar lounge & Grill

This trendy bar is located on the 28th floor with a panoramic view. 30% off on selected beverages during happy hour on Wednesdays from 6:00 PM. Live music with Lilyana, Wednesdays from 6:00 PM, Thursdays & Fridays from 8:00 PM, Saturday-Tuesday 7:30pm.

Opening hours: Saturday-Thursday 4:00pm - 2:00am & Friday 1:00am - 2:00am

Floor 27

For Information and Reservations

The spacious, elegant and classic La Mosaique Restaurant is open 24 hours a day, serving a choice of international buffets and a la carte menus.

Set menu Business lunch, Saturday to Thursday, 12pm-4pm. Thanksgiving Brunch, 25th November, BD 35 net at 4 venues: La Mosaique, Harvester’s Pub, Cappucino Cafe, The Patio.

Opening hours: 6:00am to 11:00pm

+973 66310041 reservationsbse@swiss-belhotel.com

+973 17 84 50 00/+973 17 84 50 01 alareen@alareenpalace.com

Asian Fusion cuisine Open from 6.00am to 10.30am for breakfast, from 12.30pm to 4.00pm for lunch, and from 7.00pm to 11.00pm for dinner.

Thursdays from 7.00pm to 11.00pm (Thursday Night Out)at BD27 net Mondays from 7.00pm to 11.00pm (Monday Seafood Night) at BD 27 net Friday from 12.30pm to 4.00pm (Award-Winning Friday Brunch) at BD31 net

The Gallery

French brasserie Open from 7.00am to midnight.

Rimal Spa Open daily from 10.00am to 10.00pm 12 luxurious treatment rooms

LA MOSAIQUE

WAVES SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

For Reservations

Silk’s restaurant



SPICES

Spices Indian Restaurant ensures the best Indian food available, as well as the highest quality possible service. Serving all-new tandoori kebab dish for BD 6.5 Opening hours: 12:00pm to 11:00pm

Indulge in delicious pastries, freshly baked cakes and our special selection of tea and coffee. Senses Lounge is the perfect place to relax and re-charge your senses.

Opening hours: From 9:00 am - 10:00 pm

Dining

Dining

The incomparable hall, overlooking the Seef area is the place to host any type of events. Located on the 27th floor with a panoramic 360 degree view of Bahrain, it’s the perfect venue for gatherings with family & friends.

Opening hours: 24 hours, everyday

SENSES LOUNGE

MövenpiCK hotel Bahrain 

CroWne plaZa Bahrain

The Gym & Wellness Open daily from 6.00am to 10.00pm Tennis Court Infinity pool Cybex equipment

Flamingo Bar & Lounge Weekdays open from 2.00pm to 2.00am Weekends open from 12.00pm to 2.00am Daily happy hour from 2.00pm to 9.00pm Live band performance daily except Saturdays from 8.45pm 12.30am For Reservations

Silk’s Restaurant: +973 17460017

A must for seafood lovers, who can choose from our extensive a la carte menu or our market place selection of fresh fish which is delivered daily from local Bahraini fisherman. Seafood business lunch, Saturday to Thursday, 12:00pm-12:00am.

Opening hours: daily for lunch and dinner

THE HARVESTERS PUB AND TERRACE

Serves the best pub grub in town and is the perfect place to meet up after work with friends or colleagues.

Opening hours: 11:00am to 2:00am

CAPPUCCINO CAFÉ

Coffee shop is located in the lobby area, and serves freshly brewed tea, coffee and pastries throughout the day. Hold your meeting here with colleagues, or simply sit and enjoy the surroundings.

Opening hours: 12.00 to 23.00

TRACKS SPORTS BAR

A great place to socialize with friends and colleagues and watch all the world’s best sporting events everyday on big screen. Come and enjoy Tracks’ relaxed and friendly atmosphere, play pool or darts, listen to great music while having a drink and a fabulous snack from our menu.

Opening hours: daily from 3:00pm to 1:00am For Reservations

+973 17531122 cp@cp-bahrain.com

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BUSINESS Market Place Gulf

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December 2016

BUSINESS Market Place Gulf

WE COME TO YOU FOR A CHANGE! autoMAX car care will come to your office or home to perform the above services on your vehicles.

Call us now or book online to schedule an appointment.

Oil Change

Battery Change

Wiper Change

light BulB Change

T.: +973 17 404 131 F.: +973 17 405 441

a/C gas Filling

Brake Change

spark plug Change

suspensiOn

-Book appointment online-

www.automaxme.com

THE MUST HAVE ACCESSORY FOR ANY SELF-RESPECTING CAR! Raised rubber writing for all international tires in colours of your choice. Custom fonts and words available on request.

Exclusive Distributors in GCC for all

products

Starting 2.5!!!

BD4 from juSt Road 115 l Sitra 601 Tel: +973 1712 5171 l info@tires-art.com

December 2016

103

Quoted “Bahrain provides an ideal testing ground for local and regional startups looking to enter or grow within the GCC, and providing the right type of funding to help businesses expand is a vital part of that.”

“Information Technology is a critical aspect of any airline and, at Gulf Air, our IT department continually strives for innovation while remaining on the cusp of latest developments.”

Gulf Air Chief Executive Officer, Maher Salman Al Musallam

Chief Executive at the EDB, Khalid Al Rumaihi

“Through its Advisory Services, Tamkeen seeks to blend national and international expertise together to develop Bahrain’s private sector, making it the main engine for the Kingdom’s economic growth. This is one of the pillars of the National Reform Programme and Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.”

Tamkeen Chief Executive, Dr. Ebrahim Mohammed Janahi 104 80 88

may february december 2016 2012 2016

“As customer loyalty increasingly becomes a cornerstone for businesses to remain successful, we believe that the retail sector has tremendous opportunities to harness and optimise data analytics to achieve this goal.”

Principal at Booz Allen Hamilton MENA, Jad Rahbani

“Bahrain is moving in the right direction to achieve the 2019 target for the 5G as there is no hurry otherwise to introduce this spectrum as neighbouring countries are also working on this spectrum.”

Chairman of Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Dr. Mohammed Al Amer

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