Qatar Today March April 2018 by Oryx Group of Magazines

inside this issue March - April 2018 / Vol. 44 / Issue 02

COVER STORY

30 COVERING ALL BASES

Qatarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual budget for 2018 is not only promising but has everything that is needed to continue with the country's planned infrastructure projects without any hitch due to stabilising oil prices.

38 DJWE 2018 WITNESSES OVER 21,000 VISITS

Visitors at the 15th edition of the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition got an opportunity to acquire new knowledge through the first DJWE Forum, daily sessions and workshops.

18 ARMS OF STEEL

Fares Ibrahim, the 19-year-old weightlifting sensation, has taken Qatar sports to new heights.

20 MO-VING ON TO NEWER HEIGHTS

Qatar Today talks to Sir Mo Farah, gold medallist at the 2012 as well as the 2016 Olympic Games, in both the 5000 and 10,000 metre categories.

48 ATTACK OF THE DRONES

The unchecked proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles and their use by state and Non-State Armed Groups (NSAG) alike opens an entire new security paradigm.

inside this issue March - April 2018 / Vol. 44 / Issue 02

24 DELIVERING SIMPLICITY

The challenge for today’s IT industry is that the modern user demands that digital services are effortless, self-explanatory and combine modest, yet engaging ascetics.

52 TIME TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT OBESITY

Despite global efforts to stem the obesity epidemic, no country has succeeded in decreasing it in the last 33 years.

46 HELPING EXECUTIVES RESPOND TO CSR DEMANDS

Organisations can pay a heavy price if they don’t respond to social and environmental demands; at the same time, responding can be costly.

26 POWER SHIFT TRIGGERS NEW LNG RULEBOOK

Established operators like Qatar will still benefit from relationships with LNG importers rooted in decades of history.

28 CALLING FOR GREATER CLIMATE ACTION

Will the lessons learnt in 2017 help in the initiation of some major action on the ground for Qatar and the rest of the world?

54 SETTING THE STANDARD

Adel Mohamed Albgdady, civil engineer at Qatar Standards, explains the procedure for obtaining the certificate issued by them, which is required by the various construction companies in the country.

and regulars 08

NEWS BITES

REALTY CHECK

BANK NOTES

OIL & GAS REVIEW

TECH TALK

AUTO NEWS

MARKET WATCH

DOHA DIARY

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from the desk News related to Qatar continues to be the determining factor, not only at the regional level but also in the global arena. During his visit to Brussels, Qatar’s Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel as well as King Philippe. And it was also in Brussels that Sheikh Tamim and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg witnessed the signing of a strategic agreement, to “foster world peace”, between the Government of Qatar, represented by the Qatari Armed Forces, and NATO. In addition, the Emir was in Germany earlier in the year at the Munich Security Conference where he called the blockade on Qatar ‘‘futile’’. In recent news, Sheikh Tamim also met with US envoys in Qatar, and exchanged messages with the Emir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. Back home, the 15th edition of the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition witnessed more than 21,000 visits. Held under the patronage of the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, the exhibition saw more than 490 international brands representing a wide variety of luxury watches and jewellery. Our Cover Story reviews the 2018 budget, which will help Qatar continue with its infrastructure projects irrespective of the stabilising oil prices. We also analyse the dangers associated with unmanned aerial vehicles should they get into the wrong hands. In a couple of exclusive interviews, Qatar Today talks to Sir Mo Farah, Britain’s most successful distance runner, and Qatari weightlifting sensation Fares Ibrahim. And we also present features on the IT industry, and the problem of obesity for Qatar and the other GCC countries. Check out the latest edition of Qatar Today to find out more. Happy Reading!

affairs > local

EMIR’S VISIT TO BRUSSELS BOOSTS QATAR, BELGIUM TIES In a move aimed at developing bilateral relations between Qatar and Belgium, His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited Brussels in March and met with the country’s Prime Minister Charles Michel at Egmont Palace. He later met with King Philippe at the Royal Palace.

heikh Tamim and Michel discussed ways to boost mutual cooperation in the fields of energy, economy, investment, culture, sport and health. The two also exchanged views on regional and international developments, particularly the current challenges in the Middle East and Europe, notably the threat of terrorism and ways to combat and

uproot it as well as eliminate its sources of financing. The Emir and the prime minister witnessed the signing of a deal for the operation of commercial flights between the two countries; they also witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between Qatar University and the University of Hasselt.

QATAR, KUWAIT PLEDGE TO STRENGTHEN TIES

QATAR, TURKEY SIGN PACT FOR CULTURAL EXCHANGE

In a move aimed at enhancing cultural exchange between Qatar and Turkey, the Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) in March with Global Public Diplomacy Network (GPDN). The deal was signed by Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara, and Prof. Dr Sheref Atesh, President of Yunus Emre Institute and GPDN. Dr Al Sulaiti expressed his gratitude and happiness on signing this agreement which aims to promote Katara in the field of international cultural diplomacy and enhance cultural exchange between Katara and GPDN through implementation of bilateral projects and support of joint programmes. “Katara has achieved a lot in the field of cultural diplomacy especially within its diversified cultural programmes which promote the values of tolerance and co-existence,” said Dr Al Sulaiti. 10 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

The Emir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah recently sent a message to Qatar’s Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani pertaining to the strong sisterly relations between both countries and ways of further enhancing them. The message also extended Kuwait’s thanks to Qatar for its effective participation in their National Day celebrations. The envoy of HH the Emir of Kuwait, HE Sheikh Mohammad Al Abdullah Al Mubarak Al Sabah, Deputy Minister of Kuwaiti Emiri Diwan Affairs, handed the message to Sheikh Tamim at Al Bahr Palace. For his part, the Emir of Qatar entrusted the deputy minister with his greetings to HH Sheikh Sabah, wishing him good health and well-being and the Kuwaiti people further progress and prosperity.

SHEIKH TAMIM MEETS US ENVOYS IN QATAR

DEAL ON MILITARY ALLIANCE SIGNED BETWEEN QATAR, NATO

The Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg witnessed the signing of the agreement between the Government of Qatar, represented by the Qatari Armed Forces, and NATO in Brussels.

ommenting on the strategic importance of the agreement, the Emir said that the pact would foster world peace. In a tweet, he said: “Qatar and NATO have laid the foundation for military co-operation. The agreement signed by the two sides today is one of strategic significance that will help better respond to peace

and security challenges regionally and worldwide.” A number of senior military officials from both sides and members of the official delegation accompanying the Emir were among the dignitaries who were present. The Emir also met and held talks with Stoltenberg and senior NATO officials.

EVERY CHILD MUST GET EDUCATION: SHEIKHA MOZA

Envoys of the US Secretary of State, including retired General Anthony Zinni paid an official visit to the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at Al Bahr Palace in March. Sheikh Tamim also met up with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arabian Gulf Affairs, Tim Lenderking, and the accompanying delegation. Apart from regional and international affairs, strategic relations between Qatar and the US were discussed during the meeting. Zinni also visited Kuwait and met its Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah and other Kuwaiti leaders. The talks focused on “the Gulf crisis and efforts to contain it, in addition to the arrangements for the upcoming US-GCC Summit in May”. According to earlier reports, Trump wants to bring Gulf leaders to Camp David for a show of solidarity with the US. But he wants a breakthrough in the Gulf crisis before the potential summit of the six-country Gulf Cooperation Council.

(File photo)

high-level meeting, co-hosted by Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay, was recently organised by Education Above All Foundation (EAA) in Paris. The event was attended by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of EAA and UN Sustainable Development Goals Advocate. The session explored ways of tackling the growing education crisis, which is holding back 63 million primary-aged children worldwide and threatening economic development. “I first stood before the United Nations 15 years ago to express my support for our shared vision: to provide quality education to children everywhere. I have come here today to tell you that this shared vision is now a real possibility,” said HH Sheikha Moza. “As the world grapples with crises, I have come here today to tell you that if we want to counter the ramifications of crises, education must become our first priority. If we wish for peace and prosperity for all, we must ensure education for all,” she added. 11 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

affairs > local

HIA SHOWCASES 32-FOOT SCULPTURE

Hamad International Airport (HIA) recently revealed a new artwork, SMALL LIE, by American artist KAWS. The inauguration was attended by the artist, Eng Badr Mohammed Al Meer, HIA Chief Operating Officer, and Khalid Yousef Al Ibrahim, Qatar Museums (QM) Chief Strategic Planning Officer. Delivered as part of Qatar Museums’ commitment to make art available to all beyond the confines of a gallery, SMALL LIE is the latest addition to the airport’s fine art collection of more than twenty permanent pieces created by local and international artists. Qatar Museums Chief Strategic Planning Officer, Khalid Yousef Al Ibrahim, welcomed SMALL LIE to Qatar, saying: “From striking sculptures to specially commissioned photography, our public art offering at HIA aims to inspire travellers as well as local talents flying through the airport.”

BLOCKADE ON QATAR ‘FUTILE’, SAYS EMIR IN GERMANY

BALADNA RECEIVES SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AWARD

The Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani condemned the blockade imposed by four Arab countries at the Munich Security Conference held in February.

arning that the months-long crisis is having a negative effect on the region’s security and economy, Sheikh Tamim termed the blockade as “futile”. “It has been a futile crisis, manufactured by our neighbours,” said the Emir. “By defusing the impact of the illegal and aggressive measures imposed on our people, Qatar has preserved its sovereignty,” he said. “Those aggressive actors wish to use smaller states as pawns within their power games and sectarian conflicts.” Sheikh Tamim added that despite the measures against it, Qatar has developed new international trade routes and diversified its economy.

12 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

aladna Food Industries, the largest Qatari Dairy farm, has been awarded the Social Responsibility Award 2017. The ‘5th Conference on Social Responsibility and Awards’ took place at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies under the patronage of Sheikh Abdullah bin Saoud Al Thani, Governor of Qatar Central Bank (QCB) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sports and Social Activities Support Fund (Daam). Baladna was rewarded for being one of the most prominent entities that played a significant role in bridging the gap between the supply and demand of dairy products in the country. When the blockade started, Baladna was among the first to initiate and work with Qatar towards its self-sufficiency goals. This award recognizes Baladna’s efforts in meeting the local market demand and fulfilling the country’s agricultural and livestock needs. “This award encourages us to continue striving to give back to Qatar and its people,” said Ramez Al Khayyat, Partner and Vice Chairman of Baladna Food Industries.

business > realty check QATAR GEARS UP FOR CITYSCAPE 2018

According to organisers, one of the objectives of the seventh edition of the event, to be held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center from April 23-25, 2018, is to create a platform for local as well as cross-border real estate investment.

ASSETS WORTH QR180 MILLION ACQUIRED BY AAMAL COMPANY

"HEALTHY SIGNS FOR GCC'S CONSTRUCTION SECTOR" According to recent findings from Pinsent Masons’ GCC Construction Survey, the overall sentiment in the region’s construction sector has improved over the last two years by approximately 7% (from 32% to 39%).

ocal realty assets worth QR180 million, which include three residential compounds, have been purchased by Aamal Company. The assets comprise 24 villas and two buildings of 20 apartments, which include prime locations in Doha – West Bay Lagoon, Al Waab, Abu Hamour and Madinat Khalifa. The transaction, which was funded entirely through existing cash resources, is expected to increase Aamal Real Estate’s net assets by 7%. “Aamal Company’s diversified business

model and focus on vital economic sectors allow us to be an active player in Qatar’s growth, contributing directly to its further development and diversification,” said Sheikh Mohamed bin Faisal Al Thani, the company's Vice Chairman and Managing Director. He added: “This acquisition is in line with the growth strategy of expanding the realty portfolio in key areas, fulfilling market demand for high-quality properties and maintaining a marketleading position.”

Sentiment towards the real estate sector improved with 32% of respondents expecting growth from this sector in 2018, compared to 25% in 2016. “Optimism towards the GCC’s construction sector saw an increase from our 2016 survey despite ongoing challenges with lower oil pricing and headwinds facing the private non-oil sector,” said Sachin Kerur, Head of Middle East Region at Pinsent Masons. However, while the survey indicated a slight rise in overall sentiment, the findings revealed that 20% of those surveyed across the GCC expect their order books to decline by more than 10% in the coming months, compared to 16% two years ago.

TURKISH DELIGHT

ust Real Estate (JRE) has expanded its overseas portfolio with exciting investment opportunities for clients in the Quasar Istanbul project, a mixeduse development in the heart of Turkey’s economic and cultural capital. The prospect of owning a home within the sophisticated Quasar Residences, a luxurious, contemporary skyscraper comprising one, two and three-bedroom apartments and home offices, will be on offer. Alternatively, investors can purchase

an ultramodern serviced apartment in Fairmont Residences, which is located within Fairmont Istanbul Hotel tower. “We fully utilise our extensive market knowledge and understanding, and wideranging trusted networks, to deliver unmatched investment opportunities to our clients. We are confident the Quasar Istanbul project ticks all the right boxes for investors seeking exciting ventures in one of the world’s most vibrant real estate markets,” said Eng Nasser Al Ansari, JRE Chairman. 13 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

business > bank notes BOOSTING FINTECH Doha Bank CEO Dr R Seetharaman stresses the need for Qatar to explore cross-border synergies with countries like the UK, Singapore, India and Australia to develop its Fintech sector.

BITCOIN TRADING ILLEGAL IN QATAR: CENTRAL BANK

GLOBAL FINANCE NAMES IBQ ‘BEST PRIVATE BANK IN QATAR’

atar Central Bank recently issued a statement to all banks in the country that trading in Bitcoin will not be accepted and violation of the same will lead to penalties. In recent times active trading in Bitcoin has been observed in Qatar. However, it is an illegal currency as there is no commitment from any central bank or a government in the world to exchange their value for money issued and cleared for payment for goods traded globally or for gold, the statement said. “This cryptocurrency is highly volatile and can be used for financial crimes and electronic hacking as well as risk loss of value because there are no guarantors or assets,” said the statement. The central bank further explained that in order to ensure the safety of the financial and banking system, all banks in the country are disallowed to deal in any way with Bitcoin or exchange it with any other currency, or open accounts to deal with it, or send or receive any money transfers for the purpose of buying or selling this currency.

AFTER BLOCKADE, QATAR INJECTED $43 BILLION TO HELP BANKS Following a 22 billion of deposits flowing out of the country since the blockade, Qatar invested about $43 billion in banks, said S&P Global Ratings. 14 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

The third annual ‘World’s Best Private Banks Awards’ ceremony was held recently, and Global Finance magazine presented International Bank of Qatar (IBQ) with the ‘Best Private Bank in Qatar Award’ during the gala dinner held at The Harvard Club in New York City. Chaouki Daher, general manager and head of Private Banking at IBQ, received the award. “This prestigious ‘Best Private Bank in Qatar’ award is a testament to our excellence in private banking and wealth management and strengthens our position in the local market. The IBQ team of private bankers has one of the best local expertise and insights, allowing us to cater to the needs of our HNWI (high-net-worth individual) and UHNWI (ultra high-net-worth individual) customers,” said Daher. “We spent our over 60 years’ journey building strong relationships with our customers, who in return gave us their trust. We thank both IBQ customers for their valued confidence and the Global Finance judges for their recognition. I am very proud of what we have accomplished so far and I would like to dedicate this award to my very talented team. When you have the best team, you become the best private bank.”

he government and state-controlled companies injected the cash into the financial system, according to Mohamed Damak, S&P’s senior director for financial services. “The government intervened quite strongly to help banks and allow them to increase lending and finance government projects,” said Damak. “Banks and institutions from neighbouring countries that are part of the boycott pulled most of the deposits, while nervous investors outside of the region also withdrew funds.” Damak further said that outflows from the Gulf countries involved in the standoff are expected this year as well. However, he added that the banks would be able to withstand the withdrawals because they hold 20% - 40% of their assets in liquid securities.

business > oil&gas QATAR, UAE FIND COMMON GROUND

Qatar Petroleum (QP) recently renewed a concession agreement with the UAE on the development and operation of their joint Al Bunduq offshore oilfield, said a QP spokesperson.

QP UNVEILS NEW CORPORATE STRATEGY In an effort to expand internationally and bring about transformation, Qatar Petroleum unveiled its new corporate strategy in February.

NORTH FIELD:

Picture for representational purpose

JAPANESE FIRM CHIYODA GETS FEED CONTRACT

Japan’s Chiyoda Corporation has been chosen by Qatar Petroleum (QP) to carry out the front end engineering and design (FEED) of the onshore facilities of the North Field expansion project.

he FEED work will provide the basic design for the addition of three LNG mega trains, each one with a production capacity of 7.8 million tons per year (TPY), with associated pre-investment to add a fourth LNG train in the future. Expressing his pleasure at the turn of events, QP President & CEO, Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, said: “The addition of 23 million TPY of LNG will not just enhance Qatar Petroleum’s position as the world’s largest LNG producer and exporter, but also its international image as a reliable and trustworthy energy provider.”

The rollout signals a new era of growth for QP, led by the planned expansion of North Field production, which will further boost Qatar’s leading global position by enhancing its liquefied natural gas (LNG) production from 77 million tonnes to 100 million tonnes per annum. Earlier, QP had signed a deal with French oil and gas company Total to acquire a 25% stake in the exploration block 11B/12B, off the shore of South Africa. It had also won exploration rights to five blocks off the coast of Mexico. “The new strategy and values come at a critical time in our expansion, and will ensure that we continue to be a global LNG leader,” said Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, QP President and Chief Executive.

“QATAR MORE THAN CAPABLE OF MEETING RISING LNG DEMANDS”

In spite of facing competition from the US, Russia and Australia, Qatar remains well placed to meet the rising LNG demand in the region, according to a report issued by BMI Research. The reasons for the same were attributed to the country’s low production costs and spare capacity. “With growing demand for natural gas, Asia will continue to be a focal point of competition for market share in the LNG space. Amid increasing competition, Qatar will look for new export destinations in the region, targeting less established markets such as Pakistan, Thailand and Bangladesh,” said the Fitch Group company. “Despite the continuing diplomatic crisis in the region, Qatar’s LNG exports remain largely unaffected by political tensions in the GCC region.” The BMI report also pointed out that, as part of efforts to reduce pollution in urban areas, Asia’s demand for cleaner natural gas is set to increase in the coming years. 15 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

affairs > local

ORYX PUBLISHING AND ADVERTISING

UNVEILS PROGRESS QATAR 2017-2018

IN A LANDMARK CEREMONY HELD AT THE HILTON DOHA HOTEL, ORYX PUBLISHING AND ADVERTISING UNVEILED THE 2017-18 EDITION OF ITS ANNUAL PUBLICATION PROGRESS QATAR, HELD UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND SPORTS, ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2018. THE EVENT, OFFICIALLY SPONSORED BY Q-AUTO, WAS HELD TO MARK QATARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ACHIEVEMENTS IN VARIOUS SECTORS LAST YEAR IN THE FACE OF THE BLOCKADE IMPOSED ON IT BY SOME OF ITS NEIGHBOURS.

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r Yousuf bin Jassim Al Darwish, honourable Chairman of Oryx Publishing & Advertising, and Mr Faleh bin Hussein Al Hajri, Director of Research and Cultural Studies Department, Ministry of Culture and Sports, were among the prominent personalities who were present at the function. Mr Al Hajri attended the event on behalf of HE Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser Al Ali, the Minister of Culture and Sports. Apart from them, members of the press and representatives of the companies who participated in the all-important 14th issue of Progress Qatar attended the event. During his speech, Mr. Yousuf thanked all the participants of Progress Qatar 2017-18, and said that Qatar’s economy had thrived despite the embargo imposed on it by some countries in June last year. He also stressed the importance of the latest edition of Progress Qatar because it highlighted how

well the nation had coped with the situation. And then, the moment that everyone had been waiting for finally arrived: the unveiling of Progress Qatar 2017-2018 by Mr Yousuf and Mr Al Hajri. This was followed by the awards ceremony – giving away of Progress Qatar 2017-2018 trophies – which was initiated by Mr Al Hajri receiving an award from Mr Yousuf. Q-Auto, the official sponsor for the event, was then presented with an award by Mr Yousuf and Mr Al Hajri, which was received by the company’s general manager, Ahmed Shariefi. A special award was also given to Qatari artist Ali Hassan, whose painting was used for the cover of Progress Qatar 2017-18. Mr Yousuf and Mr Al Hajri then presented awards to the representatives of the participating companies who were present at the ceremony. The event concluded with a group photo of Mr Yousuf, Mr Al Hajri and other participants of Progress Qatar 2017-18

Progress Qatar has been providing detailed analysis of the nation’s developments in various fields – sports, economy, infrastructure, education, health, etc. – for over a decade. The inaugural edition of the yearly book was published in 2003-04. Oryx Publishing & Advertising has been one of Qatar’s leading media houses for 40 years. The major magazines under its banner are Qatar Today, Qatar Al Youm, T Qatar, and T Qatar (Arabic). About Q-Auto: Q-Auto was established in July 2012 under the leadership of HE Sheikha Hanadi bint Nasser bin Khaled Al Thani. As a dealer, Q-Auto strives to deliver unparalleled levels of quality, commitment and service excellence. 17 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

affairs > worldview

18 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

UNREST IN CATALONIA Protesters hold the Catalan ‘Estelada’ pro-independence flag as a vehicle of the Mossos d’Esquadra passes by following clashes during a protest against the detention of former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont at the Spanish Government Delegation in Barcelona, Catalonia, northeastern Spain. EPA 19 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

sport > listening post

ARMS OF STEEL QATAR TODAY TALKS TO FARES IBRAHIM, THE 19-YEAR-OLD WEIGHTLIFTER WHO HAS TAKEN QATAR SPORTS TO NEW HEIGHTS. BY ANJALI JACOB

20 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

aving won the World Junior Championships in June last year, and the Asian Championship title in 2016, not to mention his seventhplace finish at the Rio Olympics, Fares Ibrahim’s achievements in the field of weightlifting have truly put Qatar on the world map for sports. Aged 18, he participated in the 2016 World Junior Championships where he won a bronze medal, which helped him to train even harder for the Rio Olympics, held later that year. “Seeing the crowd cheer for you really makes you want to train harder

and do better. Encouragement from our supporters means so much to us when it comes to training and staying motivated,” says Ibrahim. Ibrahim started weightlifting at a very young age, mainly because of his family’s involvement. “I started off seeing my father and brothers doing weightlifting and I instantly became their fan. It was good for me because my father is also my trainer, so it all runs in the family.” When asked about his father’s coaching dynamics, he says: “My father and I work well together. We have a natural understanding and he knows exactly how to train me, how to control my

“SEEING THE CROWD CHEER FOR YOU REALLY MAKES YOU WANT TO TRAIN HARDER AND DO BETTER.”

workout, and how to keep me motivated every day, because there are no off days during training.” With regards to competing professionally, Ibrahim says: “Four years ago I used to train as an amateur around two to three times a week. But my father saw some potential in me and suggested that I take it to the next level. And I did. My dream is to win an Olympic medal for Qatar and to honour my country. And I’m just getting started.” After winning silver in the 2017 World Championships which took place in December, his next goal is the 2018 Asian Games which is set to take place in August. Commenting on his training regimen, he says: “I’m working on the snatch discipline in which I am comparatively weak. By doing this I can improve further and this will increase my chances of winning big in the Games.” Ibrahim says that while weightlifting does put a lot of pressure and stress on him, he manages to de-stress by changing up his routine especially after a long period of strenuous training. His father is also a huge factor in keeping his spirits lifted. Furthermore, he says that physiotherapists help to relax his body and reduce stress. Ibrahim enjoys training and working towards a goal. He says: “Seeing my family’s proud faces makes it all worthwhile for me and that is my end goal.” Having such a busy schedule has also taken a toll on Ibrahim’s social life. “I love training but since I am always working, I feel like my social life has been affected since I don’t do anything outside of weightlifting for the most part. So when I take a break, I like to involve myself in extreme sports like skydiving and bungee jumping.” Ibrahim’s first major achievement came in 2014 when he won the Qatar Cup aged

only 16. His career took off after that, which is a well-known fact in the country’s sports community. When asked whether all the attention has changed him as a person, he says that his achievements have not changed him negatively, rather they have improved him in many aspects. “I have gained so much more confidence than before, especially on stage. I’ve changed my diet and my sleep schedule to mould it to my work schedule and this has made me more efficient in time management. In the end I can say that I haven’t changed as a person, as the people who I am around like me the way I am, but I have become more organised in life, which is always a good thing.” Ibrahim also praises Qatar’s active participation in the development of sports in the Middle East. “I am proud to be a part of Team Qatar. Qatar is always a front runner in scouting and training new athletes, and that is a big accomplishment. So, thank you Qatar.” Ibrahim says that he definitely sees himself involved with weightlifting for a very long time, maybe even after retirement. His words of advice to fellow youths and aspiring athletes are: “I hope I am an inspiration for them to take up any sport, not just weightlifting. I want them to know that they can improve themselves and gain great success and recognition with perseverance. After competing professionally, I’ve learned that you can succeed in anything you want if you enjoy doing it. If you see it in your mind, you can hold it in your hand.”

“I HAVEN’T CHANGED AS A PERSON, AS THE PEOPLE WHO I AM AROUND LIKE ME THE WAY I AM, BUT I HAVE BECOME MORE ORGANISED IN LIFE, WHICH IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING.”

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sport > listening post

Mo Farahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wax statue at Madame Tussaud`s, London

MO-VING ON TO

NEWER HEIGHTS QATAR TODAY TALKS TO SIR MO FARAH, GOLD MEDALLIST AT THE 2012 AS WELL AS THE 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES, IN BOTH THE 5000 AND 10,000 METRE CATEGORIES. BY ANJALI JACOB

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ir Mohammed Farah is often known as Britain’s most successful distance runner, in addition to being the most decorated athlete in the history of British athletics. He has four Olympic Gold medals under his belt, and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to athletics. In August last year, Sir Mo announced his retirement from track racing and decided to focus on marathons. He was in Doha earlier this year for the Ooredoo Doha Marathon 2018, and talked about distance running and his life. Sir Mo is a British national who moved to the UK, from his birthplace in Somalia, when he was only eight years old. Right from the start, he took an interest in sports and participated in running during his Physical Education (PE) classes. Although his passion at the time was football and he dreamt of playing for Arsenal FC one day, his coach at the time, Alan Watkinson, saw potential in him, and encouraged him to focus on running. “My PE teacher thought I was pretty good at running, and sort of convinced me to stick to it, and here I am today,” says Sir Mo. He announced his shift back to the UK from his earlier residence in Oregon, USA, in September 2017. He also announced a split with his former coach Alberto Salazar and is now training under Gary Lough, who has coached and is married to Paula Radcliffe. He says the move to London was

“I HOPE I CAN HELP KIDS TO BE MORE ACTIVE AND INVOLVED IN RUNNING OR ANY SPORT FOR THAT MATTER. I ALSO HAVE FOUR KIDS OF MY OWN, SO IT’S A GOOD INFLUENCE FOR THEM AS WELL.” so that he could spend more time with his family and friends. Sir Mo describes his training process to be thorough but not excessive. “I always make sure that I’m not overexerting my body, so I always plan out in advance which competitions I want to participate in and then I train accordingly. Every year there are multiple events and competitions, so if I can’t make it to one this year, I will definitely make up for it the next year. But you have to take care of your body.” Support of family and fans makes all the difference to Sir Mo and helps keep his spirits up especially during the race when energy levels run low. He also encourages others to “do what you love, and love what you do”. Sir Mo hopes to compete in the London Marathon in April 2018, on which he is focusing at present. Training under Lough is a new experience for Sir Mo, who

describes him as “very hands-on and makes me go the extra mile, which can be tiring at times, but it’s what gets results”. Sir Mo believes that getting to know your coach and having a good work flow with them can make all the difference in terms of training and performance. Sir Mo grew up watching the Olympics and it was one of his dreams to win an Olympic Gold. He looked up to many athletes, including Radcliffe, and was humbled when he finally won his first Olympic Gold in 2012 in London. Sir Mo is known to celebrate his victories by doing a little dance move called the ‘Mobot’, which has become a signature of his identity. He has also been involved in charity work in East Africa and was appointed the ambassador of Marathon Kids. He says: “I hope I can help kids to be more active and involved in running or any sport for that matter. I also have four kids of my own, so it’s a good influence for them as well.” Sir Mo is a fan of the Middle East and is awed by the rich culture, cuisine and people of Qatar. He appreciates the level of importance that Qatar gives to sports, especially the Aspire Academy. “I think it’s brilliant that they started an institution which helps athletes train and educate themselves, and is funded by the government. It really shows how valued sport is over here, and I love to be a part of that anytime,” concludes Sir Mo, who hopes to visit Qatar again in the future, during the 2019 World Championships 23 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

affairs > viewpoint

QATAR TARGETS

CRUISE TOURISM,

NEW MARKETS

THE 2017-18 SEASON, WHICH CLOSES IN APRIL THIS YEAR, IS EXPECTED TO DELIVER THE BEST RESULTS TO DATE FOR THE COUNTRY’S CRUISE TOURISM INDUSTRY.

24 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

he cruise season was officially launched on October 26, 2017 with the arrival of the Seabourn Encore at Doha Port. A total of 21 liners are expected to call at the port before the season closes in April. In a first for Qatar, two megaships – classified as vessels with a capacity of between 2,500 and 6,000 passengers – will be calling at the port in the coming months. According to Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), the ships will be joined by five liners making their maiden voyage to the country. A total of 47,000 crew and passengers came ashore in the 2016/17 season, representing a 1,000% increase on the previous year’s numbers. The arrival of the larger vessels this season will play a pivotal role in improving last year’s figures. Further, passenger growth is also predicted through to the 2019/20 season, when

the QTA is targeting 300,000 cruise-line visitors. In line with the authority’s strategy, ground was broken earlier this year on the QR2 billion ($549.3 million) redevelopment of Doha Port, which is set to be transformed into a dedicated cruise terminal. While its full completion is scheduled for 2022, the infrastructure required to allow five vessels to dock simultaneously is expected to finish by 2020. Next Chapter strategy targets higher number of arrivals The month of September witnessed the country set out its broader ambitions for the tourism industry through the launch of the Next Chapter of the Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030. The development blueprint outlines a number of targets for the 2017-23 period, including: attracting 5.6 million tourists per year, doubling the 2016 total, achieving

a 72% occupancy rate in Qatar’s hotels, up from an average of 62% in the first half of 2017, and raising the sector’s direct contribution to GDP – from QR19.8 billion ($5.4 billion) to QR41.3 billion ($11.3 billion). Changes to the sector’s governance were also delineated in the plan, with the duties and responsibilities of QTA to be incorporated into a new entity, the National Tourism Council (NTC). The NTC’s main tasks will be attracting investment, overseeing strategic planning and regulating the sector. To achieve its goals, the council will be given charge of three new entities: developing new largescale tourism products and offerings, consolidating the work of existing business events stakeholders, and promoting Qatar as a destination internationally. Bilateral connections and visa reforms to expand international reach As Qatar looks to offset a downturn in

GCC tourists due to the blockade imposed in June by a number of the bloc’s member states, work is progressing to market the country’s tourism potential outside the region. In line with these aims, QTA announced plans in October to open offices in both India and Russia. Soon after, news broke that the authority would be collaborating with Welcome Chinese, a hospitality standard dedicated to Chinese tourists. The initiative is expected to help the Qatari industry meet the requirements of visitors from China. However, arguably the biggest move taken towards boosting foreign arrivals in recent months was the decision to allow visa-free entry for citizens of 80 countries. The announcement in early August brought into immediate effect visafree entry for eligible travellers with a confirmed return ticket, and came on the back of the creation of an e-visa platform a month earlier. Travel had already been made easier in November 2016 when Qatar Airways and QTA launched a transit visa scheme, allowing passengers of any nationality with a minimum transit time of five hours at Hamad International Airport to remain in the country for up to 96 hours. According to the tourism authority, the scheme led to a 39% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in stopover visitors in the first half of 2017. Visitors from Europe and the Americas on the upswing An upswing in visitors from outside the GCC in 2017 indicates the recent moves to strengthen and diversify the tourism industry are paying off. Figures from QTA’s latest Tourism Performance Summary revealed that during the January to September period, visitors from Europe and the Americas rose by 8% and 4% y-o-y, respectively. Visitors from Africa also increased significantly – by 33% – although this region represents a smaller share of total arrivals compared to other regions. In contrast, GCC visitors declined by 35% y-o-y, while arrivals from other Arab nations fell by 18%, a downturn that is expected to continue following the introduction of the blockade in June

BY OLIVER CORNOCK Managing Editor, Middle East Oxford Business Group

This Qatar economic update was produced by Oxford Business Group.

25 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

affairs > viewpoint

TODAY’S IT CHALLENGE:

DELIVERING SIMPLICITY

THE MODERN USER DEMANDS THAT DIGITAL SERVICES ARE EFFORTLESS, SELF-EXPLANATORY AND COMBINE MODEST, YET ENGAGING ASCETICS.

t was with a mixture of amazement, delight and pride that I watched as my 18-month-old child unlocked my phone, selected the YouTube application, browsed until he found a video he liked, skipped the advert after five seconds and sat down to enjoy a video of...children playing. I was convinced that I had bred a genius who could operate a complex device before even being able to utter a sentence to the world. When I started boasting about my child’s superior talents, I was swiftly humbled by the fact that his digital capabilities were, in fact, merely average and that it was ‘normal’ for children to know how to use technology to watch these types of videos. In fact, some can even use cameras to take selfies and the personal assistant, opening to them a new world of adventure. It occurred to me that the real geniuses in

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“IT DEPARTMENTS NEED TO UNDERGO A PARADIGM SHIFT TO FREE UP RESOURCES AND FOCUS ON THE ‘VALUE-ADD’ ACTIVITIES.” all of this are the people who engineered an experience which was so innate that a child who could hardly walk, talk or even go to the bathroom independently, could operate their device with relative ease. What became even more apparent is just how our children have new expectations of reality; the new reality of customers. This has evolved to a degree where consumers, whatever their age, demand a personalised service, wherever and whenever they

are exposed to an organisation, all in an exquisitely sensory, satisfying way. Similarly, e-government and other online services are no longer seen as a value-added luxury, but an expectation. The challenge of personalised service Providing each user with a personalised service, based on their needs, previous behaviours and a calculated judgment on what they might want to do, is one of the greatest challenges for the modern-day organisation. In Qatar and elsewhere, whether the user of a product or service being offered is external or internal, what the customer demands is simplicity. Users are demanding that digital services are effortless, self-explanatory and combine modest, yet engaging ascetics. To create simple, innate systems and ways of working requires a shift in mindset and culture, and a transformation in the

processes, capabilities and governance used to deliver digital services. IT departments need to move up the value chain, take a leadership role and understand that, without them pushing to define the vision and strategy of the organisation, there is no way to meet the expectations of customers. The fact is that, if they do not adopt nimble ways of working and deliver exceptional digital services, organisations run the risk of becoming irrelevant. At a swipe of the phone screen, customers can switch suppliers, compare prices and share negative experiences with thousands of others. The challenge is that the IT department (and its capabilities, organisation, governance, processes, tools and technology, i.e., operating model) is often set up as a back-office support function, which as a result is not ready to be a strategic business partner to the organisation. Meeting the changing realities of today In modern IT departments, to deliver exceptional digital services and keep up with the competition, the IT operating model needs to account for functions, capabilities and technologies, such as enterprise architecture, user experience and customer journey, data science and analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cybersecurity. However, before all of this, IT departments need to undergo a paradigm shift to free up resources and focus on the ‘value-add’ activities. The whole point is to engineer an experience that, although may be complex in technological terms, oozes simplicity to the customer and users. Underpinning this is a philosophy and culture of close collaboration between software developers and IT operations – DevOps – to be able to push out services seamlessly and efficiently. In most organisations, developers ensure services are ready for deployment whilst IT operations deploy these services. However, there is pressure on both sides and collaboration between the two functions is often lacking. By integrating the two teams, and improving productivity by automating processes, an organisation is able to push new services to customers to meet their expectations in a much more pro-active fashion. To meet the evolving digital needs of Qatar’s population it is imperative that organisations increase the rate of software

delivery and time to market. An example displaying Qatar’s digital sophistication is the Metrash2 application, which allows users to access a multitude of services from renewing residencies to selling vehicles at the touch of a button. Another example is the ‘one-stop shop’ connected banking experiences so common in the Qatar market, where customers can check balances, pay electricity, water and mobile phone bills, send money abroad, apply for loans, track spending, and connect with bank representatives, again at the touch of a button. By integrating (vendor or in-house) development teams and IT operations teams in a DevOps-oriented model, businesses and organisations potentially reduce deployment times from weeks and months to hours and days. Using and embedding a DevOps philosophy, an organisation will have the ability to unlock some of the following benefits: Reducing the time to market and introducing rapid development cycles: based on the new reality between development and operations, it takes less time to jump from engineering code into executable production code Freeing up resources for value-add activities: through the automation of the labour-intensive processes needed to deploy code into the production environment, whole teams are able to focus their efforts on activities that add value Enabling continuous service delivery: rapid development cycles mean that code is released into production quicker and the gap between requirement building and release into production can be reduced drastically Deploying higher-quality software: by having a more manageable codebase, and increasing the collaboration between teams, defects can be detected and resolved more rapidly Becoming agile: through improved collaboration and coordination, development permits innovation whilst operations brings it into production By implementing this paradigm shift, an IT department can move up the value chain and act as a strategic partner to help define the organisation’s evolution, helping to meet the expectations of the constantly connected customer and reduce the risk of becoming disconnected and irrelevant

BY YASIR AFIFI Technology and Digital Advisory Manager KPMG

27 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

affairs > viewpoint

POWER SHIFT TRIGGERS NEW

LNG RULEBOOK

ESTABLISHED OPERATORS LIKE QATAR WILL STILL BENEFIT FROM RELATIONSHIPS WITH LNG IMPORTERS ROOTED IN DECADES OF HISTORY.

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new rule book characterised by the suppleness of supply and autonomy for buyers of LNG is emerging. An oversupply of LNG and subsequent ‘soft’ prices – especially for oil-indexed contracts – means buyers can flex their purchasing muscle to demand a bigger ‘menu’ of contractual options than ever before. As such, the long-term supply contracts with destination clauses that have been the bread and butter of the LNG market since the first major shipment from Algeria to the UK in 1964 are diversifying into shorter term spot deals.

The tenacious competition from suppliers gaining strength across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans means buyers have more opportunity to cherrypick deals than ever before, even though countries like Qatar will still benefit from relationships with LNG importers rooted in decades of history. Pure LNG spot trading – cargoes delivered within three months of the transaction – accounted for 18% of total imported LNG volumes in 2016, according to industry group GIIGNL, up from 15% in 2015. China, India and Egypt drove the growth, with spot trade volumes reaching around 47 million metric tons in 2016. In

2000, short-term LNG contracts – deals for less than four years – represented 2% of the market. It is now around 30%. This trend will only become more entrenched as many long-term contracts expire in the medium-term, particularly in Japan, the world’s biggest LNG importer at 32% of global LNG purchases in 2016. Japan’s Jera, the world’s biggest single LNG importer, plans to reduce its long-term imports by 42% by 2030, for example. A better understanding of how to adjust to customers’ needs is integral to enabling the Middle East’s LNG export profile to flourish, according to just under half of respondents to a GIQ Industry Survey in April. Qatar especially needs to take note if it wants to retain its crown as the world’s biggest LNG exporter and the dominant supplier in the Middle East. Rising volumes from the US and Australia threaten to knock Doha from its pole position and ring-fence coveted market share by 2020, especially in Asia. Both countries stand a good chance of success. Global LNG export capacity is forecast to rise by 45% between 2015 and 2021, with 90% originating from the US and Australia, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The US’ Cheniere-owned Sabine Pass delivered its 120th LNG cargo last May after loading its first commissioning cargo in February 2016 – this marks an extraordinary rate of growth. Two of the US’ cargoes landed in Dubai and five in Kuwait, which illustrates a side issue that the Middle East needs to resolve. How can countries in a region that is home to 80% of the world’s natural gas reserves face gas shortages? Qatar will also have to defend its title against Russia and Iran. The latter is home to the world’s second-largest natural gas reserves and aims at expanding its piped and shipped gas exports following the lifting of most of the Western-imposed sanctions eighteen months ago. As suppliers jostle to charm increasingly selective buyers, Qatar has sharpened its competitive edge by lifting a 12-year

moratorium on development of the country’s North Field. The move could increase production at the world’s largest natural gas reserve by up to 10% if it starts production in the early 2020s. But flexibility of volume is only part of the story. Destination clauses – specifying the location of delivery – are a historical bugbear for many Asian LNG importers. The clauses prevent buyers from diverting and reselling cargo in a market that is paying a premium, even if the buyer has surplus supply. Yet, cargoes from the new and increasingly influential kid on the block, the US, can go anywhere in the world. The need for other suppliers – including those in the Gulf – to rapidly match this level of flexibility into their game plans becomes clear. Therein also lies the incentive of floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs). Relatively cheap entry points, and an ability to side-step most political and natural challenges that piped gas cannot, means the global capital expenditure for floating facilities is expected to rise by an extraordinary 264% to total $41.6 billion between 2016 and 2022, according to Douglas Westwood’s World FLNG Market Forecast. This is compared to $11.4 billion between 2011 and 2015. A need for greater flexibility also applies to regional dealmaking, with the Middle East’s gas demand expected to double by 2040. It is little surprise that Saudi Arabiabased Apicorp expects investments assigned to building LNG import infrastructure across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in the medium term to total $10.3 billion. The Middle East’s three main importers – Kuwait, Israel and the UAE – received 6.1 bcf of gas equivalent in 2014. This figure quadrupled in just two years to 24.5 bcf in 2016. Suppliers that can apply the greatest flexibility in the least time for the best cost will shoot to the front of the competitive curve. As more eloquently put by an Arab proverb: “Examine what is said and not he who speaks”

BY MARC HOWSON Senior Managing Editor LNG Asia, S&P Global Platts

29 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

green scene > viewpoint

CALLING FOR GREATER CLIMATE ACTION WILL THE LESSONS LEARNT IN 2017 HELP IN THE INITIATION OF SOME MAJOR ACTION ON THE GROUND FOR QATAR AND THE REST OF THE WORLD?

T "TWO YEARS AFTER THE HISTORIC PARIS AGREEMENT, IT IS TIME FOR CONCRETE ACTION IN THE MENA REGION, BUT THE RECENT CHAOS AND THE EMBARGO ON QATAR BY ITS ARAB NEIGHBOURS GAVE RISE TO MIXED FEELINGS." 30 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

wo years after the historic Paris Agreement, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time for concrete action in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, but the recent chaos and the embargo on Qatar by its Arab neighbours have given rise to mixed feelings about the future cooperation of the Gulf bloc for a collective climate action mechanism in the region. However, the silver lining is that the blockade will provide Qatar with an opportunity to become sustainable and also help in designing regulatory and policy frameworks, which should include policies of long-term certainty for low-carbon energy investments and policy coordination to create ample space for renewable energy. Furthermore, Qatar may also want to ensure its interests are represented in the respective global governance partnership. As a result of the blockade, business and financial activities were initially interrupted, not only in Qatar but also in its neighbouring countries. Climate change impacts the entire MENA region and countries must support collaborative investment in renewables and mitigation of climate action efforts, provide adequate support between the developing countries,

track progress to ensure that commitments are delivered and advance new efforts if we are to achieve the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement. A regional cooperation in the Gulf countries in the areas of low-carbon economy and clean energy can help develop climate policy, technical dialogue and capacity building, of member governments for a long-term implementation of the Paris Agreement. Cooperation between national governments and the private sector supported by international agencies and institutions can help in tackling climate change and its impacts will depend greatly on action by all levels of government where new and ambitious goals should be set and collaboration should be a way forward. Indeed, engagement of different levels of government in adaptation and mitigation efforts present a real opportunity for accelerating action, including by getting buy-in of a wide range of stakeholders. With all Gulf States signing and ratifying the Paris Agreement, GCC countries embarked upon a new economic priority to build truly sustainable and resilient economies that will last beyond oil and natural gas. The Gulf countriesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; vulnerability to climate change is real and

joint action to move together towards lowcarbon development and green growth will in turn enable the GCC states to make further contributions to global climate action. The 23rd edition of the annual UNFCCC COP23 international meeting was aimed at finding ways to deal with the biggest crisis humanity has ever faced. While the shadow of Donald Trump and the US withdrawing from the Paris Agreement loomed large, the climate negotiators worked on details for a ‘rule book’ to be adopted at the 2018 Climate Summit in Poland. COP23 included a ‘facilitating dialogue’, which consisted of taking stock of all climate-related efforts and organising the first negotiations to raise the targets beyond 2020. As defined by the Paris Agreement, these target figures should be reviewed every five years. Following the success of COP23, another major event to celebrate the second anniversary of the Paris Agreement agreed in the French capital in 2015 was the One Planet Summit. Spearheaded by French President Emmanuel Macron and coorganised by the United Nations and the World Bank, the forum gathered world leaders to commit to climate financing. Since his election to the French presidency earlier this year, civil society and global leaders have pinned their hopes on Macron against his American counterpart Trump. The US president, who decided to pull America out of the Paris Agreement in

"THE ONE PLANET SUMMIT FOCUSED ON THE FINANCING OF THE CLIMATE GOALS AND WAS AIMED AT DEFINING THE RULES OF THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT, WHICH WERE RATHER TECHNICAL IN NATURE."

NEESHAD V S Co-Founder & National Coordinator, Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar (AYCM-Q) Middle East Manager, CliMates Focal Point, CAN Arab World

June, was not on the invitation list of the One Planet Summit. The One Planet Summit focused on the financing of climate goals and was aimed at defining the rules of the Paris Climate Agreement, which were rather technical in nature. Current pledges made so far are inadequate and many are conditional on other countries keeping their side of the bargain. Fresh momentum is sorely needed in the common battle against climate change. A greater collaboration is also required between the public and private sectors and between the different levels of governments (international, national, regional and local), whose climate actions and strategies must be better aligned for better results

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Neeshad Shafi holds a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering and resides in Doha, Qatar. He is a youth environmental activist, educator, speaker and climate change advocate. He is currently serving as Co-Founder and National Coordinator for Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar (AYCMQ), Middle East Officer for CliMates, and Founding member of Youth Climate Lab. 31 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

COVER STORY

QATAR BUDGET 2018:

COVERING

ALL BASES

QATARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2018 IS NOT ONLY PROMISING BUT HAS EVERYTHING THAT IS NEEDED TO CONTINUE WITH ITS PLANNED INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WITHOUT ANY HITCH DUE TO STABILISING OIL PRICES.

BY VL SRINIVASAN

32 > QATAR TODAY > FEBRUARY MARCH - APRIL - MARCH 20182018

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COVERING ALL BASES

QATAR BUDGET 2018:

COVER STORY

THE

oil-producing countries including those which are not part of the Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) agreed in November 2017 to freeze oil production for another year. This means oil prices would hover around $60 per barrel during 2018 which should be a big relief to the Qatari government, which has finalised the budget expecting oil prices to be $45 per barrel. In other words, revenues generated from high oil prices will reduce the budget deficit. Spending is expected to total QR203.2 billion, up by 2.4% from the budget plan for 2017, with the deficit declining by 1.1% to QR28.1 billion. Of this, QR93 billion (45.8%) will be spent on major projects while QR22.7 billion has been earmarked for the health sector, representing 11.2% of the total expenditure in 2018. The education sector has also been accorded importance with an allocation of QR19 billion, up by 19% compared to 2017. While revenue is to the tune of QR175.1 billion, up by 2.9% in 2017, on account of an expected increase in nonoil revenue, the deficit, which will be financed through the issuance of debt, is expected to be QR28.1 billion, down by 1.1% from QR28.4 billion in 2017. Transportation and other infrastructure projects such as the Metro Lusail Light Train, Al Bustan Highway Orbiter Expressway, Al Rayyan/Dukhan road and Al Khor coastal road have been provided with QR42 billion, accounting for 21% of the total expenditure. Keeping the 2022 FIFA World Cup in mind, the government has allocated QR11.2 billion for completion of new stadiums which are under various

stages of construction. The State also plans to award contracts worth $29 billion (over QR100 billion) to the private sector in order to encourage diversification, and focus on supporting food security projects, small and medium enterprises, and the development of infrastructure in economic zones and freetrade zones. This is in accordance with the directives of The Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to support and encourage the private sector and increase its contribution to the process of sustainable development in the country. Nearly QR12.5 billion has been allocated to land development including water and electricity networks, sewerage, roads and other related infrastructure for Qataris between 2018 and 2020. The 2018 budget has allocated funds for the development of around 3,000 houses. This year’s budget also provides for the development of logistics, economic and free-trade zones, as well as support for food security projects and agricultural production. For salaries and wages, QR52.2 billion was set apart for this year's budget, up by 8.8% on (QR48 billion) in 2017. This increase is due to the opening of several new schools and educational facilities, along with new healthcare centres and hospitals, in addition to expansions in some public facilities. A different year Soon after the economic blockade on June 5, Sheikh Tamim, in his address to the nation, said that 2017 differed from the previous years for the Qatari economy, as it had been strong despite the challenges. “We are called upon to open our economy to initiatives and investments so that we can produce our food and medicine, diversify our sources of income and achieve

“WE ARE CALLED UPON TO OPEN OUR ECONOMY TO INITIATIVES AND INVESTMENTS SO THAT WE CAN PRODUCE OUR FOOD AND MEDICINE, DIVERSIFY OUR SOURCES OF INCOME AND ACHIEVE OUR ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE IN BILATERAL RELATIONS, FROM CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER STATES, IN OUR GEOGRAPHICAL ENVIRONMENT AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND ON THE BASIS OF MUTUAL INTERESTS AND MUTUAL RESPECT.”

HH SHEIKH TAMIM BIN HAMAD AL THANI The Emir State of Qatar

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our economic independence in bilateral relations, from co-operation with other states, in our geographical environment and throughout the world, and on the basis of mutual interests and mutual respect,” he said. The Emir also stressed that he had directed several times to follow a policy of economic openness to investment and diversification of sources of income, as at this stage it is no longer a matter of luxury, but a necessity. He said that he had directed the government to achieve this vision, including economic openness, removing barriers of investment and preventing monopoly in the framework of building the national economy and investing in development, especially human development besides investing the gas revenues of recent inventions for future generations. Minister of Finance, HE Ali Shareef Al Emadi, stressed that the directives of the Emir have been adhered to in order to increase the efficiency of current and operational expenses, and provide all necessary funds to complete the implementation of major projects according to approved plans. The goal is to achieve sustainable development in its economic, social, human and environmental dimensions, as envisioned by Qatar National Vision 2030. The budget also focuses on providing support for food security projects, supporting and expanding small and medium ventures and developing infrastructure in the economic and free zones. Despite the neighbouring countries imposing an unfair blockade on Qatar since June 2017, the Qatari economy has maintained its momentum and its outlook remained positive. “Qatar continues to make significant progress in reducing its deficit, which resulted from low fuel prices and high costs of development projects. Also, the unjust blockade has contributed to stimulating our national strategy which is geared towards diversifying the country’s economy.” “Revenues are rising significantly, and the reasons for this increase should be attributed to the government’s efforts to diversify its economic endeavours. The government allocates more funds to major projects in a variety of sectors, which contributes to sustainable development

efforts in Qatar,” he added. A good beginning The country’s economy had an auspicious start in 2018 with the merging of RasGas and Qatargas into a single entity which come into force in January. This not only helped in saving QR2 billion but also made the new company Qatargas the biggest LNG exporting firm in the world with one vision, one management system and one business culture. Qatargas operates 77 million tonnes/year of liquefaction capacity in 14 trains at Ras Laffan Industrial City and has a chartered fleet of 70 LNG carriers. Even the capital market experts are optimistic about the performance of the stock exchange in 2018, confirming its ability to achieve the highest growth rates on average. This comes as a result of a number of factors that will stimulate the market, such as the 2018 State budget and the promising numbers and indicators that provide optimism and enhance confidence in the performance of the Qatari economy in the next phase. Hamad Port, which became operational in September 2017, is expected to give further fillip to the country’s strong and robust economy as it is one of the biggest and newest ports in the Middle East. Its estimated capacity is 7.5 million containers and the port authorities have signed several agreements with major shipping lines to link Hamad Port with international ports in Turkey, China, Taiwan, Oman, Pakistan, Singapore, Kuwait and Australia. Exhibition ‘Made in Qatar’ was held to open new markets, promote mutual trade growth with many countries, enable local manufacturers and businessmen to identify these markets and give them opportunities to share experiences, information and techniques that can benefit the business sector in the country. The results of these initial efforts were the emergence of new factories and industries in Qatar and the increase in the number of existing industrial establishments registered in the industrial register at the Ministry of Energy and Industry to about 730 industrial establishments with investments exceeding QR260 billion.

“QATAR CONTINUES TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN REDUCING ITS DEFICIT, WHICH RESULTED FROM LOW FUEL PRICES AND HIGH COSTS OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. ALSO, THE UNJUST BLOCKADE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO STIMULATING OUR NATIONAL STRATEGY WHICH IS GEARED TOWARDS DIVERSIFYING THE COUNTRY’S ECONOMY.”

HE ALI SHARIF AL EMADI Minister of Finance State of Qatar

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COVERING ALL BASES

QATAR BUDGET 2018:

COVER STORY Industry hails budget The budget has been welcomed by captains of industry and experts who said that it reassured the healthy state of the Qatari economy and the commitment to achieve long-term plans set out for the country. Gulf Warehousing Company (GWC) Group CEO Ranjeev Menon said that a major amount has been dedicated for completion of major projects in healthcare, education, and transportation/infrastructure, in the lead-up to the 2022 World Cup. “The allocation of QR42 billion for transportation and infrastructure, which accounted for 21% of total expenditure, will directly impact infrastructure projects while the private sector stands to gain in response to the government’s initiatives to diversify the economy, which all boils towards actualizing Qatar National Vision 2030,” he said. Akber Khan, who is Senior Director, Asset Management Group, at Al Rayan Investment noted that while budgeted revenues and expenditure for 2018 were very similar to that of 2017, there were several notable points in this year's budget. Infrastructure spending is set to remain elevated, continuing at an average of QR182 million ($500 million) a week. This is combined with an almost 10% jump in the wage bill to partly accommodate new government schools, new university faculties and a raft of new healthcare related projects. “The budget assumes a QR28 billion deficit taking an average oil price of $45 over the year. While oil may show volatility during 2018, OPEC and Russia’s determination to restrict supply to support prices suggests a much higher outcome. Assuming spending remains as planned, $65 (oil price) would lead to an almost QR30 billion surplus,” he said. The global economy enjoying synchronised growth is a key driver in helping oil prices, and he expects another positive year for oil in 2018. While this will directly benefit few Qatari listed stocks, the government will be boosted by increased hydrocarbon revenues, offering it the option to add to spending if it chooses.

“Heightened infrastructure spend as budgeted will benefit the banking sector which will be called upon to fund a significant proportion of this spending. Consumerrelated sectors may start to see some relief as the population continues to expand and some of the initiatives to bring back tourists start to bear fruit,” said Akber Khan. Qatar Chamber Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani said the budget for the new fiscal has set aside significant funds for supporting food security projects, expanding small and medium industries and developing infrastructure in the economic and free zones, giving the private sector a wider opportunity to play a bigger role in the projects put forward by the government. “We expect the new budget to play an important role in moving the economic process in the coming period, especially as it involves the signing of new project contracts worth a total of QR29 billion, which promotes growth in non-oil sectors,” he said. Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority Chief Executive Officer Yousuf Mohamed Al Jaida opined that the budget was a testament to Qatar’s strong economic performance despite the ongoing blockade. “As Qatar’s only business and financial centre, QFC’s overall strategy has always been to diversify the local economy and continues to attract FDI, so we are especially proud that the budget showed a clear increase in non-oil revenue and we look forward to seeing this continue to rise in the years ahead.” He added: “In 2017, QFC continued its international outreach with roadshows across Europe and Asia and there was a clear indication of interest from abroad in ongoing major projects in the build-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Qatar’s economy will continue to provide a vast array of opportunities for local and international investors as we continue to grow and develop in line with QNV 2030.” “The current regional developments do not deter us from our growth objectives and plans and this budget is further proof that Qatar remains open for business,” he added. Economic blockade factor The economic blockade has only further resolved the

“THE BUDGET WOULD, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SUPPORT THE UPTICK IN MANUFACTURING SECTOR GROWTH REPORTED IN 2017, WITH QR260 BILLION REPORTED IN INVESTMENT IN THE SECTOR, AND 730 INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES REGISTERED WITH THE MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND INDUSTRY.”

RANJEEV MENON

Group CEO Gulf Warehousing Company Doha, Qatar

36 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

government’s plans to speed up its economic diversification programmes by which the country has witnessed foreign investment and established inroads in developing the various economic sectors in the country. Ranjeev Menon said to that end, programmes such as the Ministry of Economy and Commerce’s ‘Own Your Factory in 72 Hours’ had gained a lot of interest and attention, with 63 investors shortlisted to set up factories worth QR2.5 billion under that initiative. Due to strong government foresight, the warehousing and logistics parks developed by Manateq – of which the GWC Bu Sulba Warehousing Park and the Al Asmakh Logistics Park are currently operational under GWC’s management – are ready and primed to provide startups and small and medium enterprises with plug-n-play facilities ready to support their warehousing and lightindustry facility’s needs, said Menon. MR Raghu, Senior Vice President - Research at Markaz, an investment management and research company in Kuwait, said the economic blockade has only reinforced the resolve to achieve economic diversification through implementation of various programmes. Though during

the initial period the financial system was squeezed due to the withdrawal of deposits, the government quickly injected liquidity to ease the situation. “The current budget which focuses on streamlining investments and large-scale spending on development of physical and social infrastructure could only accelerate the economic diversification agenda,” said Raghu. Bridging the deficit The Finance Ministry said in a statement that the budget deficit will be financed through the issuance of debt and reports suggested that the government was planning to tap the debt market in the first quarter for about QR32.76 billion ($9 billion) and officials were in talks with several international banks about the sale. The bond is likely to be in line with or more than Qatar’s last issuance of QR32.76 billion ($9 billion) in 2016. “Oilexporting countries across the Gulf Cooperation Council region are tapping debt markets to bolster public finances after crude prices slumped. Saudi Arabia’s issuance led regional sales last year, raising $21.5 billion,” according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Transportation and infrastructure allocated

20.7%

of total budget Education and health expenditures allocated

20.5%

of total budget

Major projects assigned

45.8% of total expenditure

Budgeted oil price at

$45/barrel Funding for

3,000 housing units for nationals

Support for small and medium enterprises and food security projects QR29 bn worth of new projects expected to be signed in 2018

“HEIGHTENED INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDS, AS BUDGETED, WILL BENEFIT THE BANKING SECTOR WHICH WILL BE CALLED UPON TO FUND A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF THIS SPENDING. CONSUMER-RELATED SECTORS MAY START TO SEE SOME RELIEF AS THE POPULATION CONTINUES TO EXPAND AND SOME OF THE INITIATIVES TO BRING BACK TOURISTS START TO BEAR FRUIT.”

AKBER KHAN

Senior Director-Asset Management Group Al Rayan Investment Doha, Qatar

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COVERING ALL BASES

QATAR BUDGET 2018:

COVER STORY According to Akber Khan, Qatar was the only country in the region not to tap fixed income markets in 2017. However, the government is expected to try and refresh the sovereign yield curve which would facilitate private sector issuance. It is worth noting that sustained high oil prices would lead to a budget surplus rather than deficit by yearend, he said. Raghu said that though Qatar’s budget has taken a very conservative estimate of oil prices reining in at $45 per barrel, prices have been much higher and this is likely to result in a windfall in revenues, resulting in lower deficits. To fund the deficit, Qatar's government could source additional capital from the debt markets in the form of bond instruments. Moreover, with Qatar commanding an investment grade sovereign rating of AA- from S&P Ratings agency, it could aid in sourcing capital at a lower cost, he said. Moody’s Investor Service too has described Qatar’s prudent approach to the 2018 budget planning as “credit positive and reduces the risk of fiscal slippage” that would increase the government’s debt burden at potentially higher costs. Moody’s has forecast a total revenue of QR207.3 billion assuming that oil prices will average $54 per barrel, 20% higher than the oil price budgeted by the Qatari authorities. Hence the rating agency has forecast a small fiscal surplus of QR2.3 billion (0.4% of GDP) in 2018, compared to the authorities’ estimate of a QR28.1 billion (4.4% of GDP) deficit. Food security vital Agriculture is another area which can boost the economy as plans are under way to increase agricultural production to meet the needs of the local market and achieve selfsufficiency in agricultural and animal products through the Qatar national food security programme and the comprehensive food security plan for the period 2014-24. Qatar has about 65,000 hectares of arable land, which produces about 568,000 tonnes of agricultural products, covering the needs of the local market by a large percentage.

The government is also exploring the possibility of expanding the arable land besides increasing the number of farms to 2,000, which will work on the production of vegetables, fruits and other crops and supplying them to the local market in the coming years. Raghu said that the recently released Global Food Security Index 2017 developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and Dupont said that despite the blockade, Qatar was ranked 29th among 113 countries. Turkey and Iran have helped Qatar in overcoming the food shortage. “The government is also expanding its food storage capabilities by constructing strategic food security facilities and warehouses at Hamad Port, with a capacity of stockpiling processed and stored food for three million people for two years at a cost of QR1.6 billion ($440 million). Development of new trade links, expansion of capacity at airports and seaports are all being undertaken to improve and enhance the food security position,” added Raghu. Ranjeev Menon said the budget would, among other things, support the uptick in the manufacturing sector growth reported in 2017, with QR260 billion of investments being reported in the sector, and 730 industrial facilities registered with the Ministry of Energy and Industry. This would directly support Qatar’s efforts to become self-sufficient in food and consumable products, all of which must be supported by strong logistics infrastructure that can provide the storage and distribution solutions needed for each individual type of project. The opening of the much-awaited infrastructure projects like Hamad Port, which has strong capabilities, modern facilities and advanced systems, have been positioning Qatar as a re-export hub in the region, increasing the volume of trade between them and the rest of the world. “The port will allow private sector businessmen to increase the flow of goods to and from the country, facilitating both trade and advancing entrepreneurship for the savvy trader. The port is also witnessing multimilliondollars' worth of investments, supporting its food security warehouses and processing facilities,” added Menon

“THE CURRENT BUDGET WHICH FOCUSES ON STREAMLINING INVESTMENTS AND LARGE-SCALE SPENDING ON DEVELOPMENT OF PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE COULD ONLY ACCELERATE THE ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION AGENDA.”

MR RAGHU

Senior Vice President-Research Markaz, Kuwait

38 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH FEBRUARY - APRIL 2018 2018

DOHA JEWELLERY & WATCHES EXHIBITION 2018

OVER 21,000 VISITS WITNESSED AT DJWE 2018 VISITORS GET OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE NEW KNOWLEDGE THROUGH THE FIRST DJWE FORUM, DAILY SESSIONS AND WORKSHOPS.

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he 15th edition of the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE) concluded with local and international exhibitors competing to attract visitors. Organisers announced that more than 21,000 visits were made during the event, which took place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) from February 21-26, 2018. Held under the patronage of the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, the exhibition saw more than 490 international brands representing a wide variety of luxury watches and jewellery. The exhibition also provided visitors with the opportunity to acquire new knowledge through the first DJWE Forum, daily sessions and workshops that discussed topics related to the jewellery and watch industry. Commenting on the show’s conclusion, Ahmed Al Obaidli, Exhibitions Director at Qatar Tourism Authority, said: “DJWE is a true model of success, sustainability and development. Over the past 15 years, the exhibition has succeeded in reinforcing its position on the global calendar of jewellery events as evidenced by the attendance of top executives of major brands at the show. The increase in exhibition area, visitors, side events and sales are all testaments to the exhibition’s success.” He added: “This remarkable performance is thanks to the support provided by His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, to business events and the tourism sector as a whole in pursuit of a more diverse national economy.” The huge exhibition space at the DECC has allowed fine jewellery shops in Qatar to showcase their collections in their pavilions, offering visitors a fascinating journey of art, elegance and heritage.

Awn Zureikat, Chief Operations Officer - Ali Bin Ali Luxury, said: “We are proud to be part of this year’s edition of Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, and His Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. “Ali Bin Ali Luxury has been one of the first partners of the exhibition since its inception 15 years ago. Every year we receive an increase in the number of visitors and attendees. We take pride in introducing new brands with products that are shown for the first time in Doha.” Promoting and supporting young talents, the exhibition witnessed the return of the Young Qatar Designers initiative, where six Qatari designers participated and presented their unique and exclusive collections to compete with the world’s most famous brands. Six young Qatari designers – Nada Al Sulaiti (Hairaat), Nouf Al Meer (Nouf Jewellery), Ghada Al Buainain, Leila Abu Issa (Leila Issam Fine Jewellery), Shikha Mohamed (Al Ghla Jewellery) and Jawaher and Hissa Mohammed Al Mannai (Ghand Jewellery) – had the chance to present their collections along with the world’s leading watches and jewellery brands. “As young Qatari designers we are thankful for the support and the patronage of His Excellency the Prime Minister in giving us this opportunity to be part of one of the best jewellery and watches exhibitions in the world. And we will continue working hard to always present Qatar in the most prestigious and successful way,” said Nada Al Sulaiti from Hairaat, on behalf of the Young Qatari Designers initiative 41 > QATAR TODAY > FEBRUARY - MARCH 2018

DOHA JEWELLERY & WATCHES EXHIBITION 2018

RICHARD MILLE

“NO GIMMICKS, JUST PURE REASON” RICHARD MILLE, THE WATCH THAT IS THE NEWEST CRAZE FOR AFICIONADOS WITH ITS FINELY CRAFTED AND INNOVATIVE MATERIALS, RECENTLY REVEALED TO THE WORLD ITS NEWEST OFFERING IN MARCH THROUGH ITS COLLABORATION WITH THE MCLAREN SPORTS CAR BRAND. So even while the world was reeling with the slump in oil prices, the new-age luxury brand was effortlessly riding a wave of success. Describing in simple words how the brand performed in 2017, the company’s CEO Peter Harrison said: “Good solid growth and few new stores, which is so much more challenging, every time.” Harrison further said: “We are such a young brand and we have much to do. We are not bound by 100 years of tradition or heritage that might refine our judgements. We have a wide plethora to explore and techniques that we could innovate on.” The added advantage, according to Harrison, is that the owner of the brand, Richard Mille, is a complete “idea bank”. Harrison adds: “What we don’t like to do is to make watches that are gimmicks. We don’t do things without a reason. When we launch a new watch, or a new structure, we do it with an ambassador who can give us genuine feedback on the watch, how it is performing under stress, etc.”

BUCCELLATI

BELLO DESIGNS

BUCCELLATI, FOUNDED IN MILAN IN 1919, IS KNOWN FOR CREATING PIECES USING TIMEHONOURED HANDCRAFTED TECHNIQUES DEVELOPED IN ITALY. FOR A BRAND SOAKED IN TRADITION, BUCCELLATI HAD A PHENOMENAL YEAR IN 2017, NOT JUST FOR ITS FINANCIAL SUCCESS BUT ALSO FOR ITS ACQUISITION BY GANGSU GANGTAI HOLDING, A CHINESE CONGLOMERATE THAT TOOK AN 85% STAKE IN THE ITALIAN HOUSE IN A TRANSACTION BASED ON AN EQUITY VALUE OF Ä230 MILLION ($271 MILLION) FOR 100% OF THE COMPANY. This was done to reinforce Buccellati’s international presence with a five-year investment plan of Ä200 million ($236 million) that is designed to build 88 new Buccellati boutiques in existing markets, namely Italy, Europe and North America, and in new markets such as China, Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. “Buccellati is opening many new stores in China and around the world,” said Luca Buccellati, who is part of the founding family and takes care of the marketing of the brand. In the last few years, Buccellati has identified its new direction – to bring affordable jewellery called Oprah to the young generation who value heritage and beautiful craftsmanship, both of which are the brand’s unique selling points.

42 > QATAR TODAY > FEBRUARY - MARCH 2018

LALAOUNIS

MUSEUM COLLECTIONS THIS BRAND FROM GREECE WAS CREATED BY ILIAS LALAOUNIS, A THIRD-GENERATION JEWELLER FROM A FAMILY OF GOLDSMITHS AND JEWELLERY MAKERS, TO TRANSFORM GREEK MUSEUM ARTEFACTS INTO JEWELLERY BY REVIVING AGE-OLD TECHNIQUES USING MODERN TECHNOLOGY. He concentrated not just on creating things of beauty but seeking to convey the spiritual and symbolic link of an object to its historical past. He perfected his art and then passed on this tradition to his fellow craftsmen in techniques long forgotten, like granulation, filigree, hand weaving and hand-hammering. Following in their father’s footsteps, the fourth generation of the Lalaounis family are the four sisters who strive to follow their father’s vision of creating jewellery with a soul. Present in Doha were two of the four sisters, both of them reflecting the passion the brand is associated with. Demetra Lalaounis says that the market has been affected; the human spirit being very resilient, it has adapted to changing conditions and is doing business the best way possible in these conditions. “Be flexible, change the product, change the price range, and continue to be creative keeping in mind the market conditions. Keep in mind what the client can afford and adjust products accordingly,” says Lalaounis, who does not believe in being negative about the market conditions and prefers to rise to the challenge they create.

SHAMBALLA

BUDDHIST CHARM

ARGUABLY THE YOUNGEST BRAND IN THE JEWELLERY MARKET, A FACT THAT DOESN’T PREEMPT IT FROM BEING THE MOST DESIRED AND POPULAR CULT NAME WITH ITS UNCONVENTIONAL SET OF JEWELLERY, IS SHAMBALLA, A BRAND THAT WAS BORN OF A BUDDHIST WAY OF LIVING OR A MYTHICAL PLACE THAT REFLECTS HARMONIOUS LIFE WHERE LOVE AND WISDOM REIGN. “Valuable stones and jewels strung together in 'cheap' string, kind of like having a gold watch on a rubber band. Something very precious bound together with an inexpensive string that is also very durable and can be custom-made according to personal preference,” says Martin Issing, Regional Brand Manager of Shamballa Jewels, at the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition. “The bracelets are very popular, mostly amongst the female customers in the Middle-Eastern market, with one of the pieces that costs close to $860,000 already sold to one of the ruling family members during the exhibition,” adds Issing. While the philosophy and the story behind it might sound quite simple, the making of the jewellery is not as effortless since “each of the stones used is carefully reviewed for the size, quality and colour by master craftsmen to turn the raw stones into round or square gems,” explains Issing. 43 > QATAR TODAY > FEBRUARY - MARCH 2018

DOHA JEWELLERY & WATCHES EXHIBITION 2018

PROLOGUE

CATERING TO ROYALTY

SEARCH FOR PROLOGUE ON THE INTERNET AND YOU WILL NOT FIND MUCH ADVERTISING FOR THIS NONDESCRIPT BRAND, AND THAT, ACCORDING TO PEDRO DE ARANDA, IS BY CHOICE AND PROTOCOL AS MOST OF PROLOGUE’S OBJECTS OF ART ARE PURCHASED BY HEADS OF STATES AND PROTOCOL DEMANDS THAT THEIR BRANDING IS LOWPROFILE.

“We have different collections and what we bring to Qatar is exclusive, made of day-to-day experiences that are familiar to the people here, with familiar landscapes and animals of the region,” says de Aranda, the father and the man behind the brand who has a conversational relationship with most of the ruling family members and especially the Father Emir, who he describes as a very benevolent and kind man, speaks fluent French and Italian, and who always used to visit the exhibition during its initial years. “We have a lot of enquiries during the exhibition which materialise into buys later on at the stores,” he says, adding: “A few years ago when the Father Emir visited the store with the then prime minister, he purchased almost half of what we had bought for the exhibition a day before the opening, and since it was mostly for state gifts, they had to be removed from the exhibits too.”

GARRARD

FANFARE COLLECTION

THE OLDEST JEWELLERY HOUSE IN THE WORLD, GARRARD WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1735 IN THE HEART OF LONDON. DURING THAT TIME, GOING TO THE OPERA AND MASQUERADE BALLS, WHICH WERE FREQUENTED BY FREDRICK THE PRINCE OF WALES, THE ROYAL PATRON OF GARRARD AT THAT TIME, WERE POPULAR CHOICES. AND SINCE HE WAS IN ATTENDANCE, PEOPLE DRESSED UP TO GO TO THESE EVENTS. THE LADIES WORE THEIR BEST JEWELLERY, AND THE SILVER PLATES FOR THOSE OCCASIONS WERE SUPPLIED BY GARRARD. “So, we looked back at that time – the beautiful opulence of the quarters, the drape of the curtains and also the fans that ladies carried to the opera – and carried all the information into our new collection Fanfare,” says Claire Scott, Head of Design, Garrard. “We have got calibre-cut diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds, which is unique for this collection since it’s something we had not done before.” Scott further says: “All of Garrard’s items connect with Britain’s heritage. Some of our tassel pieces are multifunctional, so you can remove the tassel and put it back on, you can turn the pent around the other way, and we’ve also got two different chain lengths. So there are different ways that ladies can wear our pieces.”

44 > QATAR TODAY > FEBRUARY - MARCH 2018

REUGE

“WE HELP PEOPLE TO DREAM” BASED IN SWITZERLAND, REUGE HAS BEEN MAKING LUXURY MUSIC BOXES FOR OVER 150 YEARS. ACCORDING TO ITS CEO KURT KUPPER, THEIR PRESENCE AT THE DOHA JEWELLERY AND WATCHES EXHIBITION IS QUITE UNIQUE. “UNLIKE WATCH COMPANIES WHO MAKE A PRODUCT AND THEN TRY TO FIND A CUSTOMER FOR IT, WE HAVE A CLIENT AND HELP HIM TO DEVELOP SOMETHING.” He further says that over the past few years, Reuge has started focusing on corporate and government clients who want to give away gifts. “It’s a gift which is going to last much longer, for generations, unlike a smartphone which becomes outdated as soon as a new model is released. It’s still the same investment, but your return on investment is more.” Kupper adds that in today’s world, people are too dependent on internet search engines like Google for most things and so the desire for originality is no longer there. “We help them to dream because every time we meet somebody, we need to find out about him/her and also the person who is going to receive the gift.”

OFFICINE PANERAI

TOP-CLASS

FOR THE 11TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, OFFICINE PANERAI, THE FLORENTINE HIGHEND SPORTS WATCHMAKER WELL KNOWN FOR COMBINING ITALIAN DESIGN AND SWISS MANUFACTURING EXPERTISE, SHOWCASED ITS LATEST NOVELTIES AT THE DOHA JEWELLERY & WATCHES EXHIBITION (DJWE) 2018. Through this participation and in partnership with their exclusive and long-standing partner, Ali Bin Ali, Officine Panerai presented its outstanding innovations and revolutionary designs through its latest collection of timepieces recently launched at “Salon International de la Haute Horologerie” in Geneva in January 2018. The novelty display included the following timepieces: With the introduction of the new P.6000 calibre, the Luminor Base Logo 3 Days Acciaio - 44 mm is now renewed and enhanced to still be one of the bestsellers of the Panerai collections. A new version of a Panerai classic with a striking, minimalist design and OP logo on the dial to add a decorative element. Luminor Due 3 Days Automatic Acciaio - 38 mm and Luminor Due 3 Days Automatic Oro Rosso - 38 mm, two new contemporary timepieces suitable for every wrist and situation, and immediately recognisable with their powerful Panerai identity. This creation has the smallest and thinnest case ever produced by Panerai from the Luminor Due collection introduced for the first time in 2016. 45 > QATAR TODAY > FEBRUARY - MARCH 2018

affairs > bottom line

THE IDEAL CV FOR A MID-CAREER PROFESSIONAL BAYT.COM ADVISES ON HOW TO TWEAK YOUR RESUME WHEN APPLYING FOR A VACANCY AT THE MIDPOINT OF YOUR CAREER.

46 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

hange is difficult, even for the most seasoned of job seekers, and the task of undertaking a CV overhaul can be daunting. After all, the effort and dedication that go into writing a CV tend to make most of us reluctant to go through the whole process again. However, it is best to face the music head-on. There comes a time in your career when you need to rewrite your CV, and if you are at the mid-point of your career, that time is now. Do not lose yourself to senseless worry. Things are different now that you have all that experience and all those accomplishments under your belt. You are not the same professional you were at the start of your career and you have so much more to offer than you did then. Your CV

should reflect that and it should also reflect your potential to grow even more. In order to make this process as quick and pain-free as possible, Bayt.com shares a quick and easy guide to rewriting your CV for midcareer positions. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Time for a Trim When you have accumulated over five years of work experience, it becomes necessary to trim any unnecessary weight on your CV that could prove to be more distracting than complementary. The work experience racked up over your college years as well as the part-time work that is irrelevant to your desired position or industry are probably taking up valuable space on your CV. This space could instead be used to list more accomplishments from your most relevant and recent jobs, focusing on the skills you

have developed, and responsibilities you have held that make you more qualified for your chosen career. Remember, even when applying for mid-career positions, which usually accommodate CVs that are longer than a page, your CV should still be relevant, concise and straight to the point. Even taking your years of experience into account, the employer will not want to waste too much time scanning your CV for the information they need. Accomplishments vs Skills At this point in your career, your CV should have more focus on accomplishments instead of a mile-long list of unverifiable skills. With this much work experience, you should be able to prove your skills through achievements and quantify these accomplishments wherever possible. Ideally, this should also reflect a progression that demonstrates you took on more responsibilities and achieved more over time. It might seem unflattering if you point too sharply at a decline in achievements and tasks as your career progressed. You should still have a list of skills in your CV to ensure it passes automatic application systems, but make sure that your job details point towards your accomplishments so that employers can get a fair idea of what you have actually done and are capable of. This will speak volumes more than a multitude of buzzwords without evidence. This applies to listing responsibilities as well. Listing some of your responsibilities is okay, but an employer is going to be more impressed with how you met these responsibilities, what targets you achieved and any growth you have contributed to. Education or Work? This is an area that allows for some discretion in the format of a CV. When you are still in the spring of your career and have recently graduated, your education will be the main selling point in your CV. Once you have accumulated years of experience and achievements, you can choose to move your education after your work experience. The way your CV is organised signifies which sections of it are most important to you. When you place your education above

work experience, you are subconsciously directing the employer’s attention to your academic background. However, at the middle of your career, you should be prioritising your work experience over your educational background. Unless your educational background sells your qualifications for a job better than your work experience can, you should switch their order so that your work experience is listed first. Personal Details When you were fresh in the job market, there were a lot of things you could get away with. For instance, sharing certain personal details such as hobbies and interests or embellishing your CV with personal touches. For someone in the beginning of their career, this can be chalked off as creative. But, once you are moving up the career ladder, you will need to polish everything and ensure your CV is more professional than quirky. Make sure your email address is professional and clear. It is best to opt for an email address that solely features your name, but if you can’t bag that email then you can add a relevant number, hyphen or underscore. The second-most important thing is having a professional-looking CV photograph. This cannot be stressed enough. An unprofessional or unclear photograph leaves a very bad impression, especially at your level of experience as it exhibits a certain air of carelessness. The photo on your CV should be a simple headshot with either a smile or neutral expression. It should also have a plain background and feature you dressed in professional attire. You would want to provide a neutral and professional impression. Selfies, mirror shots or otherwise unprofessional pictures are better left for social media. With the assistance of some polishing up and a change of perspective, you can take your CV to the next level with ease. The main thing you need to guarantee is that your CV is focused, accomplishment-oriented and polished. Then, your experience can do the talking for you. If you’re still struggling with the idea of writing a golden mid-career CV, you can always opt for a professionally written CV that is sure to knock the employer’s socks off

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47 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

affairs > bottom line

HELPING EXECUTIVES RESPOND TO

CSR DEMANDS

ORGANISATIONS CAN PAY A HEAVY PRICE IF THEY DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T RESPOND TO SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS; AT THE SAME TIME, RESPONDING CAN BE COSTLY.

48 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

ompanies face increasing pressures related to their social practices and environmental policies. But what makes some firms respond appropriately to these pressures and others less so? We can identify what causes firms to respond and embrace environmental and social issues. To increase the action taken by firms, they must understand issue salience, be more willing to experiment around ways to reduce the perceived cost of resource mobilisation, and integrate more incentives to increase the cost of inaction. To increase the number of firms who take substantial action, we need to magnify the net benefits of action by rewarding them in economic and financial market

environments. So, in investment decisions complementary performance indicators should be included and the benefits of acting in favour of sustainability at the same cost should be clear. NGOs and public policy should work towards designing rules and regulations that enable firms to use existing resources for actions aligned with sustainable development (such as through tax credits) and implement mechanisms that reduce the cost of acquiring necessary resources (such as through subsidies or co-financing). These measures will increase a firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perceived net benefit of action and the likelihood of substantial action. Methodology Rodolphe Durand, Professor of Strategy and Business Policy, HEC Paris, and his

co-authors developed a model to help understand when and how organisations respond to normative and moral demands, such as those that involve Corporate Social Responsibility. They looked at how decision-makers in a firm weigh up the benefit of tackling an issue and the cost of not acting as a function of how salient the issue seems. A firm’s willingness and ability to respond to pressures don’t always match, hence the variation in responses between different firms and internally between departments. There is benefit in action and sometimes in inaction. Putting themselves in the shoes of decision-makers, Durand and his coauthors identified two main factors that influence how an organisation will respond to issues: Factor 1 - Benefit perceived in tackling the issue Factor 2 - Consequences of ignoring the issue and failing to act Both factors vary with the importance or salience of an issue. Let’s take two firms: A and B. Firm A doesn’t consider the environmental ‘cleanup’ of a production process as salient: it’s seen as a misuse of resources, with no costs associated with inaction. On the other hand, Firm B’s directors see issue saliency and a net benefit in the clean-up. Firms A and B thus respond differently to the same issue in terms of degrees of when the cost of engaging resources becomes excessive. However, Durand notes that when it comes to degrees of salience, there is a point at which the cost of engaging resources becomes too excessive for any firm to act, and thus they do so either symbolically or not at all. We wanted to understand what makes some firms respond appropriately to these normative pressures and others less so. Conform or comply Durand and his co-authors modelled a virtual space corresponding to how organisations respond depending on issue salience. By positioning a firm somewhere in the space, you can predict how likely that firm will be to respond to a demand based on how its decision-makers weigh up issue salience with the costs and benefits of action. In some cases, the ‘net benefit of action’ leads to substantial conformity and a firm actively sets a trend, engaging resources to protect the environment or improve social and economic aspects. For example, in 2013, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz publicly

supported same-sex marriage before it was legalised in the US in 2016. Here, Starbucks embraced diversity, reinforcing the company’s open and liberal brand. In cases where action is not seen to be beneficial, a firm may still engage resources to substantively comply with existing norms and laws. For example, climate change is associated with an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters and insurance firms take this into account when calculating risks. However, many firms will simply comply with regulations and won’t go beyond the basic requirements to incorporate climate change risk because, in this case, costs mount quickly. The tightrope of inaction If the costs of engaging resources outweigh the benefits, a firm may symbolically comply or fail to comply. In 2016, Apple refused to cooperate with the US government and did not unlock the iPhone of a shooter involved in the San Bernardino attack. Here, inaction represented a social gain for Apple at a relatively low cost – if the code-cracking system had ended up in the wrong hands it could have put Apple’s customers at risk. However, Durand notes that inaction can also be detrimental to business. It took time for Google to take action against its employees who declared that male programmers are superior to female programmers. Consumers objected and responded by shaming the company. Before the scandal, Google was inactive, ignoring its social responsibility towards gender diversity without seeing any ill effects. But the incident heightened consumer awareness, increasing its salience for Google decision-makers. Conclusion Our model can be used to compare firms or to look at departments within a firm. When comparing the action of two firms, issue salience may differ and, depending on their respective resources, action may be taken. This is also applicable to divisions of a firm, and so we see different policies adopted within a single organisation. Overall, the model helps us to realise that firms are not good or bad per se. There are reasons for inaction or symbolic action based on how salient the issue is perceived to be and the estimated gain in solving it. The content for this article was provided by HEC Paris

ABOUT HEC PARIS Founded in 1881 by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, HEC Paris is a founding member of UniversitÈ Paris-Saclay. It boasts a faculty of 138 full-time professors, more than 4,400 students and over 8,000 managers and executives in training each year. In 2010, HEC Paris joined Qatar Foundation and brought Executive Education programmes and research activity to Qatar and the rest of the region. 49 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

affairs > tag this

ATTACK OF THE DRONES:

50 > QATAR TODAY > FEBRUARY - MARCH 2018

DRONE WARS

THE UNCHECKED PROLIFERATION OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (UAVS) AND THEIR USE BY STATE AND NONSTATE ARMED GROUPS (NSAG) ALIKE OPENS AN ENTIRE NEW SECURITY PARADIGM. BY STASA SALACANIN

N IN OCTOBER 2014, THE UEFA EURO QUALIFYING MATCH BETWEEN SERBIA AND ALBANIA WAS ABANDONED AFTER 41 MINUTES AS A DRONE FLEW OVER THE PITCH CARRYING A BANNER WITH THE IMAGE OF GREATER ALBANIA.

umerous reports indicate that terrorists and armed militia groups are already experimenting and weaponizing consumer drones and it is only a matter of time before they use them to carry out attacks in Europe. In fact, Europe has already seen an episode where a drone has been used for political propaganda, causing a major disturbance of public peace and order. In October 2014, the UEFA Euro qualifying match between Serbia and Albania was abandoned after 41 minutes as a drone flew over the pitch carrying a banner with the image of Greater Albania, resulting in chaos on the pitch and in the stands. Although this was not a terrorist attack and there were no human casualties, many have come to the conclusion that this occurrence could be a game changer. If a banner can be carried, there’s no reason why a bomb can’t be if the device is put in the wrong hands. Various NSAG groups are already experimenting with the potential use of drones. According to a report in 2016 titled “Hostile

drones: Supplementary risk assessment” conducted by Open Briefing, the world’s first civil society intelligence agency, the overall risk from the hostile use of drones by non-state actors against British targets is assessed to be medium, though the threat from terrorist organisations and insurgent groups is assessed as high. Hobby shop bombers Daesh has already used commercial off-theshelf drones equipped with 40 mm grenades in their attacks, killing and wounding Iraqi and Kurdish troops, explains Wim Zwijnenburg, a Humanitarian Disarmament Project Leader for the Dutch peace organisation PAX and an expert in emerging military technologies. He told us that since its rise in 2014, Daesh has used commercial drones for propaganda videos in its first video from Fallujah. This fitted in with a wider trend of non-state armed groups experimenting with commercial and/or military drones. Hezbollah made various attempts to equip drones with explosives and attack Israeli targets in 2009. It is believed that Hezbollah, for 51 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

affairs > tag this example, has a fleet of 200 UAVs. In most cases so far, the use of drones has had limited success as they were relatively slow and easy to shoot down. But despite technological limitations of non-state groups and their current drone fleet, the technology is catching up at an alarming rate and it is only a matter of time before these devices become more effective. So, how easy or hard is it to convert drones that are commercially available into flying bombs and how effective are these devices? According to Justin Bronk, Research Fellow specialising in combat airpower and technology in the Military Sciences team at Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), it is actually easy to convert a commercially available quadcopter drone which is capable of carrying a modest payload such as a camera into a weapon by attaching grenades or submunitions from cluster weapons as Daesh and others have proven. “However, the effectiveness of such improvised flying bombs is limited by the very small size of explosive packages that they can carry and by the inaccuracy of dropping such devices remotely using improvised means,” he said. Despite obvious flaws, drones look like ideal weapons to carry out terrorist attacks in public. Although they are not that lethal on the large scale, they could still cause chaos and panic, triggering negative psychological effects and a sense of insecurity. In addition, drones are cheap, highly accessible and highly portable systems. Currently there are around 200 types of drones available on the streets or online, and according to Open Briefing, consumer drones available today are capable of delivering an explosive payload equivalent to a pipe bomb (1-4 kilograms) or a suicide vest (4-10 kilograms). Zwijnenburg notes that the Syrian conflict proved to be an experimental lab for NSAGs to test the opportunities for commercial drones in military operations. He said that it was only logical that these groups started to equip them with lethal payloads. It was just a matter of finding out what type of payload works best. “For example, recent reporting from Mosul indicates that Daesh has used the Chinese DJI Phantom drone as a platform of delivery,” he adds. According to Bronk, so far the most lethal and dangerous use of commercial drones on the battlefield is the role of ‘spotting’ devices in directing indirect fire such as mortars and artillery, providing even lightly equipped groups with the ability 52 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

to open indirect fire on targets using realtime imagery to observe the disposition of enemy forces and the fall of munitions. In addition, they are an excellent tool for making propaganda videos, something that Daesh has already exploited heavily. “What we witnessed from the videos coming out of Iraq and produced by Daesh is that troops often do not notice the drones. On the occasions that they do,

IN 2016, FORMER UK PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON EXPRESSED DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT TERRORISTS USING DRONES FOR SPRAYING RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL OVER WESTERN CITIES.

it’s often difficult to hit a small target at such a distance, thus new counter-drone measures are needed to protect army units,” Zwijnenburg explained. This “advantage” could be easily applied in non-military zones as well, when attacking soft targets in cities and at public events. Even more disturbing is the fact that current technological limitations are expected to become irrelevant very soon as the NSAG know-how is progressing fast. Zwijnenburg told us that Daesh also proved to have a steep learning curve when it comes to equipping drones. We might very well see home-made drones soon, so that the reliance on the import of commercial drones is not there anymore. Moreover, they could carry larger payloads, or fly in swarms, so multiple drones will carry out an attack. Open Briefing warned that if used in a swarm against a crowd at a major sporting event they would cause serious injuries and multiple fatalities. Zwijnenburg also raises concerns about armed groups disseminating their knowledge through the internet, thus

making it easier for terrorists in the West to use drones for carrying out attacks. “The only caveat is that in Western countries it is quite difficult to get access to military grade explosives, thus making them less likely to be used in an armed attack.” But other means for attack with drones can be developed as well. Bleak scenarios refer to the possibility of drones carrying dirty bombs containing radioactive material or other toxic substances as well. The former UK Prime Minister David Cameron warned of this possibility in 2016, expressing his deep concerns that terrorists could use drones for spraying radioactive material over Western cities. But at the moment “the likelihood of such a scenario is rather low”, said Zwijnenburg, and according to Bronk, their main limitation as a delivery system is their small payload. “The difficulty for terrorist groups is not delivering dirty bombs or radioactive agents. It is getting hold of such materials in the first place and engineering them into weapons without dying of radiation poisoning in the process.

A truck bomb is a much more likely vector for a dirty bomb attack on a Western city,” noted Bronk. A hawk against a missile? So is there any effective protection from hostile drones? Bronk feels that there are various methods of protecting areas against commercial drones such as shooting them

DAESH HAS ALREADY USED COMMERCIAL OFF-THESHELF DRONES EQUIPPED WITH 40 MM GRENADES IN THEIR ATTACKS, KILLING AND WOUNDING IRAQI AND KURDISH TROOPS, SAYS WIM ZWIJNENBURG, AN EXPERT IN EMERGING MILITARY TECHNOLOGIES.

down, using high-powered jamming or microwave devices to disable them, and even training hawks. The French Army and Dutch police, for example, are teaching birds of prey to bring down remotecontrolled drones when they enter a no-go urban airspace. However, he continued: “The disadvantage in a crowded urban area is the high danger of collateral damage – whether physical from projectiles or electronic from jamming or microwave devices – which might well outweigh any damage a small drone could do on its own.” Zwijnenburg noted that one step already taken is to register commercial drones, in particular the larger types that can carry heavy payloads (not the toy drones for kids), so there is some sort of control and background checks over who is acquiring drones. But all these measures can be easily circumvented. Therefore, according to Zwijnenburg, no-drone zones would need to be set up and enforced if there is a risk to the public. “There is a growing industry that is developing counter-drone measures, and I think we are still at the beginning of discussing how to deal with these threats.” He offered a simple comparison with another technological invention which we needed to adapt to and regulate. “Just as with the invention of cars and increased regulations, we will need to go towards having a drone licence, drone traffic rules and registration of drones before they can be used. But as we saw with cars, one can also drive a car into a crowd, so there will always be risks of misusing the technology of any kind.” Open Briefing’s report “How to respond to the threat from hostile drones in the UK” from last March proposes that the United Kingdom adopts a hierarchy of countermeasures – regulatory, passive and active – which provide a layered defence. In short, regulatory countermeasures include sale regulations, civil aviation rules and manufacturing standards and restrictions. Passive countermeasures include early warning systems and signal jamming. Active countermeasures include kinetic defence systems such as missiles, rockets and bullets, and less-lethal systems – projectile weapons and net guns. Overall, Zwijnenburg believes that it is mostly up to intelligence agencies and law enforcement bodies to identify any potential threat and stop it, which is usually the best way to prevent any terrorist attack. Rules and controls alone will not be enough 53 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

affairs > tag this

TIME TO

THINK

DIFFERENTLY ABOUT

OBESITY

DESPITE GLOBAL EFFORTS TO STEM THE OBESITY EPIDEMIC, NO COUNTRY HAS SUCCEEDED IN DECREASING IT IN THE LAST 33 YEARS.

The content for the article was provided by Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Middle East. 54 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

orldwide obesity has more than doubled since 1980, with almost 30% of the population overweight or obese. In the Middle East, obesity rates among adults are exceptionally high at more than 37% in Kuwait and more than 35% in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, according to latest WHO figures. Experts said that one problem is that most campaigns to combat the disease have overly simplified obesity by focusing on healthy eating and exercise, when the reality is that obesity is not a lifestyle

choice, but a chronic disease with complex origins. In addition, simplifying obesity poses the risk of stigmatizing people with obesity instead of treating them as patients and providing them with access to viable treatment options. The belief that obesity is a lifestyle choice remains prominent, significantly affecting the psychosocial well-being and behavioural patterns of people with obesity. According to Dr Nadia Ahmad, Senior Advisor for Obesity Solutions at Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Middle East, weight bias is societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last acceptable form of discrimination and is largely driven by

OBESITY IS A RECOGNIZES DISEASE

OF PANDEMIC PROPORTIONS1,2

Almost

of the world's population is overweight or obese3

EVERY YEAR MORE THAN

OBESITY IN THE

MIDDLE EAST

MILLION limited understanding of obesity. She says that environmental, social and dietary factors and aspects relating to common medications, stress and sleep can all play a role so there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to combating obesity. A growing body of research supports the concept of ‘set point’, which posits that regardless of what you would like your weight to be, your brain has its own sense of how much body fat you should retain and regulates energy intake and expenditure to maintain levels within a ‘set point’ range. Moreover, research suggests that when people with obesity go on a low-calorie diet then there are significant alterations in appetite hormones leading to increased food intake and reductions in energy expenditure, including changes in ‘muscle efficiency’, that can together increase body weight. Measures to introduce healthier food options at schools, to tax sugary drinks and to encourage people to exercise are all important steps towards promoting a

3Million

PATIENTS DIE AS A RESULT OF BEING OVERWEIGHT OR OBESE3

IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA (MENA) ARE OBESE15 healthy lifestyle, but some individuals still struggle to lose weight based on lifestyle modification alone and may require pharmacotherapy and metabolic surgery. In addition, while prevention is critical for the next generation, it is of little use to those already severely affected by obesity as they are vulnerable to serious comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular problems, which ultimately lead to shortened lives. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is at the epicentre of an obesity and diabetes crisis, according to Dr Karl Miller, Chief Medical Officer at JJMD Middle East and Vice President of the Obesity Academy Austria. There are 318,000 deaths caused by diabetes each year in the region alone. Diabetes prevalence in MENA stands at 10.8%, the second highest among regions monitored by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), which projects the number of people with diabetes in MENA to increase by 110% to 82 million in 2045 from

KUWAIT IS KNOWN AS THE WORLD'S FATTEST COUNTRY4

39 million in 2017. Spending on diabetes care in the region, as a percentage of total health expenditure, stands at 17% compared with 12% globally, according to the IDF, which said healthcare expenditure in MENA is expected to increase by 67% to $35.5 billion by 2045 from $21.3 billion in 2017. The rising social and economic burden of obesity requires a new approach to tackling this chronic disease. The current patient pathway to surgical intervention can take as long as eight years, according to Dr Ahmad, even though metabolic surgery is associated with higher diabetes remission rates, lowered mortality risk, fewer complications, higher weight loss and improved quality of life than short and long-term control mechanisms. To make real progress in the fight against obesity, partnerships are required at every level to guide patients appropriately through the treatment pathway, i.e., prevention, access to treatment and longterm follow-up 55 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

construction > tag this

SETTING THE

STANDARD

ADEL MOHAMED ALBGDADY (right) with HAMAD AL KUBAISI (Quality and Conformity Department, Qatar Standards)

BY UDAYAN NAG

ADEL MOHAMED ALBGDADY, CIVIL ENGINEER AT QATAR STANDARDS, EXPLAINS THE PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING THE CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THEM, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY THE VARIOUS CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES IN THE COUNTRY TO CARRY OUT THEIR ACTIVITIES. 56 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

ith special focus on hot and humid regions, the sixth edition of Qatar Construction Specifications (QCS), set to be released within the next few years, might well turn out to be a global trendsetter. However, till it fits into the scheme of things, QCS 2014 continues to be mandatory for the various construction facilities in Qatar. Since Qatar Standards (QS) is the body which prepares QCS and gives the goahead for the various companies in this country to continue with their activities, Adel Mohamed Albgdady, civil engineer at QS, is one of the best bets to explain the process that organisations need to follow in order to obtain their respective certifications from QS. “We are working in the Quality and

Conformity Department of QS. This department deals with the companies which are manufacturing products inside Qatar,” says Albgdady. “First of all, the concerned organisation will submit an application to us, along with the company profile, which contains information about the company, i.e., location, details about materials, etc. We will check the details to see whether they meet the requirements of QCS. If the profile is approved, fees of QR100 per plant will need to be paid.” Albgdady clarifies that the fees paid is for a particular plant of a company, and that a separate certificate is issued for each plant, because they all have different characteristics so the requirements that they need to fulfil will be different. Mentioned below are some of the general requirements for obtaining the Conformity Certificate for ribbed steel

coils and de-coiled bars. The ribbed bars, coils and de-coiled products shall be manufactured with steel ingots passed between grooved rolls All the steel bars in each lot shall be legibly tagged by the manufacturer, with the tag showing the manufacturer’s test number and a lot number and other applicable data that identifies the material together with the certificate issued for that lot of steel All the raw materials used for the production of steel shall be declared along with the recent chemical composition test results The factory area should be treated with a concrete or asphalt layer in order to keep the area clean “The same company might have different factories, e.g., one in Industrial Area and another one in Lusail,” says

Albgdady. “The profile for each plant is submitted separately, and after that we carry out our procedure for inspection.” Albgdady reiterates that it’s the responsibility of the Quality and Conformity Department to carry out this task, so its staff will visit the concerned factory, collect the samples and send it to the central or third-party labs, which have been certified by Qatar Standards, for testing. “We will take the samples of the raw materials, e.g., plastic, steel, etc., separately and the sample of the final product separately. Once the samples are collected, the name of the company/ factory is removed, to maintain transparency, and replaced by a bar code. “After the lab conducts its test, they will make the report. This is the final report which includes everything – application no., payment no., inspection date, sampling date, first trial, second trial (in

case the first trial was unsuccessful). If the third trial is failed, then the process is started all over again.” Albgdady says that the report prepared by the lab is then sent back to the Quality and Conformity Department’s sampling division, which will prepare the cover letter. “The final report will be made on the entire factory of the company, but when the certificates are issued they will be separate for each plant.” And Albgdady adds that once the certificate is issued by QS, random inspections will be made by them every 2-3 months. “People from Qatar Standards will pay a surprise visit for collection of samples to check whether all the requirements are being fulfilled. The certificate is valid for one year after which the entire process has to be repeated. It’s advisable for companies to approach us two months before the expiry of their certification.” 57 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

affairs > tech talk

INSTAGRAM LAUNCHES ‘TYPE’ MODE IN STORIES

Leading photo-sharing application Instagram has introduced ‘Type’ mode in stories, a new way to share anything that’s on your mind, with creative text styles and backgrounds – no photo or video required. Now, you can turn your most random thoughts into something colourful and expressive.

hen you turn on the camera you’ll see ‘Type’ next to ‘Normal’ under the record button. Tap ‘Type’ and write whatever comes to mind – your favourite lyrics, a silly thought or a random idea – and play with different styles to change the look and feel. Then,

you can pick different background colours, highlight words and phrases, or add a background photo. You can also use the new styles when adding text to any photo or video. And, like everything else you share on stories, it’ll disappear from your story after 24 hours.

STEALING THE SHOW: OOREDOO

QPAY LAUNCHES MAJOR BLOCKCHAIN INNOVATION

PAY, Qatar’s largest FINTECH company offering Made-In-Qatar electronic payment solutions, launched a major blockchain e-commerce initiative based on the Ethereum blockchain platform. In partnership with Nexxo Network LLC - USA, QPAY unveiled QPAY-SECURE, a suite of blockchain-based Decentralised Applications (D’APPS) and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). The company has started its first test on the Ethereum Test Network. “Implementing a blockchain-based payments platform is critical to our

58 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

consumer and commercial clients. It is a clear signal from us that customer information is being handled securely and with trust,” said Nebil Ben Aissa, founder and CEO of QPAY. He added: “Furthermore, although QPAY is compliant with the latest industry security standards such as Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS 3.22), we are still moving forward with blockchain security as we believe that adding blockchain to our transaction platform will enhance our security when compared with standard SSL e-commerce transaction security.”

Hundreds of entrepreneurs and start-ups, business leaders and technology experts came together for the first-ever Ooredoo Innovation Roadshow. They were joined by Ooredoo’s ecosystem of start-up incubators, accelerators and channel partners and customers. The major attractions included animal trackers, blockchain and Bitcoin, the Internet of Things and machine-to-machine solutions, remote health monitoring and eHealth services, robotics and virtual reality gaming. One of Qatar’s leading entrepreneurs, Mohammed Al Jefairi, presented a keynote on developing ‘see-do’. The world’s first signlanguage communicating robot, see-do, showed how Qatar is an early adopter of innovation. Mohammed Al Jefairi also inspired members of the audience to become innovators. Yousuf Abdulla Al Kubaisi, Chief Operating Officer, Ooredoo, said: “Innovation is key for both companies and people in Qatar to evolve and reach their full potential. Ooredoo is one of Qatar’s biggest supporters of innovation and entrepreneurship.”

USING EYES TO DETECT HEART ATTACKS

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY WITH P SMART

uawei’s all-new P smart introduces four sensing functions – facial recognition, gender recognition, 10-level skin improvement and automatic perception that allow you to capture photos as well as selfies. The device also includes 13MP + 2MP rear dual cameras and 16-level dual shot blurring. It allows for clear focus, matched with the perfect amount of background blurriness that will make your photos look like real, thus accurately capturing exciting moments. Further, with high-precision camera sensors and high-density face detection pixels, the camera focuses on real time, accuracy and speed. Additionally, to improve photography at night, Huawei P smart features five groups of precision lenses for clearer photos in low light. The Huawei P smart Series features an 8MP front beauty camera supporting the front portrait mode. By learning from samples of previous products, it recognises human faces more accurately and is also able to judge gender.

esearchers at Google and its health-tech arm Verily claim that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) could help identify signals of heart diseases through retinal images. According to Google CEO Sundar Pichai: “AI offers us the potential for new, less invasive tests for heart health – predicting cardiovascular results from retinal images with computer vision – encouraging early results.” The study, published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, showed that deep learning applied to a retinal fundus image, a photograph that includes the blood vessels of the eye, can predict risk factors for heart diseases – from blood pressure to smoking status. Michael McConnell, Head of Cardiovascular Health Innovations at Verily, further said that the algorithm that the researchers produced can even help predict the occurrence of a future major cardiovascular event on a par with current measures.

MOTC, MEEZA SIGN AGREEMENT ON CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICES

he Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) and IT Services and Solutions provider MEEZA signed an agreement by which the latter will provide cloud and infrastructure services for government entities in Qatar. This comes within the ministry’s plans for achieving the strategic objectives of the Qatar Digital Government 2020 Strategy, which aims at creating efficiency in government administration, maximizing opportunities to make better use of public funds in accordance with Qatar National Vision 2030.

“The Ministry of Transport and Communications continues its efforts towards achieving the QDG 2020 vision by finding out about innovative solutions and enabling the government entities to achieve their goals,” said Hassan Jassim Al Sayed, MOTC’s Assistant Undersecretary of Government Information Technology Sector. He added: “Cloud computing services, provided in association with MEEZA, aim at increasing the operational efficiency of the IT infrastructure and reducing operational costs at government entities.”

59 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

affairs > auto news

EXPERIENCE ULTIMATE OPULENCE WITH MASERATI GHIBLI

ALFARDAN SPORTS MOTORS – THE OFFICIAL DEALER OF MASERATI IN QATAR – BRINGS THE LATEST-GENERATION GHIBLI TO AFICIONADOS IN THE COUNTRY.

n 1966, Maserati unveiled the firstever Ghibli to the world that offered glorious style, powerful performance and soothing comfort. Over five decades since then, the majestic grand tourer continues to astound with bold new contours, progressive technology and an immaculately preserved race-bred heritage. A graceful four-door design delivers pin-sharp coupe-like handling, promising owners the drive of a lifetime. The effortless intuitive technology has been remodelled to incorporate a range of exterior design refinements and safety features, including driving assistance systems that emphasize Maserati’s endeavour to augment comfort and luxury. Available in GranSport form, the sedan establishes a charismatic Maserati presence wherever it goes, with a focus on its engaging dynamics. Exterior and Interior Design Singular Style The design of the Ghibli is a study in dynamically sculpted curves and gracefully flowing lines. At the front, the signature grille bearing the Maserati Trident signals both dynamic intent and poised composure. Inspired by the legendary A6 GCS Berlinetta of the 1950s, it now features

60 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

chromed bars and is perfectly integrated into the bumper. In profile, a host of details create a striking coupé look. They include frameless doors, muscular rear haunches and the sloping C-pillar design, which incorporates the timeless Saetta logo. At the rear, you’ll find quad chrome exhaust tailpipes inscribed with ‘Maserati’ and ‘Ghibli’ and elegant new bumper styling. A Distinctive Invitation The interior of the Ghibli is, in essence, a clearly expressed invitation to travel in luxurious comfort and with effortless access to the high power at your disposal. The sumptuous leather-finished curves, the clean, technical purity of the dashboard and detailing in metallic-effect dark mirror trim simultaneously relax and heighten the senses. Two side panels converge towards an elegantly simple central structure, which houses the traditional Maserati clock with its blue face and aluminium detailing. Beneath that, there’s the 8.4” touchscreen infotainment system and rotary control, along with a handy phone storage box. The large speedometer and rev counter, meanwhile, have purist white backlighting and are separated by a 7” TFT display that presents the car’s dynamic data.

Engines: Two Choices, Endless Possibilities 350hp V6 Twin Turbo The V6 engine in the Ghibli delivers 350 hp at 5,500 rpm and 500 Nm of torque between 4,500 and 5,000 rpm. In overboost mode, peak torque is available between 1,750 and 5,000 rpm. Combined fuel consumption is just 8.9 litres/100 km and combined CO2 emissions are 207 grams per kilometre. The 350 hp Ghibli accelerates from a standing start to 100 km/h in just 5.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 267 km/h. 430hp V6 Twin Turbo The Ghibli S and S Q4 models feature the most powerful version of the V6. Maximum output of 430 hp is delivered at 5,750 rpm and, in overboost mode, peak torque of 580 Nm is on tap between 2,250 rpm and 4,000 rpm, with 90% of that torque accessible at just 1,600 rpm. The sprint from 0-100 km/h is dispatched in 4.7 seconds and the top speed is 286 km/h. Combined fuel consumption and CO2 emissions for the Ghibli S are 9.6 litres/100 km and 223 g/ km. The need-to-know numbers for the Ghibli S Q4 are 9.7 litres/100 km and 226 g/km

DRIVE LIKE NEVER BEFORE QATAR TODAY TEST-DROVE THE NEW MERCEDES-BENZ S 450, AND THE EXPERIENCE WAS VERY SIMILAR TO BEING IN A SELFDRIVEN CAR. BY KARIM EMAM PHOTOS: HASSAN AL DAGHESTANI

riving the new Mercedes-Benz S 450 is by all means a unique experience – you literally let the car drive you. And it feels that you always arrive earlier than before for your appointments, and most importantly you are more comfortable than ever. When you are driving the S-Class on the streets of Doha, arriving is almost incidental, for you as well as the Mercedes engineers. Their main aim for every journey is to create a space which becomes yours when you move into it. In a seat that cools or warms you, and gently tilts backwards until you are relaxed and stretched, the meaning of spaciousness is truly rediscovered. For me as I drove it, it was just amazing to let the car drive with its enhanced driving assistance systems, which use its two cameras on the top of the front mirror to stay in the lane and the sensors to judge the distance between the car and any other object nearby. Design leadership With its ideal proportions and distinctive new details, the redesigned 2018 S-Class is more majestic and more athletic. From the double chrome bars in its grille and new front apron to its strong rear shoulders, it clearly conveys the power and strength within. Yet its subtleties are just as compelling. Its unusually crisp body creases, tight tolerances, and intriguing LED illumination make it the embodiment of confident elegance and the advancement of a rich tradition.

its headlamps and triple-band LED Daytime Running Lamps to its threesegment vertical tail lamps with intriguing “Stardust” technology, long-lasting and energy-efficient LEDs accomplish every exterior lighting function. LEDs also offer quicker illumination, offering other drivers more time to react to your brake lamps and other signals. Touch control steering wheel The 3-spoke multifunction sports steering wheel in black nappa leather, with a flattened bottom section, heavily embossed in the grip area, with steering wheel gearshift paddles and steering wheel trim in galvanised silver chrome, has a touch control button and four function keys in each of the left and right control pads. Rear Seat Comfort package The best possible seating comfort in the outer rear seats is ensured by multicontour seats, which incorporate inflatable air chambers for even more individual adjustment. That is why they are recommended by AGR, a German spinal health organisation. The ENERGIZING massage function enhances the sense of well-being – also using heat based on the relaxing hot-stone principle.

The rear passengers are able to adjust the air chambers in the lumbar and shoulder areas individually to suit their personal physique. Magic Sky Control Magic Sky Control creates an open-air feeling at the push of a button. The twosection panoramic sliding sunroof changes from dark to transparent or vice versa within a few seconds. The transparency of the two sections of the roof can be changed independently for each section. In its tinted state, it substantially reduces heating-up of the vehicle interior. Magic Sky Control is activated via a switch on the overhead control panel. Driving Assistance package This combination of complementary safety and assistance systems can help to relieve driver strain, reduce the risk of accidents and improve protection for both the occupants and other road users, within the limits of the respective systems. Assistance is provided with controlling the distance and speed, as well as with steering, among other things. The package includes Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active Steering Assist, Active Braking Assist, Evasive Steering Assist and PRE-SAFE PLUS

All-LED exterior lighting The first car without a single light bulb since the advent of electric lighting in automobiles, the S-Class advances its technology with bold new style. From 61 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

affairs > auto news

ABDULLAH ABDULGHANI & BROS HONOURS ITS CUSTOMERS Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co. (AAB) honoured its loyal customers for 2017 during a special event and through an all-new Camry event.

he new Camry is setting new standards for the mid-size sedan segment in design, performance and comfort. The design of the eighth-generation Camry aims at testing the limits of performance and intelligence, infusing the high-end sedan with a refined feel. AAB expressed its immense gratitude to its customers who have significantly and positively contributed to the continued

success and profitability of the company through their continued loyalty over the years. AAB’s showrooms are open seven days a week so that customers have the option of visiting them at their convenience. The work on the new Lexus Showroom with state-of-the-art facilities is progressing well in order to provide a luxurious atmosphere when customers visit the showroom.

HYUNDAI, AURORA PARTNERSHIP TO DEVELOP AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES

NEW 2018 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS UNVEILED The all-new 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross was unveiled by Qatar Automobiles Company (QAC), the authorised distributor of Mitsubishi Motors in the country, in a special ceremony at the company’s showroom on Salwa Road. The ceremony was attended by Sheikh Faleh bin Nawaf Al Thani, Automotive Operations Director at NBK Holding, along with NBK executives, partners, customers and members of the media. “At Qatar Automobiles Company, we are proud to offer the new 2018 Eclipse Cross in the Qatari market. Customers can now drive one of the best SUVs in the market, thanks to its high performance, technology and distinctive features,” said Sheikh Faleh. “This SUV will set a new benchmark as a new breed of crossover and we are confident that it will appeal to all ages. We are committed to providing the people of Qatar with the latest models of high quality that are globally tested and experienced,” he added.

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yundai Motor Company and Aurora have announced a strategic partnership to bring self-driving Hyundai vehicles to the market by 2021. The tie-up will incorporate Aurora’s self-driving technology into Hyundai vehicles, starting with models custom-developed and launched in test programmes and pilot cities. Over the longer term, Hyundai and Aurora will work to commercialise selfdriving vehicles worldwide. Hyundai vehicles are available in Qatar at Skyline Automotive, official distribution

partners for the Hyundai Motor Company in Qatar. “We know the future of transportation is autonomous, and autonomous driving technology needs to be proven in the real world to accelerate deployment in a safe and scalable manner,” said Dr Woong Chul Yang, Vice Chairman, Hyundai Motor. “Combining our advanced vehicle technology that embeds the latest safety features with Aurora’s leading suite of Level 4 autonomous technology will advance this revolution in mobility with Hyundai in a leadership position.”

PORSCHE CENTRE DOHA WELCOMES NEW CAYENNE MODELS

FERRARI 488 PISTA:

BLEND OF EXHILARATION AND PERFORMANCE

The latest generation of Porsche’s successful SUV model line is now available in Qatar. Arrival of the brand’s flagship SUV was celebrated at a special event held by Porsche Centre Doha, Al Boraq Automobiles Co.w.l.l at The St. Regis Hotel, where the Cayenne and Cayenne S were showcased to attending guests.

he Ferrari 488 Pista is the successor to Ferrari’s V8-engined special series – the 360 Challenge Stradale, 430 Scuderia and 458 Speciale – which have received critical acclaim for their performance and undiluted handling. The Ferrari 488 Pista marks a significant step forward from the previous special series in terms of both sporty dynamics and the level of technological carryover from racing. The name is a direct homage to Ferrari’s unparalleled heritage in motorsports. Compared to the 488 GTB, the new model weighs an impressive 90 kg less (1,280 kg dry) which, when combined with the largest-ever increase in engine power for a special series car (+50 cv), results in a new benchmark for Ferrari’s V8 sports cars. Its engine is the most powerful V8 in Ferrari’s history and is an extreme evolution of the turbo unit that won the overall International Engine of the Year award titles in 2016 as well as 2017.

A completely new development brings the Cayenne closer to its racetrack roots and offers greater versatility and more performance than ever before. Powerful turbocharged engines, enhanced chassis systems, a range of off-road modes and a sharper design underpin the model’s credentials as a true sports car in its segment. Salman Jassem Al Darwish, Chairman and CEO of Porsche Centre Doha, said: "Since its initial launch, the Cayenne has been one of the most popular models in Qatar, and I have no doubt that the third generation, which offers even more sports car performance and practicality, will continue this success story."

ROLLS-ROYCE DISPLAYS WRAITH BLACK BADGE AT DWJE

he recently concluded Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DWJE) saw Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Doha, the authorised dealer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in Qatar, display the Wraith Black Badge at the Alfardan Jewellery stand. The car features a Mugello Red interior. Commenting on their participation at DJWE, Rabih Ataya, General Manager, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Doha, said: “It’s our pleasure to display Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge with the finest jewels and watches here at the show that mirrors the craftsmanship used in making a Rolls-Royce motor car. As the country’s leading luxury event, we’re excited to be a part of the exhibition for the first time with such a striking and powerful motor car.” The Alfardan Jewellery stand, located at the main entrance of the exhibition, covering an area of 3,800 m2, including 65 international brands of jewellery and watches, provided the perfect setting for visitors to view the Wraith Black Badge. 63 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

business > marketwatch ETHAN ALLEN UNVEILS NEW DISNEY COLLECTION Ethan Allen Interiors unveiled its latest collection in collaboration with Disney for the first time in the GCC at a celebratory event attended by Qatar’s dignitaries and esteemed members of the press.

D SERVCORP LAUNCHES NEW FIVE-STAR CO-WORKING SPACE

Servcorp Qatar launched a brand new coworking space in Doha in the presence of His Excellency Dr Axel Wabenhorst, Australian Ambassador to Qatar, as well as Aysha Al Mudahka, CEO of Qatar Business Incubation Center (QBIC) and Alain Valiquette, Head of Incubation for QBIC tourism and start-up coach. Located on the 14th floor of Commercial Bank Plaza in the heart of the business area in West Bay, the new Servcorp co-working space offers impressive 148 m-high views over the sea and is immediately available to local and international companies, start-ups and independent professionals looking for innovative working solutions. “Qatar is a key target market for Servcorp. We see a growing demand for more flexible and cost-effective solutions from a new profile of customers and businesses operating in Qatar,” said Fabienne Hajjar, Servcorp Senior Manager.

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esigned by Ethan Allen and inspired by Disney and its iconic characters, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, the collection includes over 500 fun yet sophisticated styles for the modern family. “Our collection in collaboration with Disney is unlike anything we’ve created before and unlike anything we’ve ever seen,” said Robin van Puyenbroeck, Vice President, Ethan Allen Global. “Combining our core strengths of

craftsmanship, style and quality with Disney’s rich storytelling, we’ve created an experience that kids and parents will truly love and appreciate,” he added. The collection includes a range of items – including art, wall decor, rugs, lighting, bedding, and chic, clever storage pieces – to create fashionable and functional looks for nurseries, kids’ rooms, playrooms and family living spaces.

LG’S AIR PURIFIERS WITH 360-DEGREE DESIGN NOW IN QATAR

hanks to LG Electronics' (LG) latest PuriCare air purifier equipped with a cutting-edge air filtration system and air purifying technologies, users now can get instant access to fresh, clean air throughout their homes. LG Air Purifier’s one-of-a-kind 360-degree design effortlessly creates a healthy, comfortable indoor environment. The advanced Clean Booster – a fan combined with an air purifier located at the top of the PuriCare – makes it possible to deliver clean air up to 7.5 metres. In

addition to its obliquely tilted design, the nozzle also rotates up to 70 degrees between left and right, sending clean air throughout the indoor environment. “As people in the Gulf are moving towards becoming more conscious about their health and fitness, they are also increasingly educating themselves on the need to have air purifiers in their homes,” said Yong Geun Choi, President, LG Electronics Gulf.

PALMA AND AURA LAUNCH TWO NEW RESTAURANTS

QSE ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 3RD ANNUAL IR EXCELLENCE PROGRAM

AURA Hospitality & Food Services and its sister company Palma Hospitality Group, two leading players in the hospitality and entertainment sectors in Qatar and the region, officially opened two new dining outlets, Gahwetna and Jwala, in Doha’s Medina Centrale, The Pearl, during the Lifestyle Festival.

ahwetna is a unique all-day dining outlet which features authentic Qatari cuisine. The restaurant welcomes guests in its cosy ambience, which recreates a typical old Qatari house, and presents its authentic and eclectic menu inspired by the Khaleeji culture. On the other hand, Jwala, a unique fine dining contemporary restaurant with its rich and varied menu, promises to take guests on a multi-sensory journey through the diverse gastronomic traditions of India. “Lifestyle Festival is a great in-house initiative, which we see as an opportunity to better connect with our consumers in Doha,” said Charbel Mhanna, CEO of AURA Hospitality & Food Services.

WOQOD OPENS NEW PETROL STATION IN LUSAIL As part of the company’s ongoing expansion plans to be able to serve every area in Qatar, and in line with its commitment to meet the fuel and energy needs of the country, Qatar Fuel (Woqod) opened the Al Egla petrol station, thereby increasing its network of various petrol stations to 60. “Woqod aspires to expand its petrol station network in the country to meet the rising demand for petroleum products and achieve the goal of providing customers with access to best-in-class products and services at their convenience and comfort,” said Woqod CEO Eng. Saad Rashid Al Muhannadi. With the addition of the Al Egla petrol station, Woqod’s branded stations network increased to 47. Al Egla is spread over an area of 10,000 square metres, offers round-the-clock services to residents of Lusail area, and includes a Sidra convenience store, auto wash facility, auto repair, tyre services and sale of LPG cylinders, in addition to sale of gasoline and diesel products.

atar Stock Exchange (QSE) announced the winners of the 2017 IR Excellence Program at the 3rd Annual IR Excellence Program Awards ceremony held at the Four Seasons Hotel, with Qatar National Bank (QNB) winning the ‘Best Qatari company overall’ award. Developed and executed by Iridium, the Investor Relations (IR) Excellence Program surveyed the expert opinions of the domestic and international investment community. The programme also featured a detailed ranking of corporate investor relations websites. “For the third year running, we have rewarded companies and individuals who have demonstrated the highest investor relations standards in the country,” said Rashid bin Ali Al Mansoori, CEO of QSE. Al Mansoori expressed his thanks to all who participated in ensuring the success of the programme, particularly the silver sponsors: Qatar Financial Centre, Qatar Securities and Al Sharq Law Firm, in addition to Amwal the reception sponsor, and Thomson Reuters, the strategic knowledge partner of the event.

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business > marketwatch

SETTING THE BENCHMARK FOR LUXURY TRAVEL LUXURY TRAVEL & TOURS CELEBRATES THE LAUNCH OF ITS FIRST BRANCH IN QATAR, SETS UP AMBITIOUS STRATEGIES TO HELP PROMOTE QATAR AS A SOUGHT-AFTER TRAVEL DESTINATION.

uxury Travel & Tours, specializing in providing a wide range of exclusive and first-class travel products and individualized vacations worldwide, recently celebrated the launch of its first state-of-the-art outlet in Doha, Qatar, in a joyous ceremony at Gate Mall that was attended by the society’s dignitaries as well as esteemed representatives of the media. The originalconcept travel company crafts, creates and delivers a seamless and personal service helping their clients to plan and then enjoy authentic, tailor-made experiences around the world, providing them with exclusive access to the globe’s finest hotels, luxury villas and retreats. All the company’s products have been carefully selected to satisfy the most demanding clientele. “We are elated to be celebrating the official launch of Luxury Travel & Tours’ first branch in Qatar. The original concept behind our company aims to celebrate travel and tourism in more ways than one, and to offer our clients a diverse array of travel packages that are tailored to accommodate their specific requirements and travel needs,” said Mohamed Jaber HR Labda, Chairman, Luxury Travel & Tours. Whether clients are looking to arrange a family holiday, embark on an adventure beyond one’s imagination, take a flight on a private jet or host a memorable client experience, Luxury Travel & Tours promises to offer journeys for every occasion. The company’s dedicated team of travel consultants is on hand to cater to all travel requirements from the moment the process of planning a client’s travel takes place, to

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the moment of return, and everything in between. Highlighting the efforts that went into conceptualising the concept, Hamza Triki, CEO of Luxury Travel & Tours, said: “It’s the fruit of 25 years of experience in travel and hospitality. Our good knowledge of the industry allows us to be creative, develop a range of products focused mainly on bespoke activities and provide highly personalised, enriching experiences for all our clients.” No matter the mode of travel or type of accommodation sought after by clients, Luxury Tavel & Tours’ portfolio boasts various travel packages that offer diverse accommodations that can vary from a luxury hotel or a boutique property to a unique building or an eco-style lodge. One thing’s constant for the original-concept travel company, and that is that the experience to be had by clients is bound to be a memorable one. Luxury Travel & Tours' consultants work to source and design travel experiences for any occasion, and to provide clients with airport

concierges, private jet charters, relaxation facilities in luxury villas, luxury shopping, spas, and much more if required. Luxury Travel & Tours has devised a strategy to help promote Qatari tourism. Helmed by Zouheir Mansouri, Operational Manager, Luxury Travel & Tours, the company’s first plan of action is to develop inbound tourism. “We believe that Qatar has a lot of precious assets and boasts a rich culture, and that it is bound to become a sought-after destination for travellers seeking authenticity, comfort and serenity.” said Mansouri. The company also aims to develop other ambitious projects that include outbound tourism, MICE ticketing, sports tourism, events planning and lifestyle management. “We will elaborate a strategy of segmentation and create a bouquet of niche products of brands or departments that will help us achieve our goals.” added Mansouri. “However, our first target is the local market where we are determined to become a popular address for all luxury travel and services.” he concluded

city life > doha diary DIMDEX 2018 ANNOUNCES RECORD NUMBER OF CONTRACTS

he 10th anniversary edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2018), held under the patronage of the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani and hosted and organised by Qatar Armed Forces, attracted close to 13,000 visitors. DIMDEX features four key elements, including the exhibition, the Middle East Naval Commanders Conference (MENC), the Visiting Warships at Hamad Port, as well as the hosting of VIP and senior officials from around the world.

A record number of agreements were signed during the three-day event (March 12-14, 2018), with more than 35 partnerships being announced. Commenting on the success of DIMDEX 2018, Staff Brigadier (Sea) Abdulbaqi Al Ansari, Chairman of DIMDEX, said: “The highly anticipated industry event has once again proved itself as the MENA region’s premier maritime and defence exhibition and as the preferred destination for procurement opportunities for decisionmakers.”

AL MEERA, HMC CONDUCT BLOOD DONATION DRIVE

QBIC KICKS OFF 10TH WAVE OF LEAN STARTUP PROGRAMME Al Meera Consumer Goods Company (Q.S.C), in collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Blood Donor Unit, organised a successful blood donation campaign at the company headquarters earlier this year.

atar Business Incubation Centre (QBIC) launched its 10th wave of the Lean Startup programme in March. QBIC celebrated this milestone by hosting Charles Adler, co-founder of Kickstarter, for its latest Speaker Series session. The Lean Startup programme focuses on empowering entrepreneurs and providing them with the tools, hands-on experience and knowledge on how to successfully bring their business ideas to life. This year QBIC created a new record, receiving over 800 applications, witnessing an 84% year-on-year increase. More than 60 startups were chosen to take part in this 10-week journey. Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Al Khalifa, Qatar Development Bank CEO and QBIC Chairman, said: “We are so proud of how far QBIC has come; we have had an incredible four years, helping over 120 startups come to life and today we launch the 10th wave of our flagship LeanStartup programme from which over 330 aspiring entrepreneurs have graduated.”

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The drive is in line with Al Meera’s commitment to Qatar’s communities as part of its corporate social responsibility programme, helping to ensure a secure blood supply in Qatar’s hospitals. “The blood donation drive is testament to our commitment to Qatar’s communities and individuals. We are delighted at the altruism and overwhelming response from our staff, along with our neighbours, who were more than eager to help and donate,” said Salah Al Hammadi, Al Meera’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer. He added: “At Al Meera, we believe that such initiatives raise public awareness about the importance of donating blood, not only because it may save lives, but also because of the health benefits to the donors themselves.”

HBKU DEVELOPS ALGORITHM FOR BRAIN CANCER MARKERS

cientists from the Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), have developed a new algorithm that can identify driver genes of several types of gliomas, the most common and aggressive forms of primary brain tumours. The QCRI scientists, including Dr Raghvendra Mall, Dr Halima Bensmail and Khalid Kunji, built a machine-learning algorithm that can identify the main regulators of separate brain tumours. “The algorithm outperforms state-of-theart methods for genome-wide gene regulatory network inference by incorporating prior biological knowledge and regularisation to prune false positives,” said Dr Mall. Knowledge of the purpose of these driver genes and the status of these cancer subtypes could further assist in the search for treatments or prognostic information in both glioma and other cancer types. The work reveals the identity and biological activities of the main genes that regulate and characterise the differences between different glioma subtypes.

‘THE COLOR RUN’ WITNESSES RECORD ATTENDANCE A kaleidoscope of colour engulfed Doha at the Qatar National Convention Centre as The Color Run presented by Sahtak Awalan: Your Health First saw people walk, run, skip and laugh their way to the finish line.

DOHA WITNESSES ‘NIGHT OF IDEAS’

sheireb Museums, the new cultural destination located at Msheireb Downtown Doha, in partnership with Institut Français du Qatar, hosted the ‘Night of Ideas’ earlier this year under the theme: ‘Power to the Imagination: DOHA 2022 PARIS 2024’. Launched by Institut Français in 2017, the ‘Night of Ideas’ is a global project staged simultaneously around the world, from Tokyo to Los Angeles and Stockholm to Johannesburg, where people gather to celebrate ideas. This year, Msheireb Museums brought together design leaders at Bin Jelmood House to join 41 other cities across five continents taking part in the global innovation initiative. The event welcomed four expert Arab and European panellists who were involved in three discussion points with the audience – ‘the main challenges facing urban areas in Doha and Paris,’ ‘how major events can help shape cities,’ and ‘if public spaces can humanise cities’.

In total, more than 9,000 ‘Color Runners’ completed the ‘Happiest 5K on the Planet’ and were covered in an array of colours from head to toe thanks to this year’s Dream World Tour theme. One of the biggest and most colourful events that Doha has ever seen, the 2018 edition of The Color Run presented by Sahtak Awalan: Your Health First brought five exhilarating colour zones – red, yellow, green, blue and pink. Since its inception in 2012, The Color Run has become a global phenomenon, continuing to be innovative in the 5k paint race genre each year. The Color Run has been experienced by over six million people worldwide in more than 35 countries and has donated a staggering $5 million to charity till now. 69 > QATAR TODAY > MARCH - APRIL 2018

city life > doha diary

ACS DOHA, ASPIRE TEAM UP FOR FOOTBALLING EXCELLENCE

wo coaches from ACS Doha International School kicked off 2018 by showcasing the Coerver Coaching methodology – a globally renowned football-coaching methodology for skill acquisition and increased confidence among young footballers. The values of the Coerver methodology run parallel to a number of important modern educational philosophies, the most important one being that persistence and hard work are keys to success. Participants see their level of skill continually placed under graduated levels of pressure, and in doing so it stretches the student’s potential for growth. The learning never stops. When fluency in action is achieved it is time to either introduce a more testing competitive format or expose the student to a new skill or combination of skills. Coerver Coaching was founded in 1984 by Alf Galustian and Chelsea footballing great Charlie Cooke and is active in over 45 countries. It has been endorsed and incorporated by numerous professional clubs and federations.

QIB CELEBRATES QATAR SPORTS DAY WITH OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) celebrated Qatar’s National Sports Day by hosting a wide range of activities for its employees and their families.

he event emphasized the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle. It saw the participation of the bank’s executive management team, employees and their families. This year, QIB teamed with Aspire Active and the Jade Center to offer many sport activities and practical health tips to the event’s participants. The day-long programme included class demos with the professional trainers leading a wide variety of fitness activities and games tailored to test physical abilities and encourage a healthy lifestyle. “The health and well-being of our employees is important to us,” said QIB’s Group CEO, Bassel Gamal. “Our Bank’s National Sports Day activities reflect our commitment to support the government’s country-wide initiatives to promote a healthy and active lifestyle for all citizens and residents in Qatar.”

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TEAM QATAR WINS INAUGURAL WINTER CAMP BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Team Qatar Winter Camp’s first-ever 3x3 basketball tournament saw Team Qatar being announced as the winners. The hugely successful tournament saw eight teams compete across three weeks in the beachfront sports zone on Sealine Beach. Qatar beat Lebanon in a closely contested affair that finished 13-11, winning a prize of QR10,000 in the process. The camp welcomed different participating expat communities which showed great support for their respective teams. The president of Qatar’s national basketball federation, Ahmed Al Muftah, was also present amongst the crowds to present the prizes to the winners. The tournament featured many of Doha’s expat communities, including teams from Egypt, Jordan, Philippines (1) and Indonesia in Group A, while Group B included teams from Qatar, Philippines (2), Lebanon and India.