Qatar Today March 2015 by Oryx Group of Magazines

inside this issue March 2015 / Vol. 41 / Issue 3

COVER STORY

34 THE “REAL” TROUBLE

Qatar Today looks at the challenges plaguing the real estate sector’s growth in the country including detailed insights into rent control acts, brokerage laws and rising demand.

18 “QATAR SHOULD HAVE AN ISLAMIC CAPITAL MARKET”

Senior Risk Advisor at Misys Global Banking Bradley Ziff is of the opinion that Islamic capital markets attract more domestic and foreign investments.

42 SON OF THE SOIL

Qatar’s move towards food sustenance is pioneered by people like Nasser Ali bin Khamis Al Kawari who owns the country’s first organic farm.

50 BEING AT HOME IN THE STADIUM

Cisco’s Chris White talks about how Internet of Things concepts can transform the venue experience for sports fans.

96 ALL THAT GLITTERS

The Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition 2015 is all about creativity, cut and clarity of jewels, and ingenuity of designs.

110 ART AT DOHA’S HEART

International art world attention once again turns to Qatar this spring, first with the International New York Times Art for Tomorrow conference, which brings together artists, gallerists, architects, auction house executives and others to explore the changing dynamics of art and architecture and their potential to change people and places.

inside this issue March 2015 / Vol. 41 / Issue 3

SPOTLIGHT

54 INNOVATION NATION

An inside look at the heart of Qatar’s innovation thrust – the Qatar Science and Technology Park.

SPOTLIGHT

76 STEP ON THE GAS

The Qatar Motor Show gave Doha a preview of some of the best models the world will see this year.

28 QATAR TAPS INTO RETAIL GROWTH

Higher income levels, together with greater choice for consumers and changes in shopping patterns, are set to drive growth in Qatar’s retail sector, despite mall operators finding themselves in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

46 THE WATER WILDCARD

Solar energy is undoubtedly the poster child of the region’s renewable energy efforts. But is the tide turning? Will water turn out to be the silent champion of our green programmes?

70 TOP TECH TRENDS FOR 2015

At the end of every year a number of consultancies and journalists make their predictions for the year ahead. With very different visions often on offer, where’s the consensus?

94 SHAPING A BETTER FUTURE

In an age of cut-throat competition, rebranding has become one of the measures by which companies breathe fresh life into business and a world-class airline like Cathay Pacific is no exception.

114 BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, the Director of Public and Community Relations in Ooredoo, advises the younger generations to be the change you want to see in the world.

and regulars 10

NEWS BITES

BANK NOTES

REALTY CHECK

O&G OVERVIEW

TECH TALK

106

MARKET WATCH

118

DOHA DIARY

from the desk Qatar raised the toast to two prestigious events in the Middle East – the Qatar International Motor Show and the Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition – that took place in Doha last month, drawing large crowds from the region. While auto majors showcased the latest technology and launched new vehicles at the motor show, glitz and glamour came to the fore at the other mega event as reputed luxury brands presented the best of workmanship and the rarest of jewels. Even if luxury underscores the lifestyle of the cream of the population, it is pragmatic that Qatar Today throws light on some basic needs of human life: food and shelter. Our cover story this March is about the housing woes that seem to plaque the newly arrived expats. Our second lead story addresses the food security of the country: through organic farming a local farmer has harvested a novel approach to healthy eating in this desert country, emphasising the power of dreams and strong commitment. Innovation underlines this great venture and is one of the subjects we turn the spotlight on. Read about the innovations that are being developed by researchers at the country’s science park. We also bring to light the Communications Regulatory Authority and how it is working towards creating awareness abouttelecommunication services among consumers. From basic needs to bright jewels and flashy cars, our March issue gives readers a power-packed read. Happy reading V L SRINIVASAN DEPUTY EDITOR

PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF YOUSUF JASSEM AL DARWISH CHIEF EXECUTIVE SANDEEP SEHGAL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ALPANA ROY VICE PRESIDENT RAVI RAMAN EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR SINDHU NAIR DEPUTY EDITORS V L SRINIVASAN IZDIHAR IBRAHIM SENIOR CORRESPONDENTS ABIGAIL MATHIAS AYSWARYA MURTHY ART SENIOR ART DIRECTOR VENKAT REDDY DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR HANAN ABU SAIAM ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR AYUSH INDRAJITH SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER MAHESHWAR REDDY PHOTOGRAPHER ROBERT F ALTAMIRANO MARKETING AND SALES SENIOR MANAGER – MARKETING FREDRICK ALPHONSO MANAGER – MARKETING SAKALA A DEBRASS HASSAN REKKAB ASSISTANT MANAGER – MARKETING MATHEWS CHERIAN SONY VELLATT ASSISTANT EVENTS MANAGER NAMRATA KAPOOR SENIOR ACCOUNTANT PRATAP CHANDRAN DISTRIBUTION SR. DISTRIBUTION EXECUTIVE BIKRAM SHRESTHA DISTRIBUTION SUPPORT ARJUN TIMILSINA BHIMAL RAI BASANTA POKHREL

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100 YES I enjoyed reading Qatar Today’s cover story on the plummeting oil prices, which has benefited consumers around the world. Despite their huge foreign exchange reserves, it would be interesting to see how oil-centric economies in the GCC nations overcome the revenue losses and implement social welfare and development programmes in 2015.

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RYAN N ExxonMobil Qatar’s commitment to strike a balance between economic growth and environment by involving community are laudable. Wish all companies engaged in similar operations all over the world to replicate the same and preserve nature for future generations.

MOHAMMED AKRAM It is no secret that Small and Medium-sized Enterprises form the backbone of every thriving economy and the newly established British Chamber of Commerce in Qatar has taken the right decision to promote them in the UK as well as in Qatar. The SMEs in Qatar are yet to make their presence felt in the region compared with other countries like Jordan and the UAE. ROBERT CRANE

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EMIR IN THE WHITE HOUSE In his first official visit to the White House as the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with US President Barack Obama to discuss security concerns in the Middle East. Obama told reporters present that “Qatar is a strong partner in our coalition to degrade and ultimately defeat ISIL”. He concurred with Qatar’s long-standing position that Syria can only be stabilised after Bashar Al Assad steps down, an opinion that the Emir expressed strongly in his op-ed piece for The New York Times. In the article, he told the American public that hopelessness, and not Islam, was the cause of terrorism. “Bullets and bombs alone will not win the war on terror,” he wrote, “Addressing the root causes of terrorism will require a deeper, longer-term, and more strategic approach to the problem.”

RESOLUTION CLOSE ON A WINTER WORLD CUP IN 2022 FIFA edged closer to finally deciding the fate of the World Cup in Qatar, opting for it to be played during the months of November and December.

A PASSENGER TRAFFIC AT HIA ON THE RISE Hamad International Airport reported a 13% increase in passenger growth in 2014, roughly 3 million more people moving through the airport than in 2013. Cargo movements also increased by 13%. 12 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN BOZON

AFP PHOTO/JIM WATSON

affairs > local

JEROME VALCKE Secretary General FIFA

fter months of deliberation and speculation, FIFA officially announced a proposal to move the 2022 World Cup to the winter months. This is expected to be ratified when the Executive Committee meets in Zurich on March 19-20. Following this announcement, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) presented the first Tournament Operation Master Plan to FIFA during a meeting where LOC Chief Executive Officer Hassan Al Thawadi outlined Qatar’s vision for the event. This also included a presentation on the status of the stadia and the logistics around them. Commenting on today’s meeting, Al Thawadi was quoted in a local daily as saying, “The first LOC board meeting is a significant

milestone. It was an opportunity to demonstrate our operational preparations and ensure we are ready to deliver the tournament as early as possible.” During this meeting FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke also announced that it will not compensate clubs for the World Cup move. Rumours were starting to surface among some European clubs that FIFA will have to cover the costs that clubs and leagues will spend on rescheduling their championships, many of which run between August and May. But Valcke said, "There will be no compensation. I mean, they have seven years to reorganise football around the world for this World Cup. It is happening once and we are doing nothing that destroys football.”

Retirement oasis

EAA PLEDGES $40 MILLION FOR GAZA'S EDUCATION SECTOR

Education Above All’s Al Fakhoora programme signed agreements with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA) for reconstruction, rehabilitation and psychosocial support projects in the education sector in Gaza.

n November last year, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar signed an agreement to donate $40 million from the Qatar Development Fund to support Education Above All’s Al Fakhoora programme. Subsequent to this donation Al Fakhoora met with the UN agencies to review project proposals for rebuilding and re-equipping damaged schools and university buildings along with the provision of psychosocial support in Gaza, the result of which is the ‘Right to Education in the Gaza Strip’ project. This sum will help substantially in trying to undo some

ENVIRONMENTFRIENDLY AC UNITS MANDATED

$90 million worth of damage to Gaza’s education infrastructure in the war last year that affected 600,000 young people. The initiatives will directly impact 20,000 students at the primary and 83,000 students at the secondary levels by providing them with a “safe and secure learning environment”. Additionally the project will strengthen the capacity of 12,000 teachers, counselors and support staff. Frode Mauring from UNDP, Scott Anderson from UNRWA and June Kunugi from UNICEF represented the various partners in the project at the signing ceremony.

Qatar jumped 10 places to position 21 in the world ranking of retirement security, according to the 2015 Global Retirement Index, an analysis of 150 countries published by Natixis Global Asset Management. Qatar’s strong economic performance and rapid rise in national income have boosted the nation’s rankings in the 2015 retirement report, which reflects the welfare of retirees in different countries. The 2015 Global Retirement Index shows that Qatar, which overtook the UAE and Kuwait, has one of the world’s highest ratings for ‘material wellbeing’, a ranking based on national levels of income equality, income per capita and the unemployment index. The country also has the world’s highest ranking for ‘finances in retirement’, which indicates the strength of an individual’s financial security relative to interest rates, the investment environment, inflation, tax pressures and government indebtedness.

INVESTING IN AMERICA

To help cut electricity usage in Qatar homes, the government will phase out the sale of conventional domestic air-conditioning units, with only energy-efficient ones being offered in stores by September this year, a senior Ministry of Environment official has announced. In the interim, existing energy-hungry “split” (wall-mounted) and window units will be monitored and replaced with newer, highperformance systems that consume up to 30 percent less power, he said. The move comes as Qatar also works to ban the import of tungsten (incandescent) light bulbs in favour of energy-efficient LED bulbs.

The inaugural USA Week Qatar forum was optimistic about the investment potential in America for Qatari businesses. High-level public and private sector officials present at an economic forum said they see big opportunities for Qatari investors in the US market. Hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce Qatar in Doha, it was opened by HE Dana Shell Smith, the US Ambassador to Qatar, and Remy Rowhani, Director General of Qatar Chamber. Citing a figure from a recent visit to the US by HE Ali Sherif Al Emadi, the Minister of Finance, speakers in the forum estimated that Qatar’s investments in the United States will exceed a staggering $35 billion (QR127 billion) over the next five years. QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 13

affairs > local

QATAR RECALLS ITS ENVOY IN EGYPT A handout picture released by the Egyptian Ministry of Defence on February 16 shows an Egyptian air force fighter jet landing at an undisclosed location in Egypt following air strikes in Libya. AFP PHOTO / HO / EGYPTIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

hat the last rift between the GCC countries was mended in a flimsy and half-hearted fashion was made obvious in the developments of the last few weeks that saw old tensions rise to the surface once again. The already strained relationship between Cairo and Doha was sorely tested when Qatar raised concerns about Egypt’s unilateral military strike against alleged ISIL targets in Libya, citing it had been done without discussions with other Arab states, without regard for civilian casualties and might tip the scales of the Libyan conflict. Egypt of course had conducted air strikes on its troubled neighbour after a video of ISIL militants beheading 21 Coptic Christian Egyptians was released online. Cairo responded to Qatar in rather harsh terms, accusing it of supporting terrorism. This led to Qatar recalling its ambassador from Egypt. While initially the GCC had stood by Qatar and rebuked Egypt for making this charged statement, it quickly backtracked on this the same evening when GCC secretary general Abdullatif Al Zayani said in a statement, “GCC states have stressed their full support to Egypt and its brotherly people in fighting terrorism and protecting its citizens at home and abroad.”

NEW DREAMS IN THE MAKING

Over the last year, Aspire coaches, staff and more than 4,000 volunteers assessed 400,000 13-year-old football players on approximately 650 football fields in 14 countries to pick the best players for the Football Dreams team.

fter flying in from all over the African continent to Senegal Academy, the boys met with their new teammates and spent the week training before taking to the pitch in two matches against Spanish youth team, RCD Espanyol. Coaches had the opportunity to assess each of the players on the field as they worked together to defeat RCD Espanyol 1-0 in the first match, and held them off during the final match nil-nil draw. Those selected to enter the Academy this year will be flown to Barcelona to play against FC Barcelona’s youth team.

14 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

INTAKE BEGINS AT THE DOHA INSTITUTE OF GRADUATE STUDIES

The Doha Institute for Graduate Studies (DI) is an independent institute for learning and research in the fields of Social Sciences, Humanities, Public Administration and Development Economics. The DI will welcome its first cohort of students in the academic year 2015-2016 and programs of study will be offered at the master’s degree level in its two schools: the School of Social Sciences and Humanities and the School of Public Administration and Development Economics. It is planned that student enrollment will eventually reach between 350 and 400, with study at the doctoral level gradually opening at the start of the 2017-2018 academic year. According to a statement, DI’s primary objective is the creation of a new generation of researchers and the commitment to using the Arabic Language as the main language of instruction and research,

AFP PHOTO/ MOHAMED EL-SHAHED

AFP PHOTO / PATRICK HAMILTON

FREEDOM, AT LAST

The three Al Jazeera journalists who had been arrested in Egypt in 2013 over charges of supporting the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood were released from prison. While Australian Peter Greste was absolved of all charges and was allowed to fly back home, his colleagues Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were released on bail, pending a new hearing. The trio had spent over 400 days in jail and global pressure had been steadily mounting on Egyptian authorities to release the men. From top left: Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed's wife Jihan

AFP PHOTO / HASAN MOHAMED

Delay in national health insurance rollout

Overwhelmed clinics disrupt Seha’s timelines, according the National Health Insurance Company. Seha, which has so far stuck to it timetable to cover all nationals under its universal healthcare scheme, has had to put the brakes on its plan to extend this to all the residents. All white-collar and blue-collar expats were supposed to come under Seha’a umbrella by the mid of this year, but this has since been postponed by as many as 18 months, according to a local daily. This will allow the company to deal with some of the problems that have arisen during the course of implementation, including overcrowding at private hospitals, it was said.

AFP PHOTO / LIONEL BONAVENTURE

IN SOLIDARITY

Qatar Foundation had organised a march across the Education City campus in support of the Chapel Hill murders which was attended by close to 1,000 people.

H TOUR DE SANDS The pack rides during the first stage of the 2015 Tour of Qatar, from Dukhan to Sealine Beach.

E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani and US Ambassador to Qatar Dana Shell Smith were among those who led the walk. The walk started from near Hamad Bin Khalifa University Student Centre at Education City and proceeded in silence passing through all branch campuses. It ended at the Education City Ceremonial Court, where a minute of silence was observed. A video from the sister of Deah Barakat, one of the slain students, was aired in which she said, “It is amazing that Qatar is thinking about us and our family. We want to spread the message that love overcomes hate.” QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 15

AFP PHOTO / IMPERIAL HOUSEHOLD AGENCY

affairs > local

TEXAS A&M QATAR TOPS MENA UNIVERSITY RANKINGS

ROYAL LUNCH A handout picture taken by Imperial Household Agency shows The Emir, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, chatting with Japanese Emperor Akihito at their luncheon at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo during the Emir’s two-day official working visit to Japan.

NEW LAW MANDATES ELECTRONIC PAYMENT TO LABOURERS The Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani issued Law No. 1 of 2015 last month, amending some provisions of the Labour Act No. 14 of 2004, making it binding on employers to transfer each worker’s salary to his or her account at any of the financial institutions in the country.

he Emir also ratified Cabinet Decision No. 8 of 2015, extending for one year the rent contracts for some locations and parts of locations rented for non-residential purposes, the official Qatar News Agency said. Article 2 of Law No. 1 of 2015 has replaced Article 66 of Law No. 14 of 2004 with a new text. It stipulates that salary and other amounts due to the worker shall be paid in the Qatari currency. Remuneration of the workers appointed on the basis of an annual or monthly salary shall be paid at least once a month, while that of all the other workers shall be paid at least once every two weeks.

16 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

The employer must transfer the remuneration to the bank account of the worker at any of the financial institutions in Qatar, in a way that allows the worker to withdraw it at the designated time according to the stipulations of the law. The employer shall not be discharged from the responsibility of paying the wage otherwise. A decision regarding the regulation to protect the remuneration of workers shall be issued by the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs. Violators of the new law shall be punished by a prison term of not more than a month and/or a fine not less than QR2,000 and not exceeding QR6,000.

The global higher education experts at Times Higher Education revealed a snapshot of their rankings of MENA universities which featured Texas A&M Qatar and Qatar University among the top five.

he rankings were released ahead of the MENA Universities Summit in Doha which saw the first major public consultation on the rankings, based on the foundations of Times Higher Education’s flagship World University Rankings but with a bespoke range of metrics for the region. Additionally, the Summit also included sessions on university leadership, international research collaboration, industry-university collaboration and teaching excellence. RANK

INSTITUTION

COUNTRY

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AT QATAR

QATAR

LEBANESE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

LEBANON

KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY

SAUDI ARABIA

QATAR UNIVERSITY

QATAR

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT

LEBANON

business > bank notes A BRAND YOU CAN BANK ON

Qatar is ranked 32nd among the top 500 banking brands in the world in 2015, according to Banker magazine. In the GCC, Qatar is ranked third with the UAE in first and Saudi Arabia in second place, respectively. While Kuwait is ranked fourth, Oman and Bahrain from the region do not figure in the list of the top 50 countries. UAE

2015

2014

BRAND VALUE

$8,582

$5,923

RANK

Third fastest growing IOC economy

atar is ranked the third fastest-growing economy between 2015 and 2019, after Nigeria and Bangladesh, among the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in terms of average GDP growth, according to Global Islamic Investment Gateway. Two other countries in the GCC the UAE and Saudi Arabia â&#x20AC;&#x201C; are ranked 9th and 10th, respectively, among the top 10 OIC nations. The GDP of the OIC countries was QR24.38 trillion ($6.7 trillion) in 2013 and is expected to be QR36.76 trillion ($10.1 trillion) by 2019, which constitutes 9.9% of global GDP.

Nigeria

7.0

Bangladesh

6.8

Qatar

6.6

Iraq

6.5

Indonesia

SAUDI ARABIA BRAND VALUE RANK

2015

2014

$7,247

$5,192

5.9

Kazakhstan

5.3

Malaysia

5.0

Pakistan

4.7

UAE

QATAR

2015

2014

BRAND VALUE

$3,960

$2,757

RANK

4.5

Saudi Arabia

4.4

Algeria

3.9

Egypt

3.9

Turkey

KUWAIT

2015

2014

BRAND VALUE

$2,434

$1,992

RANK

Kuwait Iran

CBQ, AL KHALIJI TO FUND ROAD PROJECT Al Khalij Commercial Bank (Al Khaliji) and Commercial Bank have concluded a combined contract financing arrangement of QR1.26 billion for a project awarded to a joint venture on the Al Rayyan Road project. The contract financing facility was for the project awarded to a joint venture between Dogus Insaat ve Ticaret (Dogus Construction) and Onur Taahhut Tasimacilik ve Ticaret for the construction and development of the Al Rayyan Road project. Al Khaliji and Commercial Bank are financing the project on a mutual basis in which both banks are the joint mandate lead arrangers while Commercial Bank will be acting as the facility and security agent. 18 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

3.5 2.7

Country

2.2

Average GDP growth projected Source: Global Islamic Investment Gateway

COMMERCIAL BANK PROFITS RISE BY 20.9% IN 2014 NET OPERATING INCOME

QR3.9

BILLION

NET PROFIT

QR1.9

CUSTOMER LOANS AND ADVANCES

QR72.5

BILLION

CUSTOMER DEPOSITS

BILLION

TOTAL ASSETS

QR115.7

QR61.6

BILLION

EARNINGS PER SHARE

BILLION

QR5.93

business > bank notes

Senior Risk Advisor at Misys Global Banking, Bradley Ziff, is of the opinion that Islamic capital markets attract more domestic and foreign investments. By V L Srinivasan

20 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

“Qatar should have an Islamic capital market”

ith a combined GDP of QR24.38 trillion($6.7 trillion) and a population of 1.6 billion, Islamic markets are one of the fastest-growing segments and their growth rate has been put at around 5.4% (compared with 3.6% global average) in the Islamic countries. Islamic capital markets are beneficial for a variety of reasons, the main being competitive advantage, and they protect the present and future interests of Islamic nations as the world is divided into economic blocks, says Bradley Ziff, Senior Risk Advisor, Misys Global Banking. He says that the Qatari banking system has historically grown out of the country’s large funding needs and, therefore, credit exposure has chiefly remained in the domestic sphere. Islamic banks within the country are exceptionally Qatar-centric with foreign credit limited to 6.3% of total credit stock, or 4% of the entire asset base. “While I believe Islamic banks hold an unparalleled competitive advantage (in the GCC region), it is vital to maintain a variety of banking options. This way Qatar can attract both foreign and domestic investors,” he says. Islamic banking has transformed immensely over the past couple of decades, and in order to determine whether or not such a financial system would be beneficial for Qatar, he suggests that Qatar could use Malaysia as a case study. “In the 80s and 90s, Malaysia went through an initial exploratory period of familiarisation. This critical stage laid the foundations for Islamic banking and public confidence grew in the system. Following this wave of confidence, Islamic banking became commonplace. Presently, Malaysia is a major hub for

Islamic investors,” he points out.

Islamic capital markets in the GCC Islamic financing has gained momentum across the world and throughout the GCC, with an increasing number of corporates and non-Muslim sovereigns issuing sukuk, or Shariah-compliant certificates, in the last decade. Although new issuance volumes fell in 2013 (due to heightened perceptions of credit risks in the emerging markets caused by the tapering policy of the US Federal Reserve), the sukuk market remains a compelling success story of the international capital market over the last decade, with outstanding volumes reaching more than QR862.68 billion ($237 billion) by 2013, Ziff says quoting a report from Thomson Reuters. “While Fed tapering has officially ended, the sovereign sukuk market has grown strongly over the last three years, with annual issuance rising sharply from less than QR54.6 billion ($15 billion) in 2010 to QR120.12 billion ($33 billion) and QR83.72 billion ($23 billion) in 2012 and 2013, respectively, according to global rating agency Moody’s. Sovereign sukuk now accounts for around 36% of the QR1.078 trillion ($296 billion) outstanding global sukuk market as of July 2014,” he says. Malaysia continues to dominate sovereign issuances, though the UAE and Qatar lead the international volumes. A key structural trend has been the continued issuance in April 2013 of sukuk across a much broader range of maturities, which in 2013 was extended to 30 years. The issuance of a QR7.28 billion ($2 billion) dual-tranche sukuk by the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), the largest utility company in the Middle East, proved to be a landmark transaction for

“Improvements in sharing information and effective coordination among regulatory authorities will enable a complete understanding of the entire risk spectrum of the activities undertaken by Islamic financial institutions operating within the GCC region.” BRADLEY ZIFF Senior Risk Advisor Misys Global Banking

the region. This was divided into a QR3.64 billion ($1 billion) 10-year tranche and QR3.64 billion ($1 billion) 30-year tranche, which were the first ones ever issued, Ziff says. Qatar’s macroeconomic policies Qatar’s recent macroeconomic policy shift has spurred competition in the financial sector, according to Ziff. “By focusing on large-scale infrastructure projects, expanding the international scope of banks, and diversifying away from oil and hydrocarbons, I expect the financial sector to take advantage of attractive banking asset prices abroad and maintain robust profitability at home. Qatar has experienced high levels of real GDP growth over the past few years (2013, 6.5%; 2014, 6.8%); while hydrocarbon production has remained stagnant, growth drivers have shifted towards large-scale infrastructure spending,” he says. “These large-scale infrastructure projects - such as the Qatar Rail Development Programme - offset low growth in the hydrocarbon and oil sectors and are expected to boost development and expand Qatar’s points of revenue generation,” he says. The 2022 FIFA World Cup has increased economic activity in the construction, housing, and financial service sectors. A growing population will provide an abundant amount of opportunities for credit growth, and he expects Qatari banks to continue to expand internationally. “Due to an array of factors, the Qatari economy has entered a phase of diversification. I expect this to both spur competition within the financial sector, and allow banks to maintain their robust profitability,” Ziff feels.

Risk management The Principles of Financial Markets Infrastructure (PFMIs), issued by the Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems Board and the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (CPSS; IOSCO), addresses a number of key issues, including legal basis, governance, disclosure, and a framework for the comprehensive management of risk. The committee also laid out minimum requirements for payment, clearing and settlement systems, including Central Counter Parties (CCPs) for the clearing of over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives. Taken as a whole, the principles specifically target the governance of FMIs and overall transparency with regards to policy and procedure. “The desired net effect is greater accountability by market participants and, most importantly, mitigation of systemic risk; the overall design being to ensure that the infrastructure supporting global financial markets is more robust and well positioned to withstand financial shocks in the future,” he says. According to him, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) says timely and consistent implementation of the PFMIs is fundamental to ensuring the safety, soundness and efficiency of key FMIs and for supporting the resilience of the global financial system. In addition, the PFMIs play an important part in the G-20’s mandate that all standardized OTC derivatives should be centrally cleared. “As Qatar considers the role it can play in an expanding Middle East and GCC market, adhering to these guidelines in the future will be critical to their credibility amongst major investors. Ensuring compliance with globally established guidelines for QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 21

business > bank notes OIC COUNTRIES' REAL GDP GROWTH (PERCENTAGE YOY) BENCHMARKED AGAINST BRICS AND REST OF THE WORLD

5.54

5.51

4.21

4.15

4.09

3.97 3.58

5.31

5.28

5.15

4.16

3.67

3.66

3.62

3.54

2016

2017

2018

2019

3.53 2.99 2.74

2014

2015

OIC

ROW

BRICS Source: IMF Outlook, October 2014

risk management and compliance will ensure that investors and bankers alike will have more confidence to build out investors in the region and Qatar specifically,” he avers. PFMIs in Qatar The CPSS and IOSCO have been monitoring the implementation of PFMIs in Qatar, following their initial assessment which was completed in August 2014. In May 2014, another update was published and significant progress was widely noted across global covered jurisdictions. Within the GCC, Saudi Arabia was the only country assessed. It was noted that no significant measures were underway regarding CCPs. The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) and Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) have worked on a study aimed at identifying relevant requirements to set up a CCP. “However, to my knowledge, neither local authority has made any formal decisions. Qatar was not specifically reviewed and in fact was only accepted as a member into IOSCO as of February 2013. That said, however, the Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) has worked carefully to develop local regulations and rules relating to strengthening the governance structure of its financial markets, and enhancing implementation of the best standards and international practices with regards to its markets infrastructure,” he says. Regulatory changes for GCC FMIs With international prudential standards aligned to the core principles and standards adopted by glob22 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

al regulatory bodies, such as the BIS and IOSCO, the GCC and Qatar can minimise the opportunity for regulatory arbitrage arising from cross-border differences of procedure, Ziff says. Rather than focussing on solely regulating the religious features of Islamic products, the FMIs could also be strengthened by a risk-based regulatory framework which focuses on the adequacy of the systems and controls that firms maintain for all their compliance obligations, be they conventional or Shariah-compliant products. “Improvements in sharing information and effective coordination among regulatory authorities will enable a complete understanding of the entire risk spectrum of the risk-taking activities undertaken by Islamic financial institutions operating within the GCC region,” he says. This should improve the efficiency of supervisory processes and allow for early detection and mitigation of developing risks. The resulting public confidence should facilitate growth in the Islamic financial services industry in the GCC and Qatar. Globally, Islamic finance standards lack enforcement and standardisation, which impacts market and investor confidence. A strong, standardized and transparent regulatory framework would help create economies of scale across the Islamic financial services industry. For instance, leveraging the strong connection and enhanced economic linkages between the GCC and Malaysia are highly beneficial to propel further growth and development of the global Islamic banking industry

business > realty check “Large-scale infrastructure projects in Qatar are essential for accelerating growth in the private sector ahead of the 2022 World Cup and addressing the country’s long-term infrastructure needs resulting from a rapidly rising population.” ABDULLA SALEH AL RAISI Chief Executive Officer Commercial Bank

Rents in Doha reach global highs

Property rents in Qatar are the third most expensive in the world, according to Numbeo’s Cost of Living Index 2015.

he UAE is reported to be the fourth highest for rents, according to the index, while Kuwait and Bahrain are ranked at number 10 and 13, respectively. The most expensive countries/regions on the list are Singapore and Hong Kong. The most expensive country in the GCC, in terms of total cost of living, including rent and consumer goods and services, is Kuwait, which was placed ninth in the survey of 119 countries worldwide.

Doha disappoints D

oha is ranked 41st among the top 50 countries in the ARCADIS Sustainable Cities Index, which explores the three demands of People, Planet and Profit to develop a sustainability ranking of 50 of the world’s leading cities. The city placed 34th in terms of People, and 50th and 30th as far as Planet and Profit are concerned. The rankings of all countries are available on www.sustainablecitiesindex.com. “The Sustainable Cities Index highlights the areas of opportunity for cities, to inform decision-making and hopefully make them more sustainable economically, environmentally and for the welfare of their inhabitants,” says John Batten, Global Cities Director at ARCADIS.

ARCADIS SUSTAINABLE CITIES INDEX

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Middle East

North America

Central & South America

Africa

4 10 12 19 20 26 31 33 35 41 50

Frankfurt London Amsterdam Singapore Toronto Chicago New York Kuala Lumpur São Paolo Dubai Shanghai Doha Nairobi

A promising market Q

atar is ranked second in Bloomberg Markets’ fourth annual ranking of the most-promising emerging markets in which to invest in the real estate sector. The ranking is based on a range of measures of the investment environment, including economic growth forecasts and ease of doing business. The country’s recent economic success has been driven by huge growth in the services and construction sectors. In Q3 2014, the construction sector expanded 18.5% year-on-year. The financial, real estate and business services sectors also saw high growth of 13.7% year-on-year for the same period. Global property portal Lamudi's co-founder, Kian Moini, says: “Qatar’s vibrant real estate sector has never been so attractive to investors – there is strong demand for housing, property prices are rising, and it is relatively easy for foreigners to buy real estate.”

ARCAPITA EXITS STAKE IN LUSAIL GOLF BAHRAIN-BASED ARCAPITA, A GLOBAL ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FIRM, HAS SOLD ITS

50 %

STAKE IN QATAR’S LUSAIL GOLF DEVELOPMENT (LUSAIL GOLF) TO BARWA REAL ESTATE COMPANY. LUSAIL GOLF OWNS THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS TO A 3.66-MILLION-SQM PLOT OF LAND NORTH OF DOHA, QATAR. THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE PLOT IS APPROXIMATELY

QR5.09

BILLION ($1.4 BILLION), A STATEMENT SAYS. THE PLOT OWNED BY LUSAIL GOLF IS LOCATED IN LUSAIL CITY, A MASTER-PLANNED DEVELOPMENT COVERING AN AREA OF

2I 24 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

SQ. KM.

business > oil&gas

GE IN PACT WITH QAFCO

DOWN AND UNDER WARREN BUFFETT’S BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC. EXITED A

$3.7

BILLION INVESTMENT IN EXXONMOBIL CORP. AMID A SLUMP IN OIL PRICES.

PUSH FOR SME

E Oil and Gas has announced that its Downstream Technology Solutions (DTS) business has been awarded a long-term service contract with Qatar Fertiliser Company QSCC (QAFCO) to help optimise the performance of the company’s fertilizer plant in Mesaieed, Qatar. QAFCO is one of the world’s largest fertilizer producers. The actual agreement is between QAFCO and GE’s joint venture with Qatar Petroleum, Al-Shaheen GE Services Company (QSC), which supports GE’s regionalisation strategy of deploying capability and resources closer to its customers around the world. The long-term service agreement covers the standard maintenance and repairs of existing GE on-site power and compression equipment as well as training for QAFCO workers and site operators. QAFCO’s Mesaieed facility produces ammonia and urea contributing to the total QAFCO annual production capacity of 3.8 million MT of ammonia and 5.6 million MT of urea.

Sailing ahead

Nakilat (Qatar Gas Transport Company) has posted a 23% increase in its 2014 net profit which jumped to QR895 million from QR730 million in 2013. As part of a nationwide strategy to support local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Qatar Shell, in close collaboration with Qatar Development Bank (QDB), has signed individual agreements with five new local SMEs to become the supplier of choice for Pearl GTL, the world’s largest gas to liquids plant delivered by Qatar Petroleum and Qatar Shell.

ael Sawan, Chairman and Managing Director of Qatar Shell, signed the contracts with the Chief Executive Officers of the Qatari SMEs, in the presence of Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Al-Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Development Bank, who witnessed the signing. The five Qatari SMEs that have been awarded contracts are: Mozon Industries for the manufacture of large open-head steel drums; KEPCO for the manufacture of low voltage cables; Pioneer Metal Company WLL for the manufacture of electrical cable trays; Prince’s Lights for the maintenance, repair and re-certification of ATEX two-way radios; and Rumaillah Motors WLL for the maintenance and service of offshore diesel generators.

26 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

The company’s board of directors has recommended a cash dividend of 12% (of the nominal value of its capital), which translates to QR1.20 a share. “All aspects of the company’s operations have achieved a higher profitability level. This was clearly demonstrated by the addition of a number of LNG vessels to Nakilat’s fleet during 2014 and the remarkable improvement of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels’ performance,” said the spokesperson.

PAKISTAN IN AN LNG DEAL WITH QATAR In a major breakthrough, Pakistan has managed to secure a $21 billion long-term contract from Qatar to supply liquefied natural gas at a “highly attractive price” according to a Pakistan daily, a move that is likely to help alleviate some of the chronic shortages of natural gas in the country. This will help fuel the country’s power stations and ease its crippling electricity crisis, Pakistan’s top energy official said. Under the terms of the agreement, Qatar will supply Pakistan with 500 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of LNG under a pricing formula that translates to a current price of LNG of $7 per million British thermal units (mmbtu), a price lower than that paid even by Indian importers, who are currently paying close to $9-$10 per mmbtu.

affairs > arab snippets

28 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

RISING TENSIONS

A Yemeni supporter of the Shiite Huthi movement carries a boy on his shoulders during a rally to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the start of the uprising that forced out president Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sanaa on February 11. Following their takeover in the capital, the Huthi militia seized more territory in the Sunni-majority country this week, sparking fears of a backlash from its feared Al Qaeda branch. Yemenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arab neighbours have warned that if the world failed to act against the Shia rebels who have toppled the Yemeni government, the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council would take whatever action it deemed necessary to maintain regional security and stability. AFP PHOTO / MOHAMMED HUWAIS

QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 29

development > viewpoint

Qatar taps into retail growth

atar is set to lead when it comes to retail sales growth in the near term, according to a report released at the end of January by Alpen Capital. Qatar’s fast-growing population and large infrastructure projects have been supporting double-digit growth since 2011. According to the investment bank, the size of the retail trade, restaurant and hotel sectors in Qatar showed a 15.8% year-on-year (y-o-y) growth to QR45.5 billion ($12.5 billion) in 2013. However, this is still dwarfed by sales growth in the UAE – with Dubai home to 30% of total Middle East luxury sales – estimated at 7.6% y-o-y to QR189.65 billion ($52.1 billion) in 2013. Nonetheless, retail sales in Qatar are expected to rise by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8% through to 2018, the bank concluded, compared with a rate of 6-7% across other countries in the GCC. According to the report, while retail sales growth across all the GCC countries is expected to remain positive between 2013 and 2018, the outlook for Qatar is most optimistic. Food for thought Growth looks set to be particularly strong in the supermarket and hypermarket segment, with food products expected to be a key driver of sales. This is linked to a rising interest in

30 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

“The emergence of new, larger-scale developments in the market will put added pressure on both smaller shopping centres and standalone outlets, which could struggle to compete with the appeal of larger outfits.” healthier lifestyles and a shift in shopping practices, according to analysts. New growth will go hand-in-hand with a sharp increase in retail space. Qatar’s leasable mall retail space is expected to reach about 954,000 square metres by the end of 2015, rising to at least 1.8 million sq m when more than a dozen operational malls in the pipeline are completed, according to forecasts. The emergence of new, larger-scale developments in the market will put added pressure on both smaller shopping centres and standalone outlets, which could struggle to compete with the appeal of larger outfits. Mall of Qatar Managing Director Shem Krey told OBG that competition amongst retailers was becoming increasingly tough. The mall, which is scheduled to open in early 2016, contains 256,000 sq m of gross leasable area (GLA). With 70% of the space already being snapped up, Krey acknowledged that Mall of Qatar is looking to provide a range of services to attract and retain high-end and popular retailers. “The amount of competition locally from other mega malls has changed the strategy of how we are developing the Mall of Qatar. Retailers now have numerous options of where to open,” he says. Additional offerings New openings of large-scale centres, such as Doha Festival City and Place Vendôme, which are scheduled to begin operating in the third quarter of 2016 and 2017, respectively, will further increase available GLA. However, retailers may have to find more innovative ways of attracting shoppers in a more crowded marketplace where consumer choice is already plentiful. “Overall, the Qatari market can still sustain more retail space but the influx of new malls means that operators need to find a

way to differentiate themselves from the others ... as the markets become saturated, the malls will fail unless they have one or more unique selling points,” Doha Festival City CEO Kareem Shamma told OBG. “Competition will force retailers to drive up the quality and range of their product offerings.” Krey says that the fundamentals of the market and potential for further growth in the sector remain strong. “Given the rapid increases in population growth and subsequent increased sales, we can rest assured there is a consistent high demand from consumers for malls of this size, quality and unique offering to be successful,” he adds. MasterCard’s latest consumer confidence index, released in mid-November, confirmed an optimistic sentiment amongst Qatar’s shoppers. The state came top amongst the Middle East countries for consumer sentiment, with its overall score of 97.2 one of the highest globally. The report also found Qatari consumers to be “extremely optimistic” across all five indicators on the index. Sentiment in the key 18-30 age demographic was particularly noteworthy, with Qatar scoring 98.2 points in this field

BY OLIVER CORNOCK The author is the Regional Editor of Oxford Business Group.

RESTAURANT AND HOTEL SECTOR IN QATAR SHOWED A

15.8% QR45.5

YEAR-ON-YEAR GROWTH TO

BILLION

IN 2013

QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 31

affairs > world view

32 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

L A RG E R T H A N L I F E

A worker carries an Oscar statue to a press event held by Filmstudios Babelsberg in Potsdam, eastern Germany following the success of the "Grand Budapest Hotel" at the Oscars on February 23. The film, which was awarded Oscars for Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, Best Make-up and Hairstyling and Best Production Design, was co-produced by Filmstudios Babelsberg. AFP PHOTO / DPA / RALF HIRSCHBERGER QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 33

development > listening post

THE WATCHFUL EYE

For the first time since the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) was established as an independent entity last year, Qatar Today is invited to take a look inside and meet its public face. By Ayswarya Murthy

n Emiri Decree in April 2014 gave CRA the independence to continue to manage the country’s telecom affairs, outside the direct oversight of the Ministry of Information Technology. Amel Salem Al Hanawi, Manager, Consumer Affairs, says this move, mirrors global best practices of a free-standing telecom regulatory authority. The CRA has transformed from what was a small team under ictQATAR into the authority on all telecom matters inside Qatar, with several of its tentacles dealing with spectrum allocations, numbering, domains, regulations, consumer affairs and so on. Right off the bat, CRA has made it clear that the protection of consumer rights continues to remain one of its top priorities. Last year, the authority drafted and released the Consumer Protection Policy

34 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

(CPP), the Arsel mobile app and the Code on Advertising, Marketing and Branding, all aimed at safeguarding and promoting the rights of telecom users. “Our role is making sure consumers are aware of their rights and obligations in making informed decisions about the services they have purchased. And we work together with service providers to make sure all their strategies and goals are aligned towards the benefit of the consumer,” Al Hanawi says. The CRA deals with close to 100 complaints every month; consumers who have not been able to resolve their complaints with their telecom providers can still approach the CRA as the last resort and present their case. If after 30 days of placing a complaint with your service provider, your issue hasn’t been resolved in a satisfactory manner, you can lodge a complaint with the CRA either in person, by calling the 103

“Our role is making sure consumers are aware of their rights and obligations in making informed decisions about the services they have purchased. And we work together with service providers to make sure their strategies and goals are aligned towards the benefit of the consumer.” AMEL SALEM AL HANAWI Manager Consumer Affairs

hotline or through the Arsel app. Updates/ resolutions are fair and speedy, she says. “And hence the awareness around this has only increased, especially through word of mouth and social media.” Benchmarked against other regulators in the region, Al Hanawi feels Qatar has gone above and beyond. “We are the only regulators in the GCC to give priority treatment to disabled consumers and fast track their complaints. The CPP includes specific terms and conditions for customers with special needs; this is indeed unique to Qatar. As far as we know, no one else has done this anywhere else.” Al Hanawi's team also ensures seamless coordination between stakeholders and government entities. “It is necessary to coordinate with all the entities on future demands and projects so that we can start building the necessary processes and policies. We work closely with government entities involved in infrastructural projects to ensure fuuture needs for the sector are considered. There is more to CRA than meets the eye. We are not an isolated entity. We help others make informed decisions and keep pace with Qatar’s growth,” Al Hanawi says. But what CRA has been in the news for since last year was ensuring the two telecom providers don’t make misleading promises to customers through their advertising. Both Ooredoo and Vodafone have had formal warnings from the CRA related to certain promotions which they felt were misleasing and contrary to the overarching obligations in the Code of Advertising, Marketing and Branding. An example is Ooredoo’s “4G For Free, Forever” campaign last year which CRA said was “misleading and created the perception that the 4G

service and data are for free”. Ooredoo was instructed to remove all its current promotional materials for this campaign and was told that it must mention the phrases “key service” and “terms and conditions apply” in any new advertisements for the service. “In such a small market, we can’t rely on the competition to correct the wrong. We have to remind the service providers about their obligations to customers in terns of the law, CPP and related regulations, not just in publishing campaigns but also implementing them. Monitoring these activities is the hardest part,” Al Hanawi says, “but we need to assure customers and operators that someone is always watching and safeguarding consumer rights.” "The CRA has revised its policy statements and moved from retail based regulation to a wholesale based regulation strategy. Because the retail sector has balanced itself out and the level of understanding among consumers is high as is our confidence in the service providers,” she says. When asked about the possiblity of a third telecom operator, Al Hanawi opines, that though only ictQATAR would be in a position to comment on this, that this will be a while in coming, if at all. But as far as CRA is concerned, their job is to craft and install the right instruments and process to regulate and manage the market in its current state, no matter how many operators there are. CRA is celebrating World Consumer Rights Day on March 15 by creating more awareness about itself and its services, highlighting consumer rights along with the responsibilities of the service providers. If you would like to meet the team and chat with them, drop in at Landmark Mall and head for their kiosk QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 35

COVER STORY

THE “REAL” TROUBLE

36 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

THE FIRST AND FOREMOST QUESTION OF AN EXPAT ARRIVING IN QATAR IS ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE ACCOMMODATION BUT THE REPLY, IN MANY CASES, IS NOT SO COMFORTING. QATAR TODAY LOOKS AT THE CHALLENGES PLAGUING THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR’S GROWTH IN THE COUNTRY. By V L Srinivasan

QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 37

COVER STORY

THE “REAL” TROUBLE

“THE PROJECTS LINKED TO 2022 ARE STIMULI FOR THE QATARI ECONOMY AND THAT’S WHY THE WORLD CUP FIXTURE IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US. QATAR IS COMMITTED TO COMPLETING ALL 2022-LINKED PROJECTS IN TIME. NONE OF THESE PROJECTS WILL BE DELAYED.” HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al Thani Minister of Economy and Commerce

38 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

two-bedroom fully furnished flat in a typical middle class locality, which cost less than QR5,000 per month in the second half of 2013, is now being priced at more than QR7,000 in January 2015. In uptown areas like the Diplomatic District, Pearl Qatar and West Bay, it is more than QR15,000 per month, registering an increase of more than 25% in the last four years. The major factors that are driving the rental inflation are the country’s fast economic growth as well as the construction activity which have gathered momentum as part of the preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The demand for housing soared as expat workers have been arriving in droves every day to work in these projects and the real estate developers are under pressure to complete the housing projects in time. Driving Qatar’s real estate growth is the strong economic performance as well as lending by the Qatari banks. While the economy has been growing at more than 6% per annum, the total loans provided by local banks to the real estate sector stood at QR109.2 billion ($30 billion) till March 31 last year, accounting for over 20% of the total credit facilities extended by them, Qatar Central Bank (QCB) said in a report. On the other hand, land owners are sitting on a goldmine as the developers are not willing to forego vacant land, further

pushing up land prices in an unprecedented manner. According to the Ministry of Justice figures based on actual transactions, average land prices in Qatar increased by 52% in the first seven months of 2014. This was evident when a plot measuring 1,656 sq mt at Al Mirqab was sold for a record QR250 million in July while Doha-based Barwa Real Estate Group concluded the sale of two prime plots in Mesaimeer for QR 5.34 billion in December last year. The increased activity in Qatar’s real estate sector has been such that property transactions grew by 24% in 2014 compared with the previous year. The total deals hit QR55.4 billion with December 2014 registering the highest transactions of QR7.8 billion compared with QR3 billion during the corresponding month in 2013. The Minister of Economy and Commerce, HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al Thani, who was part of the high-level delegation to Japan led by The Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, told corporate honchos in Tokyo on February 21 that Qatar would be spending QR45.52 billion ($12.5 billion) to create adequate housing stocks in Qatar to cater to the needs of a growing population ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This amount, to be spent over the next seven years, will also cover the basic infrastructure needed to create and support the massive housing stocks. Besides, another QR163.8 billion ($45 billion) was being spent on developing Lusail City alone on the outskirts of Doha to accommodate 450,000 people where a new stadium is coming up that will host the opening and closing ceremonies and the finals of the 2022 tournament. The Minister says: “The projects linked to 2022 are stimuli for the Qatari economy and that’s why the World Cup fixture is so important for us. Qatar is committed to completing all 2022-linked projects in time. None of these projects will be delayed.” But what will happen once the frenzy of the FIFA World Cup comes to an end? Will there be an oversupply with no takers for these houses/villas and hotel rooms? Managing Director of Engel & Völkers Qatar, Mirco Maurer, says there will be no oversupply as the kind of tenants may change but the demand will still be there. Currently, the people from the construction sector are coming to Qatar to work on

these projects and they will be changing to people who operate, manage and work in these buildings. One can see this at hospitals, universities and shopping malls as well as at infrastructure projects like Qatar Rail. “For example, while up to 1,000 workers construct a mall, it needs about the same number of people to run the mall and its 300-500 shops. The same was the case when the Hamad International Airport was opened, the operation needed almost the same number of people as the construction companies had hired before. The main difference will be that the operating staff, in general, has higher salaries/income than the current blue-collar workers,” Maurer says. DTZ Qatar’s Associate Director Mark Proudley, however, says there is certainly a high risk of oversupply post-World Cup. However, it will primarily depend on the economic drivers, and in turn the impact of these will be on population growth. “The World Cup will facilitate the development of improved infrastructure and increased international exposure, which could attract greater levels of foreign investment and attract more international companies creating jobs, driving further population growth and demand for real estate. Alternatively, some socioeconomic, professional forecasts predict there will be a fall in the population between 2020 and 2030, which will leave an oversupply of real estate stock,” Proudley says. Demand outstrips supply There has been a mismatch between demand and supply in housing as the population increased at double-digit rates last year and this gap is expected to widen further as DOHA RESIDENTIAL DEMAND AND SUPPLY

the requirement for expat workers gathers pace across all sectors in the coming years. In a report, global property consultancy firm Colliers International said that Doha had a shortfall of almost 50,000 residential units and the residential market would remain significantly undersupplied for at least the next five years. With a projected compound average growth rate of just 3% per annum, down from earlier estimates of 8%, the supply/ demand gulf would not be bridged quickly. “Doha remains an upbeat market that is expanding in terms of overall offering while also bringing depth to the market,” the firm said. “The gap between supply and demand is driven by a significant increase or decrease

“CURRENTLY, THE PEOPLE FROM THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR ARE COMING TO QATAR TO WORK ON THESE PROJECTS AND THEY WILL BE CHANGING TO PEOPLE WHO OPERATE, MANAGE AND WORK IN THESE BUILDINGS. ONE CAN SEE THIS AT HOSPITALS, UNIVERSITIES AND SHOPPING MALLS AS WELL AS AT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS LIKE QATAR RAIL.” Mirco Maurer

Managing Director Engel & Völkers Qatar

SOURCE: COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL

QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 39

COVER STORY

THE “REAL” TROUBLE

“ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR WILL BE INFLATION AS WE NEAR THE 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP. I EXPECT THAT MOST INVESTORS WILL BE KEEN TO MITIGATE THEIR EXPOSURE BY FORWARD PLANNING AROUND THEIR SUPPLY CHAIN AND STARTING THEIR PROJECTS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.” Nick Smith

Partner EC Harris Qatar

40 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

of population when it comes to residential properties and business activities expand or shrink based on economic performance with regard to office accommodation,” says Akif Saghir, Head of Consultancy at the Doha-based property consultancy firm Century 21 Qatar. On the other hand, Saghir points out, the real estate developers’ incentives, which depend mainly on the rent control laws and the development costs, may largely affect the shortage or surplus of units. The excessive development or holding developments of new units by many developers end up in either sudden surplus or shortage, Saghir says. Hitting the roof Even QCB’s Real Estate Price Index (REPI) said that land prices skyrocketed last June after rising 28.9% year-on-year. The index, which was based on the land property transactions data from the Ministry of Justice, said that real estate prices were 18.5% higher in June than in January last year. The average prices for land and commercial and residential properties in June were 20% higher than in September 2008, when they peaked. Of the 627 deals last June, 446 were for plots, indicating increased appetite for open land rather than sales of completed units or re-sale activity. In its report in July, the Saudi Arabia-based Samba Financial Group said that Qatar’s economy may face unwanted

pressure as the prices and demand were outstripping supply in the country. While the y-o-y rate of price growth had moderated to some extent compared with 2013, rising demand is expected to push up prices in the short-to-medium term. “After hitting a low in June 2009, the average price of real estate has rebounded by 129.4% as of March 2014, and now stands 9% above its pre-recession peak,” the report said. An update from Qatar National Bank Economics also suggested that the spurt in real estate prices is in line with the fundamentals of Qatar’s fast-growing economy and rapid population growth. “While base (population) and income effect combined have increased by 345% since 2006, the QCB REPI has only risen by 326%, suggesting that real estate prices continue to be justified by Qatar’s economic fundamentals,” the update said and added that further increase in real estate prices could, however, signal overheating and a potential for another real estate bubble. But Proudley feels that land prices are already overheated and are above levels that are feasible for development as land is predominantly valued utilising two alternative methods known as the comparable method and residual method. He says the comparable method takes transactions in the market and bases the market value of a piece of land on analysis of these transactions. “For example, if there are two plots of land adjacent to each other, which are both 100,000 sq ft and one plot is sold for QR100 million (QR 1,000 per sq ft) then in theory the other plot would also have a value of QR100 million assuming they were comparable in regards to many factors. In utilising the comparison method, the valuer’s analysis considers a number of factors including, but not limited to, location, size of land, accessibility and permitted use for development,” he points out. He further says that the residual method looks at what could be developed on the land, calculates the gross development value of that final development, then deducts all the costs related to the delivery of that development, including construction costs, finance costs, contingency costs, leasing/ marketing fees and the developers profit target. The remaining figure is effectively what the developer can afford to pay for the land or the residual value of the land. “At the moment the comparable value of land based on market transactions is currently much higher than residual values,

which makes development unfeasible and the current land prices unsustainable,” Proudley says. New brokerage law Recognising the need to amend the existing legislation to keep up with the sector’s demand in changing times and to minimise problems of the realtors, the government has proposed to enact a new brokerage law. Senior officials at the Ministry of Justice and those from Qatar Chamber have been holding discussions with experts and realtors about the proposed brokerage law, which is expected to come into force later this year. Under the proposed law, a supervisory unit is likely to be set up to monitor the brokerage activity and receive all complaints and its officials would be well versed with all regulations of broking activities such as auctions and appraisals. It also stipulates that all realtors should be Qataris known for their good behaviour, or at least a 51% capital investment should be made by Qataris, and must pass special training courses about the broking system. The draft legislation has also proposed punitive measures for those who practice the profession without a licence, including deportation if the person is from another country. Partner in EC Harris Qatar, Nick Smith, says that it will be interesting to see how the proposed law affects the real estate business. “While regulation is needed much to increase transparency in the market and encourage inward investment from regional and international developers, the administration processes, however, will be completely new and initially may be prone to misinterpretation, confusion and delay at extra expense. The new regulations would be more effective if they were combined with a comprehensive review of the land registry framework and the introduction of a web-based system,” Smith says. Appreciating the government’s decision to bring in brokerage law, Maurer says that such an effort would help in setting some standards/regulations in the real estate brokerage sector. Such laws are in vogue in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and had a positive effect and, if implemented strictly, we can see the same result in Qatar too. “Currently the market is full of people who are working as agents/freelancers without any licence or registration. They compete with companies which follow the laws,” says Maurer.

Proudley wants that the proposed legislation should help to protect both landlords and tenants; however, the details at this stage are still limited and the success of the regulations will depend on them being enforced. There are a number of issues that need to be addressed that would be beneficial to both landlords and tenants in the long term including greater transparency in the markets and standardisation across a number of sectors. As an example, Dubai is one of the first countries in the world to adopt the new International Property Measurement Standards (IPMS), which can be emulated in Qatar too, Proudley says. PPP model One positive impact of the falling oil prices, by more than 60% in the last eight months, is that it has boosted savings in the net oil-importing countries and this can benefit non-hydrocarbon sectors like real estate markets in the GCC, which are hot destinations for developers. In fact, 75% of the investors in the real estate projects in Dubai in Q1 2014 were from other countries. With mega projects worth over Q728 billion ($200 billion) underway in Qatar, the demand for housing is expected to peak till the 2022 FIFA World Cup and scale back later in the country. Despite such positive indications, one cannot say that the sector is devoid of challenges and the country may run the risk of oversupply once the 2022

“THE GAP BETWEEN SUPPLY AND DEMAND IS DRIVEN BY A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OR DECREASE OF POPULATION WHEN IT COMES TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES AND BUSINESS ACTIVITIES EXPAND OR SHRINK BASED ON ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE WITH REGARD TO OFFICE ACCOMMODATION.” Akif Saghir

Head of Consultancy CENTURY 21 Qatar

QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 41

COVER STORY

THE “REAL” TROUBLE

“THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO BOTH LANDLORDS AND TENANTS IN THE LONG TERM INCLUDING GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN THE MARKETS AND STANDARDISATION ACROSS A NUMBER OF SECTORS. ” Mark Proudley

Associate Director DTZ Qatar

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FIFA World Cup is over. According to Smith, it has been long argued that public-private partnership (PPP) models with a single private-sector organisation taking responsibility for most aspects of service provisions for a given project could yield an improved allocation of risk, bringing in needed expertise while maintaining public accountability for essential aspects of service provision. “The balance of private sector expertise and public sector need has historically seemed attractive. It is often employed where funding is tight and alternative sources for such funding are needed. Whilst this may not be a factor for Qatar as PPP is under consideration. This may become more of a need if the price of hydrocarbon continues to fall,” he says. However, Saghir feels that the oil price collapse will not impact the investor sentiment as far as the real estate sector is concerned, though the stock market does get influenced by regional and international markets based on major commodities performance such as oil and gas. “Fluctuations in oil prices and stock market upheavals may not necessarily impact the real estate sector as they are covered by the strong fiscal status of the government, which is spending heavily on infrastructure projects in the run-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup,” he says. With a number of major projects such as football stadiums being awarded since last

year and some more to be awarded in the near future, real estate will maintain strong growth in the coming few years, Saghir adds. Proudley says that due to the high land values currently being experienced in Doha, it would be difficult for private investors to profitably develop housing to accommodate low to middle-income workers. But in reality, many large-scale housing schemes aimed at this market are already being developed by companies with strong government links, like Barwa who are behind projects including Barwa City, Barwa Village, Mesaieed Housing project and, most recently, the new Baraha workers accommodation. Likewise the Private Engineering Office (PEO) is developing the new West End Park scheme, which is expected to provide housing for up to 80,000 people on completion, he says. Challenges Smith says that inflation will be one of the biggest challenges as Qatar nears the 2022 FIFA World Cup. “I expect that most investors will be keen to mitigate their exposure by forward planning around their supply chain and starting their projects sooner rather than later. They will need to choose their targets very diligently during these years ahead and have a clear route of entry and exit with a robust risk plan,” he says. However, Smith is unsure whether Qatar will run the risk of oversupply after 2022. “It is very difficult to predict what will happen post-2022 but we need to bear in mind the World Cup is not necessarily the primary driver for supply in Qatar,” Smith says. Qatar is marching towards realising QNV 2030 which will have a plan (supply and demand) for servicing Qatar beyond 2022 and what is needed. “The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy is working closely with all the authorities to ensure that the plan being developed is sustainable and contributes to the legacy of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. This is the beginning of that journey and certainly not the end,” Smith says. Maurer too feels that it will be great to see whether the government comes up with more solutions to offer partnering with firms in the private sector. There will

be a number of private sector investors available once opportunities are there. Rent Control Act The soaring rents have even prompted one of the members in the Central Municipal Council to request the government to impose rent control measures to protect the hapless tenants, particularly those coming from other countries to work in Qatar. But Saghir disagrees with such a proposal as it will have positive as well as negative effects. One should look at the pros and cons of having such an Act, he says. “The principal argument against rent control is that it will result in a monetary loss for the owners. It will strain the landlord-tenant relationship as the latter are less likely to move to other places in a rent-controlled environment, despite an increase in their wages in a growing economy” he says. Rent control will also deter the landlords from building new units, resulting in a shortage of houses. It will also discourage the owners from proper maintenance of the houses thus indirectly forcing the tenants to vacate the place. However, rent control can be implemented by correcting market inefficiencies such as keeping a tab on the surging construction costs while increasing incentives to the landlords to push up the supply to follow the demand curve. “There is no doubt that a balance needs to be maintained to understand various approaches of implementing the rent control so as to treat the landlords and the tenants fairly at the same time,” Saghir says. The Act should be of minimal interference and not be tied to the value of the property or the construction costs but to actual market rent of the location and particular unit type. “Introducing the Rental Pricing Index will add transparency and guidelines for the landlords and the tenants,” Saghir adds. Green buildings As housing construction is taking place at a hectic pace, the government has been stressing of late green practices to conserve energy. While high-rise structures have surely added glamour to the country,

especially in areas such as West Bay, no attention was paid to green concepts in the last decade. “Qatar has started turning into a ‘concrete jungle’ with high-rise structures that have been sprouting up since almost ten years ago,” says Ahmed Jassim Al Jolo, President of Qatar Society of Engineers. He says these structures consume lots of electricity and water beside the comfort of its tenants. However, the demand for application of the green concepts has been growing and the municipalities are encouraging the builders to use less glass in buildings and a regulation has also been issued. “An article has been added on green architecture in the Qatar specifications standards. We have seen a shift towards green concepts in all government and private buildings and the future is bright for the green concepts in buildings in Qatar,” Jolo says. He feels that there are many ways to encourage green concepts and they include legislation regulating the construction industry; choosing the right consultant who is aware of green concepts; and choosing the appropriate construction material, water treatment and recycling. “Besides using the most efficient building construction methods and utilising earth resources fairly, the concepts must be applied at the design stage itself and awarding a rating system such as LEED or GSAS for the buildings would help a lot,” Jolo adds

“BESIDES USING THE MOST EFFICIENT BUILDING CONSTRUCTION METHODS AND UTILISING RESOURCES FAIRLY, THESE CONCEPTS MUST BE APPLIED AT THE DESIGN STAGE ITSELF.” Ahmed Jassim Al Jolo President Qatar Society of Engineers

QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 43

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Son of the soil

Qatarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s move towards food security is pioneered by people like Nasser Ali bin Khamis Al Kawari who owns the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first organic farm. By Abigail Mathias 44 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

"In the coming years agriculture will be needed to make Qatar more self-reliant. For me, farming is like giving back to the environment. It is not just a business proposition." NASSER ALI BIN KHAMIS AL KAWARI Owner Ali Bin Khamis Agricultural Al Safwa Farm

hen you speak of sons of the soil, Nasser Ali bin Khamis Al Kawari is a living example of the phrase. He picks up fruits and vegetables in his 660 acre farm and caresses them as one would their children. Ali Bin Khamis Al Kawari Agricultural Al Safwa Farm has been in the business of growing vegetables and fruit since 1965. After years of meticulously reorganising the facilities, removing all traces of pesticides from the soil and experimenting with different types of vegetables, the farm achieved certified status from the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements in 2014. This is a farm in transition, one that is moving from regionally typical techniques to sustainable, high-efficiency production methods suited to the arid climate of the Gulf. Food security is a big issue globally and particularly for Qatar. The country imports over 90% of its food from a relatively limited number of sources internationally. It is regularly exposed to supply interruptions, volatile prices, market competition and reduced quality and safety of imported foods. This is where indigenous farms play a crucial role. On the long drive to Al Safwa Farms, Al Kawari and his Managing Partner Olfa Guetata, discuss their passion for the environment. It is a busy month and a number of merchants want to work with Al Safwa

farms but restricting the sale of their produce to a few outlets is a firm decision they stick to. The newly opened French store in West Bay, Monoprix, carries a range of Al Safwas’ organic foods. Of course it costs a few more Riyals but customers are more content to have healthier options. Guetata says, “We decided to offer our organic vegetables at what we believe are reasonable prices. In Europe you buy vegetables in the range of 5 to 6 Euros. We sell for around 6 Euro which is approximately QR30 per kilo.” She adds, “We supply to a few key outlets in Qatar including Chef Garden at Qatar Foundation and the Diplomatic Club to name a few. We want to expand but due to limited production, we’d rather not overreach as we don’t want to compromise on quality.” Vegetables are picked every evening and sent for delivery by 5pm. The farm also has a stand at the local market selling both semi-organic and organic products. The sprawling green oasis at the farm offers immediate comfort to eyes used to the arid brown of the desert. As we walk through the many greenhouse enclaves of row upon row of various kinds of tomato (one called beef tomato for its brown colour) and various red and yellow capsicums, it is easy to forget one is in the desert. Contrary to what one would expect, water is not a difficult resource, says Al Kawari, who has about 10 outlets from where his farm is hydrated. “All of Doha’s water comes from this area,” he says, knowing his location is key. “We are extremely careful and reuse drainage water.” When we discuss alternate farming methods such as hydroponics, Al Kawari insists, “They still use fertilizer. For organic farming we don’t use any artificial methods, it’s all natural.” Maintaining the highest level of certification is not easy and involves regular visits by various officials to make sure that the farm is still in check. “Certification is rarely given to farms. The officials must be sure the farm is organic. They don’t only check the quality of soil, we need to have an independent QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 45

development > tag this "I myself didn't believe it was possible. We are here to tell people, we can do it, despite the weather." OLFA GUETATA Managing Partner Ali Bin Khamis Agricultural Al Safwa Farm

storage place as well,” explains Al Kawari. Eager to experiment, the farm was approached by French chef Guy Savoy and collaborated with him to produce a healthy variety of eggplant. Since then they have introduced Italian Zucchini, yellow Zucchini and French Sweet Melon which are grown in Qatar for the first time. Guetata is of Turkish-French origin and has more than 17 years in Senior Hospitality Management. She says, “When I came to Qatar four years ago, I never knew this could happen here. We are here to tell people we can do it, despite the climate. During the hottest months from June to September our farming is on hold. During the off period we focus on how to improve and use new technology. Often times a few government companies ask us to be consultants.” It is not easy to micro-manage everything and so Al Kawari has a team of 50 people -- some engineers and others who work on his farm. He has his own farm house and prefers to live on the farm most of the time. Giving back to the environment With rising obesity and health related problems, the focus worldwide is clearly on healthy eating and being more aware of what you eat. Al Kawari says, “Two days ago, I met with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and they discussed about building the City of Farms. I haven’t received the exact estimates but they are planning to focus on farming which is a step in the right 46 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

direction. If the investment in farms is made, things will fall in place. The government needs to invest in agriculture.” Impressed by his dedicated track record, Al Kawari’s farm was visited by a delegation of Prince Charles of Wales in 2013. The visit was spearheaded by Qatar National Food Security Programme (QNFSP) Executive Chairman Fahad bin Mohamed Al Attiya who is a strong supporter of organic farming. Guetata worked closely as head of protocol with Al Attiyah in the past. She says, “He believes in farming and believes in its relevance.” Al Kawari adds, “Though we cannot control the weather, we work in consultation with organic farming authorities based in Saudi Arabia. Before using any medicine for the plants, we have to have certification from IFOAM.” The owners aren’t interested in making their farm a tourist site. They would rather educate the public about healthy eating. In the past Al Safwa farms has worked with the Sheikh Faisal foundation and also worked with five public schools in collaboration with the Supreme Education Council. It is hoped that regular visits will help children learn the importance of eating healthily. Al Kawari insists on focusing on his country’s future. “In the coming years agriculture will be needed to make Qatar more self-reliant. Today farming is a lot easier than it was in the past. You can grow plants practically anywhere. All you need is 30 cm of land to plant trees.” Al Kawari knows he is one of a handful of farmers in the country. He says, “There are many farms in Qatar, but the owners tend to spend from their own pocket. If the government gives 5% of help to these farmers, they will thrive.” When asked about the invaluable lessons learnt from growing up on a farm, he says, “My father has been in this line for a long time and I learnt everything from him. For me, farming is like giving back to the environment. It is not just a business proposition.” Back in the 60s the farm grew a limited variety of vegetables in open fields. Annual yields were

relatively small and were distributed to family and friends. He says, “I am in this profession because I like farming. In 2000, I decided to start with greenhouses.” Since then Al-Kawari began investing heavily in developing and improving the farm and started producing vegetables on a commercial scale. The investments have been focused primarily on building greenhouses to extend the productive growing season, conserve water, reduce the demand for other inputs and protect crops from the harsh climate. Al Kawari’s vision for agriculture and sustainable development in Qatar is rooted in a well-studied and comprehensive plan that balances economic growth and investment with responsible use of resources and a progressive view towards Qatar’s opportunity to build long-term resilience and prosperity. He has been an active voice among farmers and an advocate of the Qatar National Food Security Plan. The family believes strongly in servicing the community and has supported the country’s 2030 vision of sustaining economic prosperity and environment for future generations. The farm has more than 150 greenhouses including several which are completely temperature controlled. It also has a livestock facility with cows, sheep, goats and gazelles besides an Arabian Horses breeding

programme. The farm is also involved in the production of organic honey, an initiative which began 10 years ago. “We have organic certification from Saudi Arabia for our honey and it is in great demand,” he says. The honey farm is protected by layers of date palm to keep it away from the sun. Since the proof is in the tasting, he invites us to try the honey. Agriculture in the region has met many stumbling blocks. Wheat production was taken up in Saudi Arabia but met challenges due to water scarcity. Discussing this Al Kawari says, “Wheat and vegetables are two different things. For us resources are not limited because we are keen to conserve.” He adds, “Qataris are not into farming. They are more involved in business, which is a matter of choice. Farming for me is not a part-time job. I live and breathe here.” Al Kawari is quick to point out that his reasons for scaling up his farm’s production capacity go well beyond commercial opportunity. He believes that Qatar’s ability to develop and thrive will depend in part on the availability of locally produced, healthy food. Many turn to Al Kawari to learn his techniques. He says, “People are shocked and they don’t want to believe we have organic vegetables. They believe only when they see the certification.”

Clockwise from left: fresh vegetables packed and ready for distribution; Al Kawari in one of his many greenhouses; Al Kawari and his partner Guetata discuss the day's schedule with farmer Ibrahim.

QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 47

THE WATER

development > tag this

WILDCARD

48 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

SOLAR ENERGY IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE POSTER CHILD OF THE REGION’S RENEWABLE ENERGY EFFORTS. BUT IS THE TIDE TURNING? WILL WATER TURN OUT TO BE THE SILENT CHAMPION OF OUR GREEN PROGRAMMES?

By Ayswarya Murthy

hen talking renewables, water often never even makes it to the table. Yes, China continues single-mindedly to build more dams but that’s not what we mean. Like in any industrial process, water is an essential component of energy generation and the renewables space is no exception. A report by the World Policy Institute predicts that expansion of renewables and development of new technologies in this area will be limited, in some regions, by the availability of water. “We are introducing all kinds of technology to reduce the carbon impact of energy, without doing anything to reduce its impact on water,” Michele Wucker, co-author of the report, was quoted as saying. Because the truth is that most renewable energy sources (Solar PV and wind are notable exceptions) demand plenty of water for their cooling needs (see table). In this region, this water is hard to come by. The water that is being used IS essentially energy, which makes up for almost half the costs incurred in seawater desalination. This is why water technologies might be considered to have more green potential for

the region when compared with any other initiatives, and that includes solar, energy efficiency, wind and green buildings. The Cleantech industry saw a sudden growth in confidence for water technologies in 2014, according to Ernst & Young’s 4th MENA Cleantech Survey Report that was launched at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi recently. “Surprisingly, water was mentioned less frequently as a growth area over the last three years, but it has swiftly broken through to being the leader in market potential in the next five years. In addition, prospects for investment in water infrastructure have improved markedly over previous years,” the report says. The annual survey, the fifth of its kind by EY, gauges the sentiments of senior industry executives, academics and experts on renewable energy implementation in the region. It would appear that solar, which has begun to come into the spotlight over the last couple of years, is about to be overshadowed by this less glamourous but fundamentally pivotal cog in the ecosystem. We say less glamorous because acres and acres of solar panels glimmering under the desert sun will always make for better press than the novel osmosis membranes in

"Surprisingly, water was mentioned less frequently as a growth area over the last three years, but it has swiftly broken through to being the leader in market potential in the next five years." NIMER ABU ALI

Director, MENA Power and Utility Ernst & Young

QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 49

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AVERAGE NUMBER OF GALLONS OF WATER CONSUMED TO PRODUCE 1 MWH

Coal IGCC

200

Wind

Solar (photovoltaic)

0 835

Solar (thermal) 0

Run of the river

4,500

Hydroelectric

1,400

Geothermal

Raw

180

Thermoelectric (Natural gas)

Trans

Thermoelectric (oil)

390

Thermoelectric (coal)

390 560

Thermoelectric (nuclear)

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

* based on different methods of defining water withdrawal

"Increasingly, energy efficiency and developing new processes which use less energy result in reducing specific energy consumption is becoming more important." DR ADEL SHARIF

Research Director Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute

50 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

desalination plants or treated waste water being reused in industrial processes. According to Kahramaa reports, desalination accounts for 99.9% of all the water used in Qatar; the plants in Ras Abu Fontas and Ras Laffan produce close to the 327 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of the water consumed. Kahramaa plans to add a further 192 MIGD to this capacity by 2020. And every million gallons of fresh water require on average 15,000 kWh of power. Power that, despite best intentions and efforts, still largely comes from conventional hydrocarbon sources. So naturally, every Watt of energy that is saved and every gallon that is reused matters. The Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) does extensive work on developing water technologies, a division that is headed by Research Director Dr Adel Sharif. His work can be divided into three neat categories. “First, R&D into desalination which includes thermal and membrane processes or a combination of both forward osmosis and membrane distillation technologies; secondly, waste water treatment and water reuse which can maximise the amount of reclaimed water from treated wastewater for non-potable use like irrigation, industry and landscaping; and finally, assessing aquifer recharge by studying subsurface geology and computer modeling.” While we have continued to hear much about powering the energy intensive

desalination process through solar, this is yet to be implemented. “I am very supportive of the concept, of course,” Dr Sharif says. “Using a suitable collector you can use solar thermal technology efficiently for this purpose. However, our institute focuses on solar PV rather than solar thermal.” (For the uninitiated, Solar PV is the conversion of solar energy directly into electricity through photovoltaic cells while solar thermal harnesses the heat energy to power a turbine) Hitherto, it has been expensive to combine solar thermal and desalination processes. “The challenge is space availability. These coastal desalination plants, built several years ago, do not have enough space around them for panels and collectors. This and the large investments that have already gone into conventional methods are probably why this technology isn’t picking up yet,” he says. Nimer Abu Ali, Director, MENA Power and Utility for EY, echoes these sentiments. “I am not sure if the trend of solar powered desalination is feasible right now. It needs a lot of investment, both financially and technically, and we need to have at least a couple of projects operational that can prove its financial viability before it can be kicked off in the earnest,” he says. With solar salvation still some time away, researchers and businesses have turned their attention to the other side of the equation – water. Irrespective of the specific needs of the various Arab countries, water technologies are now in

Source: World Policy Institute

Hydroelectric (*)

MOST IMPORTANT BARRIERS/CHALLENGES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CLEAN TECHNOLOGY 6% 3% Environmental/technology issues (such as dust and humidity) Grid infrastructure

25%

Insufficient government policy frameworks and regulations Insufficient private financing and limited financing experience among banks for renewable energy projects

3% 4%

59 %

Lack of local capacity (workforce training, domestic contractors etc.) Price competitiveness compared to traditional energy sources Source: Cleantech Survey Report, Ernst & Young

focus. From the GCC countries concerned about water scarcity to Egypt that is working towards energy security or Algeria that is trying to make its conventional energy sources more efficient, Dr Sharif feels that green energy efforts have started to focus on the overall energy balance in the system and to maximise the amount of water produced from that given energy. “Increasingly, energy efficiency and developing new processes which use less energy result in reducing specific energy consumption (measured in terms of how much kWh is needed to produce one cubic metre of water) is becoming more important. Usually, in this region and specifically in Qatar, water and power plants are combined so that heat from power plants can be used for desalination. So the lesser the energy requirement, the more appropriate it is for the use of solar power (which suffers from the limitation of relatively lesser power generation),” he says. Abu Ali clarifies that this doesn’t imply that solar in the region is winding up even before it begins. Just that the potential around water technologies is growing proportionally higher and taking a leading role. While solar is projected for growth, there is a perceptible shift in the renewable space, he says. “In my personal opinion, people have high expectations of solar due to announcements from big projects in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. But several of those programmes are yet to be kicked off. A lot of money has been invested and expected returns are not yet in sight,” according to him.

Apart from this there is also the lack of solid regulations around renewables that makes retrofitting technology more appealing. “I know from my discussions with industry leaders that there needs to be more deliberation in the government on policy framework. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have made serious progress compared to others but the rest have to get started with this framework. It has always been, and continues to be, one of the top priorities among the private sector,” Abu Ali says. And surveys like these are indicative of the trends in the sector and the increasing belief in renewables. The government and regulators should judge the appetite for investment by the private sector and react to it, according to Abu Ali. But in the research side itself, quite a few developments are starting to infuse business with optimism. Dr Sharif says the innovations that the region is witnessing in water technologies are unique. “Unfortunately, advancements in water treatment and desalination are usually limited and sometimes not encouraged because water is a commodity that needs to be produced in large quantities to be economical. The argument of water companies is that because the market is fixed and growth is limited, there is no motivation to invest in water technologies. But in the GCC, growth is steep and there is an urgency to come up with advanced processes. QEERI and research houses like it in the region, with work around new concepts like forward osmosis, will pioneer a step change in this technology,” he says QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 51

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BEING AT HOME IN THE STADIUM

Cisco’s Chris White talks to Ayswarya Murthy about how Internet of Things (IoT) concepts can transform the venue experience for sports fans.

52 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

t Cisco Connect UAE, we sat in on the keynote speech by Chris White, Senior Vice President Global for IoT/IoE Solutions Sales. We’d later discovered that he is also the General Manager for IoT in Sports and Entertainment and Emerging Technologies and Home Solutions, but the MC omitted to mention these to keep his job title more manageable. In his talk, he touched on the world of IoT and how change was happening right now, before our very eyes. A particular statistic he threw out about the media attention

around this exciting new technology hit home. “In 2014, 44,000 news reports were published around the Internet of Things,” he said. It was barely 4,000 a year ago. As I reflected on the stories I worked on last year, I figured I was probably responsible for half of these reports. At least it felt like it. Yes, we have regularly featured IoT in these pages but only because it’s a tree that will just not stop giving. Every week we discover exciting new applications that promise to make life 10 years down the line virtually unrecognisable. And they are worth talking about. This time around we had a conversa-

CHRIS WHITE

Senior Vice President, Global IoT/IoE Solutions Sales Cisco

tion with White about the impact of IoT in sports; he calls sports the “most horizontal of all verticals”. They had a record quarter last year and enhancing the fan experience in the stadium is proving to be big business. Watching games at the stadium has become a novelty rather than the norm because the experience of viewing the game surrounded by the creature comforts of your home has progressively become better over the years. You can order in pizza, monopolise the Lazyboy, don’t have to queue for the bathroom or search for parking, watch replays and close-up shots and, perhaps most importantly, live tweet your frustration at a missed goal. White says technology can help venues deliver many of these advantages to the fans present there. We start with one of Cisco’s more talked about projects - the technological overhaul of the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Looking at the changing demographics of fans, who were increasingly inseparable from their devices and, above all, craved connectivity, the local government, entrepreneurs and the telecom operator Telstra wanted to refresh the environment, he says. “They realised they had to put in a strong Wi-Fi infrastructure and then they wanted to do much more when they started to see the applications.” They digitised the whole experience, from digital signage and mobile apps. “The SCG was unique in the sense that Telstra also owned the TV rights and so was one of the few vendors who could deliver solutions from home to the venue; experiences that typically compete with each other,” he says. “So Telstra wanted to

These solutions are not limited to just sporting venues. White says famous bands like Metallica and the Rolling Stones are making venue decisions based on connectivity. “They know they can fill a venue but they want to make sure their millions of Twitter or Facebook fans can be part of the concert too. It’s a whole new ecosystem.” encourage fans to start their journey at home with the pre-game programmes and then transfer it to their mobile device which helped them to get to the venue more efficiently. This might mean helping them find a faster route to the stadium, pointing out empty parking spots, maybe offering them last-minute tickets or upgrades and then helping them find their seats, or the nearest vending machine, in case they wanted to grab a quick drink.” All this complements the primary venue experience; the sheer thrill of being in the midst of thousands of screaming fans, most of whom are uploading countless selfies, celebratory tweets and videos. That’s why it starts and ends with the Wi-Fi. QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 53

development > tag this

Chris White at Cisco Connect UAE in Dubai talking about the immediate possibilities of IoT. (left) Cisco did significant work in bringing the Sydney Cricket Ground to the 21st Century

“It’s not just about throwing a couple of access points around like some people naively think,” White says. These deployments are tailored to support a very high density of devices in a relatively small area, a “harsh environment” in which to provide good Wi-Fi service. “They call for micro-cell design using highly directional antennas and finely tuned system-wide management of the RF power levels and channel assignments across hundreds of access points. And this is even before taking into consideration the stadium structure and surface area, and interference from different reflective surfaces and other devices. Designing a network for that environment is tricky.” Then comes the fan’s interaction with his or her device. “There is an argument in the sports world that watching a game is essentially a head up experience and not a head down one. But we are seeing an interesting combination of both. The Dallas Cowboys Stadium did an analysis of when and how the crowd uses the network. Obviously, before the event, during time-outs and breaks but there were also significant spikes in the usage after a big moment in 54 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

the game when the crowd wanted to share a photo of a touchdown instantaneously. We constantly work with focus groups and customers to come up with innovative new ideas and experiment with the fan experience,” White says. “For example, you don’t want your phone to be constantly vibrating, pushing you updates and notifications. So how can we customise that so that when you do get interrupted, it’s for something that’s truly worthwhile.” Maybe it is to replay a recent goal or to tell you about a promotion on your favourite snacks. This brings us to the next layer in this experience – the marketing. “Sponsorship is a huge part of the sports world and making sure they get the most value for their money is key. For example, imagine if Coca -Cola can understand how many of the 20,000 people are existing customers, or potential customers, or customers who are never going to touch their brand and adjust their marketing experience based on this profile; they can be so more impactful. ,” he says. “Because it’s not pure brand marketing anymore. You are sent promotion notifications based on your profile as it’d be something you want. All these help

the business impact of running these venues,” he says. That’s why digital signage is not as simple as it sounds because now it’s just as much about being relevant as it is about improving the overall experience for the fan. SGC, for example, not only has a 273 square metre video screen but also 900 plasma TV screens at the new stands. White is aware that with the advent of wearables, the whole experience has to be revamped. “There is a huge new wave of technology coming into the sports arena,” he points out, and not just during the game, but for post-game analysis, pregame strategising, monitoring the health of players, etc. “There is definitely nervousness about some of these aspects but this is where the experimentation and testing comes in. To see if it works and if the players, coaches, fans and venue owners are comfortable with it.” For White, it’s important that his clients are able to get the maximum advantage out of their networks. But most of all, it is plain fun, he says, to roll up his sleeves and work with the Mets or Real Madrid or the New York Yankees to transform the experience for them and their fans

QSTP SPOTLIGHT

56 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

INNOVATION

NATION An inside look at the heart of Qatar’s innovation thrust – the Qatar Science and Technology Park.

QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 57

QSTP SPOTLIGHT

QATAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PARK MAY SEEM ABANDONED TO THE UNINITIATED, BUT THE AIR IS UNMISTAKABLY THICK WITH ELECTRICITY. EVEN IF YOU DON’T REALISE THAT IT IS AT THE VERY CORE OF THE COUNTRY’S PUSH FORWARD INTO A KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY. EVEN IF YOU DON’T KNOW THAT FIVE YEARS SINCE IT BEGAN OPERATIONS, THE TECH PARK NOW HOSTS 40 LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMPANIES CARRYING OUT DISRUPTIVE RESEARCH IN THE FIELDS OF ENERGY, HEALTH, SUSTAINABILITY AND INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY. EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE THAT AFTER 30 ODD YEARS, QSTP WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING THE WORLD SIT-UP AND NOTICE THE NEW AGE OF INNOVATION THAT IS SILENTLY TAKING ROOT IN THE ARAB WORLD. THE AURA IS UNMISTAKABLE; IT’S THAT OF CHANGE AND NEW HORIZONS. In an earlier interview, Managing Director Hamad Mohammed Al Kuwari had said that hubs like QST P plays a critical role in sparking meaningful collaboration across sectors, ensuring that historic investments in education and research pay off in the form of skills, intellectual property and viable technology businesses. QST P itself is still on expansion mode, Al Kuwari says outlining the hub’s future plans. “We are at 95% occupancy and on track, having officially started design work on the next phase. The plan is to have two more buildings within the park and free zone – a technology building similar to Tech 1 and Tech 2, which incorporates feedback from our members, enhancing functionality and further supporting their work; and Tech 4, which is going to be more of a workshop where tenants who require heavy-operation testing will be housed,” he said. Speaking about the draw of QST P, he said, “Companies are attracted to QST P’s model, notably because we offer world-class infrastructure that supports complex technology research projects. Additionally, we offer freedom operating as a free zone, meaning we can license companies that are 100% foreign-owned, with no taxation on their income or on imported goods used for technology development.” But he is equally proud of the non-tangible benefits of being a part of QST P. “The culture and community we have defined at the park among staff, tenants and Qatar’s wider entrepreneurial ecosystem is excellent. We bring local and global industry figures in the health sciences, energy and ICT sectors to QST P regularly for our T ECHtalks series, which has grown into a sought-after knowledge forum. Increasingly these are the types of programs and services that add value for tenants and entrepreneurs while increasing the attractiveness of the cluster itself.” 58 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

IASP 2014

he International Association of Science Parks 2014 conference, the first one ever in the Middle East, attracted more than 500 delegates from 50 countries who came together to discuss how global science and technology park were effecting change in their little corners of the world. Irrespective of whether they were government supported or nonprofit, confined to a campus or spread out over a city, promoted local small and medium enterprises or coveted foreign multinational companies, they were engaged in reviving their economy or kick-starting a new one, the underlying agenda was common - to drive innovation by effectively connecting the public sector, private enterprises, universities and research institutes. The key note speech was delivered by co-founder of YouTube Chad Hurley, who said: “The YouTube experience taught me that a small group of individuals with the same vision can make a difference and I believe this is very similar to any science and technology park aiming to achieve its goals.”

STAYING SAFE ONLINE The Cisco 2015 Annual Security Report included a Security Manifesto, a formal set of security principals as a foundation to achieving security, can help corporate boards, security teams and the users in the organization, to better understand and respond to the cybersecurity challenges of today’s world. QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 59

QSTP SPOTLIGHT

ENTREPRENEURS CONVERGE

MAKING DOHA’S ROADS SAFER

atar Mobility Innovations Center announced the official launch of its Salamtek for minimizing phone usage while driving. The Salamtek Advanced Personal Solution is one of the three main projects of the initiative that include enterprise and family solutions. The app is available to the public, free of charge on Google Play. The solution will provide a safety-centric ranking of the participating users in Qatar with the highest ten ranked Salamtek users being eligible to receive awards up QR30,000 at the end of the first 3 month period. In addition to contributing to the important goal of enhancing road safety through reducing distracted driving, the Advanced Personal solution will offer users a chance to compete for a spot in the safest drivers list through a dynamic gamification concept.

oung innovators from Qatar, Tunisia, Iran, India, Kenya, Vietnam, Nigeria, Colombia, Uganda and the Philippines come together for a mentoring workshop at QST P that helped them fine tune their business models. The workshop included expert mentors like QST P’s Director of Innovation Haya Al Ghanim and its Strategic Research Acting Director Khalid Naji. QST P worked with the International elecommunication Union (ITU) ahead of the ITU Telecom World 2014 in Doha, to offer the delegation of young entrepreneurs an insight into technology-based innovation and commercialisation. “Not only does this workshop offer ambitious young innovators a laboratory for refining their business ideas – it helps build the confidence needed to make a compelling pitch and secure investors in the market,” Al Ghanim said

AT THE FOREFRONT OF SOLAR

T Omran Al Kuwari CEO GreenGulf 60 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

he number of firms and institutions in Qatar’s solar ecosystem has rapidly multiplied in the past three years, with GreenGulf, a home-grown clean technology and renewable energy advisory business, leading the way, co-founder and CEO Omran Al Kuwari has said. According to alKuwari, the total installed solar energy capacity in Qatar at the moment is about 4MW, out of which GreenGulf, established in 2009, is responsible for approximately 3.5MW. GreenGulf also released its first year finding from its flagship solar test facility project at QST P. Since the facility was launched in 2012, it has gathered valuable data on how 30 different solar technologies perform, helping the industry optimise the performance of solar technologies in a region with abundant solar energy and challenging environmental conditions.

QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 61

QSTP SPOTLIGHT

WATER SOLUTIONS RESEARCH

SUSTAINING WATER RESOURCES IN QATAR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ARE KEY TO ACHIEVING THE NATIONAL VISION’S GOALS FOR A QATAR BASED ON INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

ocated in Qatar’s Education City, Qatar Science & Technology Park (QST P) is a home for technology-based companies from around the world. As an innovative, technology-based company, Shell shares Qatar’s commitment to continued improvement, built on the pursuit of groundbreaking research and development. Shell aims at executing a technology programme, responding to commercial opportunity and Qatar’s future development, and sharing skills and experience through integration with local universities and institutions. The work at Qatar Shell Research & Technology Centre (QSRTC) is focused on the development and implementation of technologies that support Qatar’s energy industry. The research is wholly aligned with the Qatar National Research Strategy, particularly its theme of ‘Energy and Environment’. At a time of rapidly-rising water usage around the globe, water resources are coming under significant stress, making already existing shortages more severe. Experts are already anticipating that, by as early as 2030, the world may need 30% more water and 40% more energy.

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Added pressure is coming from a rising global population. Having crossed the 7-billion inhabitants mark in 2011, the current world population of 7.2 billion is projected to increase by about 1 billion people within the next 12 years, reaching 8.1 billion in 2025 and 9.6 billion in 2050, according to the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Adding further urgency to the matter is the fact that the world’s water, energy and food systems are so tightly linked. Water is needed to extract energy and generate power; energy is needed to treat and transport water; and both water and energy are needed to grow food. As these vital resources come under increasing pressure over the coming decades, world leaders and leading industry figures from within the energy sector will need to up their efforts in a bid to address their complex relationship, known as the energy-water-food nexus. Nowhere is this impression more acute than in Qatar. With an average of around 80 millimeters a year, Qatar has one of the world’s lowest levels of rainfall. Further, thanks to the economic draw of the nation’s oil and gas development, Qatar’s population in 2020 is projected to double from its 2009 levels. This will add even greater pressure to the country’s per capita water usage, which is already estimated as one of the highest in the world – at 460 litres per day. As such, the energy sector at large will have to intensify its efforts to address and

prepare for future water challenges. To this end, energy companies in Qatar have begun reaching out to external stakeholders, both private and public, to forge the types of partnerships necessary to leverage the water-energy nexus – with a keen awareness of the fact that every drop of potable water produced uses energy and every kilowatt hour of energy produced uses water. Conversely, every drop of water saved conserves energy and every unit of energy saved conserves water. Pearl GT L, the world’s largest gasto-liquid plant, delivered by Qatar Petroleum and Qatar Shell, has invested considerable resources ensuring that the site reuses and recycles water responsibly and efficiently. This commitment means that Pearl GT L’s industrial water processing plant is now the world’s largest site for the recovery, treatment and reuse of industrial process water. With a capacity to treat 280,000 barrels of water a day, Pearl GT L’s water treatment facility is comparable in size to a plant for a town of 140,000 people. Once cleaned and treated, this water is reused and recycled for cooling and for steam systems, whilst a small amount is also used to maintain the flowers and trees around the plant. A stronger focus by the industry on research and development into water management, reuse, recycling and desalination is also essential. Collaborative R&D projects include Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ) and QSRTC’s new R&D agreement to intensify research efforts

COLLABORATIVE R&D PROJECTS WITH TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SEEK TO INTENSIFY RESEARCH EFFORTS TO FIND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF WATER, BRINE AND SALT AT PEARL GTL.

to find innovative solutions for the management of water, brine and salt at Pearl GT L. The agreement aligns perfectly with the water security ‘Grand Challenge’ of the Qatar National Research Strategy. The research will seek to bolster environmental development by exploring cost-effective and eco-friendly options to upgrade the quality of by-products of Pearl GT L’s onsite effluent water treatment and recovery plant. The project will evaluate several methods to reuse brine (salt water) and produce purified marketable industrial grade salt, while minimising energy consumption and waste generation at the Pearl GT L plant. QSRTC’s Water R&D laboratory is one such initiative for Qatar to generate its own solutions for a local challenge that is also relevant globally. Since its launch 16 months ago, the laboratory has carried out R&D into key water issues relevant to Qatar. QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 63

QSTP SPOTLIGHT

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, QSRTC RUNS AN EXPERIMENTAL FARM IN RAWDAT AL FARAS IN QATAR TO EVALUATE THE POTENTIAL FOR REUSE OF TREATED INDUSTRIAL WATER TO SUSTAIN PLANT GROWTH.

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His Excellency Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, Qatar’s Minister of Energy and Industry, praised the laboratory as an “important step in addressing one of the greatest emerging research and development challenges in the Middle East, that of the efficient re-use of water.” Sustainable use of water has been identified as one of the key challenges for Qatar as a nation. In partnership with the Ministry of Environment (MOE), QSRTC runs an experimental farm in Rawdat Al Faras in Qatar to evaluate the potential for reuse of treated industrial to sustain plant growth. Meanwhile, in the QSRTC laboratory various other R&D initiatives support Shell’s work on water use and reuse, including a pilot anaerobic biotreatment and membrane testing facility at QSRTC. For Qatar, the benefits of such initiatives go beyond technological breakthroughs. Establishing the country as a centre for R&D is integral to the government’s broader vision to foster human, social and economic development as it seeks to evolve into a sustainable knowledge economy. But whilst there can be little doubt that R&D will play an important role in meeting both Qatar's and the world’s water challenge going forward, it will only be one element in what needs to be an integrated economic approach to water resource management. Apart from energy companies, other private-sector stakeholders such as agricultural producers, technology providers and industrial water users will have

to make critical water management decisions. Such innovations ensure that Shell continues to deliver energy, whilst working responsibly to meet the needs of tomorrow. However, despite these positive steps forward the energy sector cannot alone tackle this fundamental issue. Indeed, it is vital that all stakeholders get together if a water crisis is to be averted. Governments will have to introduce policies aimed at increasing efficiencies, pricing water according to its real economic value, and reducing economies’ water-intensity, in particular in countries that face scarce and diminishing water resources. Meanwhile, the agricultural sector, which is responsible for up to 70% of water usage globally, must also play a vital role in any comprehensive solution to the nexus. Indeed, it is for this reason that energy companies including Shell have begun identifying opportunities to use the outlet from agriculture in their operations, thus directly with the sector in food production. This type of collaboration potentially works in both directions. Given the complexity of the energy-water-food nexus, the overall goal will have to be building partnerships that ensure long-term sustainable development through initiatives aimed at inter-industry collaboration and developing multi-stakeholder strategies that deliver greater energy efficiencies and water-saving benefits. The challenge is a tough one that cannot be denied, but as companies like Qatar Shell are proving, the benefits are there to be reaped

QSTP SPOTLIGHT

COMMITTED TO BETTER ENERGY THROUGH

TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS

TOTAL HAS HAD A CONTINUOUS PRESENCE IN QATAR FOR CLOSE TO 80 YEARS AND IS DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE COUNTRY'S ENERGY SECTOR – BOTH ON THE DOWNSTREAM AND UPSTREAM SIDES.

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Dr Philippe Julien Director Total Research Center Qatar

n the upstream side, Total is the operator of the Al Khalij oil field and has interests in Qatargas and Dolphin Energy operating companies as well as in the block BC (exploration license). On the downstream side, Total is involved in refining and petro chemistry as a shareholder of Qatargas, QAPCO and QATOFIN. Total is also present in the marketing of lubricants. In 2009, the creation of the Total Research Center Qatar (T RC-Q) at Qatar Science & Technology Park (QST P) strengthened the commitment of Total to Qatar National Vision. T RC-Q is one of the French energy company’s seven regional Exploration and Production research centres, along with its research headquarters in Pau, France. “We wanted to have research dedicated to the Qatar and Middle East technical challenges. And indeed, our R&D focuses on carbonate reservoirs,” says Dr Philippe Julien, Director of T RC-Q. “On a worldwide scale, more than 60% of oil and 40% of gas reserves lie in carbonates. During the last decade, two thirds of the giant discoveries (more than 500 million barrel oil equivalent) have been done in carbonate reservoirs. This is why, when we designed the T RC-Q, we decided to build one laboratory involved in Analytical Organic Geochemistry to better understand and monitor the production of

the carbonate oil and gas fields and one laboratory involved in Acid Stimulation of wells to improve this production.”

Committed to deliver innovation In the Geochemistry lab, several hightech equipment are available: gas chromatographs and sophisticated systems to measure isotope compositions and biomarkers in oil. “This allows us to work in production allocation and well integrity,” says Julien. “As the technological challenges of the oil and gas industry are mounting, some solutions can be found in other industries such as aerospace or medicine for instance. And indeed, we collaborate with the medical and space domains. They constitute beautiful examples of crossover technologies. As a consequence, our research is quite active and innovative, with several patents filed and scientific publications presented in international conferences.” In 2014, a completely new equipment, the Laser Induced Pyrolysis System was installed in T RC-Q to measure the organic content of cores. This high-tech system is unique and is quite useful to better describe and understand the fast vertical or lateral variations of Qatar's carbonate reservoirs.

Committed to cooperate and share expertise “Our main objectives at T RC-Q are not only to develop new technologies but also QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 67

QSTP SPOTLIGHT

“AS THE TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES OF THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY ARE MOUNTING, SOME SOLUTIONS CAN BE FOUND IN OTHER INDUSTRIES SUCH AS AEROSPACE OR MEDICINE, FOR INSTANCE."

to cooperate with local entities on innovations related to Qatari challenges, and to share our research with our Qatari partners. Moreover, we regularly organise high-level scientific presentations for professionals (engineers and scientists) from our partner institutions” explains Julien. In 2014,Total experts or specialists have given various training sessions on subjects such as Geochemistry, Acid Stimulation, Petro-physics, Rock Mechanics, Reservoir Engineering, Uncertainties and Geo-modeling. In 2015, Dr Philippe Tanguy, Total’s Deputy Chief Scientist, gave a keynote presentation on the energy transition for the human beings. Finally, Total has been involved in courses given to students and in the energy city project where teachers and professors of public schools are taught about energy challenges and disciplines. Such partnerships between the academic medium and the industry are key to success, and Total is highly committed to such collaborative developments.

Committed to work on Qatar's grand challenges T RC-Q is not only involved in Exploration and Production but also in Petrochemicals. A synthesis laboratory has also been designed at T RC-Q to work on CO2 conversion. In close links with Total’s main petrochemical research centre in Belgium, catalysts are developed to use the 68 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

carbon of the CO2 to generate some valuable products. In December 2014, a project submitted by Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ), Total, Qatar University and Northwestern University has been approved by the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF). “We are extremely happy to participate in such a challenging and innovative project”, added Julien. “Recently, we started a new water management project and initiated collaborations with the Qatar research academic medium, which is in phase with the Qatar National Research Strategy”.

Committed to contribute to a knowledge-based economy Julien sees T RC-Q as a long-term investment in developing indigenous research capability. Innovation relies on building on previous work, acquired skills and expertise. Breakthrough technologies often emerge from a deep familiarity with the sciences, the challenges and the opportunities. “We develop a real expertise that leverages the global research capacity of Total on a worldwide scale and directly benefits our partners in Qatar. At T RC-Q, we produce applied research: we immediately apply the new technologies to real cases. As a consequence, we provide some advanced expertise where we apply the latest ideas that we have developed in research on Qatar oil and gas fields”

QSTP SPOTLIGHT

GLOBAL RESEARCH, DONE LOCALLY

ESTABLISHED IN 2009, EMRQ HAS MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN THE RESEARCH CONDUCTED UNDER ITS FOCUS AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS SAFETY, COASTAL GEOLOGY AND WATER REUSE.

xxonMobil Research Qatar (EMRQ) is an affiliate of the ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company (URC), headquartered in Houston, and represents its only existing branch outside the US. The research efforts that take place at EMRQ are part of a global programme, so the work being carried out is not only relevant to Qatar, but also

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to regions across the globe. By using global knowledge to develop local resources, EMRQ is able to create an invaluable link between the local and international research communities. There are many milestones to be celebrated in the life of EMRQ, the main ones being: In 2009, EMRQ launched its first project, focusing on the marine environment of the Qatari coastline. Also in the

same year, EMRQ began a comprehensive, multi-year, QR7 million research programme to investigate the potential effects from the seawater used at Ras Laffan that is returned to the Gulf Sea. In 2010, Qatar University (QU) and EMRQ signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further academic excellence through human capital investment, innovative technology and research and development. Moreover, the centre announced the extension of its commitment to QST P with a total investment of more than QR218 million through 2014. 2011 saw a partnership between EMRQ and Nakilat to develop a prototype 3D training simulator for the reliquefication plant onboard the Q-Max LNG carrier MOZAH; and it also partnered with RasGas to develop a 3D immersive training simulator for the RasGas AKG-II facility. In 2012, EMRQ announced two new technological advancements developed to enhance safety and environmental performance associated with LNG production and transport: the Remote Gas Detection System, which allows for earlier identification of gas emissions, averting potential safety hazards and reducing emissions; and an advanced, immersive 3D visualisation environment that simulates actual work scenarios, increasing training effectiveness and improving job safety.

In the same year, QU and EMRQ announced a twelve month, QR2.2 million study as part of the water reuse research programme to develop technologies that will utilise industrial water in ways that are beneficial to Qatar. In 2013, EMRQ partnered with RasGas to pilot the single sensor version of the IntelliRed™ Remote Gas Detection technology at RasLaffan – a first of its kind in the Middle East. Also that year, EMRQ partnered with Qatar Petroleum Research and Technology Center to test multi-user functionalities in 3D immersive environments In 2014, EMRQ’s achievements included a partnership with QU and Texas A&M at Galveston, with support from the Private Engineering Office and the Ministry of Environment, to further environmental research and marine mammal initiatives in order to address the issue of preservation of dugongs – large, long-living herbivorous marine mammals found in Qatar’s coastal waters. In January 2015, EMRQ and the Ministry of Municipal and Urban Planning signed a memorandum of understanding for the research centre to assist with the ministry’s Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan project, providing technical support and scientific data. Finally, EMRQ’s affiliate URC recently awarded a global commercial license for an improved version of the

EMRQ IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RESEARCH COMPANY URC, HEADQUARTERED IN HOUSTON, AND REPRESENTS ITS ONLY EXISTING BRANCH OUTSIDE THE US.

IntelliRed™ remote gas detection to co-developer Providence Photonics. The new dual imager system provides a more sensitive and accurate early warning alert of hydrocarbon leaks with minimal false alarms. Both systems are designed to improve process safety and environmental performance at oil refineries, chemical plants,LNG facilities and other gas processing facilities. EMRQ believes that its partnerships with QP and the QST P have and will continue to play a key role in Qatar’s rapid transformation as the world’s largest supplier of reliable LNG. The centre exemplifies how ExxonMobil is contributing to the Qatar National Vision 2030 by providing the energy to support research, safety, health and the environment QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 71

development > tech talk

TOP TECH TRENDS FOR 2015

At the end of every year a number of consultancies and journalists make their predictions for the year ahead. With very different visions often on offer, where’s the consensus? Damian Radcliffe tries to make sense of it all.

3D printing will continue to open up a world of possibilities

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n 2015 we will be travelling on hover boards and wearing self-lacing Nike trainers. Those aren’t my predictions, but some of the more memorable ideas featured in the movie Back to the Future II, the time-travelling sequel in which Marty McFly hopped into a Delorean and leapt from 1989 into the brave new tech world of 2015. As it happens, both of these seemingly fanciful ideas are in development. In fact, we may well see self-lacing footwear emerge later this year. (Nike has released plans to this effect.) The movie also successfully anticipated a number of mainstream digital technologies including 3D cinemas, video calling and connected homes. All of these are, to some extent, widely available in 2015.

So what potential mainstream technologies did this 26-year-old film fail to predict? Here are three areas likely to dominate our tech talk in the next 12 months. 3D Printing With 3D printing prices anticipated by everyone to continue to fall in the year ahead, enthusiasm for this emerging technology is possibly at an all-time high. Worldwide shipments of 3D printers are expected to grow by 98% in 2015, according to the analysts Gartner, followed by a doubling of unit shipments in 2016. It’s a sector, they feel, that “will reach a tipping point over the next three years.” Deloitte agree. Their annual Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) predictions also highlight the potential of this nascent technology, anticipating that nearly 220,000 3D printers will be sold worldwide during the year. However, whilst they describe 3D printing as “a revolution,” they do note that it will not be “the revolution you think.” “It is unlikely that there will be a ‘factory in every home,’” they say. Instead, Deloitte feel, the real revolution will be in the enterprise market. Gartner aren’t quite so explicit, but they also believe that industrial use will expand significantly. In 2015, 3D printing will prove to be “a real, viable and cost-effective means to reduce costs through improved designs, streamlined prototyping and short-run manufacturing,” they claim. Only Time magazine’s Tim Bajarin seems to be taking a contrary view. Although he still thinks this is a sector to watch, much of his excitement for the technology stems

Tablets (and smartphones) will increasingly start to communicate with many of the objects we interact with everyday, from cars to washing machines.

from potential domestic uses. “I believe we will see the first laptops with built-in 3D cameras by the end of the year,” he says, “along with a 3D printer that would make it possible to take an object, put it in front of your laptop camera and push print.” And “don’t be surprised if Apple goes big on 3D cameras,” he adds, “or [finds] ways to capture 3D images for use with 3D printers in 2015.” If they do, then Apple’s intervention could be a game changer for the sector. Cybersecurity Following a number of high-profile corporate hacking cases in the past couple of years – including Sony, Target, and the PlayStation and Xbox live gaming networks – data privacy issues will continue to be a hot topic in 2015. Neil Murray, the co-founder of Mimecast, told the BBC that “Internet security will become absolutely critical in 2015.” He foresees a scenario where malicious individuals, organised crime and state-sponsored hacks seek out every hole and vulnerability they can find.” And with so many services increasingly moving into the cloud, “it is inevitable that another major retailer will suffer a largescale security breach,” he says. If they do, then this could potentially affect hundreds

of millions of people around the globe. The risk of this type of eventuality is of course also elevated the more connected devices we buy; and 2015 is expected to see a continued drive towards the hyper-connected world of the Internet of Things (IoT). Domestically, this trend will include increased take-up of home automation systems like the Google-owned Nest, and Apple’s HomeKit system. Meanwhile at work, Deloitte notes that “over 60% of the one billion global wireless IoT devices will be bought, paid for and used by enterprises – despite media focus on consumers controlling their thermostats, lights, and appliances (ranging from washing machines to tea kettles).” As a result, issues of cybersecurity - at both home and work - are not going to go away. If anything, they will only become more complex due to the sheer number of connected devices that we will own. HP explained in a 2014 report how these types of issues can quickly spiral. “A couple of security concerns on a single device such as a mobile phone can quickly turn to 50 or 60 concerns when considering multiple IoT devices in an interconnected home or business,” they note. Given this, it’s probably not surprising that Gartner concludes that “organisations QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 73

development > tech talk

Will the much-anticipated occulus go mainstream this year? And will the iWatch bring a paradigm shift like the one the iPhone did?

will increasingly recognise that it is not possible to provide a 100% secured environment.” In this environment “perimeters and firewalls are no longer enough; every app needs to be self-aware and self-protecting. Once organisations acknowledge that,” Gartner says, "they can begin to apply more sophisticated risk assessment and mitigation tools.” And with HP’s 2014 study also finding that the average home IoT device has 25 security flaws – a conclusion based on analysis of ten devices such as home thermostats, remote power outlets and door locks – it sounds like we may need to deploy a similar approach in our personal lives too. Tablets “Major players in mobile will continue to pump out phones and tablets which have little to differentiate them from the pack,” concludes ZDNet’s James Kendrick. Moreover, “the never-ending rumours about a large (12-inch) iPad will probably turn out to be just that again in 2015,” he says. “I don’t believe a large iPad is in Apple’s DNA.” That may be so but, even without a bigger iPad, 2015 may well see further evolutions in the adoption and usage of tablet

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technologies. Tim Bajarin envisions that “application-specific tablets will take the market by storm,” noting, for example, how “it’s cheaper to buy a $99 tablet than a souped-up clock radio for the bedside.” And as the prices of tablets continue to fall, so “we are seeing people buy cheap tablets to hang under kitchen cabinets, place in bathrooms or put in their kids’ rooms for news, podcasts and television.” Tablets will also play a role in changing our relationships with businesses too, with Gartner noting how “increasingly powerful smartphones and tablets, and the correspondingly rich and powerful applications available for each, enable consumers and business customers to interact seamlessly with companies, content and commerce experiences at virtually all stages of the purchase process.” As a result, Simon Culmer of Avaya says, just as “consumers have become accustomed to communicating via video,” so “businesses are increasingly waking up to this.” 2015, he predicts, will see customer service channels increasingly embrace video. Given the increasing prevalence of tablets, they will no doubt be a key device for this type of communication. “Imagine how easy it would be if you are at an online checkout, and you have a question about delivery costs, you could just click a button and speak to a customer service rep over video without leaving the page,” Culmer enthuses. For Gartner these moves are part of the future direction of business-consumer relations. “Customers who were born and grew up utilizing the Internet as a communications, information and transaction platform, and tethered to their mobile devices, will demand that service providers and retailers deliver on the expectation of connected and channel-agnostic commerce experiences,” they suggest. Looking ahead at 2016 Finally, it’s also worth saying a few words about the essential new tech purchases the digiterati are likely to be making in 2015, as these may offer us an indication of the major tech trends that we will be discussing next year. In this regard, all eyes are going to be focussed on two well-trailed technologies: the Apple Watch and the much anticipated Facebook-owned Oculus VR (virtual reality) gaming headset. Whether these will dominate our tech talk as much as 3D printing, cybersecurity and tablets remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure, 2015 is certainly not going to be a dull year for each

development > tech talk

THE PEARL IN YOUR PALM This new iteration of the app is a vast improvement on the old one and enables users to access a range of digital services on the island.

Ziad Fleichan from the United Development Company explains how the app functions.

Drone rules

vailable for free download on Android or iOS operating systems, the app can be used to “apply for services, register complaints or seek information and make reservations”. You can also locate stores, contact them, ascertain opening hours and also make reservations at its many restaurants. Location services are either displayed on an easy-to-read 3D interactive map or through the new technique of “augmented reality”, thus allowing users to identify labels for all restaurants, outlets, facilities, and entertainment locations at The Pearl Qatar in real time by holding up their smartphones’ built-in cameras.

INTERNET FOR ALL

In a move that might set a worldwide precedent, USA’s Federal Aviation Administration released a list of proposed rules concerning drone operations that will come into effect soon after the end of public consultation. Here are some of the important tenets of the proposed regulations. THE RULES APPLY TO DRONES THAT ARE 55 POUNDS OR LESS. A DRONE OPERATOR MUST BE AT LEAST 17 YEARS OLD AND PASS AN AERONAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE TEST TO OBTAIN A DRONE OPERATOR CERTIFICATE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE RENEWED EVERY TWO YEARS.

After launching in Colombia, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania, Facebook rolled out its Internet.org app in India, offering free basic web services to people in the second-most populous country on the planet. The app is now available in six different Indian states and offers residents access to a limited range of portals including Wikipedia, some job listing sites, select weather, sports, and news outlets, and, naturally, Facebook and Facebook Messenger. Users must also be customers of local cellular carrier Reliance Communications, as Facebook is launching the app in partnership with the company.

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DRONE OPERATORS ARE TO KEEP THEIR DEVICES IN SIGHT AT ALL TIMES. THESE UNMANNED AIRCRAFTS WOULD ALSO HAVE TO STAY BELOW 500 FEET, TRAVEL NO FASTER THAN 100 MILES PER HOUR, AND NOT FLY OVER OTHER PEOPLE. THE RULES WOULD BAN DRONE OPERATORS FROM DROPPING OBJECTS FROM THE DEVICE, WHICH – FOR THE TIME BEING – PROHIBIT DELIVERY DRONES LIKE AMAZON PRIMEAIR.

PHYSICS, COMPUTER CODE AND HOLLYWOOD

THE GREAT BANK ROBBERY A Russian cybercriminal gang has stolen close to $1 billion (QR3.6 billion) from up to 100 financial institutions in two years.

ecurity company Kaspersky released a report in which it detailed how the gang – dubbed “Carbanak” – has been stealing directly from banks in the biggest cyber heist to date. The company said it was working with Interpol, Europol and authorities from different countries to uncover more details but it has emerged that the gang gained access to the network and video surveillance systems through malicious emails sent to employees, a technique known as spear phishing. The gang also remotely controlled ATMs and ordered them to dispense cash when a member would be waiting to collect the money.

SHOWCASE YOUR ONLINE MARKETING CHOPS

eloitte and INJAZ Al-Arab partnered together to develop a unique app to educate students on the use of marketing across social media platforms. The app encouraged students from five Arab countries to create 30-second marketing videos to promote a product or service, which were then uploaded to Facebook to be vetted by the general public. Of the 55 videos submitted, the top ten with the most public votes went on to receive further mentorship in the field of social media marketing by Deloitte volunteers.

The team behind the visual effects of the movie Interstellar has published a paper on some intriguing discoveries they made about the nature of black holes. In developing the movie’s visual effects, the team essentially made the first attempt ever to compute what it would look like to view a black hole from its orbit, a dizzying sight of the singularity “dragging space into a whirling motion and stretching the caustics around itself many times.” Kip Thorne, the astrophysicist who was consulted on the movie, said the new approach to creating images of black holes and other celestial objects will be of great value to his fellow scientists.

THE RACE FOR SELF-DRIVING CARS

Apple threw its hat into the ring and will now be competing with Google and Uber in developing the first generation of self-driving cars.

ews broke last week that Apple has assembled a 1,000-person team and poached high-profile talent from car companies to work on a top-secret self-driving electric vehicle project carrying the code name “Titan”. Uber is also going head-to-head with one of its primary investors Google in the self-driving space and has teamed up with Carnegie Mellon University to create a new centre (“Uber Advanced Technologies Center “) in Pittsburgh. Here it plans to do research and development “primarily in the areas of mapping and vehicle safety and autonomy technology,” according to the company. QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 77

AUTO SPOTLIGHT

STEP ON THE GAS

IT WAS A SHOW OF GLITZ AND SHIMMERING STEEL. THE DAZZLING DISPLAY OF NEW MODELS BY GLOBAL AUTOMOBILE COMPANIES MADE THE FIFTH EDITION OF QATAR INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW A TRULY MEMORABLE EVENT.

s many as three dozen car and motor cycle brands showcased their latest luxury, sport, mid-size and SUV segments by captains of the auto industry such as Alfardan, NBK Automobiles, Jaidah Automotive, Mannai Automotive and Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co among others. The world’s fastest car – Veyron 16.4 Super Sport – and Renault’s electric car Twizy stole the show, for an innovative wave of movement. If Jaidah Automotive came out with Corvette C7 convertible, the Silverado Reaper and the Tahoe Z71, Bentley Motors revealed the new Mulsanne Speed for the first time in the Middle East. Likewise, Alfardan Premier Motors unveiled the Jaguar XE and the Range Rover Sport SVR to the MENA region and also the new 2015 Ducati Scrambler motor cycle. The Middle East debut of the all-new BMW X6M and BMW X5M – the ultimate in BMW M

performance, combining outstanding motor racing heritage with hallmark M high performance engineering with everyday practicality was presented by Alfardan group. Porsche too thrilled the visitors as they unveiled two derivatives of the Porsche Cayenne – Cayenne GTS and Cayenne Turbo S – besides the Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS and also the Panamera Turbo S Executive. Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles launched four new models of Mercedes -Maybach S Class, AMG GT S, CLA 250 and GLA 45 AMG to capture the guests’ attention and Mannai Auto showcased the all new 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe. Alfardan Sports Motors unveiled the first fully-customised Ferrari FF that has been made exclusively for Qatar, and aptly named “Perla.” Qatar Today was the media partner of the Qatar Motor Show which was hosted by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and co-organised by the q.media Events and Fira de Barcelona.

AUTO SPOTLIGHT

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ALFARDAN STEALS THE SHOW THE VEHICLES PUT UP FOR DISPLAY BY ALFARDAN AUTOMOBILES WERE THE CYNOSURE OF ALL EYES AT THE MOTOR SHOW.

Alfardan Automobiles not only presented the all-new BMW X6M and BMW X5M for the first time in the Middle East but also unveiled the all-new MINI John Cooper Works Hatch at the event. Besides, the BMW Group importer also showcased other models including the BMW M3, M4 and M6 Gran Coupé, in addition to the 5 Series, X4 and 7 Series Pearl. Another stand highlight was the world’s most progressive 2+2 seater sports car, the BMW i8, Rolls-Royce cars and BMW motorcycles.

QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 81

AUTO SPOTLIGHT

AUDI’S ALL-NEW TTS AND Q7 ARRIVE IN QATAR

AS ONE OF THE KEY MOTORING EVENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, THE QATAR MOTOR SHOW HAS BEEN ATTRACTING CAR LOVERS AND TRADE PROFESSIONALS ALIKE AND SERVES AS A STAGE FOR AUDI’S LATEST INNOVATIONS. OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AUDI HAS SEEN A STEADY MOMENTUM OF GROWTH IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND ESPECIALLY IN QATAR. REPRESENTATIVE OF AN ENTIRE NEW TT MODEL LINEUP, AUDI REVEALED THE AUDI TTS AND SURPRISED WITH THE MIDDLE EAST PREMIERE OF THE BRAND NEW AUDI Q7.

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“T

his year’s motor show was one of the main calendar highlights of Audi in Qatar; we have certainly succeeded in intriguing our fans with the latest 2015 models. Each model showcased highlighted the brand’s defining qualities of dynamic contours and innovative technology. Car enthusiasts found the Audi exhibit the main highlight of the event with the new TTS and Q7 displayed for the first time in the GCC, and the second appearance for the new Q7 worldwide,” says Anthony Kwan, Marketing Manager of Audi Qatar. The brand has experienced strong growth in Qatar, with a year on year growth of 25% in 2014, the strongest in the region. With the reveal of the Audi TTS Audi introduced a modern classic and design icon of the brand. The exterior is streamlined and muscular, athletic and poised ready to jump forward – a car that is mesmerizing at the first glance. The designers of the compact sports car have reinterpreted the typical lines of the original TT from 1998 and enriched it by adding an array of dynamic elements. Many details in the profile of the new Coupé are reminiscent of the first-generation design classic. The sill contour forms a

strong line and the wide wheel arches form their own geometric body. The 286 hp 2.0 TFSI engine which powers the new TTS come with the new Audi drive select system, while a sound actuator provides an even sportier sound. It takes 4.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h, while the top speed, which is electronically limited to 250 km/h, is just a formality. The Audi virtual cockpit is a new electronic innovation, which replaces the analog instruments and the MMI monitor in the new TT range. It comprises a fully digital instrument cluster with versatile graphics and a highly detailed display. A Middle East launch date is expected for March 2015 and August 2015 respectively. The new Audi TT will be available with a starting price of $40,555 (QR148,000). The second regional premiere and only shown for the second time worldwide after the International reveal at Detroit Motor Show is the much anticipated and eagerly awaited new Audi Q7. The biggest selling model for Audi in the Middle East was revealed by Mohamed Saadon Al Kuwari, Audi Brand Ambassador for Q-Auto. All in all, the new Audi Q7 represents everything a true premium automobile stands for: Premium performance, premium efficiency, premium connectivity and premium assistance systems

“The 286 HP 2.0 TFSI engine, which powers the new TTS, comes with the new Audi drive select system, while a sound actuator provides an even sportier sound. It takes 4.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h, while the top speed, which is electronically limited to 250 km/h, is just a formality.”

QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 83

AUTO SPOTLIGHT

THE BEAUTY OF PORSCHE

PORSCHE IS SAID TO BE QATARIS' FAVOURITE BRAND AND THE FACT THAT THE QATARI HOLDING COMPANY OWNED SHARES OF THE AUTOMOBILE GIANT IS NOT THE SOLE REASON FOR THIS PASSION.

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sk any car aficionado about his favourite car and a majority of them would swear by the 911, Porsche’s oldest and most loved high-performance sports car. Qataris have a stronger connection and love for the brand and for the 911 in particular. Ahed Dawood, Brand Manager of Porsche Centre Doha, explains how Porsche has managed to remain close to Qatari hearts for decades. In 2014, Porsche AG delivered nearly 189,850 new vehicles to customers all over the world – an increase of 17% over the previous year. In December 2014, Porsche also broke the 20,000 unit barrier (up 39% compared to the same month the previous year) by delivering 20,644 vehicles for the first time in one month. The reason for these figures, according to Dawood, is “Our brand experienced an additional upswing in 2014 as a result of the successful launch of the Macan. Worldwide, 75% of Macan customers were first-time buyers of a Porsche car.” “We introduced Macan in April 2014 but it was only available, with the ramp up of production, from June and with just a half year of selling, Macan was a successful sell out, selling 45,000 worldwide” he says.

The introduction of the all-new Cayenne was another factor that saw the volumes in sales for Porsche. “In 2015, we will see new derivatives will be introduced. The introductions have been made and at the Qatar Motor Show, there will be 3 new regional premieres. We have the Cayenne Turbo S, the top of the range and most powerful and fastest SUV on the planet; the Cayenne GPS, where GPS stands for higher performance; and the 911 Targa 4 GTS. The car embodies the meaning of power, dynamism and exquisite style,” says Dawood. A very special fourth regional premiere is also set to thrill audiences in the form of the Panamera Exclusive Series. Based on the Panamera Turbo S Executive the new model delivers a level of luxury and unique craftsmanship that is unrivalled in the automotive sector, boasts Dawood. “This very exclusive Panamera is adorned with Nappa leather with dark walnut and piano black trim. A set of fitted Poltrana Frau leather luggage is also included.” Going by the trends, Cayenne is always a hot favourite in the country, while Macan is aimed at the younger, smaller families. “It is a beautiful compact car in the SUV segment.” QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 85

AUTO SPOTLIGHT

MASERATI LAUNCHES Q4 ON ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE MODELS

MASERATI QATAR, REPRESENTED BY ALFARDAN SPORTS MOTORS, HAS ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCH OF ITS FIRST-EVER ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM, Q4, AT THE QATAR MOTOR SHOW LAST MONTH.

he system will be available on Maserati’s four-door sedan models, the Quattroporte and Ghibli, as the top-of-the-line S Q4 variant. The S Q4 accelerates the Quattroporte and Ghibli from 0-100 km/h in just 4.9 and 4.8 seconds respectively – faster than their rear-wheel drive counterparts – up to a top speed of 283 km/h and 284 km/h respectively. The Q4 system has been designed to maximize traction and further amplify Maserati’s high-performance, grand touring qualities and rear-wheel driving experience, while offering absolute safety whatever the road conditions. The system acts by transferring traction to the front wheels on demand and with an immediate response. “With the Quattroporte and Ghibli S Q4 we are now able to offer our clients allwheel-drive models that drive like a real Maserati. The sole objective of Q4 is optimising the balance between increased driving pleasure and safety” explained Charly Dagher, General Manager of Alfardan Sports Motors Company. The launch comes ahead of the 2016 launch of the luxury manufacturer’s first SUV, the Levante. The Ghibli is Maserati’s latest addition to its model range and the first four-door sports executive sedan by the Italian luxury brand. By combining breathtaking design with exceptional handling and outstanding performance, the Ghibli appeals to the head and the heart, making the dream of owning a Maserati more accessible. Maserati also offers the Ghibli and Ghibli S, both featuring a new-generation twin turbo-charged 3.0-litre V6 engine and an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. With its power output of 410 hp the Ghibli S races to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of 285 km/h. The Ghibli delivers 330 hp, a top speed of 263 km/h and acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds. With the original 1963 Quattroporte,

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Maserati invented the concept of the luxury sports sedan and the 6th generation Quattroporte continues to be the benchmark for high-quality engineering, supercar performance and limousine comfort. In addition to the Quattroporte S Q4, Maserati also offers the GTS, S, and the Quattroporte with 330 hp as part of its Quattroporte range with two state-of-

the-art, high-performance, direct-injection engines: a 3.8-litre V8 (Quattroporte GTS) and a 3.0-litre V6 (Quattroporte S Q4, S and Quattroporte). Both engines are twin turbo-charged, developed by Maserati Powertrain in partnership with Ferrari Powertrain, and built by Ferrari at its world-leading engine construction facility in Maranello

AUTO SPOTLIGHT

ALL-NEW GRAND CARNIVAL SET FOR QATAR PREMIERE

ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC CARS IN THE KIA MOTORS LINE-UP, THE CARNIVAL IS ABOUT TO PRODUCE EVEN MORE SURPRISES WITH ITS ALL-NEW VERSION SET TO BECOME AVAILABLE IN THE QATAR MARKET IN MARCH 2015.

ow called the Grand Carnival, the car is being billed as a more premium version of its predecessor, starting with fresh, elegant styling, a new engine, comfortable interior and more space than ever. Introduced through Al-Attiya Motors and Trading Co (AMTC), the official distributor in Qatar, the Grand Carnival is the latest in a series of design-led transformations of the entire KIA model line overseen by Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer of KIA Motors, since 2009. The Grand Carnival has made sweep-

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ing changes to the exterior body as seen through the revamped ‘Tiger Nose’ Grille that is a trademark for all KIA cars. Now, the Grand Carnival has styling and proportions that do not compromise the functional convenience of a modern family car. Among the main features of the car is its spacious interior, as the cabin was designed to achieve maximized space for driver and passenger convenience and pleasure. Its reinforced high-strength tensile steel body improves impact resistance, body rigidity and performance due to reduced car weight. To offer even more convenience, the Grand Carnival now has Smart Tailgate

wherein a press on the Smart Key’s button will automatically open or close the back door. The Grand Carnival also comes with rear parking sensors and camera, auto cruise control, cooling glove box and leather seats. The Grand Carnival will also come with a new 3.3L Lambda II MPI V6 engine that offers power and smoothness due to its relative quietness. The new engine will also have improved fuel consumption. The Grand Carnival will be available in March 2015 in the KIA Qatar showroom located at Al Rayyan Road (opposite Hamad Hospital). Interested parties can visit www.kiaqatar.com for more information

AUTO SPOTLIGHT

NEW CADILLAC ATS LINE-UP CONNECTIVITY THE CADILLAC ATS LINEUP EXPANDS FOR 2015 WITH THE ALL-NEW ATS COUPE HITTING THE SHOWROOMS IN THE MIDDLE EAST LATER THIS YEAR. THE VEHICLE MADE ITS DEBUT IN QATAR DURING THE QATAR INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW HELD LAST MONTH.

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ighter, more agile and more engaging than its competitors, it extends Cadillac’s product-driven growth and the brand’s tradition of dynamic luxury coupes – while the ATS Sedan continues to challenge the world’s best premium cars with an acclaimed balance of performance and refinement, wrapped in a progressive expression of Cadillac’s Art & Science design philosophy. The ATS lineup is offered as wellequipped Standard models, as well as Performance and Premium Collections. A broad lineup of engines – includ-

ing four-cylinders and a V-6 – delivers strong power to the ATS and capitalizes on the car’s lightweight and rigid structure to complement its performance with efficiency. Bold lighting elements are a Cadillac signature feature and the ATS advances the tradition with available high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps, light-emitting diode (LED) vertical light signature elements and Adaptive Forward Lighting. The Standard model features projector-beam halogen headlamps, while the HID headlamps and front vertical LED light signatures are included on all

AUTO SPOTLIGHT

“The safety features bolster driver vision and awareness of road hazards, and can even help the driver avert potential crashes. In certain situations, Cadillac’s advanced crashavoidance systems, such as automatic braking, can pre-fill and automatically apply braking in response in certain situations.”

AVAILABLE INTERIOR FEATURES INCLUDE Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity with natural voice recognition USB, auxiliary and SD memory card ports Reconfigurable 5.7-inch, threewindow instrument panel cluster display New power-assisted tilting and telescoping steering column added to the Premium Collection Full-colour reconfigurable head-up display Interior colour and trim choices are offered in five levels

collections. Illuminated outside door handles on Performance and Premium Collections lend technologically advanced style and function. All models feature LED technology for the taillamps and rear-centre stop lamp. The Intellibeam feature – included with the Driver Awareness or Driver Assist packages – automatically deploys highbeam headlamps when needed and instantly turns them down when oncoming traffic is detected. All models come with an electric, variable-assist power steering system from ZF Steering Systems. It is designed to deliver excellent response and on-centre characteristics, while also saving fuel because engine power isn’t directly required to assist gear movement – as is the case with conventional hydraulic systems. Advanced safety features ATS provides standard NHTSA 5-Star allaround and overall crash safety ratings, the highest safety ratings available.

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In addition, Cadillac provides available advanced safety based on Cadillac’s “control and alert” strategy that employs advanced technologies – including radar, cameras and ultrasonic sensors – to help prevent crashes. The safety features bolster driver vision and awareness of road hazards, and can even assist to help the driver avert potential crashes. In certain situations, Cadillac’s advanced crash-avoidance systems, such as automatic braking, can pre-fill and automatically apply braking in response in certain situations. Mannai Trading Co. WLL which is the exclusive Cadillac dealer in Qatar, The company offers one year free comprehensive insurance + 3 years/60,000km free service and maintenance + free registration, three years/ 60,000km free service and maintenance + free side step and bedliner + free registration. One year free comprehensive insurance + free side step and bedliner + free registration and Three year/ 100,000km free service and maintenance + free registration

development > green scene

Installing ideas

he second edition of Green Programme for Schools is now in high gear. Volunteers went around the city installing signs and suggestions boxes in the five schools that are part of Phase 1 of the programme, that is supported by ExxonMobil. The International School London Qatar, Bangladesh MHM School & College, Birla Public School, Al Arqam Academy Secondary for Girls and Gharnata Girls Preparatory School for Girls all had they walls adorned with remainders to converse energy and water, to reuse as much as they can and recycle the rest. A small but significant step to turning actions to habits and habits into lifecycle.

QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 93

business > marketwatch

Shaping a better future

In an age of cut-throat competition, rebranding has become one of the measures by which companies breathe fresh life into business, and a world-class airliner like Cathay Pacific is no exception.

athay Pacific has undertaken the exercise a couple of months ago focussing on its customers and explaining how the airliner has elevated their travel experience when flying with them. “Over the next 18 months, our passengers will start to see, feel and experience a number of changes across many key touch points in our products and services, as well as through our regular communication channels and promotional campaigns,” Nick Brooks, Cathay Pacific country manager, told Qatar Today. The highlights of the brand and design changes will include an updated, cleaner

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and more refined Cathay Pacific logo, which started appearing from end October 2014; a new, easier-to-use website, which will continue to be enhanced throughout 2015; new lounges embracing the new design concept; and new company-wide signage that will start appearing from the second half of 2015 onwards. “However, the livery still looks contemporary and there are no plans for changing it at this stage,” Brooks says. Investments Cathay Pacific has made huge investments as part of its fleet modernisation programme, completely renovated the cabins over the last four years, and upgraded the

airport lounges across its international network to provide a better customer experience for passengers. “All these have also resulted in Cathay Pacific being voted 'World’s Best Airline' in 2014 for a record fourth time, more than any other airline. We believe the new design and brand philosophy will shape an even better experience for our passengers,” Brooks says. Explaining the strategy behind Cathay Pacific’s decision to go for rebranding, he says that this brand refresh is all about conveying what the airline has been doing to ensure its passengers travel well. “We believe that travelling well is a key feature

of living well. The campaign will therefore reflect our philosophy of a Life Well Travelled,” he avers. Feedback and success As part of the plans, Cathay Pacific has been working with world-class designers to make the customer experience simpler, better and more relevant to what passengers are looking at currently. “At the same time, we also involved staff throughout the entire refreshed brand identity exercise to solicit their feedback and ideas. The campaign was launched internally to the staff first and received enthusiastic support,” Brooks says. As for the success of their exercise, he says: “The new design is not just about a campaign but represents a concerted and thorough modernisation of our entire brand - and we hope it will have a lasting beneficial impact on the overall consumer experience.” Declining oil prices It is not that Cathay Pacific is immune to the global developments pertaining to the slump in the oil prices as many airlines bore the brunt when the prices were above $100 per barrel till six months ago. This is the time for them to cover the ground and they are not reducing air fares despite dropping oil prices. “The cost of fuel remains one of the top challenges affecting profitability and growth in the airline industry. It is too early to speculate or forecast at this stage what the effect of declining oil prices may have for Cathay Pacific and the industry in the coming years. However, it (falling prices) is certainly good news! “

Good response Cathay Pacific, which launched its daily service between Doha and Hong Kong in March last year, received a positive response. The flight is serviced by an Airbus A330-300 aircraft with a three-class configuration featuring its ward-winning Business Class, Premium Economy Class and long-haul Economy Class seats. “Our operation takes travellers from the Middle East to Hong Kong and beyond via our hub at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). We enjoy an extensive network in China, serving more than 20 destinations through our sister airline Dragonair, and provide strong connectivity for travellers between the Middle East and other points in East Asia like Japan and Korea, as well Australia and North America,” says Brooks. Cathay Pacific has been flying to the GCC region since 1976 and upgraded all its fleet serving Middle Eastern routes with Business Class, which has been well received by passengers. “We are constantly reviewing the market demand in the region and will look to develop our network accordingly,” he adds

“We believe that travelling well is a key feature of living well. The campaign will therefore reflect our philosophy of a Life Well Travelled.” NICK BROOKS Country Manager Cathay Pacific Qatar

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DOHA JEWELLERY & WATCHES EXHIBITION

The Art in Jewels

THE DOHA JEWELLERY & WATCHES EXHIBITION 2015 WAS ALL ABOUT CREATIVITY, CUT AND CLARITY OF JEWELS AND INGENUITY OF DESIGNS.

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e shake our heads in disdain and remark on the extravagance that’s symbolic of the country’s most coveted exhibition of the year, but we cannot shake ourselves out of the spell that the Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition has on each one of us. With beautifully structured stands from established jewellers and the shine of the creative flairs of jewels in the large open halls of the Qatar National Convention Centre, the 12th Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition seemed even more spectacular than last year’s. Held under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, the show was inaugurated by HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al Thani, the Minister of Economy and Commerce in the presence of HE Issa Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, the Chairman of Qatar Tourism Authority and

Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa, CEO of Qatar Development Bank (QDB). Hosted by Qatar Tourism Authority, q.media Events and Fira Barcelona the exhibition was an impressive collection of jewellery and timepieces from the most famous and reputed international brands. The beautifully themed venue glittered

with exquisite pieces. Some had stories behind them. Some were a combination of passion and creative flair. The five-day exhibition was also the event of choice for many regional and international brands to unveil their new collections in the Middle East. Hamad Al Abdan, Director of Exhibitions, Qatar Tourism Authority, said “The Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE) is one of the most anticipated luxury events in the region. QTA is pinning significant hopes on the event’s success especially that we’re seeing exclusive pieces launched during the event and people from across the region coming to buy luxury sets and creations.” Qatar Today walks through the stands of DJWE 2015, salutes the creators of such exquisite beauty and wonders at the immense wealth that is on display.

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DOHA JEWELLERY & WATCHES EXHIBITION GRAFF

A gem of a jeweller

CLIVE GOLANSKI Senior Executive Graff Diamonds

The British jeweller, Graff, is pragmatic about their large presence in the Middle East, but they are not the least bit fazed by the volatile oil prices and their effect on the luxury industry. “Our markets are always volatile. Wealth is moving around the world; when one market gets busier, the other slows. But the most stable of our markets is Qatar. We always have great responses from the customers,” says Clive Golanski, Senior Executive of Graff Diamonds. A combination of creativity and magnificence of jewels makes for the success of Graff, says Golanski. “We are essentially a diamond house. But you can’t just have special stones without having exceptional designs to carry them,” he says. Graff is one of the jewellery houses involved in every process of jewellery making, from sourcing to acquiring of the jewels, to the cutting, polishing and setting of the jewel in beautiful designs, and even marketing the final products. Graff is also said to have handled more diamonds of rarity and beauty than any other jeweller. One exceptional piece that Graff has brought to DJWE 2015 is a necklace with two 100-carat diamonds. “This is something no other jeweller could possibly imagine to replicate because diamonds are so rare and having two diamonds of 100 carats each is a rarity. This is a royal piece of jewellery. These diamonds are crown jewels that take generations to become a reality.”

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CARTIER

Art at the heart

LAURENT GABORIT

Regional Managing Director, Middle East, India & Africa Cartier

Cartier’s booth stood in all its magnificence close to the entrance of the exhibition. Each item of Cartier's jewellery on display is testament to the heritage of the brand and the craftsmanship of its atelier. Laurent Gaborit, Regional Managing Director, Middle East, India & Africa speaks about the importance of the region for Cartier. “Qatari customers know Cartier very well and they have a strong emotional bond with the brand,” he says. “Qatar is reinventing itself and our customers are knowledgeable, showing an appetite for creativity from us. This makes us even more passionate about the region,” he says. The heart of Cartier is art and the customers appreciate this connection with art. A bigger stand-alone salon in Villagio, where customers can enjoy and soak in the creativity that is the heart of the brand ,is in the cards for Cartier this year. This year at the DJWE, Cartier has brought pieces that best showcase its artistic dimensions, one among them being the Reine Makéda necklace that features an exquisite 15.29-carat ruby from Mozambique that can be worn separately as a ruby choker or as part of the diamond necklace.

DAVID MORRIS

The British jeweller For over five decades, royalty and international collectors have composed the clientele of the esteemed British jewellery brand which David Morris established in 1962. Jeremy Morris has since followed in his father’s footsteps and is now Managing Director and Principal Designer of David Morris. Pleasant and discerning, Morris is an old-timer and has been participating in the Doha Jewellery exhibition even before it was an entity of its own. “We have been here longer than most. We were here even before the show existed. It was called the Al Fardan exhibition and was conducted in the basement of Sheraton,” shares Morris. “That was 13 years ago. Even at that time we were getting customers and knew it was an important market.” The following year, ABA group got in touch with David Morris and that’s how the brand is now a part of the group and has since had a presence here. Oil prices have had no impact on the luxury market. As Morris rightly puts it, “People still have weddings. If the Sheikh’s daughter wants a diamond necklace for her wedding, will he tell her that the oil price is falling?” Having said that, there have been some pockets which have shown a dip, including the Russian market.

JEREMY MORRIS

Managing Director and Principal Designer David Morris

“It’s not boom time but we are still making sales, from India, from China, from the region,” he says. The multi-coloured diamond necklace of David Morris is the highlight this season, according to Morris. David Morris is very attuned to the market and, with this knowledge, has tweaked some products and adjusted some prices to meet such demands. Since then, there has been a pickup in sales, says Morris. QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 101

DOHA JEWELLERY & WATCHES EXHIBITION

ROGER DUBUIS

Bold innovations The Middle East forms an increasingly important segment of Roger Dubuis’s market, and watch aficionados from the region are their most notable customers. This is why they make it a point to display some of the most iconic timepieces at the event. Jean-Sebastien Berland, Roger Dubuis Regional Brand Director, says “It also gives us a good indication of the prevailing regional tastes and trends that will shape the market going forward.” Some of the watches on display in Doha have only been showcased less than a month ago and are distinct in their style and demand. “We have a velvet collection which is aimed at women and is proving to be a best seller.” The Velvet High Jewellery that sets new standards in blending elegance with style is a stunning model set with 1,300 diamonds totalling around 9 carats. At its heart beats the RD822 mechanical self-winding movement. Its glamorous universe places it firmly in the category of timepieces imbued with the Diva spirit. The Excalibur Quatuor symbolises the mechanical magic of one of the most innovative Manufactures of the 21st century. The first Roger Dubuis watch with four sprung balances, played simultaneously by four virtuosi and accompanied by five differentials, is the ultimate counter to the effects of gravity on the accuracy of its movement.

PANERAI

Watchmaking expertise Officine Panerai has a loyal base in Qatar, and Milvin George, the Managing Director, Middle East, Turkey and India for Officine Panerai, has access to this loyal clientele through close interaction. “Qataris are known for their consumption of luxury and this comes mostly from understanding the high value of brands and the history behind them,” he says. “Hence we can also predict good growth for the brand.” “Our watches are all handmade and hence we do not commit to big numbers for production,” says George. The latest addition to the Officine Panerai family is the Radiomir Firenze. Just 99 of these watches are being made. They are sold exclusively at Officine Panerai’s historic Florence boutique in Piazza San Giovanni, but are available at the exhibition. The brushed steel case 47 mm in diameter has the same dimensions as the first watch created by Officine Panerai in 1936, and it is entirely decorated with engraving carried out by hand by expert Italian craftsmen. The designs are inspired by motifs which recur in Florentine iconography. The movement of the new Radiomir Firenze is the handwound P.3000 calibre, designed and made in the Panerai manufacture in Neuchâtel, and it can be admired through the sapphire glass porthole which is positioned in the centre of the back.

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VAN CLEEF & ARPELS

Evoking a fairy tale The retelling of a 17th century French fairytale comes to life this year with the ‘Peau d’Âne raconté par Van Cleef & Arpels’ collection that brings together the house’s fine craftsmanship with a fantasy dream world. Princess Peau d’Âne fled her home carrying a mirror after a strange madness overcame her father, the king. The mirror sets the inspiration for the collection’s Miroir Enchante necklace that is adorned with a Burmese sapphire with a detachable motif centerpiece, a tassel of cultured pearls and over 6,500 emerald beads. The prince in the fairytale is represented by the Prince Rouge Clip – a rare masculine representation in the house’s creations – which displays the figure of the prince holding an emerald to his heart. Another highlight is the Carpe Koi watch bracelet that takes the form of a carp fish and is set with coloured stones. Wrapped around the wrist like a protecting talisman, the bracelet is unfastened by pressing on the carp’s tail, releasing the body. “The house represents an unsurpassed craftsmanship, offering jewels and timepieces that tell stories and bring enchantment to life. We are always looking to present exceptional savoir-faire in its quest for stones that express an emotion,” says Alban Belloir, the brand’s Managing Director for Middle East and India.

QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 103

DOHA JEWELLERY & WATCHES EXHIBITION QELA

Homemade excellence This is the second time Qela, Qatar’s own fashion brand, is participating at the DJWE 2015 and they plan to reach out to the local market first, and then to regional and international audiences. Sheikha Noor bint Hamad Al Thani, Brand Image VP of Qela, is the core of the brand and reflects “the company’s visions of identity, heritage and aesthetics through design and craftsmanship”. Qela focuses on local home-grown designs, focusing on the “sand rose line which draws inspiration from Qatar’s tranquilly vibrant natural landscapes and the natural crystalline forms of sandroses in the desert.”

SHEIKHA NOOR BINT HAMAD AL THANI Brand Image Vice President QELA

“We are also proud to be showcasing, for the first time ever, our unique pearls that have been harvested in Qatar pearl legacy’s local pearl farms,” says Sheikha Noor.

MOUAWAD

The Limited edition Celebrating its 125th anniversary, Mouawad released a selected array of limited edition novelties especially for DJWE to honour its milestone year and the prestige of the annual event. The brand’s iconic diamonds are interpreted this year through the intricately woven Wedding Sets, Bridal Classics, Boutique Collections and High Jewellery. “Our diamonds are manufactured from the rough through our joint venture company, Premier Diamond Alliance (PDA) and transferred to Mouawad’s diamond factory for sorting, cutting, polishing and designing. Each stone is then artistically worked and laid in stunning settings to serve as a token of everlasting love,” says Fred Mouawad, Coguardian of the Diamond Division. The house has also garnered great feedback on its foray into watchmaking with its Grand Ellipse, La Griffe and La Classique pieces that combine Swiss techniques with fine jewellery. “DJWE has been a great onset for our anniversary celebrations and the unveiling of our limited edition pieces,” he adds. 104 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

DAVID WEBB

Inspired by the region One of the most anticipated exhibitors at this year’s edition is David Webb, the American jewellery house that returned for the second time after a well-received debut showing last year. The recently revived brand is a colourful and playful take on fine jewellery making, which draws from the eccentric and celebrated archive works of the late founder David Webb. “We’ve had a strong following among collectors in the Arabian Gulf for decades. David Webb made no secret of his love for the pearls from these waters and he drew a great deal of inspiration from the traditional patterns of the Arabian Gulf in his drive to bring greater refinement and simplicity to modern jewelry. To some degree, it felt like we were bringing some of these pieces back to their ‘home,’” says Mark Emanuel co-owner of the brand. The brand presented heritage designs as exhibited at the Norton Museum of Art’s retrospective show in Florida as well as the Totem Pendant Collection, which was made available for the first time in the region.

FABERGÉ

One of a kind

AL ZAIN

Arab-Deco at the core An interesting object of art anchors the 2015 DJWE the Fabergé Pearl Egg – a collaboration between the Al Fardan Group and Fabergé, the world’s most iconic artistic jeweller. Paying homage to the forthcoming centenary of the last Fabergé Imperial Eggs ever created, Fabergé has crafted an extraordinary, one-of-kind egg object using the Al Fardan family’s collection of pearls. The Fabergé Pearl Egg draws inspiration from the formation of a pearl within an oyster, and the egg’s painstakingly crafted mother-of-pearl exterior opens to reveal a unique grey pearl of 12.17 carats, sourced from the Arabian Gulf and exhibiting exceptional purity and a highly unusual shade of grey. Each pearl adorning the Fabergé Pearl Egg was hand-selected by Hussain Ibrahim Al Fardan from his private collection. “I have a passion for natural pearls and it took me many years to build my current collection gathering some of the most extraordinary pearls in the world. Fabergé has a great history in making jewellery for royalty and a truly precious Fabergé Egg is a luxury treasure and the symbol of a long-gone era of opulence. This is why I partnered with Fabergé to combine these two traditional treasures: the Fabergé Egg and natural Arabian Gulf pearls, to create an exceptional piece,” Hussain explains. The Pearl Egg is accompanied by a sumptuous Fabergé necklace of white pearls, diamonds and mother of pearl featuring a scallop motif, and finished with an exquisite 19.44 carat white pearl drop.

Inspired by the Arabian heritage of the Gulf and designed with the precision of jewellery making, Bahraini master jewellers Al Zain showcased the Pearl and Lace Collections, which pay tribute to the elegance of contemporary women in the Gulf. Using the finest pearls from the region, the Pearl collection is an enhancement of the Arab-deco collection which consists of handmade pieces inspired by the glamour and elegance of the Art Deco era. “Over the past 85 years, Al Zain has evolved into a trusted brand which offers jewellery lovers the finest collections of timeless appeal and craftsmanship. As one of the first jewellers to combine pearl and jewellerymaking in the Gulf, we are delighted to be able to continue to share our unique jewellery designs with our loyal customers in Qatar,” says the house’s CEO, Nabeel Al Zain. The brand also showcased its magnificent romance-inspired bridal collection, where clients were also able to request custom designs. QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 105

DOHA JEWELLERY & WATCHES EXHIBITION FIFTY ONE EAST

The coming together of elegance

BADER AL DARWISH Chairman Fifty One East

As you enter the exhibition space, the Fifty One East pavilion that houses brands like Rolex, Rolex Cellini, Chanel, Boucheron, Tudor, Pasquale Bruni, H. Moser & Cie, Bremont and much more catches one’s attention for its craftsmanship. In a contemporary white and dark wood design, the pavilion is a testament to the jewellery pieces it accommodates. Fifty One East Chairman Bader Al Darwish has been closely involved with the DJWE since its inception.

negligible slip but the luxury market will continue to maintain its growth as people will always indulge in luxury and continue to appreciate the good things in life even in trying situations. That combined with the successful history of Fifty One East clubbed with our partnerships with esteemed brands and unmatched services have enabled us to earn the loyalty and trust of our customers that has contributed to our sustained growth and market leadership.”

“DJWE was always designed to be a major event in Qatar and the region. It brings together the leading regional and international players to Qatar to showcase their latest products and innovative and creative designs,” says Al Darwish. “We have witnessed its consistent growth and acceptance as a major event year after year. The initial response might not have been the most flattering but over the years the event has attracted some of the most recognised and appreciated global brands and has helped position Qatar to the international industry.”

Chanel showcased its iconic high jewellery creations, including the “1932” collection, which celebrates the 80th anniversary of the “Bijoux de Diamants,” the first and only high-end jewellery collection created by Gabrielle Chanel, in 1932. Another highlight at the exhibition is the “Sous le Signe du Lion” collection, with the magnificent “Constellation du Lion” brooch.

A much recognised and respected businessman, Al Darwish predicts that the luxury industry will sail through times of mayhem. “The GCC region remains a major pool for growth with the luxury goods market estimated at around 4 billion euros and an expected 5 to 8% growth this year, higher than the worldwide luxury market growth, which is marked at 3 to 5%,” he says. “Having said that, there might be a very

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Boucheron too had on display the best of craftsmanship through their Rêves d’Ailleurs collection that is a voyage into the wondrous world of Boucheron jewels: A collection that transports us from the dazzling sun-drenched colours of Persia to the warm hypnotic waters of the Sea of Japan, and from the erudite artistic lands of China to the lush gardens and sparkling fountains of India to the frozen crystal purity of Russia. The best on display here is the Pinceau de Chine collection, inspired by an art form that has been at the heart of Chinese civilization for thousands of years: calligraphy, or the art of writing well.

ROLEX

Powerfully attractive

World-renowned watch makers Rolex choose to participate in only two worldwide exhibitions, the Baselworld in Switzerland and the Doha Jewellery Watches Exhibition. No wonder then that the luxurious Rolex booth stood out with its vibrant emerald colour and its tribute to Qatar’s sea. The concept, created with the Fifty One East’s design engineering team, blends the international appeal of three prestigious brands Rolex, Chanel and Boucheron with the 65-year heritage of service excellence. Qatar’s pearl diving history is its theme. Introduced over 60 years ago, the Milgauss is a technical masterpiece, designed for engineers and scientists. The magnetic shield surrounding the movement is so effective that Milgauss became known as the watch worn by scientists at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research in Geneva and gained a reputation as the ultimate timepiece of science and technological progress. The 2014 Milgauss has a fine pedigree and with its subtle technological refinements, it makes a good addition to the brand’s Oyster Perpetual collection.

BREMONT

Quintessentially British

While many prestigious watch manufacturers have taken time to establish their presence in the market the award-winning luxury brand Bremont, entered it by a somewhat different route. Co-founded by brothers Nick and Giles English only 12 years ago, the company’s beautifully engineered chronometers quickly found favour with military squadrons and adventurers around the world. The brand has a long-running link with historic aircraft and all things mechanical which dates back well before the company was founded. A number of new innovations were displayed at Bremont’s booth at the Doha Watches and Jewellery Exhibition. Extremely lightweight, yet durable timepieces showcase the mechanical automatic

movements which are worthy of global adventurers. Two new models launched in 2014 were borne from a partnership entered into with aerospace company Boeing. Created using Boeing aeroplane materials that have never before been incorporated in a watch manufacture, the Bremont Boeing Models 1 and 247 both come in a choice of custom 465 stainless steel and aviation-grade titanium. The new titanium Terra Nova, which Bremont created for the renowned British polar explorer Ben Saunders and his team mate Tarka L’Herpiniere to wear on their world record-breaking Antarctic expedition in 2014, marks another exciting innovation.

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business > marketwatch TRUMP HOME PARTNERS WITH LIFESTYLE

DT Home Marks International LLC and City Lifestyle recently announced their new partnership by introducing the Trump Home brand exclusively across stores in Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The collection includes room décor, bath accessories, lighting, decorative mirrors, and jewellery boxes.

“T

he Trump Home brand offers the consumer beautiful product, focused on attention to detail and added value,” said Donald J. Trump, Chairman and President of The Trump Organisation. “We are excited to be expanding the Trump Home global footprint and to be collaborating with City Lifestyle.” “We chose to collaborate with Trump Home for an exclusive Middle East launch keeping in mind the growing demand of the region’s style-conscious consumer’s need for premium and bespoke brands,” said Sachin Mundhwa, the CEO of Lifestyle. Highlights of the assortment include bath accessories with mother of pearl and chrome detailing, along with luxurious, fashion forward jewelry boxes made of leather. The collection captures the essence and attention to detail that has become synonymous with the Trump brand.

SHOPPERS’ DELIGHT Salwa Road saw the opening of a new women’s boutique that specialises in providing personalised shopping. La Boutique Blanche offers shoppers a chance to choose from designers across Canada, India, Spain, Italy and the UK. The collection includes classic looks, eye-catching dresses and garments of high-fashion. There is also a collection of accessories, shoes and handbags from all over the world.

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business > marketwatch

SAFETY STANDARDS ARE THE NEED OF THE HOUR

The boom in construction in Qatar has necessitated the availability of a dependable training institute to meet the safety standards and the wide ranging requirements of the industry and the presence of Enertech has been serving that objective since 2005.

afety training is becoming an increasingly required qualification for almost every individual in today’s highly urbanised social setup. It is essential for professionals in or aspiring to be a part of the construction, oil and gas, industrial production sectors and the like. Enertech aims at helping protect people who are the most valuable asset of any organisation, increase business profitability and mitigate risk through investment in training of employees, workers and even for safety individuals. The training standards of Enertech comply with internationally approved norms of life-saving training programmes offered all over the world. “Enertech Qatar is the Middle East’s biggest Safety Training Centre with standards that are second to none. We have achieved local approvals here in Qatar, and unprecedented International accreditations from the likes of the UK’s OPITO, NEBOSH, IOSH, ECITB, PADI, IASST, IEMA, IIRSM, IADC and IWCF. We are currently an ISO 9001, ISO 14001 & OHSAS 18001 certified company approved by Qatar Petroleum, Ras Gas, Maersk Oil Qatar, Dolphin

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Energy, and Total E&P for various HSE training programmes,” says Hamad Abdullah Hamad Al Attiyah, Chairman of Enertech Qatar. In the Enertech’s state-of-the-art training centre, classroom lectures and practical training sessions maintain a ratio of 40:60 for most of the courses. The lecture halls, 15 training rooms, equipment and infrastructure of the academy are truly world class. The institute has imported and installed the latest equipment from reputed manufacturers in the field. The main focus leading up to the 2022 World Cup is shifting towards the metro line projects, stadium construction projects, ports enhancements, construction of modern city areas and road and drainage infrastructure development. “At Enertech we see our future in a very straightforward fashion. As Qatar’s most experienced training provider we must ensure that we satisfy all our clients’ demands for 2015. However, we recognise that we need to react to all the opportunities that Qatar’s continuing development will offer,” Al Attiyah adds

“Enertech Qatar is putting emphasis on consulting for additional improvements of the HSE culture among existing and potential clients. One way to do that is to promote investment in Project Management, Soft Skills, HR and ISO/ OHSAS qualifications and certifications.” HAMAD ABDULLAH HAMAD AL ATTIYAH Chairman Enertech Qatar

culture > doha diary El Anatsui, Introvert

Art at Dohaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart

The attention of the global art world once again turns to Qatar this spring with the International New York Times Art for Tomorrow conference, which brings together artists, gallerists, architects, auction house executives and others to explore the changing dynamics of art and architecture and their potential to change people and places. By Lina Lazaar and Aileen Agopian 112 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

Abdulnasser Gharem, Men at Work

lso in mid-March, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha opens an exhibition of works by Egyptian artist Wael Shawky who is currently the subject of a critically-acclaimed show at MoMA PS1 in New York City. In April, Sotheby’s will stage its third Contemporary Art Doha sale, which offers Modern and Contemporary Arab and Iranian Art and International Contemporary Art. The pre-sale exhibition will take place at Katara Art Centre, Building No 5, Katara Cultural Village, in Doha from April 14 to 21, with a prestigious evening auction on April 21. Over the past decade that Sotheby’s has been actively promoting sustainable platforms for exhibiting and selling contemporary Arab and Iranian art, it has become clear that the emerging Middle Eastern art scene is reaching greater maturity, with a strong ownership and collection cycle. In April 2013, the Contemporary Art Doha sale realised $15.2 million, establishing the highest price for an auction in the Middle East region. Last October in Doha, we achieved a total of $8,006,625 (QR30 million) within our pre-sale expectations, and established auction records for 13 artists. In keeping with this continued evolution, this season’s well-balanced sale will showcase major international artists in a MENA market place as well as present cutting-edge contemporary art from both the Middle East and further afield. It confirms our commitment to ensure that regional artists are given a strong contemporary art platform through which they can interact with global collectors, and it will be exciting to see how the market responds. Art unlimited An undoubted star of the sale is El Anatsui’s Introvert, a movable aluminium and copper wire installation that is more accessible for private collectors due to its intimate

“In keeping with this continued evolution, this season’s wellbalanced sale will showcase major international artists in a MENA market place as well as present cutting-edge contemporary art from both the Middle East and further afield.”

size, when compared with the monumental format in which the artist often works. A key feature is the novel ability of an owner to manipulate the piece sculpturally to whatever visual presentation is desired. Introvert exemplifies Anatsui’s signature method of artistic production coupled with his principal ideology of reassigning purpose to waste material in order to recount a rich and wonderful heritage. Transforming found objects into fine art, Anatsui’s “tapestries” cause the observer to examine their preconceptions of waste material, its relationship to beauty and how art cannot be confined to strict definitions.

Ayman Baalbaki, Al-Mulatham

We anticipate great interest in the work of American artist Christopher Wool, whom Contemporary Art Doha will bring for exhibition and sale for the first time in the Middle East. Wool’s Untitled is one of the artist’s earliest, most desirable and sought-after pattern paintings, created between 1986 and 1987. QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 113

culture > doha diary

space with its concave form capturing the eternally changing natural world within its fixed, artificial grasp.

Ali Banisadr, The Shrines

A bold, graphic work with powerful presence, Untitled was made using paint rollers incised with floral designs that transferred the patterns onto an aluminium canvas. The severe black enamel pattern against the white ground thereby collapses any distinction between the physical process of making the work and its visual context. These everyday tools provided Wool with a repertoire of ready-made imagery, and the small inconsistencies created during the process convey a delicate, yet powerfully emotional resonance. A highlight of the international contemporary art is Anish Kapoor’s Untitled, from the artist’s pixelated disk series, another one of which Sotheby’s sold in Doha in October 2014 to great acclaim, setting the highest price for the artist in the Middle East and the highest auction price for a work from this series by Kapoor (estimated between $800,000 and $1 million). The perfect concave sphere of Untitled instantly enshrouds the viewer into its welcoming, yet slightly disconcerting, infinite 114 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015

Icons of Nile Chant Avedissian’s Icons of the Nile is a mosaic of pan-Arab culture depicting important national heroes, politicians, and celebrities from the 1960s to the present day instantly recognizable to Egyptians. Created by the Egyptian artist in 2010, the work, in 21 parts, has many similarities to Icons of the Nile which set the artist record at Sotheby’s Doha in April 2013. Avedissian’s remarkable use of stencils is the result of more than twenty years of research during his extensive travels. During this time he has gradually integrated the knowledge gained from his formal studies in Canada and France with his understanding of legendary iconography from the Pharaonic era, the geometry of Arab architecture, the floral patterns of Ottoman textiles, and 20th century imagery of well-known figures from the Arab world. The work takes on a particular poignancy for Egypt’s past, given present events. Blend of East and West Ali Banisadr left his native Iran as a result of the Iran-Iraq war and his work is heavily influenced by his childhood experiences as a refugee. Dominated by large-scale fantastical abstract landscapes that convey the chaotic violence he witnessed as a child, his work draws on both Eastern and Western artistic traditions, ranging from the startling complexity of Persian miniatures to the wide-ranging landscapes of the Flemish Old Masters. The development of Banisadr’s work through a prism of art historical references

Farid Belkahia, Untitled

from medieval imagery to abstract expressionism makes him a highly sought-after artist. The Shrines from 2011 (estimated between $100,000 and $150,000) appears at auction just six months after Sotheby’s set an auction record for the artist in Doha for The Chase. It is fascinating to note that the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has acquired a work by the artist. An exciting group of young Saudi artists, including two of the founders of the much-acclaimed “Edge of Arabia” grassroots Saudi initiative, will be contributing to the diverse and fresh-to-the-market offering. Manal al Dowayan (an artist for whom Sotheby’s set a world auction record in 2013 with the sale of Suspended Together) is represented by a photograph A Hand Claps, A Hand Waves (estimated between $10,000 and $15,000); Musaed al Hulis has reinterpreted the prayer rug in a carefully-crated steel object Dynamic (estimated between $10,000 and $15,000); Shaweesh’s witty Captain America photograph is from the series which launched him as an artist (estimated between $8000 and $12,000); Abdulnasser Gharem’s powerful and early “stamp painting” Men at Work (Time Magazine Person of the Year 2003: The American Soldier) (estimated between $20,000 and $30,000) juxtaposes recognisable icons, political figures and trademarks in a composition loaded with authoritarian symbolism; while Ahmed Mater, one of the patriarchs of the Saudi contemporary art scene, is represented by an iconic Duchamp-rooted neon sculpture Green Antenna (estimated $15,000 and $20,000). Berber heritage Sotheby’s sale will present a rare and early ‘peau relief,’ Untitled from 1981 (estimated

between $40,000 and $60,000) by Farid Belkahia, Morocco’s foremost artist, who has brought together North Africa’s rich Berber heritage to New Modernist grounds. In a career spanning five decades, Belkahia has favoured the medium of leathers, impregnating them with henna in an attempt to both physically and emotionally root his oeuvre in the landscape of tradition and crafts. Parchments stretched into organic shapes, and adorned with magical symbols and rituals, Untitled is the truest embodiment of the visual lexicon of a post-colonial celebration of Morocco’s cultural authenticity. Ayman Baalbaki’s Al-Mulatham I is one of the best works by the artist, whose current auction record was set at Sotheby’s Doha in April 2013, to come to auction in years. Since that sale, the artist has completed the Mulatham series, making the appearance of a painting a significant market event. Baalbaki uses his signature style with distinctive brushstrokes to explore the tension provoked in western eyes by the Mulatham – a typical and widely worn of Middle Eastern iconography. Al-Mulatham I dates from 2009 and is estimated to bring between $80,000 and $120,000. We’re very much looking forward to seeing how this ever-growing exposure of Middle Eastern artists to an international audience will be received by collectors and institutions at this particularly exciting time in Doha’s cultural life

Anish Kapoor, Untitled

LINA LAZAAR and AILEEN AGOPIAN are Sotheby’s International Contemporary Art Specialists QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 115

culture > doha diary

Believe in yourself

Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, the Director of Public and Community Relations in Ooredoo, encourages the younger generation to be the change they want to see in the world. By Alexandra Langston

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atima Sultan Al Kuwari, Director of Public and Community Relations at Ooredoo since 2012 is the proud spokesperson of a company that she “believes fosters the right environment for women to grow as leaders.” She began her career as the head of Ooredoo’s social media in Qatar, where she helped launch the first community-driven customer help site. “Ooredoo was a pioneer in using social media to speak to customers in Qatar, and I’m proud to have been involved in this initiative from the beginning,” she says. Women in leadership roles were a rarity at this time, and the nature of a technology-driven business was an added challenge. “Proving that I could keep up in a predominantly male-orientated sector was a big challenge, but it also pushed me to work harder,” says Al Kuwari. Inspired and encouraged by her company’s belief in her and the support of her family, she came to believe that it was possible to be whatever she wanted to be. A supportive work and home environment was important in enabling Al Kuwari to climb the career ladder. Gender issue was never considered a barrier, says Al Kuwari. “How you approach a challenge is defined by the type of person you are and in my experience I don’t work differently from any other colleague, male or female, when it comes to everyday work challenges,” she says. Instead, reaching her career goals and working hard in her profession enables her to be an advocate for women. "I want to be a role model for all women in Qatar, especially the young, and show women that they can get to where they want to be.” Her position at Ooredoo provides Al Kuwari with the knowledge and skills in corporate social responsibility (CSR) with which she can expand her influence to a wider

“To be the change is to take ownership of our lives and change within ourselves first to then be able to change anything around us. Stop negative thoughts and criticism, and substitute it with actions.”

community. “Leading the community relations side of Ooredoo has helped me make an impact in the CSR sector in Qatar and champion women across my field, and this is something that I feel very proud of,” she says. This is also a role that she takes very seriously. “I do believe that it comes with great responsibility, since I have a platform to reach a wider audience and give back to the woman community,” says Al Kuwari. With a personal goal to “have a positive impact in the lives of anyone that I interact with on personal and professional levels,” Al Kuwari is ambitious in her desire to develop Qatar. Her position at Ooredoo has had a “positive impact on me, honing my interpersonal skills as well as learning to balance business and community needs to benefit everyone in Qatar.” While she had always been inspired to work in a technologically driven atmosphere, a career shift to the business side of

Ooredoo hasn’t hindered her dream a bit. “I might have said that I wanted to focus more on the social media and technological side of my job, but now, looking at all the initiatives and community events we have achieved, I wouldn’t change a thing,” she says. And a positive outlook on life means that Al Kuwari has no regrets. “I believe life is always full of opportunities and new challenges, there is always a way to improve things and make them better one way or another.” Knowledge is the key to success, believes Al Kuwari, right from the beginning of a career to moving ahead in your profession. “I am a big believer in continuous development and training. I do recommend reading at least one good book every month, because ‘leaders are readers’,” she advises. This strong belief stems from her religion, but whilst Al Kuwari cites Islam as being the encouragement to read, she also acknowledges the power of self-belief when trying to develop oneself. “To be the change is to take ownership of our lives and change within ourselves first to then be able to change anything around us. Stop negative thoughts and criticisms, and substitute it with actions,” she says. It is this view which gives Fatima the ability to be a pioneer – in her profession, the community around her, in the country as a whole, and within herself About How Women Work The sixth annual How Women Work conference is coming up in May 2015, with the theme ‘Be the Change.’ Once again it promises to be interactive and relevant to you: the women who live and work in Qatar. How Women Work brings together women with ambitions and aspirations to empower each other to grow and succeed. Find out more at www.hwwqatar.com. QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 117

culture > qt take

Photo credit: Rachel Reed

ALL THAT JAZZ

Monthly live jazz concerts at MIA park drew plenty of Doha’s residents with the lure of great tunes and the last of the good weather. By Margaret Kadifa

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pectators have continued to gather at the Museum of Islamic Art Park for barbecue and live music from Jazz at Lincoln Center Doha since the event’s inception in 2013. The jazz scene in Doha is relatively new, but this month an audience of about 1,000 came to the park to hear the five jazz musicians, including the visiting Takeshi Ohbayashi trio. “By the time we start playing the sun’s gone down and the lights are on in the skyline,” trio member and acoustic bass player Jonathan Michel said. “For us to be able to put a soundtrack to that is very exciting.” The set list for the park is more accessible than what the musicians typically play in their main venue, a cozy yet refined jazz club located on the fourth floor of the St. Regis Doha. This month in the park, for example, they performed their rendition of the Gnarls Barkley pop song “Crazy.” Part of the fun of jazz is improvising onstage and crafting custom arrangements of already popular music, making a familiar tune like

“Crazy” sound new, said pianist Takeshi Ohbayashi. “There are no limitations,” Ohbayashi says. And, he continues, that means that you can never listen to too much jazz because every group will play the same song differently. Next month’s concert in the park will be on March 18 and will feature vocalist Heston, who currently performs in the St. Regis’ Vintage bar. February was the Takeshi Ohbayashi trio’s last performance in the park, but you can still catch Ohbayashi every night besides Sundays at the St. Regis’ jazz club until March 14. There, he performs custom arrangements of classics like the 1920s hit “My Blue Heaven,” which was popular in Ohbayashi’s native country, Japan. He quickened the pace of the song and transposed it into a higher register. The lyrics, Ohbayashi said, speak to what he thinks life was like in 1920s Japan: limited material goods but close families. “[The lyrics] mean something,” he said. “At least to me.”

DUST, SWEAT AND ADRENALINE Despite the dusty weather, participants flocked to this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Sport Day events on February 10. The dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities included organised runs, karate demonstrations, and an eight-hour football tournament with over 4500 participants. Hamad International Airport even hosted mini golf, mini football, and a step counting activity.

QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 119

culture > doha diary NEYMAR AND PIQUE AT THE LAUNCH OF FCB HOLIDAY

Qatar Airways launched their new marketing campaign supporting their partnership with FC Barcelona in Doha, where gathered journalists were given the first glimpse of the new advertisement.

odelled after their first TV spot, The Land of FC Barcelona, depicting the imaginary world of FC Barcelona where Messi taught football skills and Iniesta was an artist, the five-star airline unveiled their second campaign starring FC Barcelona stars Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., Gerard Piqué, Andrés Iniesta and Luis Suárez, Qatar Airways’ new commercial has the players visiting a number of destinations within the airline’s extensive network including the Maldives, Dallas, Paris and Seoul. The spot which will be aired in English, Arabic and Catalan takes a humourous look at the players participating in a number of different activities at each destination. The event was attended by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, HE Akbar Al Baker, Vice President Economic and Strategic Area of FC Barcelona, Javier Faus, and FCB’s First Team players Gerard Piqué and Neymar da Silva.

GRAND HYATT’S DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT The hotel has installed a network of large format touch-screens running an interactive media platform that informs and engages with users by serving contextual media and content on new services, exclusive deals, events, shopping, dining and tourism activites.

A FRIEND IN THE FAR EAST The Qatar Friendship Fund announced the launch two new major projects as part of its ongoing commitment to the rehabilitation of Japan’s Tohoku region.

he first initiative was the opening of the Qatar Science Campus on the grounds of the Engineering Graduate School at Tohoku University in Sendai City, which will host an interactive learning-center for use by visiting schoolchildren. This was followed a day later by the launch of the Qatar Sports Park in Shirakawa, whose residents had to be evacuated following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011.

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QR15 MILLION RAISED FOR CHARITY

At a major fundraising auction held at Sotheby’s London, QR15 million was raised to help some of the most marginalised and vulnerable children across the world. The auction was in support of ‘1 in 11’, a worldwide campaign launched earlier this year by FC Barcelona Foundation, Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) and UNICEF to extend educational opportunities to children in Bangladesh, Indonesia and Nepal, with the goal of expanding to more countries. The auction featured works from 18 renowned artists, including Qatari artist Yousef Ahmad (whose untitled painting alone raised QR125,000), Takashi Murakami, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons, Richard Serra and Luc Tuymans, as well as Middle Eastern artists Etel Adnan, Shirin Neshat, eL Seed and Wael Shawky, all of whom have collaborated with Qatar Museums. World football freestyling champion John Farnworth filmed a special performance amongst the art in Sotheby’s Bond Street galleries.

ARE YOU UP FOR CHALLENGE 22? Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, spoke passionately about sports and nation building at a packed hall at the Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar.

e emphasised on the importance of cultivating an entrepreneurial culture and encouraging innovation among the region’s youth during his talk. As thousands of young graduates enter the job market every year, Al Thawadi addressed the need for viable opportunities in the region to help boost development and prioritize capacity building in the region. Speaking as part of the Dean’s Lecture Series, he delivered a presentation on the

VOICES FROM THE CONTINENT

The Hamburg Girls’ Choir visited Doha for a special evening of music. The 49 girls between 14 and 22 years of age who were part of the choir belted out a diverse repertoire of German as well as international choir music. The main emphasis of their work was to cultivate the singing of a-cappella music. Held at German International School, all proceeds from the event went towards equipping the school’s music department.

recently launched ‘Challenge 22’ competition to students, faculty, staff and members of the Qatar Foundation community. The ‘Challenge 22’ innovation award is managed by the Supreme Committee, in collaboration with Silatech, and the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), and encourages innovators to submit solution-based proposals that could directly benefit Qatar and other countries when they are hosting global sporting events. QATAR TODAY > MARCH 2015 > 121

Winter World Cup is coming...

I’m surprised the final game isn’t already scheduled for Christmas Day. We all know what Blatter and FIFA are. For them it is just a matter of haggling about their price.

After months of speculation, FIFA finally made an official recommendation to move the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter months of November and December. The Local Organising Committee submitted their Masterplan to FIFA the very next day.

Qatar CLOUD

What the world was saying about the country around their dinner tables last month.

Why are you all so scared of a change? A Christmas World Cup sounds good to me, something to do on long cold winter nights! Here’s the thing also: it is called the ‘WORLD’ Cup. It is for every nation in the world to compete but for some reason the English premiership expect the world to revolve around them!! I believe that the Qatar World Cup schedule is going to be used as an excuse, to have a new universal football season across the world with games running from early March to late November.

The White House meeting

There are plenty of leagues that play in June and July, including MLS, the J-League, Argentine Primera and Brazilian Serie A. They get interrupted by every single World Cup, and you don’t see them whining about it. I think awarding the tournament to Qatar was a horrible idea, but not because the European Leagues have to rearrange their schedules. It’s not the end of the world.

In his first official visit to the White House as the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed the security situation in the Middle East with President Barack Obama.

Qatar is among the few countries who have an honorable attitude to what is happening in the Middle East. Those who support dictatorship in the Arab countries will harvest regrets. Look what happened to Gaddafi, Ben Ali...

All comments featured here are taken from the public web pages of various news organisations.

122 > QATAR TODAY >MARCH 2015 Qatar Today is not responsible for the comments expressed.

Is President Obama suffering from Qataract? What is Qatar-act (cataract)? A Qatar-act is a clouding of the lens of the eye that can impair vision.

The Emir comes out as an apologist for his country’s doing nothing to end the funding of the killing of Muslims by the Taliban and ISIS. At the same time, while saying he’d like all these “end of poverty, beginning of hope” ideas, Qatar hasn’t taken a lot of steps to help the Palestinians economically, let alone let them stay in Qatar or bring them there to study and work (and I don’t mean as replacements for Bangladeshis and others in the indentured servitude pool).