Qatar Today December 2010

DECEBMER 2010

INSIDE ISSUE

60

68

DESERT LET’S TWIST STORM

The Qatari Air Force is in the process of choosing a new AGAIN fighter to replace an aging fleet. Qatar Today meets

Craig Penrice, who explains why this Typhoon should be

The Eurofighter welcome in the desert Typhoon is a cuttingedgeBymultirole fighter aircraft. The Qatari John Hunt Air Force is looking to replace its aging fighter fleet. Veteran fighter pilot Craig Penrice thinks these two facts might well be linked. John Hunt meets him.

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HOW GREEN IS OUR VALLEY?

The Qatar Today Green Awards took place at the very end of last month. Here we share the ethos behind the awards and the thoughts of some of the winners.

NEW APPROACH

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Care versus cost in healthcare is the old conundrum that won’t go away.

New methods of healthcare provision must be welcomed and examined rigorously. Booz & Co brings us the latest e-health initiatives.

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GRAHAM WOLVERSON Our Independent Financial Advisor returns to answer readers’ queries. This time out, he looks at derivatives as a potential investment vehicle with a layman’s guide.

TECHTALK This month’s collection of gizmos, gadgets and tech stories from around the world asks, among other things, if you have QR25,000 to spend on a 3D television. You do? Then read on!

REGULARS News Bites.................................10 Realty Check..............................16 O&G Overview..........................18

Bank Notes.................................20 Arab Snippets.............................21 World View.................................22

Braking News.............................77 Market Watch..............................79 Doha Diary..................................84

INSIDE: CGC NOKIA PRODUCT BOOKLET

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december 2010

inside issue

36 The year

ThaT was In a few short weeks, 2010 will be history. We take a backwards glance at the stories which shaped the year at home and abroad as we wait for the arrival of a new year, new opportunities and, hopefully, new achievements. We also take the opportunity to remember absent friends.

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MasTer piece for doha fuTure

More than half of humanity now lives in cities and this figure is expected to rise further in the coming decades. You’ll deed to get your cities right then, it follows. Have a look at what is on the cards for Qatar’s capital...

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MaThaf MoMenTs

Qatar’s cultural offering is soon to be augmented with the arrival of the country’s first museum of modern art, Mathaf.

Sindhu Nair gets a sneak preview of the coming attractions.

90 digiTal delighTs

Ahmed Lotfy reports on a completely new way of accessing one of the most historic of art forms, theatre, and a brilliantly simple idea to bring the limelight into your living room...

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decebmer 2010

inside issue

60

68

Desert leTÕ s TwisT storm

The Qatari Air Force is in the process of choosing a new again fighter to replace an aging fleet. Qatar Today meets

Craig Penrice, who explains why this Typhoon should be

The Eurofighter welcome in the desert Typhoon is a cuttingedgeBymultirole fighter aircraft. The Qatari John Hunt Air Force is looking to replace its aging fighter fleet. Veteran fighter pilot Craig Penrice thinks these two facts might well be linked. John Hunt meets him.

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how green is our valley?

The Qatar Today Green Awards took place at the very end of last month. Here we share the ethos behind the awards and the thoughts of some of the winners.

new approach

64

Care versus cost in healthcare is the old conundrum that won’t go away.

New methods of healthcare provision must be welcomed and examined rigorously. Booz & Co brings us the latest e-health initiatives.

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grahaM wolverson Our Independent Financial Advisor returns to answer readers’ queries. This time out, he looks at derivatives as a potential investment vehicle with a layman’s guide.

TechTalk This month’s collection of gizmos, gadgets and tech stories from around the world asks, among other things, if you have QR25,000 to spend on a 3D television. You do? Then read on!

regulars News Bites.................................10 Realty Check..............................16 O&G Overview..........................18

Bank Notes.................................20 Arab Snippets.............................21 World View.................................22

Braking News.............................77 Market Watch..............................79 Doha Diary..................................84

inside: cgc nokia producT BookleT

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FrOm the deSk Recession? Correction? Paranoia? However we wish to label it, 2010 has been a steadier and better planned year in Qatar, far from the knee-jerk reactions of 2009.

And we are not particularly complaining about the red tags in malls around town.

Globally the range is between uneventful to predictable; ObamaÕ s charm seemed insufficient; Aung San Suu Kyi has been released but little else has changed for Myanmar; Apple continues to rock the tech scene; natureÕ s fury found a new target in Haiti; and recession or no recession, there is always enough money to grease palms: case in point FIFA. As we do every December, Qatar Today sums up the year gone by, the hits and the misses.

This month we speak to master planner Ian Lyne on the challenges of urban planning, and what Qatar needs to do differently to make its growth sustainable.

We also get a sneak preview of Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, which will have its official opening on December 30.

The third edition of Qatar Today Green Awards was held on Nov 27. One of Qatar Today’s key CSR initiatives, the Awards is oft cited and acknowledged for benchmarking conservation efforts in the country.

And we call on you to do your bit Ð Enjoy your read, pass it on and then recycle the magazine.

Vani Saraswathi

Address all your correspondence to Qatar Today, Oryx Advertising co WLL, P.O. box 3272; doha-Qatar. tel:(+974) 44672139, 44550983, 44671173, 44667584, Fax:(+974)44550982, email: qtoday@omsqatar. com. All rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. the publisher does not accept responsibility for advertising contents. Licensing/republishing Qt content: to obtain permission for text syndication in books, newsletters, magazines, newspapers and web or to use images/pictures carried in Qatar Today, please contact our syndication & licensing department on the numbers given above. Permission is also required to photocopy a Qt article for classroom use, course packs, business or general use. custom reprints: Any of the previously published article/s to be used as stand-alone pieces can be reprinted by us on special request. the reprint cost is based on the length of the article and the quantity ordered. contact our custom publishing division on the numbers given above for more information. Previous issues (FebrUAry 2004 onwards) of Qatar Today are available for sale, contact our Library department. to subscribe to Qatar Today call our subscription department on the numbers given above.

VOLUme 36 iSSUe 12 december 2010 managing editor vani saraswaThi

Art director venkaT reddy

deputy editor sindhu nair

Asst director Ð Production suJiTh heenaTigala

executive Vice President alpana roy

Assistant editors ahMed loTfy ali John hunT

Assistant Art director hanan aBu saiaM

Vice President ravi raMan

editorial coordinator cassey oliveira

Publisher & editor-in-chief yousuf JasseM al darwish Chief Executive Officer sandeep sehgal

contributor shalinee BharadwaJ

Senior Graphic designers ayush indraJiTh saMpaTh gunaThilaka

managers Ð marketing MohaMMed saMi Zulfikar Jiffry Senior media consultant chaTurka karandana media consultants vicToria ferraris hassan rekkaB

Accountant praTap chandran Sr. distribution executive BikraM shresTha distribution Support arJun TiMilsina BhiMal rai

marketing research & Support executive aMJeTh ali

Published by Oryx AdVertiSinG cO WLL, P.O. box 3272; doha-Qatar tel: (+974) 44672139, 44550983, 44671173, 44667584 Fax: (+974) 44550982 email: qtoday@omsqatar.com website: www.omsqatar.com Printed at: Gulf Publishing and Printing co WLL copyright © 2010 Oryx Advertising co WLL

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...letters

qtoday@omsqatar.com

Leading the way

An exchange of value

The nation’s top leaders Ð their vision, achievements, advice and milestones Ð all thrown in together made a compelling cover story. This is what the November issue of your magazine had to offer to its readers Ð a truly delightful read! Qatar’s progressive course in the global circuit has been an outcome of the foresight of visionary thinkers who believed in their strength as well as the strength of their country. Now it’s for us to wait and watch what the new generation of leaders have in store for this beautiful nation.

Abdullah Mustafa

Last month’s article on Qatar Exchange was helpful and it brought the true story behind the innovation by speaking to the people who use the facility. This is what I call true journalism. I would love to read more such investigative writeups in your magazine.

Rahim Kassim

Poll result is based on messages received till 20th of every month

Saluting the leaders

QT poll December dO yOU think the cOUntry iS GettinG mOre enVirOnmentALLy cOnSciOUS? SmS AnSWerS tO +974 33072524 A LUcky Winner WiLL Win A nOkiA e63

Firstly, I would like to salute the great minds behind the course of Qatar’s development from being a mere oil and gas producer to a hub of progressive sectors. Leaders deserve due recognition and Qatar Today magazine did a splendid job in granting them their due respect. Moreover, I was immensely thrilled to spot the names of female leaders who have chalked the way for women all over the world, and especially in the nation, to be at par with their male counterparts when it comes to making a difference. Kudos to the leaders once again.

Fatima Farah

Mada’s the way I was reading your magazine, and the article on Mada caught my attention. I was pretty impressed by the centre’s efforts in bridging the gaps between ICT and physically challenged people.

Assistive technology centres like Mada serve to harness the potential of everyone and anyone in the country.

Jonas Leigh

A suite life I arrived in Doha last month and have been staying at Kempinski Residences & Suites since then. When I saw a copy of your magazine, I couldn’t help but get excited with the mention of my current residence in the cosy Kempinski!

The unique concept of marrying hotel with residences is unique in its own way and the article was successful in reflecting this. It's nice here!

Tom Gibbs

Sponsored by:

The winning number of The lasT QT poll is 33004655

QT poll resulTs LeAderS PLAy A VitAL rOLe in the PrOGreSS OF Any cOUntry

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QAtAr tOdAy inViteS reAderSÕ FeedbAck Share your views on the magazine or any issue connected to Qatar. One lucky reader will win an exquisite mont blanc writing instrument.

Write to: the editor, Qatar today, PO box 3272, doha.

Fax: (+974) 44550982, email: qtoday@omsqatar.com Qatar Today reserves the right to edit and publish the correspondence. Views and opinions expressed in the published letters may not necessarily be the publicationÕ s views and opinions.

Check out all articles of Qatar Today on www.issuu.com/oryxmags

Qatar Today december 10

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24.

news BiTes

neW mArine indUStryLAUnched

The Emir HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani inaugurates the shipyard

HH the Emir with HE Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry and other officials at the opening ceremony

t

he Emir HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani inaugurated the first three phases of the multi-billion-dollar Nakilat Shipyard, located in the Ras Laffan Port, on November 23.

The launch ushers in a new era in Qatar’s marine industry as the country strives to diversify its economy.

The project will serve not only Qatar’s needs but those of the region and the world as well, said HE Abdullah bin Hamad AlAttiyah, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry, and Chairman of Nakilat, as he spoke to reporters after the

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launch ceremony.

He announced that under the directives of the Emir, the shipyard will carry the official name ‘Erhama bin Jaber Al Jalahma’.

“Upon instructions from HH the Emir, this shipyard will be officially named Erhama bin Jaber Al Jalahma, after a leading Qatari figure, a name every Qatari will be proud of,” said Al-Attiyah, adding the $2.8 billion (QR10.19 billion) shipyard can serve more than 150 ships a year and is capable of manufacturing ships of up to 120 metres in length.

An eFFectiVe APPrOAch tO diGitAL heALthcAre

nASSer AL AttiyAh & teAm cLincheS GOLd

q

Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah with his winning team

atar clinched the Asian Games skeet shooting team gold, steered to victory by Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah who is known more for his skills in rally driving.

Al-Attiyah, a former Middle East rally champion, teamed up with Masoud Hamad and brother Abdulaziz Al-Attiyah to clinch gold in the final event of the Asiad shooting tournament.

Their 353 points total was enough to beat Kuwait (345) and China (345) in the medal chase.

“This is especially good for me because I am a professional rally driver most of the time and only spend half my time shooting,” said Al-Attiyah, who was on the verge of a famous win in the 2009 Dakar Rally before he was disqualified for a technical infringement. Al-Attiyah also took bronze in the individual skeet event just behind Hamad, who took silver, with Kuwait’s Abdullah Al-Rashidi claiming the gold.

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news BiTes

A LeSS tAxinG PLAce tO be

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he Middle East has fewer, and less complex, tax laws in the world, according to ‘Paying Taxes 2011’, an annual report issued by PwC, the World Bank, and IFC. Within the global rankings, Qatar remains the 2nd easiest country to pay tax globally, for the second year running. All six GCC states fall within the top 14. On average there are almost half as many taxes levied in the Middle East, 5.5, compared to the global average of 10. Moreover, the time to complete tax obligations is significantly lower than the rest of the world.

The findings further support the region’s

TaXes reporT 2nD - QaTar 5Th - uae 6Th - Ksa 8Th - oman 9Th - KuwaiT 6Th - bahrain growth prospects and its position on the global stage.

QAtArÕ S $2mn PLedGe FOr interPOL centre

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he global police organisation Interpol approved at its general assembly in Qatar last month the creation of a new Singapore-based anti-crime centre. Qatar itself has pledged $2 million (QR7.28 million) towards the total cost of the facility.

“The ‘Global Complex’ reflects “the continuation of our culture of innovation and is the next step in the organisation’s evolution,Ó said Ronald Noble, Secretary General, Interpol.

“It will help all law enforcement raise their game in tackling the threats of the 21st century, particularly cybercrime,” Noble added.

The centre is intended to complement

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the agency’s existing general secretariat in Lyons, France, and is planned to go into full operation in late 2013 or early 2014.

It will provide innovative forensics and database research and enhance the organisation’s ability to provide round-theclock support to national police forces across time zones, the Interpol website claims.

Executive Director of police affairs Jean-Michel Louboutin remarked, “the centre will also have a regional vocation to enable us to deploy more rapidly crises cells in case of terrorist attacks, natural catastrophes or huge narcotics cases for example.”

biG chAnGeS mOOted FOr SPOnSOrShiP SyStem

t

aking its cue from Bahrain and Kuwait, Qatar is now planning to cancel the controversial sponsorship system for foreign workers, a move that could benefit expatriate employees here.

“The government is now seriously looking into the sponsorship system, and in light of the latest developments, the issue requires some legal and other measures,” Qatari Prime Minister HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani said.

“The government is studying very carefully the issue to ensure that the rights of Qatari citizens, employees and those who come to work in Qatar are all preserved.

There is a crucial need to ensure there is balance between all rights,” he was quoted as saying by the Qatar News Agency.

Under the present system, foreigners cannot enter, work in, switch jobs in or leave a number of Gulf countries - of which Qatar is one - without the approval of a sponsor who has full control over their movements.

Local and international rights groups have repeatedly criticised the system that is widely supported by powerful business communities in the GCC states.

Bahrain and Kuwait are the only other GCC countries to abolish the system.

Bahrain cancelled the system in 2009, and Kuwait reportedly plans to do so by February, 2011. Sheiikh Hamad continued, “The whole process takes some time and cannot happen overnight.”

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news BiTes hiGhLiGht

QAtAr reSeArch nOt An AbStrAct PrOPOSAL

Dr DIRAR Director of Institutional Research and Chair of the Organising Committee, Qatar Foundation

Of 227 Ôa bstractsÕ competing for exposure at the first Annual Research Forum in Doha, 166 have been accepted, covering topics from behaviour among different ethnic groups in Qatar to analysis of DNA mutations, officials at Qatar Foundation reported.

According to officials, 58 of the abstracts selected for presentation at the Forum – running on December 12 and 13 – were in the field of Biomedicine, 52 in Energy and Environment, 32 in Computing Science and 24 in Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Islamic Studies.

“The Research Forum is meant to showcase the breakthrough research initiatives being undertaken in Qatar and the high standards of research. Therefore, one of the key criteria for abstract selection was that the research included relevance to Qatar,” said Dr Dirar Khoury, Qatar Foundation’s Director of Institutional Research and Chair of the Organising Committee.

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SinGAPOre FLinG brinGS neW UnderStAndinG Stronger tourism ties between Qatar and Singapore have been put in place with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on tourism by the two countries during a visit by the Qatar Heir Apparent, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Hamad bin Al-Thani, to the ‘Garden City’ late last month.

The agreement comes as new figures from Singapore Tourism Board (STB) show visitor arrivals from Qatar rose by 43% in Q3 2010 compared with Q3 2009, with travellers flocking to the island nation to experience two stunning new multi-billion dollar Integrated Resorts

and a raft of world-class events, such as the exhilarating F1 race and unique Ramadan celebrations.

In total, 2,365 visitors arrived in Singapore from Qatar in July, August and September of this year, up from 1,644 in the same period of 2009.

The MoU sets out both countries’ desire to strengthen relations and develop understanding. The increase in tourism also corresponds to an increase in trade between Qatar and Singapore, which grew by 18.6% between January and September 2010 to reach a total trade figure of $4.7 billion (QR16.3 billion).

WiLLiAmSÕ WiSh Ð F1 FOr LOSAiL

w

illiams team boss Sir Frank Williams has revealed that he would like to see Qatar secure a place on the F1 calendar in the coming years.

Speaking to a local paper on a recent visit to the Doha, Sir Williams said he felt the Losail circuit was worthy of a place on the calendar even though he admits that the current size of the calendar means it is unlikely that the schedule could be expanded enough to allow a race to take place.

Williams already has strong links with Qatar having invested in QSTP. “I would

love to see a race in Qatar because of our involvement here,” he said. “In my humble opinion, the Losail circuit is admirably suited for an F1 race.

“I would love to see more races, but I don’t think we could ever have more than 22 without compromising the preparations and driver safety.”

“Williams’ future is now inextricably linked with Qatar,” Williams said. “Following our investment in the Williams Technology Centre at the Qatar Science & Technology Park, we feel it is important to support Qatar in its emergence as an international sporting destination.”

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realTy check

10.

28.

the0101010 eGG And 101010 10010 the10101 chicken 100010 0010

QAtAri diAr PrOject in triPOLi tAkeS OFF

w

ork has begun at The Waterfront, a luxury residential and resort development located near Tripoli along Libya’s Mediterranean coast. This was announced

by Al-Libya Al-Qataria (ALAQ), a joint venture between Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority) and Oyia (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Libya’s Economic and Social Development Fund).

The Waterfront will be a premium, gated, mixed-use community located in

Janzour, a western suburb of the Libyan capital. Central to the project is a five-star resort hotel, the first in Tripoli to offer a waterfront location along with first-class amenities and unsurpassed service. In addition to the five-star hotel, the 42-hectare development includes serviced residential apartments, luxury villas, and an upscale neighbourhood retail village. Additional amenities include beach access to the Mediterranean, extensive walking trails, top-quality fitness and sports facilities, shops and gourmet restaurants.

Qatari Diar, Group CEO, Eng. Mohammed bin Ali Al-Hedfa said, “We are delighted to be breaking ground on The Waterfront, and we consider it an important symbol of the deep friendship between Libya and Qatar. Furthermore, we believe that The Waterfront’s world-class resort and residences have the potential to herald a new era of luxury living for both Libyan residents and the growing number of business and leisure travellers who visit Tripoli.”

LS tO mArket nUrAi iSLAnd

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he real estate marketing consultancy firm in Qatar, LS: (Lifestyle Homes and Properties), recently signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi-based Luxury Real Estate Developer Zaya to sell and market its flagship project Nurai Island. The company obtained the rights to offer this development and stands as the sole agent in Qatar to have access to Nurai Island.

Nurai Island is located in the United Arab Emirates and is recognised as one of the most exclusive residential islands in the world.

mUSheireb deSiGnS ShAred At kSA SymPOSiUm

d

ohaland showcased sustainability-focused plans and designs for the future of Doha through the Musheireb project at ‘The First Urban Development Symposium’, held in Dammam, KSA. The symposium aimed to address a future sustainable real estate and housing development programme which guides physical development in a rational and practical manner and included presentations by leading academics and industry experts from the region and around the 16

world, as well as representatives from the Saudi government and municipal boards.

Dohaland’s pioneering efforts in the field of sustainability, manifest in the Musheireb project – the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration development, captured the imagination of the attendees. The symposium also lauded the vision of the project which aims to build a cutting-edge metropolis with architecture that is sensitive and responsive to local climate and norms as well as one that revives and leverages local heritage and culture.

Qatar Today december 10

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o&g overview

he AL-AttiyAh OPenS QAtAr cOOLÕ S PLAnt The Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry, HE Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah officially opened Qatar Cool’s Integrated District Cooling Plant (IDCP) – set to be the largest in the world.

The plant will provide cooling for the 41,000 residents, hotels, shopping centres and other facilities on the 400-hectare The Pearl-Qatar, with a capacity of 31,000 tonnes of refrigeration.

The inauguration of the plant highlighted the conclusion of the 5th International District Cooling Conference and Trade Show.

District cooling is a utility service which provides chilled water through a centralised cooling plant through a network of pipes to multiple residential, industrial and commercial buildings for air conditioning purposes.

District cooling helps the environment by increasing energy efficiency and reducing emissions like CO2.

Qatar Cool’s combined plants in Doha are projected to save about 250 million kg of CO2 annually which is the equivalent to burning 581,395 barrels of oil.

In Numbers

31,000

tonnes of refrigeration to be provided by Qatar Cool

581,395

barrels of oil expected to be saved through refrigeration

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10.

FUtUre FOrWArd: QAtAr'S mASter 101010 0101010 10010 PLAn GetS reAdy 100010 10101 0010

QAPcO POLyethyLene OUtPUt tO reAch 700,000 tOnneS Qatar Petrochemical Company’s (QPC) polyethylene production will scale up to 700,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) by the end of 2011.

“The production boost is achieved through the LDPE 3 plant, which is being set up at Mesaieed,” said Dr Mohamed Yousef Al-Mulla, GM at Qapco.

Qatar is now a major global polyethylene producer with state-of-the-art production facilities dealing for high density and low density, Al-Mulla said.

Qapco is also strengthening its global marketing network, which now consists of 28 overseas offices and five regional warehouses. “We have plans to open two more overseas offices next year,” said Al-Mulla.

Qapco’s products now reach more

than 4,500 customers in some 85 countries worldwide. Al-Mulla opined that linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) producer Qatofin would attain full capacity in the coming months with Ras Laffan Olefins Company supplying it the required ethylene feed stock.

Qatofin is a joint venture involving QPC, Total Petrochemicals of France and Qatar Petroleum. It has been designed to produce 450,000 metric tonnes per year of LLDPE. Mesaieed-based Qatofin is Qatar’s first petrochemical facility to produce linear low-density polyethylene, a highly versatile polymer used in the production of a wide variety of plastic products like bags, toys and electrical cable coverings.

neW miLeStOne FOr QAtArGAS By producing the first drops of liquefied natural gas at Train 6, the world’s largest LNG facility at Ras Laffan, Qatargas has achieved yet another milestone.

The 7.8 million tonnes per annum (tpa) capacity super train has been set up under Qatargas 3 project (QG 3), a joint venture

by Qatar Petroleum, ConocoPhillips and Mitsui & Company.

The production of first LNG at Train 6 takes Qatar a step closer to realising the vision of His Highness the Emir of achieving 77 million tpa by end-2010.

“Train 6 will take Qatargas closer to its overall LNG production capacity of 42 million tpa,” a company spokesman said.

Only one more facility (Train 7) remains to go onstream at Qatargas. Train 7, also a super train with 7.8 million tpa

capacity, is being set up under Qatargas 4, a QP/Royal Dutch Shell joint venture.

The first QG3 well was opened on October 16, culminating in the first LNG production in just over 16 days.

The work was led by the Qatargas Expansion Start-Up team, closely supported by the Onshore Project Management Team, other personnel from Qatargas Operating Company, the Chiyoda-Technip joint venture and contractors.

“After a world class uninterrupted start-up, QG3 safely produced its first LNG ‘rundown’ from Train 6 on November 1,” said Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al-Thani, CEO, Qatargas.

“Qatar is set to celebrate a combined LNG production capacity of 77 million tpa by mid-December 2010,” he added.

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52.

Bank noTes

QAtAr bAnkS hAVe A mOSt rObUSt OUtLOOk

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rovisions made by Qatari banks rose 2.9% month-on-month in October, in line with 2.2% growth in bank loans, reported Reuters using data from the Qatar Central Bank (QCB). Total provisions increased to QR6.78 billion ($1.86 billion) at the end of October, up from QR6.59 billion in September.

QCB said in a stability review in October that the banking system was sound and banks had comfortable provisioning against bad loans. Fitch ratings agency said in September that Qatari banks emerged relatively unscathed from the global financial crisis with strong profitability, healthy assets, liquidity and capital. Bank loans rose to QR274.2 billion in October, up from QR268.4 billion at the end of September, the data showed.

Qatar’s economy surged 20.4% in the second quarter from a year earlier, after shrinking 4.1% in Q1. It remains the Gulf region’s leader in economic growth, with

real GDP growth of 15.5% forecast for this year. Major Qatari banks reported robust third-quarter results, with Qatar National Bank posting a 41.5% jump in net profit on increased loans, and Commercial Bank of Qatar reporting a 28.9% increase in quarterly profit.

Banks in Qatar have also benefited from spending on infrastructure and related projects. Total assets in the banking sector rose 3.3%month-on-month to QR540.7 billion in October, the data showed.

WhAt reALLy driVeS FinAnciAL SUcceSS?

LendinG LOcALS LeAd the WAy A lending drought continues to impede economic recovery across the Gulf, but Qatar’s banks have started to lend at a relatively healthy rate, largely thanks to government bail-outs during the economic crisis reports the Financial Times.

Though loan extension in Qatar remains below the levels seen during the 2003-08 oil boom, total loans grew by 23% year-on-year in September.

The recovery in lending is a result of bail-outs in 2008 and 2009, when the government injected capital into its lenders. This effectively capped banking losses by allowing them to offload their worst assets.

Qatari bankers insist the interventions were just precautions, but the cost is estimated at 6.5% per cent of GDP, making it in relative terms one of the world’s largest support packages during the crisis.

The result has been some of the cleanest balance sheets in the region.

chOP, chOP FOr Unb And GULF heLicOPterS

u 20

nion National Bank (UNBQatar) is signing an $30 million term loan facility for Gulf Helicopters Company

(GHC), a company which provides helicopter transportation services to oilfield operators in the region.

The loan will fund the companyÕ s ongoing development plans.

AlaÕ AbuMughli, Senior Vice President and Country Head of UNB said, “This is our first financing to Gulf Helicopters Company and we hope to develop our relationship further with GHC in the future.Ó UNBÕ s role in providing the term loan facility is in line with the bankÕ s

objective and strategy of actively supporting QatarÕ s economy.

Mohamed Al Mohannadi, Chief Executive Officer, GHC, said, “We are pleased to form this new relationship with UNB, who were able to respond within a short time frame with a flexible facility. We are now almost done with our new helicopter fleet expansion and currently have a fleet of 12 Augusta Westland state-of-the-art AW139 helicopters with more to come.Ó

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56.

10.

araB snippeTs

mAthAF: the mUSeUm 101010neW 0101010 10010 On the bLOck 100010 10101 0010

hiGhLiGht saudi araBia

$5.8 bn WOrth deVeLOPment OF hOLy SiteS

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he Kingdom has decided to move forward with a development project of its holy sites, estimated at $5.87 billion (QR21.4 billion).

Saudi Arabia’s Interior Minister, Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz said the project aims to provide better amenities to pilgrims in the holy city of Makkah such as easier transportation through various means, especially trains, in addition to improvements and expansions in the holy sanctuary and around it.

demAnd FOr

GOLd GOeS UP 16%

leBanon

$20 bn tO SUStAin GrOWth

Lebanon needs to spend at least $20 billion to improve its basic infrastructure otherwise the high growth the country has been witnessing will dwindle and vanish, the economy and trade minister said.

Lebanon is famous for its robust serviceoriented sectors, but many investors are discouraged from setting up businesses in a country where power cuts are frequent, road networks beyond the capital are insufficient and communication lines are slow.

A total of $4 billion is earmarked for infrastructure investment in the 2010 and 2011 budgets, neither of which has been ratified by parliament because of political wrangling.

If the budgets are ratified, Lebanon expects to spend $1.2 billion to $1.3 billion on expansions and improvements to electricity and water networks, $300 million to $400 million on roads and the rest on communications.

gcc

reGULAtOry SyStemS PrOPOSed GCC Ministers of Commerce and Industry have approved at three regulatory systems for protection of competition, combating commercial fraud and consumer protection. Kuwaiti Minister of Commerce and Industry Ahmad Rashid Al-Haroun AlHaroun said that these three systems will

be submitted to the leaders of GCC countries for approval at their next meeting.

The officials, the minister said, tackled many of the vital issues aimed at achieving greater integration among the GCC countries in accordance with the directives of the top leaders.

The demand for gold in the six GCC countries as well as Egypt rose 16% in Q3 of this year to a staggering $2.6billion (QR9.46 billion) over the corresponding period in 2009. The figure in Q3 of 2009 was $2.3billion, according to the World Gold Council.

The quantum, however, has decreased to 6.7 tonnes from 7.7 tonnes (13%) in the third quarters.

The demand for gold for investment purposes was worth $273million (QR994 million), up 38% over the corresponding period last year.

Gold prices breached all records in the first week of November this year soaring to $1,400 per ounce.

Saudi Arabia ranked first by consuming $1.09billion worth in the third quarter, an increase of 13% from $920million over the corresponding period in 2009.

However, the volume was 26.4 tonnes, down 11% from 29.8 tonnes in Q3 of 2009. The UAE ranked second – $741million, up 11% from $600million over the corresponding period in 2009.

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AFP PHOTO/Soe Than WIN

world view

freedoM, really?

MYANMAR, Yangon : Myanmar’s newly freed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi holds flowers as she leaves a care centre for people living with HIV, on the outskirts of Yangon on November 17, 2010. Suu Kyi was freed from house arrest on November 13, less than a week after a controversial election that cemented the juntaÕ s decades-long grip on power.

Turn of The wheel

AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY

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UNITED STATES, New York : Traders gather around the GM trading post after General Motors CEO Dan Akerson rang the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange in New York on November 18, 2010, after GM launched the largest Initial Public Offering of 2010 at the NYSE. The return of GM stock to the New York Stock Exchange, initially priced at $33 a share, marks one of the largest stock offerings in history as it returns following a nearly 18-month hiatus after filing for bankruptcy protection.

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AFP PHOTO / Torsten BLACKWOOD

world view

an asian specTacle AFP PHOTO / DAMIEN MEYER

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on November 12, 2010. Athletes from 45 countries and territories competed in 42 sporting disciplines until the games wrapped on November 27.

MadoffÕ s loT

UNITED STATES, New York : Shoes which belonged to disgraced financier Bernie Madoff, are displayed during a press preview of items from Madoff to be auctioned, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, November 10, 2010. Hundreds of items once belonging to Madoff were auctioned off on November 13.

d&g geT TaX dodgy

ITALY, Milan : (FILE) In this file photo, Fashion designers Domenico Dolce (R) and Stefano Gabbana after the presentation of their collection for Dolce & Gabbana on June 20, 2009 in Milan. Italian prosecutors on November 19, 2010 requested the trial of famous fashion house Dolce & Gabbana for alleged tax fraud of around â‚Ź1 billion ($1.4 billion).

TOPSHOTS/AFP PHOTO/Emmanuel Dunand

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e-HealtHy: an effective approacH to taking HealtHcare Digital

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he global healthcare industry is facing a number of challenges.

Rising rates of chronic disease rere quire more comcom plex healthcare services; aging populations demand services for longer periods of time; medical technologies are becoming more sophisticated and more widely available but also much more expensive.

As a result, healthcare systems worldwide must offer more complex care to more demanding and informed patients, at ever-higher quality levels, while also trying adto control medical and ad ministrative expenses.

This is particularly true in Qatar. popuThe state has a rapidly-growing popu lation, and, like many countries within higher-than-avthe GCC, suffers from higher-than-av diserage rates of chronic lifestyle dis eases, including high cholesterol 24

and diabetes. Because regional healthcare offerings are not yet equivalent to those in Europe and the US, residents seeking the best treatment for complex procedures like organ transplants often travel to other countries. This is a quandary: In a country with world-class business and commercial infrastructure, Qatar does not yet have world-class healthcare infrastructure.

To deliver better quality to more people at lower cost, while also improving healthcare infrastructure, many countries are turning to e-health initiatives. Though the concept has been defined in different ways, it essentially entails applying the latest information and communication technologies to care delivery. E-health services often include, but are not limited to, e-cards, e-claims, e-prescriptions, ehealth portals, national electronic health records, national quality databases, telemedicine, and outbreak surveillance.

E-health programs offer a range of potential benefits. Doctors, nurses, and other caregivers are freed from low-level administrative tasks, allowing them to devote more attention to patient care. Caregivers also have better access to patient information and a more holistic view of patients’ medical history. Errors are reduced; medical centres, health regulators, and ministries of health can more effectively plan preventative health programs, outbreak surveillance, and other public health programmes. Perhaps equally importantly, e-health programmes reduce costs, because they make the healthcare system more efficient.

Yet for all their promise, the majority

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view poinT of e-health initiatives worldwide have yet to deliver results. These are massive programmes, with a range of interested parties – patients, hospitals, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, insurers, government agencies – that often have competing demands and incentives. All too often, e-health programmes have been implemented hastily, without a long-term roadmap for success, and many of them have fizzled out. At this early stage, failed programmes worldwide outnumber the success stories.

Qatar has taken some early steps toward e-health, and, like the rest of the world, it will continue to explore the benefits of such a venture. However, to ensure any future initiative succeeds, a long-term strategy that addresses five core elements is essential.

Stakeholders: It is critical to involve key stakeholders in the public and private sectors when designing an e-health programme, including governments, providers (i.e., public and private hospitals and clinics), payers (i.e., insurance agencies), patient advocacy groups (i.e., non-profit associations that help patients with research, education, and services), and professional associations. Without the early support of all of these entities, any program is likely to flounder. In Germany, for instance, the agency implementing the country’s e-health programme for 80 million citizens and two million healthcare professionals conducted a cost-benefit analysis with extensive involvement of all relevant stakeholders in the healthcare sector.

Services: E-health services can vary widely, and should be tailored to regional demands and the local technology infrastructure to ensure they meet customers’

needs. Services may include sophisticated national electronic health records at the high end, similar to what the Singapore government has established. They can also be as simple as text-based alerts in regions with less advanced technology infrastructure, where public health entities and NGOs can use SMS technology to collect, store, and disseminate critical information to educate and inform patients on specific conditions (e.g., diabetes monitoring, HIV prevention). Because stakeholders will likely be wary early on, it’s crucial to establish some early “wins” by choosing services that are relatively easy to implement and that all parties agree on.

Technology: The choice of a specific technological platform has wide-ranging ramifications, as it determines the applications, data, and infrastructure needed to support specific services and reap the full benefits of an e-health initiative. More important, defining shared standards (e.g., technology and data) is crucial to make this platform ubiquitous. Some programmes, such as Canada Health Infoway and Denmark’s MedComm, have succeeded by implementing enterprise systems that can help existing technology platforms talk to each other.

Financing: Governments must ensure that appropriate funding is in place for an e-health programme to be designed, developed, implemented, and sustained in the long term. Singapore’s Ministry of Health Holdings developed a financial model for national electronic health records to understand the projected benefits and costs for the programme over ten years in order to develop a financially sustainable e-health programme. Financing can come from different sources, such

as the government or public-private partnerships. This will require governments to consider the reimbursement model in place, as well as incentives and disincentives for stakeholders to participate. For example, a pay-per-service reimbursement model can be a serious impediment to preventive medicine and wellness programmes.

Governance: National governments find the greatest efficiencies and effectiveness when they have established policies and regulations to oversee, regulate, and manage e-health programmes. Because of strong concerns over privacy, this oversight should include a legal framework, including confidentiality measures that can convince all stakeholders that information will be shared judiciously – and that they have legal recourse if it isn’t.

Finally, the sequence of these elements is key. No country can consider them all simultaneously – rather, success for Qatar will involve emphasising different elements at the right point in time, with the goal of creating a programme designed specifically for its stage of development and technology infrastructure. For example, a unified national electronic health record platform could be a major building block for Qatar’s e-health strategy, and its implementation would help to determine the appropriate phasing of the different services that would be delivered on this platform over time. While examples from other countries illustrate what’s possible with e-health, a onesize-fits-all approach will not work, and customisation is key. We don’t claim that the process will be easy, but the benefits of an intelligent e-health programme, implemented with a long-term strategy in mind, will justify the effort n

by Ramez Shehadi, Partner, Dr. Walid Tohme, Principal, Jad Bitar, Principal Booz & Company is a leading global management consulting firm, helping the world’s top businesses, government ministries and organisations.

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tHe egg anD tHe cHicken

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n March, the Qatari government announced that its budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year will be 25% higher than the previous year.

According to Bloomberg, state spending is due to increase to QR117.9 billion ($32.4 billion), with 40% of the budget, or QR47.32 billion ($13 billion), dedicated to infrastructure projects. While this is a significant sum, it represents less than a quarter of the planned infrastructure spending over the next few years, which Bank of America Merrill Lynch predicts will reach $56 billion. Much of this spending is dedicated to a series of transport mega-projects, including the New Doha International Airport, the Qatar-Bahrain causeway, the Doha metro, and a giant new deepwater port.

With the IMF predicting a GDP growth rate of 18.5% for 2010, no one is questioning Qatar’s ability to pay for its infrastructure projects. However, some critics are asking not how, but why. This is a serious amount of money to be spending on transport projects in a peninsular state which measures 10,836 square kilometers and has a population of 1.7 million.

The most common argument for government infrastructure spending in the last few years – that it has to expand to replace falling private demand – would not seem to be much motivation in an economy that is growing 18.5%.

However, one could argue that Qatar’s fast-growing population – the growth rate touched 11.9% in 2008, the last year for which population statistics are available, according to the World Bank – requires

In Numbers

Dubai International Airport

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million passengers (by 2012)

a superior transport network to develop to its highest potential. One could also point out that every other country in the Gulf seems to be investing in huge transport projects, and say that Qatar needs to construct its own if it wants to stay competitive.

High spends on transport sector

Qatar, after all, is not alone in dedicating large sums to infrastructure development.

Throughout the GCC, transport spending is expected to be in excess of $119 billion over the next ten years, according to a report

by Business Monitor International (BMI).

Some $108 billion of this, or 90%, is due to be spent on rail networks alone.

Given these numbers, it’s no surprise that some people are talking about infrastructure spending in the Gulf as the next bubble. Such a massive growth in capacity, the reasoning goes, will surely lead to an oversupply. There are limits, one would assume, to how many deep-water ports, maintenance and repair operations (MRO) facilities, and mega-capacity airports any given region needs. Many of the transportrelated mega-projects underway right now are being built to a capacity far in excess of any previously demonstrated demand: a new dry dock under construction at Duqm in Oman, for example, can accommodate ships up to 600,000 tonnes; the largest ships afloat today weigh 400,000 tonnes. Planned capacity at the expanded Dubai International Airport, which is expected to finish in 2012, is 43 million passengers, which stands to reason considering the airport handles 42 million passengers today. However,

Al Maktoum Airport at Jebel Ali (in 2025)

160 million passengers

the nearby Al Maktoum Airport at Jebel Ali, which is due to be completed sometime in the 2020s, will dwarf DIA with a capacity of 160 million passengers. Abu Dhabi International Airport, just 45 minutes further up the road, expects to be able to handle 20 million in 2012 and 40 million not long after, up from 12 million today. In addition, of course, Qatar’s New Doha International Airport aims to have the capacity to support 24 million passengers in 2012 and twice as many by 2015.

The idea is clearly to invest during the current years of economic surplus in the hopes that Qatar – and the region as a whole – will develop into the kind of place that requires this infrastructure. This ‘if you build it, they will come’ mentality is common throughout the Gulf region, and has often been successful. Dubai’s Emirates Airline serves as a textbook example of outsize ambition paying off: the airline has made a profit every year since 1988 and doubled in size at least every four years, despite levels of expenditure – as of June, there are some 140 planes on order, worth $48 billion at list prices – that would sink many of its rivals.

Those who worry about an oversupply of transport options may not appreciate the fact that this sector is fundamentally different than, say, real estate. Transport networks within a region do not necessarily compete with each other as much as complement each other. While major ports and airports will obviously have to divide the market, their prevalence also creates one: these hubs bring in business from the outside world which can then circulate within the region n

Abu Dhabi International Airport (after 2012)

40 million passengers

New Doha International Airport (by 2015)

48 million passengers

By Oliver Cornock The author is the Regional Editor of Oxford Business Group

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baffleD by tHe benefits I have taken some advice that I need some comprehensive life insurance and have looked at all my options. We’re not exactly swamped with a choice of products here in the Middle East but what has surprised me is the difference in cost when I start adding additional protection such as Total Disability Benefit and Critical Illness Benefit. Is this just bad marketing or am I missing something?

The likelihood of being able to make a claim for Permanent and Total Disability (PTD) is very slim as whatever happens to you, there would possibly be some form of employment available to you. A very extreme case is that Stephen Hawking managed to write a book. So before you part with your money for PTD, check out the terms. There are insurance policies taken out for the loss of specific employment, airline pilots for example but this is not the same as what you are looking at. Critical Illness Benefit (CIB) is very useful insurance to have. For sure, we are all going to die, but many of us will suffer a serious illness before we pass away.

As medical procedures improve all the time, many more people are making a full recovery after they have suffered a serious illness. During the period of illness, they still have bills to pay so it is pretty standard to find people taking protection against suffering from a critical illness.

Most of these CIB policies pay this out as a lump sum to a policy holder and then possibly a further sum on death. For example: A policyholder has $500,000 life insurance and $200,000 CIB. The policy holder gets a critical illness, the policy pays them $200,000. They later die and the policy pays out $300,000, the balance of the $500,000. However, in this example, there is insurance available in the region that would pay $200,000 for the CIB and then $500,000 on the subsequent death which is obviously going to cost more.

Can you explain in simple terms what derivatives are?

Trading in derivative products is growing but there is early evidence of trading, and a good example of these types of instruments that can be traced back to ancient Greece. Thalus, a 6th century B.C. philosopher was not a rich man but he believed that the following year’s olive harvest would be an exceptionally good one. To back his convictions, he paid a deposit on all of the local olive presses.

As nobody knew for certain whether the harvest would be good or bad, Thalus secured the rights to the presses at a relatively low rate. He predicted correctly and the harvest proved to be bountiful, and so demand for the presses was high.

Thalus charged a high price for their use and made a large profit. A critical point of

Thalus’s arrangement was the fact that it did not depend on his forecast for a good harvest being accurate. The deposit gave him the right but not the obligation to hire the presses.

If the harvest had failed, his losses were limited to the initial deposit he paid. Thalus had purchased an option which is a type of derivative.

In financial markets, the term derivative is used to refer to a group of instruments that derive their value from some underlying commodity or market. Forwards and futures are also types of derivative instruments.

A forward contract was used a lot among merchants in medieval European trade fairs. The merchants didn’t want to travel with large quantities of merchandise along dangerous routes with no guarantee of a buyer at the end of the journey.

They simply travelled with a sample of their goods and gave a letter that acted as evidence that the full consignment of the goods was being held at a warehouse for future delivery.

Eventually, the contracts themselves were traded among the merchants.

The first record of trading in futures comes from 17th century Japan. Japanese landlords would ship surplus rice to storage warehouses in the cities and then issue tickets promising future delivery of the rice. The tickets represented the right to take delivery of a certain quantity of rice at a future date at a specified price n

By Graham Wolverson Wolverson is an Independent Financial Advisor with Pinnacle Asset and Wealth Management with over 20 years’ experience. He welcomes enquiries for financial advice at: graham@yourmoney-matters.com. Peruse the website at: www.yourmoney-matters.com

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lisTening posT

The Corniche area is being planned as the Capital City Precinct, serving as a gateway to the city

Humanity thrives in cities but only if they learn to live sustainably.

Cities will be the focus of the new Master Plan of Qatar. Ian Lyne, the Master Planner in conversation with Sindhu Nair

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i

future forwarD

n 2010, for the first time in history, more than 50% of humanity is living in cities and this is expected to rise to 70% in only a few decades. Qatar, which has a population close to 1.7 million has around 1.5 million living in ‘metropolitan Doha’, nearly 90% of the total population.

And that is not so bad, says Ian Lyne, Project Manager of Qatar National Master Plan (QNMP), debunking planning theories which stresses on distribution of population evenly across territories.

“High population densities in cities reduce transaction costs, make public spending on infrastructure and services cheaper, and make the generation and diffusion of knowledge easier. In turn, these factors attract the fast growing sectors of an economy into cities,” quotes Lyne from the UN Habitat.

So it is with these factors in mind that the National Plan of Qatar has been formulated. In short, Qatar will soon have a framework that dictates how the country will look.

“The QNMP is intended to guide the physical development of Qatar through to 2032. It was commissioned by the Urban Planning and Development sector of the

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Ò Sustainable cities with high liveable indices have a 60:40 ratio of private to public transport.

Here, sadly, the ratio is only 90:10Ó

Ian Lyne, Project Manager of Qatar National Master Plan (QNMP)

Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning,” says Lyne.

Lyne is with the QNMP consultant, Oriental Consultants of Japan and works in close collaboration and under the direction of the Ministry.

He is on an exciting mission, as the team is in the final stages of completion of the Master Plan (MP) of the country. “It is anticipated that the MP will be implemented next year subject to the approval of His Highness, the Emir,” he says.

In two words, he tries to describe the MP and comes up with ‘practical’ and ‘visionary’.

“Basically, we have focused on developing new centres, core cities, with higher densities that use a public transit mode for transportation and a competent infrastructure in place with emphasis on public spaces, parks and green buildings.”

Liveable City

Planners around the world now believe that cities have to be compact. But what is the reasoning behind this new theory?

Lyne says that compact cities are the best

sustainable solution, particularly in arid environments, like the one we are in, which is much more fragile.

Higher densities also mean a more robust real estate market he says.

But what makes cities liveable?

“There are liveable city indexes which measure the quality of life. This is measured through various factors like the availability of job opportunities, access to education, healthcare, the quality of the air, environment, access to facilities and amenities, employment rates, crime rates and also a good public transport system, low cost of living and artistic and cultural opportunities.”

At the moment, says Lyne, the evidence is that cities with higher density of population have a higher quality of life and hence a higher liveability index.

So places like London, Singapore, Geneva, which have a higher density (much higher than figures in Doha) also have a high index level.

“There are parts of Doha where the density is incredibly low, where you are putting too much infrastructure to serve a limited population. And this is not sustainable,” he says.

But the new MP does not envision building another Hong Kong (with very high density of population in a small area), but to manage the population for the next 30 years and even out the population distribution.

“After the population has been grouped evenly, the government and the private

sector can supply amenities to service the grouped entities or cities.”

A city in transit

Analysing the movement of population of the city, Lyne says that most of the economic activity is centred on the downtown area including West Bay. People drive in and drive out of this centre every day and that is not sustainable.

“This is one of the core purposes of the MP, to make people use mass transit networks and to avoid using their cars to drive in and out of cities. The government is committed and a transit system is soon being implemented.”

And will that be difficult to implement? “Difficult but not impossible,” answers Lyne, citing the Dubai Metro System example which reportedly already carries over 100,000 people per day, though “it is not even connected to all parts of the city”.

Moreover Doha is “not so developed” that this move be termed “impossible” and the “main roads are wide enough at most places to accommodate transit systems.”

“It is more of a cultural issue and people get attached to their cars,” says Lyne, “but that can be altered over time.”

“You cannot just tell the people to start using the transit system without a proper system in place. When the congestion gets bad and people have to wait for hours in their vehicles, and then you give them the choice of shifting to clean, air december 10

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doha in 2010

doha in 2017

doha in 2030 or earlier

• • • • • • • • •

Capital City not yet defined other centres lack identity limited public space City limits not sustained unsustainable density distribution often congested private transport Significant vacant or underused land environmental degradation reducing quality of life

• Capital City precinct with two distinctive centres • emerging secondary centres • increasing public space and parks • City identity evolving • City limit defined by agri-eco belt • Density managed to support centers • Key transit in place with complete streets • Vacant land utilised • environmental management and support • improving quality of life

• • • • • • • • • •

conditioned mass transit that is efficient and saves time, it makes the choice easier for everyone”.

“Take the case of London, there has been a huge shift since they introduced the congestion charges where the tax levied from this was used to provide better public transports and it shows. The buses that run through the city are efficient and are now in great demand,” says Lyne.

A metro system is being planned by Qatari Diar and Germany’s DB International, but it will take some time to be

functional says Lyne.

“That is a long-term plan; it will take at least 20 years to be fully developed.

But a rapid bus transit system is also being planned. That means buses that run in dedicated lanes. This is faster, almost the same speed as the metro, and easier to put in place as it is programmed and runs on existing roads and could be in place in two to three years.”

Mowasalat is a rapidly developing transit company and is keen to see the results of investing in the bus rapid transit sys-

Capital City precinct and three centres Developed secondary centres extensive public space and parks Distinctive City identity City limit contained by agri-eco belt Density, land use and transport synched extensive transit system and public realm All land utilised efficiently high quality environmental resources high quality of life

tem and this will visibly reduce the air pollution, if used right. This system will first go through a feasibility study on one of the routes before it gets implemented.

“And if the study works we will use it first on major radial routes.”

“If we can get this working, we want more and more people to use the transit on those routes then the journey on the C and D Ring roads can continue to be on private vehicles while the centres are made self-sufficient and all amenities are provided within walking distances.”

key recOmmendAtiOnS FOr trAFFic

According to Lyne there is the need for advanced traffic management and he suggests some key strategies:

1 Sequencing

traffic lights: Using advanced and efficient traffic management systems, getting better use out of the existing road space.

Avoiding the platooning of traffic,

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2

congestions near the signals and unused road space in between.

The secret is to keep the traffic moving at a safe and consistent speed.

Congestion charging or parking restrictions: You have to make it more difficult to take your car out but then this has to be after a fairly

3

good alternate mass transit system is in place. This has to happen in parallel.

Rapid bus transit: This is being planned and will be implemented after feasibility studies. Mowasalat is willing to invest in this mass transportation system and already provides efficient bus services.

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mASter PLAn in POintS 1 Develop new centres and provide 4 Getting more public spaces. More 2

3

amenities in each of them to match their population.

Develop a Capital City Precinct, a gateway to the city. The Corniche area could serve as a Ô front doorÕ of sorts where all the important buildings are situated and heads of state could be invited for meetings.

Another major factor is environmental management. Areas identified as fragile areas should be kept protected. These areas are usually demarcated by the Ministry of Environment and it includes, almost the whole of the west coast, QP managed areas, the north of Doha where there is ground water which needs to be protected, the coastal zones, etc.

“Sustainable cities with high liveable indices have a 60:40 ratio of private to public transport. Here, sadly the ratio is only 90:10,”says Lyne and the MP will try to change that.

The plan envisaged is to have new metropolitan centres along the fringes, so that these cities become self-sufficient in terms of amenities provided and even jobs within the various municipalities.

These centres will have shops, hospitals and business areas located within close proximity to the people they serve.

“This pattern of polycentric cities has been proved successful in mature cities,” he says, “with people shifting jobs to centres where they live reducing the cost of living and their impacts considerably.”

But isn’t the country too small to cater to such polycentric cities?

“According to figures from GSDP, Qatar is expected to have a population of at least 2.3 million in 2032, with close to 1.6 million staying in Doha, and this figure is close to the population in Frankfurt or downtown Singapore, and

5 6 7

8

parks in and around the city. Access to parks to be made easier from every part of the city.

Create more spaces that have cultural significance, like the Souq Waqif, which is immensely popular.

Planning guidelines and standards to be made which is to be followed by anyone who is going to build in those areas.

Repair the not-so-good buildings and emulate the good ones. Try to avoid large scale demolition but manage the renewal in a phased way.

MP is expected to go for review

by April 2011 and will be adopted, hopefully, in six months.

both of these cities have been following the same pattern, of densely populated cities with an efficient transit system between the centres,” argues Lyne.

“There is not going to be massive development for the centres but it will be a progressive change. They are already being put in place but it is consolidating what is happening and to put the land use and transport system coordinated to put the MP in action”.

“When you make a long range plan, it is normal to have a Strategic Plan, this has to be planned for 30 years.

Transportation or the Metro system is a part of the Strategic Plan. We also have Spatial Development Plans which are detailed plans for the first five years, under this comes the centre developments. We have also envisioned a ‘Moving beyond Carbon’ in 2030 as stipulated by the National Vision,” says Lyne.

It is going to be a long process, a strenuous effort for Lyne and his team, but the MP will ensure that Qatar is on the map of liveable cities and a great place to live and work. n

Ò A rapid bus transit system, buses that run in dedicated lanes, is being planned. This is faster, almost the same speed as the metro, and easier to put in place as it is programmed and runs on existing roads and could be in place in two to three yearsÓ

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The year ThaT was...

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year comes, a year goes. And like its predecessors, 2010 too unwound with a series of unforeseen events that grabbed headlines worldwide. A plethora of defining moments – some that took form of nature’s fury like the Haiti earthquake, the floods in Pakistan, the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud which rattled nations all over; some that sparked a wave of hope when the 33 Chilean miners resurfaced one after the other in a successful rescue operation; and some which unleashed the sporty spirit amongst us all with the world’s greatest sporting event spellbinding us for over a month...

Meanwhile, Qatar wasn’t far behind to share the milestones that the year had to offer. According to IMF forecasts for 2010, Qatar’s GDP growth was projected at 18.5%, the highest anywhere. Qatar has put up a brave front despite the global crisis, banking on its massive (and expanding) hydrocarbons sector. Heralded as the world’s largest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) producer, Qatar’s production capacity of LNG has reached 77 mta which is a major boon to the nation’s economy. Qatar’s economic diversification strategy further received a major boost with the launching of the Laffan refinery, the aluminium smelter Qatalum and Qatar Melamine Company, all set to multiply the production capacity.

While being an advocate of world peace and social development at the global front, the Darfur peace agreement and Qatar’s resolution passed in the UN General Assembly cemented its position as a progressive nation. The spotlight also fell this year on Qatar as it played host to some high-profile events like the Doha Tribeca Film Festival and the WTA Championships.

Qatar Today brings you a snapshot of such moments to outline the year that was 2010...

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JaN 12: haiTi earThqUake A 7.0 Richter magnitude earthquake rocks Haiti, leaving the Caribbean nation in rubble and leaving thousands of people buried under the debris. The International Red Cross reported that three million people were affected.

JaN 4: DUbai is TallesT The Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, was revealed to the world with a dramatic fireworks ceremony in Dubai.

With a height of 818 meTres (2,717 ft), it beat the previous record holder - Taipei 101 and its paltry 508 metres (1,667ft).

JaN 27: apple aNNoUNces ipaD Apple Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs launches the new ‘iPad’, Apple’s new tablet computing device in San Francisco. Apple launched this revolutionary (and staggeringly expensive) product for consumers who want to watch movies and read books online wherever they are.

JaN 21: qaTar To be oN Tracks sooN Aamal Company QSC signs a joint venture agreement with leading Argentinean transport infrastructure company, Cometrans Group of Argentina to set up Qatar’s new railway system, Cometrans Qatar.

JaN 15: loNgesT solar eclipse Once again the world saw in awe the enigma of the universe as the sun was left looking like a flaming ring. This annual event was touted to be the longest solar eclipse since 1992, lasting over 11 minutes. This eclipse will remain the longest until the year 3043. Give us a shout if you want to come over to mine for that one.

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JaN 21: laNDmark washiNgToN sUpreme coUrT DecisioN In a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court, the US government may not ban political spending by corporations in candidate elections. This would allow unlimited corporate and union campaign donations to be utilised in federal elections. The court’s decision was surprisingly denounced by US President Barack Obama.

JaN 27: viNTage oN wheels Kuwait held its first Concours d’Elegance which showcased 50 rare vintage cars. The event marks the 100th anniversary since the first car, a Belgiummade Minerva, entered the country.

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Feb 14: The chiNese Tiger According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger, which began on February 14 and ends on February 2, 2011. The Tiger is the third sign in the Chinese Zodiac cycle and is considered a sign that keeps away the three main tragedies of a household - fire, thieves and ghosts.

Feb 12: vaNcoUver wiNTer olympic games The Olympic Winter Games opening ceremony took place at Vancouver’s BC Place. After 17 days of athletic displays, sportsmanship and triumphant moments, the Games drew to a close on February 28.

Feb 21: womeN To FighT cases Saudi Minister of Justice Mohammed Al-Eissa is planning to rope in more female lawyers in the country’s legal system for the first time. A law would be issue permitting women to appear in court on family-related cases.

Feb 14: blackberry geTs prepaiD Qtel launched a Hala plan by which people will have prepaid Blackberry services for the first time in Qatar. The service has a low activation fee of just QR100 and users can access browsing, chatting and e-mail services for the first two months without paying any subscription.

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Feb 25: paiNTiNg qaTar Renowned Indian artist MF Husain was conferred Qatari nationality. The eminent artist was in exile after being targeted by Hindu extremists with his controversial paintings depicting Hindu goddesses. december 10

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Feb 19: “For all ThaT i have DoNe, i am so sorry...”

In his first public appearance after a series of torrid sex scandals resurfacing in the media, Tiger Woods gave a public apology for his multiple infidelities. “I had affairs, I cheated. What I did was not acceptable, and I am the only person to blame,” confessed Woods in his stilted 14-minute statement.

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mar 12-14: qaTar hosTs wic The 13th IAAF World Indoor Championships was hosted by Qatar, the first Arab country to do so. A total of 650 athletes from 140 countries participated in the biennial event.

The French triple jumper, Teddy Tamgho, 20, made history by not only ending Cuba’s reign over this event, but also by breaking the world record that had stood for 13 years.

march 5-18: qaTari laNDs iN aNTarcTica Qatari national Abdulla Al-Misnad of Shell and UAE’s Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Nuami joined the team of 2041’s ‘Inspire Antarctica Expedition’ in an attempt to raise awareness in Arab communities of global warming, conservation and Antarctica’s fragile ecosystem.

mar 9: hisTory iN iNDia’s parliameNT Indian Parliament’s Upper House, the Rajya Sabha, took a historic step by passing the Women’s Reservation Bill which ensures 33% reservation of women in Parliament and state legislative bodies. The Bill would empower women from backward classes and poor communities. mar 14: ThailaND sees reD Thousands of anti-Government protestors rallied across Bangkok demanding the dissolution of the ruling Government. The ‘red-shirt’ demonstrators are mainly supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who believe that the Prime Minister’s ousting by the military was a political move. The protests finally died out amid clashes with the Thai army which left several people dead. mar 18: DarFUr Diplomacy The Sudan Government signed a framework peace agreement of three months with the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in Doha in an attempt to end the conflict in the western Sudanese region ahead of elections. Qatar who plays host to Darfur negotiations considers the signing as the first step towards achieving peace in the volatile Darfur region.

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mar 13-25: ciTes helD iN qaTar Under the patronage of HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tammim bin Hammad Al-Thani, the 15th meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) was held for the first time in the Middle East. It brought together experts from participating countries to consider proposals for tighter trade controls on Atlantic blue fin tuna, polar bears, sharks, corals and elephant ivory, which are listed as endangered.

The year 2010 was declared as the International Year of Biodiversity by the UN.

mar 7: TakiNg home The golDeN maN The 82nd Academy Awards, informally known as the Oscars, held in Los Angeles, for the first time in its history witnessed a woman claiming the Oscar for Best Director.

Kathryn Bigelow won the coveted prize for her Iraq war drama, The Hurt Locker.

mar 6: FleeT size reaches 80 Qatar’s national carrier Qatar Airways (QA) attained a milestone in its short history, by increasing its fleet size to 80 aircraft – double the 2005 number.

With the introduction of the newest Boeing 777, QA retains its status as the world’s fastest-growing airline.

mar 23: qaTar’s New mUseUm DesigN The Qatar Museum Authority and Jean Nouvel (Pritzker Prize-winning architect) unveiled plans for the new National Museum of Qatar. Inspired by desert life, the museum is designed like a caravanserai – a traditional enclosed marketplace. It will be the first monument visible from the airport. mar 31: The largesT bUDgeT iN qaTar’s hisTory: qr 117.9 billioN HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani sanctioned the Budget for the fiscal year 2010-2011 which featured a surplus of QR9.7 billion. This will boost spending by 25% of the QR117.9 billion budget out of which the allocation for major projects has increased by 15% to QR43.5 billion for this financial year. december 10

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apr 11: greeN is The way Organised by Qatar Today and Qatar Green Building Council, Doha Green and Sustainability Summit (DGSS) saw leading industry experts sharing insights, case studies, best practices and innovative sustainability strategies to deliver business value and growth.

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apr 12: qaTar geTs iTs alUmiNiUm smelTer The $5.7 billion (QR20.8 billion) Qatalum – the world’s most efficient and environment-friendly aluminium smelter was inaugurated in Mesaieed Industrial City.

Qatalum marks a significant achievement in Qatar and is set to play a major role in national and regional economies.

april 17: The kiNg oF UgaNDa At the age of three, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi officially succeeded to the throne when his father died of a heart attack in 1995. But since coronation takes place only at adulthood, he was crowned King at the age of 18.

King Oyo is among the world’s youngest reigning monarchs.

apr 6: laFFaN reFiNery iNaUgraTeD One of the world’s largest condensate refineries, the Laffan Refinery was inaugurated at the Ras Laffan industrial city and represents a major milestone in the country’s economic diversification. It has a processing capacity of 146,000 barrels per stream day and utilises the field condensate produced from the Qatargas and RasGas facilities. apr 10: poliTical TrageDy A plane crash in Russia killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski and the upper strata of senior Polish figures including Poland’s army chief, central bank governor, MPs and leading historians. The Polish delegation flew from Warsaw to mark the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre of thousands of Poles by Soviet forces during WWII. apr 12: qaTar mariNe FesTival The country’s first marine festival was officially launched. Qatar’s history, its future and its economy are all related to the sea. The aim of this festival was to build a close relationship between the young generation and the sea. Another aim was to promote domestic tourism. apr 14: The sky iN ashes The eruption of the volcano near the Eyjafjallajoekull glacier in southwest Iceland spat out a cloud of ash leading to the closure of airports throughout the UK and Scandinavia for several days. apr 20: The worsT oil spill The offshore oil rig ‘Deepwater Horizon’ explosion caused the deaths of 11 crew members and a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that has become the worst environmental catastrophe to hit the United States.

The ruptured well was finally sealed on September 19, but not before claiming aquatic life.

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may 14: DirecTor Faces Fresh sexUal abUse charges London-based actress Charlotte Lewis accused Polish Film Director and convicted paedophile Roman Polanski of molesting her when she was 16 in 1978, only four years after he was convicted of having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl. Polanski had a spell under house arrest in Switzerland as he fought extradition to the US in regard to the 1973 crime but beat the order and scuttled back to France once more.

may 14: preseNTiNg The biD book A senior delegation representing the Qatar 2022 Bid Committee headed by the Chairman HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani presented Qatar’s bid book to FIFA President Joseph Blatter and FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke at FIFA headquarters. The 750-page dossier comprises critical issues regarding accommodation, transport, security, environment and stadium infrastructure along with government guarantees and agreements. may 16: FirsT arab-americaN crowNeD miss Usa Rima Fakih, Miss Michigan, was crowned Miss USA 2010 becoming the first Arab-American to win the beauty pageant. Lebanon-born, Fakih moved to the US with her parents as a baby and as a Lebanese Muslim she is the first in her nationality and religion to win the title. may 20: lab creaTes liFe Scientist Craig Venter’s team at the J Craig Venter Institute in Rockville, Maryland, and San Diego, California, created a bacterial genome from smaller DNA sub-units and later transplanted the whole genome into another cell. Venter and his team had previously accomplished creating a synthetic genome and transplanting a genome from one bacterium into another, but this time the two feats have been combined to produce a synthetic cell. may 28: qaTari bUsiNessmaN bUys spaNish clUb Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Ahmed Al-Thani, Chairman of Nasser bin Abdullah and Sons Company finalised a deal to buy Spanish football club Malaga CF, for $48.3 million (QR175.9 million). Sheikh Abdullah stated that his goal of buying Malaga was to have the club competing with the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid. A tall order, as Qatar Today reported in the later summer.

may 11: DaviD cameroN becomes Uk pm Leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron, becomes the youngest Prime Minister of the UK aged 43, after the resignation of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Meanwhile Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats becomes UK Deputy Prime Minister after agreeing to the UK’s first coalition government in 70 years. december 10

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may 8: qaTar bUys harroDs The owner of Harrods, Mohammed Al-Fayed sold London’s upmarket department store Harrods to the Qatari royal family’s investment company, Qatar Holdings (QH) for a reported $2.3 billion (QR7.9 billion).

QH becomes only the fifth owner of Harrods since its opening in 1840.

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JUNe 15: saUDi arabia’s FirsT car Saudi Arabia joined the car manufacturing nations by unveiling its first locally-built car ‘Gazal 1’.

The vehicle is designed for the desert climate of Gulf countries and was produced in collaboration with several major companies like Motorola, Mercedes-Benz and Magna Canada. Saudis contributed 90% of the design of the car and 60% of its fabrication.

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JUNe 24: The game goes oN aND oN The longest match in the history of championship tennis was played at Wimbledon. The exhaustive battle ceased after 11 hours and five minutes, and 138 fifth-set games, with John Isner defeating Nicolas Mahut in the third day of the match.

JUNe 17: grab yoUr FooD oNliNe UAE became the third market after Turkey and Russia, for the launch of the world’s largest takeaway website Foodonclick.com, by a Turkish entrepreneur. The site is a joint venture with yemeksepeti.com and has over 800,000 users frequenting it. A total of $1 million as been invested with hopes of touching sales of around $2 million in the first year of its operation.

JUNe 21: No block oN gooDs Israel has eased its years of blockade of Hamas-ruled Gaza for the smooth flow of all consumer goods. But Israel has restricted the entry of certain items, citing security measures. The new policy came into effect due to mounting pressures from repeated international calls to ease the four-year blockade on Gaza.

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JUly 17: gcc To Form regioN’s FirsT hUmaN righTs paNel GCC finalises plan to set up first regional human rights panel consisting of a independent and impartial experts as office bearers to deal with human rights issues and tracking human rights records in the region.

Often undermined in international reports, the GCC panel is dedicated to highlight the region’s efforts to improve the human rights situation in Arab nations.

JUly 19: iNspecTioN Time FIFA delegates commence their mammoth task of inspecting nine candidates vying to host the 2018 or 2022 tournaments, the first stop being Japan. A five-member team judged stadiums, facilities and presentations in Japan, South Korea, Australia, the Netherlands/Belgium, Russia, England, Spain/Portugal, the US and Qatar ahead of this month’s big decision.

JUly 21: NaTUre’s FUry Many parts of Pakistan were submerged due to widespread monsoon rains, leaving thousands of residents homeless and many lifeless as well.

According to the International Red Cross society, up to 2.5 million people have been affected by the floods in the north-west of the country.

JUly 28: The eighT-DigiT NUmber All landline and mobile numbers in Qatar had an eighth digit added to them. This move was conceived and executed by the National Numbering Committee (NCC) of ictQatar in a move to generate millions of numbers to meet the growing and future demand for telephone numbers in the country.

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JUly 15: iraNiaN scieNTisT reaches home Iranian nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri arrived at his hometown after being reported missing since June 2009 while on a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Iranian officials have cited the involvement of the US Central Intelligence Agency of the US in Amiri’s kidnapping, but the CIA denied all such accusations.

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JUly 9: laNDmark resolUTioN aDopTeD by UN geNeral assembly Qatar introduced a resolution which was passed by the UN General Assembly for protecting the right to education in emergency situations, and to take steps to identify the persistent gaps and challenges in the system. This resolution was supported by six sponsoring countries including Qatar, as well as a host of UN agencies and non-governmental organisations.

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JUly 11: aND The cUp goes To...

After a month of kicks, shoves, sweat and toil, Spain emerged victorious in the gripping final of the coveted World Cup tournament.

The goal scored in extra time by Spain’s Andrés Iniesta brought a 1-0 victory over The Netherlands. Spain became the first team to win the world championship after losing the opening game of the tournament.

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aUg 10: Farewell FlU The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the swine flu pandemic officially over. The first outbreak was in April 2009, claiming the lives of 18,449 people worldwide since then. According to WHO officials, the swine flu virus had entered the ‘post pandemic phase’ with signs of low disease activity.

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aUg 12: saUDi’s big beN Saudi Arabia unveiled the world’s largest four-faced clock in the holy city of Mecca, surpassing the once largest clock in the world – London’s Big Ben. Each face on the monstrosity will have ‘God is greatest’ inscribed in Arabic and fitted with thousands of garish, multicoloured lights. Saudi Arabia hopes, somewhat optimistically, that the city will serve as an alternative time standard to GMT.

aUg 17: righT To work For palesTiNiaN reFUgees The Lebanese Parliament passed a law which grants the right to work for the 400,000 Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon. But employment is only limited to the private sectors. Palestinians will still be unable to work in the public sector or in professions such as medicine, law or engineering, nor buy property. aUg 28: holDiNg back The sToNe Iran has yet to arrive at a decision on the stoning to death of Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, a 43-year-old mother of two, after she was found guilty of adultery and of being an accomplice in her husband’s murder.

This case has had huge public outcry with human rights groups protesting against the execution. aUg 30: qaTar’s lNg proDUcTioN ToUches 77 mTa HE Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Chairman of Qatar Petroleum, Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, announced the formation of a multi-company, multi-discipline ‘77mta’ Task Force to mark the achievement of Qatar’s production capacity of LNG reaching 77 million tonnes per annum (mta). This is by far the largest LNG capacity in the world.

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sep 20-22: UN’s mDg aDvocacy groUp meeT As member of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) Advocacy Group, HH Sheikha Mozah said she was honoured to accept the challenge of being an MDG Advocate and also stressed the need to do more to meet the target set in the MDGs. The MDG Summit concluded with the adoption of a global action plan to achieve the eight anti-poverty goals by 2015 and the announcement of major new commitments for women’s and children’s health and other initiatives against poverty, hunger and disease. sep 26: miDDle easT goiNg greeN Middle East Green Building Councils Network (ME GBC Network) will be a group jointly formed by the Emirates Green Building Council, Qatar Green Building Council and Jordan Green Building Council. The objective of this initiative is to provide a regional platform for communities involved in designing and executing green buildings in the region.

Days To go...

The countdown for the Asian Cup 2011 began with the unveiling of the giant electronic clock at Doha Corniche. The clock button was pressed at 19.15pm and will tick till the opening match between Qatar and Uzbekistan at Khalifa Stadium According to AFC President Mohammad bin Hammam, the clock signifies the excitement building up for the flagship tournament.

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sep 16: This Time For Doha Zinedine Zidane becomes the newest bid ambassador for Qatar 2022 Bid. The Bid committee announced Zidane’s firm support to Qatar’s bid and their goals to bring the world’s greatest sporting event to the Middle East for the first time. By the time you read this, we will know if Zindane’s presence has made the difference...

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ocT 26-27: wheN royals meT...

HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Sheikha Mozah were on a three-day state visit to Britian as part of an initiative to cement trade links between the two nations. During the stay, the Emir and Sheikha Mozah met Queen Elizabeth II at the Windsor Castle and Prime Minister David Cameron in Downing Street.

ocT 12: qaTar laUNches melamiNe plaNT An initiative by Qatar Fertiliser Company (Qafco), the Qatar Melamine Company (QMC) was inaugurated in Mesaieed. The plant produces 60,000 tonnes of melamine per annum and was built at a cost of $350 million. The melamine facility is the largest in the Middle East and the second largest in the world with a capacity to supply 5% of the world’s demand.

ocT 26-31: serviNg wTa champioNships The season-ending WTA Championships Doha witnessed a clash of the titans yet again. The emerging winners of the tournament were Kim Clijsters for the singles final, and Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta in the doubles final.

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ocT 25: paUl The ocTopUs Dies The psychic six-legged star of the World Cup series, Paul, died at an aquarium in Germany. For eight matches, Paul correctly predicted the outcome of each making him the star of the sporting event. Bet he never saw his own final whistle coming though...

ocT 13: chile miNers rescUeD A lease of new life was bestowed upon the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped underground for more than two months in a collapsed Chilean copper mine in the Atacama Desert. Rescue teams lifted miners one by one who were embraced by their excited family members and President Sebastian Pinera. ocT 27: ras al khaimah rUler Dies Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al-Qassimi, the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah passed away after ruling the northernmost emirate of the UAE for more than 60 years. He had been in hospital for several months. His 54-yearold crown prince son, Sheikh Saud, has been named as the new ruler of the emirate. ocT 31: qaTar’s ecoNomy zooms aheaD According to Central Bank Governor Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani, the economic growth of Qatar has almost doubled this year to 16%, making it the fastest-growing economy in the Middle East. The growth in GDP is attributed to the increase in external demand for Qatar’s oil and gas exports. The economy of the emirate will expand by a wholly unprecedented 18.6% in 2011.

ocT 27-31: Doha Dazzles wiTh gliTTeraTi The second edition of the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) was launched at the Katara cultural village, amidst high profile celebrities and film-frenzied fans.

The five-day festival showcased 51 features from over 35 countries.

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cheers!

Lebanon has set a new Guinness World Record for the largest wine glass, measuring 2.4m in height and 1.65m in width, during the Vinifest wine festival in Beirut. The plexiglass vessel, created by engineers Walid Richa and Moussa Zakharia, broke the previous record held

by Portugal, set 12 years ago.

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Nov 1: brazil’s FirsT womaN presiDeNT Brazil gets its first woman President in the form of Dilma Rouseff who garnered 56% of the vote. The former Marxist rebel’s victory is attributed to the relentless campaigning by her predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

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Nov 9: qchem ii is iNaUgUraTeD QChem inaugurated its second plant in Mesaieed Industrial City. The $1.3 billion (QR4.5 billion) plant will produce 350,000 metric tonnes per annum (tpa) of High Density Polyethylene and 345,000 metric tpa of Normal Alpha Olefins (NAO). This is the first NAO producing facility in the Middle East. QChem II will play a major role in the development of Qatar’s petrochemicals sector.

Nov 11: mascoTs For aFc asiaN cUp revealeD A family of Jerboas will be the mascots for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011. Jerboas are desert rodents found in the region. The family of mascots comprise of father Zkriti, wife Tranaa, daughter Freha and two sons Saboog and Tmbki.

Nov 1: rip grahame maher The CEO of Vodafone Qatar Grahame Maher passed away after suffering a stroke. Maher has been lauded for his leadership skills being the reason behind Vodafone’s success in this country. His company was responsible for making mobile phone rates affordable to the masses. He will be missed.

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Nov 11-12: The g20 seoUl sUmmiT Leaders of the Group of 20 major economies at the latest meeting in South Korea decided to attempt to resolve the ‘currency wars’ between economies that have been accused of artificially devaluing their money to drive export growth. The G20 nations will develop indicative guidelines to prevent global trade imbalances. They also agreed to monitor how banking regulation affects the supply of trade finance.

Nov 14: New TraiN iNTroDUceD For haJJ pilgrims Saudi Arabia has opened a new Chinese-built railway line as a solution to tackle the heavy congestion during the five-day Hajj pilgrimage. The SAR6.6 billion (QR6.41 billion) Mashair Railway or Makkah Metro project will carry only Gulf and Saudi pilgrims and is intended as a replacement to the thousands of buses congesting the country’s roads.

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who will hosT FiFa

2022?

The nine bidders for World Cup 2018 and 2022 will be on the edge of their seats when FIFA President Sepp Blatter steps up to announce the host nations for the 2018 and 2022 finals as decided by the FIFA Executive Committee. qaTar ToDay wishes The very besT oF lUck To qaTar’s biD...

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bottom line

What Really DRives Financial success?

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Two researchers tackle this chicken-and-egg question: do engaged employees drive an organisationÕs performance, or does success inspire engagement?

o engaged employees create financial success, or does financial success spark engagement?

That’s the kind of daunting question that academics love to ponder but rarely get to answer. It’s also the kind of question that can have a big impact on how managers do their jobs, because the answer could mean the difference between a work team’s – or an organisation’s – success or failure.

Jim Harter, Ph.D. and Frank L. Schmidt, Ph.D. were determined to answer this question. Dr Harter, Gallup’s 52

chief scientist of workplace management and well-being, and Dr Schmidt, the Gary C. Fethke Chair in Leadership and Professor of management and organisations at the University of Iowa, led a team of researchers who conducted a meta-analysis using a longitudinal database that included 2,178 business units in 10 large organisations. The results of the study were recently published in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science. Ultimately, they found that engaged employees cause high retention rates, better financial performance, and customer loyalty. This is crucial news

for business leaders and managers. Understanding the relationship between employee engagement and organisational performance can help leaders and managers take the right steps toward creating engagement – and, eventually, a high-performing organisation.

When you say that you studied employee perceptions, what exactly do you mean?

We use that general term in our paper because there are many different types of employee perception measures. We wanted to blend in the other things that

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BoTToM line have been studied, such as job satisfaction, so our research wasn’t just exclusive to engagement. We wanted to know if employees’ answers to questions tell something about future performance or if performance causes how they answer those questions.

So how does this meta-analysis differ from other research Gallup has conducted? Specifically, how does it differ from Gallup’s Q12 metaanalysis?

The 12 eleMenTs of greaT Managing to identify the elements of worker engagement, Gallup conducted many thousands of interviews in all kinds of organisations, at all levels, in most industries, and in many countries. these 12 statements, the Gallup Q12, emerged from GallupÕ s research on those that best predict employee and workgroup performance.

1. i know what is expected of me at work.

The Q12 meta-analysis looked at whether there are associations between employee engagement and business results – for example, whether business units that have higher levels of engagement also have higher performance. The answer is that they do. But that leaves a key question to be answered: What causes what? Does higher financial performance cause higher engagement, or does higher engagement cause higher financial performance?It takes a certain type of data to go to the next level and find evidence that one thing causes the other. To find that answer, you need data across many different organisations and across time. In the past, we’ve had evidence of causality from individual organisations, but in this study, we looked at causality across ten organisations in very different industries.

2. i have the materials and equipment i need to do my work right.

3. At work, i have the opportunity to do what i do best every day.

4. in the last seven days, i have received

recognition or praise for doing good work.

5. my supervisor, or someone at work,

seems to care about me as a person.

6. there is someone at work who encourages my development.

7. At work, my opinion seems to count.

8. the mission or purpose of my company makes me feel my job is important.

9. my associates or fellow employees are committed to doing quality work.

10. i have a best friend at work.

How did you approach this study?

And what did you find?

When you get down to the nitty-gritty – which we did here when we looked at each and every Q12 item independently – we find that the path from the individual engagement elements to financial performance is stronger than the path from financial performance to engagement.

It’s difficult to directly make the argu-

11. in the last six months, someone at work has talked to me about my progress.

12. this last year, i have had the opportunity at work to learn and grow.

copyright Gallup, inc. All rights reserved. ment that engagement causes higher financial performance because when people are engaged, they don’t just immediately make

profit. They show up for work, they please customers, they build a safer environment, they produce higher quality products – and those things accumulate to affect financial performance.

What we’re able to do in this study is look not just at engagement and financial performance but also look at two mediating variables: employee turnover and customer perceptions. We’re able to look at the path from employee engagement to those two outcomes that then lead to financial performance.

Schmidt: We knew from previous studies that perception and performance were associated; we knew that there was a relationship between Q12 scores and the financial performance of the organisation. But since both were measured at the same time, it was possible that organisations that were doing well were paying more attention to employee engagement and doing the things managers need to do to have a high level of employee engagement. In other words, because they had the resources, perhaps these organisations were able to spur engagement in a way that less prosperous companies could not.

The purpose of this study, which was based on longitudinal data collected at three different periods of time, was – to put it simply – to determine whether employee perceptions at Time One had a bigger impact on financial performance at Time Two than the reverse. What we found was that the predominant direction of causality was from employee perceptions at Time One to financial performance at Time Two, and that the evidence for causality in the reverse direction was pretty weak in comparison. On the whole, people come to work wanting to make a difference n

(to be continued in Qatar Today next month)

Interview by Jennifer Robison Copyright The Gallup Organisation, Princeton, NJ. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

Visit the Gallup Management Journal at gmj.gallup.com

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matHaf:

tHe new museum on tHe block The Arab Museum of Modern Art opens its doors on December 30. Qatar Today enjoys a sneak preview...

t

By Sindhu Nair

he cultural scene in Doha is heating up. Film festivals, auction house exhibitions, museum events and activities associated with the country being the Arab capital of culture are held in rapid-fire succession.

Add one more museum to the already growing list and Doha could be touted as the permanent seat for Arab creativity and heritage. And we are nearly there...

The new museum, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, located in Education City on a building that has been transformed by French architect Jean-Franáois Bodin, gives a fresh thrust to emerging artists from the region and to the cultural scenario. The Museum will open its doors on December 30.

“Home to a permanent collection that offers a uniquely comprehensive overview of modern Arab art, Mathaf (“museum” in Arabic) will also perform an important role as a centre for dialogue, scholarship and a resource for fostering creativity.”

An impressive introduction by Wassan Al-Khudhairi, the Acting Director and Chief Curator of Mathaf who believes that the collection is “unique” as there is no collection of this size and of this period elsewhere in the world.

The museum’s collection is primarily “modern” as it focuses on art works made in the period between late-1800s and the mid-1900s, she says.

“It is much more difficult to find work of that period. The museum brings together a lot of modern works from many different Arab countries in one place.”

Mathaf also collects contemporary work which is much easier to find as it is a collection of work that is being made now.

Al-Khudhairi feels that the art scene is

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“slightly lopsided” with a lot of focus and interest on the commercial part of art. And Mathaf, with its collection and activities of exchange, plans to set this right.

A collection of passion

But the story behind Mathaf’s origin is fascinating. The collection was initially a private collection born of His Excellency Sheikh Hassan bin Mohamed bin Ali AlThani’s interest in the field of arts.

Sheikh Hassan began his collection in 1986, “when he bought his first piece” and then started with the acquisition of works

by Qatari artists. He then broadened its focus to include works by 20th century artists throughout the Middle East, North Africa and the Arab Diaspora, as well as objects that inspired many Arab modern artists, such as pre-Islamic works from

ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt.

From the beginning, says Al-Khudhairi, Sheikh Hassan’s collecting was part of a larger project of documentation and advocacy.

“Sheikh Hassan was a student of arts who was interested in the art of the region and he wanted to find out about the role of Arab artists in the modern art movement.

He began to enquire and found out that there isn’t any one collection or organisation where he could go and learn about the contribution of Arab artists. So he began to meet artists and started to put together a collection. He was more of a friend of the artists and a patron of arts than a mere collector,” narrates Al-Khudhairi.

And thus this collection was more of a journey of Sheikh Hassan’s quest for knowledge of the modern art, his learning

A PreVieW OF the cOLLectiOn At mAthAF

Mahmoud Said Title Unknown, 1938 Oil on board, 28.5 x 49.8 cm

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Ò We want to create a path of dialogue, to engage the public in conversation with usÓ

Wassan Al-Khudhairi , the Acting Director and Chief Curator of Mathaf

process put together as a physical memory.

In 1994, he installed much of the collection in a villa that served as a private museum, which now serves as the office for Mathaf till the new premises are opened.

“This place was a resource for living artists and was also used for teaching others about modern Arab art. An artist residency programme was also established at the museum, primarily hosting Iraqi artists who needed a place of refuge.

“Sheikh Hassan brought a lot of artists to work here, and then finally when the painting was complete, he bought it. Soon his collection was getting bigger in size and he understood that there was a need for resources and an external support to put it all together, to make it known to a wider group of people, to spread the education process he had initiated and to preserve it for future generations,” she says.

“Sheikh Hassan thus approached HH Sheikha Mozah.”

Georges Sabbagh Maternités Arabes (Arab Motherhood), 1920-1921

SAjjiL Mathaf will open with Sajjil: A Century of Modern Art on view from December 30: an inaugural exhibition of highlights from the collection, featuring works by more than 100 artists and representing pivotal experiments in aesthetics. Sajjil, an Arabic word meaning the act of recording, initiates a space in which various narratives can be articulated in an effort to allow Arab modern art its historical place within a wider tradition of art history.

The collection was adopted, originally

by Qatar Foundation (QF), who safeguarded it for four years before Qatar Museum Authority (QMA) took the Museum on as

Gazbia Sirry Title Unknown, 1955 Oil on canvas, 133.8 x 68.4 cm

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Tag This Dia Azzawi Red Sky with Birds, 1981 Oil on canvas, 120 x 200.2 cm

OPeninG PrOGrAmmeS In addition to the inaugural exhibition featuring works from the collection, Mathaf will present two special opening exhibitions in a new temporary exhibition space located on the grounds of the Museum of Islamic Art. Interventions, on view from December 30 to May 28, 2011, curated by Dr Nada Shabout, celebrate the work and artistic development of five major modern Arab artists, who were instrumental in introducing and negotiating modernism in the Arab world, and remain productive and influential today. Interventions features works from MathafÕ s permanent collection alongside a newly commissioned work by each artist. Told/Untold/ Retold, on view from December 30 to May 28, 2011 curated by Sam Bardouil and Till Fellrath, features newly commissioned work by 23 contemporary artists with roots in the Arab world. Through the central theme of storytelling, the exhibition attests to art not as a finished product for contemplation but as a site of navigation to be explored.

a museums authority project and Mathaf was formed as collaboration between QF and QMA.

Judging the value

Mathaf has more than 6,000 pieces representing major trends and sites of production of modern Arab art.

“We have a collection of paintings in all sizes and mediums, ranging from canvas to wood. We also collects sculptures.”

What about the value of the collection?

“There are many ways in which one can evaluate a collection,” says Al-Khudhairi.

“One way to value is if there is a history behind the collection, if someone 25 years ago decides to collect masterpieces from a certain era, by recognising the efforts of the artist, then that creates a value by itself. Another factor that adds value to the collection is when work by key artists who 58

“It is much more difficult to find work of the modern period. The museum brings together a lot of works from many different Arab countries from this era in one placeÓ influenced the region and art history during that period is featured. We have work of artists who in the 30s and 40s influenced the then vibrant art scene. The value of the collection is embedded in the experiences of the artist himself.”

The best way, according to Al-Khudhairi, to recognise and value the collection is when the Museum opens to the world and the art community.

“Then there will be a voice to the works exhibited, when the Museum also works together with the public to make the experience of visiting it invaluable.”

The role of Mathaf

Al-Khudhairi and the team want the Museum to be a place of exchange.

“We want to create a path of dialogue, to engage the public in conversation with us. We will have a studio that will be open to all and show different techniques in artwork. The resources that we have are gigantic and we will be the first Museum in the region with such a huge resource that is accessible, not only physically but also through our website. We want an interaction, we want people to comment on

what we do and take it forward through these exchanges.”

It is about creating a cultural space in Doha that everyone associates with, not just as a “museum” that houses artefacts.

Museums and auction houses

A small country is now going to be home to three museums, the Museum of Islamic Arts, The National Museum and now Mathaf. Will their activities overlap, and will there be a conflict of interest and collectables?

Al-Khudhairi doesn’t think so; she says that there will be a lot of interaction.

“We will do a lot of work together.

We are all a part of a family under the Museums Authority. There are a lot of connections, there will be ways in which to connect the Islamic world with Qatari history and also interact with the Arab artists of this era.”

Al-Khudhairi sees each of the museums as portions of a pie and all of them together make the art scene of Qatar a vibrant one.

What about the connection with Christie’s, the auction house?

“There is no connection with them,”she says emphatically, “Right now, contemporary art is looked at only for its commercial value. This Museum gives a value to the works of artists and institutionalises their work. Hence the galleries and auction houses are excited about this as the opening of a Museum of Contemporary Art automatically gives more significance to the art and the artist and eventually to the work they collect.” n

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Tag This be easy to walk into the showroom and buy the shiniest, flashiest, most expensive product, that’s not necessarily what you need to be doing in defence of a nation.

As a Qatari commander stipulated during the meet, in the case of this country the QAF is primarily a defensive air force; Qatar would not be attacking other countries. The requirement of the QAF is to deter anyone from messing with Qatar and, more broadly, the GCC.”

Acknowledge the threat

Desert storm

The Qatari Air Force is in the process of choosing a new fighter to replace an aging fleet. Qatar Today meets Craig Penrice, who explains why this Typhoon should be welcome in the desert

f

By John Hunt

ormer RAF fighter pilot Craig Penrice was in Doha last month speaking at the Air Power Middle East 2010 event, a defence industry networking meet held in the city under the auspices of the Qatari Air Force (QAF). The list of sponsors of the event reads like a who’s who of modern defence suppliers: Boeing, Eurocopter, Saab, Westland and the UK’s BAE Systems.

After a lengthy career flying supersonic aircraft for the RAF, Penrice now serves his country as ‘Typhoon Marketing Aircrew Advisor’ for BAE. The aforementioned Typhoon is a twin-engined multirole fighter aircraft, also known as the Eurofighter, developed by a European consortium and now in service with the British, German, Spanish, Italian and Austrian air forces.

The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) has agreed to purchase 72 of the aircraft as it overhauls its fighter inventory; these are the first sales of the Eurofighter in the region and, most likely, they will not be the 60

last as the holding company seeks out additional markets for the product.

As luck would have it, BAE has the Eurofighter and affiliated products and services on its tariff at the same time that the QAF is ‘shopping’ for a new fighter (24 in fact, plus options on perhaps a dozen or two dozen more says Penrice) to replace the aging Mirage 2000 aircraft which is nearing the end of its effective lifespan.

Penrice’s presence at the Air Power event is unlikely to be a coincidence then, but he’s not a salesman – he’s an expert on the product having flown the Eurofighter in test phases and extensively beyond.

“I’m in Doha to take part in the event that is sponsored by the QAF,” Penrice says. “To talk about air power in Qatar and also in the region, which is a subject the QAF is particularly keen on exploring as it continues the process of modernising its inventory.

“Any air force that is looking to buy a new product needs to know what that product is required to do. While it would

While we accept that parts of the region are not noted for political stability, it’s hard to see where a threat to Qatar would come from, especially with US Air Force bases in the country. “The US is only here because of the situation in Afghanistan and to my knowledge there is no permanent US presence here, unlike in, say, South Korea,” Penrice reminds us. “The threats to Qatar come from Iran. The oil and gas is the prize, of course.

“Qatar’s defensive requirement is that it wants to be able to defend itself, for three days, until others come to the ‘rescue’.

Three days is the benchmark; consider the surprise of Gulf War 1991, it took two days for the US and UK to turn up and by that point Kuwait was overrun. These ‘three days’, the deterrent aspect of it, having enough planes, pilots, supplies, weapons, etc., will seriously deter any would-be assailants.

“In today’s environment you have to possess the tools to do the job. In aeroplane terms this means performance, sensors and weapons. These three things give you capability. Qatar is never going to be able to sustain long-term operations and defeat all known threats but it needs to be equipped with the right technology and capabilities to make people think twice about having a go.”

Qatar shares a land border with a very powerful neighbour – Saudi – and the Kingdom has sizeable armed forces, with the RSAF having bought big lately with the Eurofighter. Would they not gladly provide the protection Qatar needs if things got hectic? Would this not be a cheaper alternative for Qatar? “It might be cheaper, but it’s also a question of prestige,” says Penrice. “Underpinning the redevelop-

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Tag This ment of the QAF is the national need for sovereignty, independence and looking after the Qatari people. I would turn your question around and ask you: ‘If Saudi did provide the umbrella of defence for Qatar then what would it ask for in return for that service?’” Guess it’s true that there is no such thing as a free lunch.

Top-end military hardware doesn’t come cheap (the Eurofighter costs £46 million (QR271 million) per aircraft) so what sort of spend is the QAF looking at, overall?

“We don’t know exactly, but you’d probably need to spend several billion dollars minimum. The message is, you need to match what you buy with what you actually need.

Don’t be seduced by the price sticker or the glossy brochure.

Latest and greatest

“The QAF is looking to buy the latest and greatest multirole aircraft. I would suggest that this is the Eurofighter but if you asked someone from Saab you’d get a different answer [Penrice is referring to Saab’s current multirole aircraft, the Gripen, see p57].

There are a lot of products out there.

“You need to strike a balance in terms of price and performance. Price is perhaps not as important for Qatar as it is for other countries – which is a nice position to be in – but the long-term, political and national ties are important in that you don’t want to buy from someone that will take the money, supply the planes and say: ‘there you are, see you later’.

Customers want to know the supplier’s government is behind them.

“Nobody just wants to be a ‘customer’ anymore. Purchasers want to be partners in and benefactors of the investments in new technologies and the benefits that come from the leading nations investing to get an advance or a capability that is stronger than the threat,” he says. What Penrice is describing is the concept that is gaining popularity in retail today – that the purchase is only the beginning of the relationship between vendor and vendee. There’s no reason to imagine why military sales should be exempt from this. Indeed, it could probably be argued that this is a sector where after sales service and enhanced interaction with the customer is paramount.

“Whatever Qatar wants out of Eurofighter, we can supply.” n 62

the PreSent

The Mirage 2000 is a ‘tried and testedÕ aircraft which has seen service all over the world and is operated today by nine air forces (pictured here with UAE Air Force markings). It is also old, and no longer capable of adapting to the demands of modern air defence initiatives. The Qatari Air Force began receiving the first of its dozen 2000s in 1997, when the aircraft was already quite seasoned. A slightly faster plane than the Eurofighter (it is nearly 4,000kg lighter) but, by dint of age as much as anything else, inferior to the Eurofighter in every other regard.

Aircraft

Mirage 2000

Origin

France

In service

1982

Max speed

Mach 2.2

No. built

601

Unit cost

QR84 million

Aircraft

Eurofighter Typhoon

Origin

UK/Germany/Italy/ Spain

In service

2003

Max speed

Mach 2

No built

200+ built, 500+ orders

Unit cost

QR271 million

the FUtUre?

The Eurofighter’s history has been beset with all manner of political wrangling, delays and cost overruns. This is not unusual in crossborder joint ventures and almost obligatory where the British Government is involved. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, however, and Eurofighter has earned rave reviews for performance.

When a USAF Chief of Staff General (John Jumper) is moved to comment, “I have flown all the air force jets. None was as good as the Eurofighter”, then you know you have a decent product.

the ALternAtiVe

Penrice mentions (overleaf) the Saab Gripen and here it is. The Swedish conglomerate has an extensive history (since the 1930s) of aircraft manufacture and of jet-powered fighters whose names end with Ô -enÕ . The Gripen is in service with the Swedish, Czech, Hungarian and South African air forces with a current order from the Royal Thai Air Force also. The Gripen is a highlycompetent Ô all-rounderÕ coming from a manufacturer that has shown a willingness to bargain on price. As such, itÕ s a favoured choice for ‘2nd tier’ air forces that are happy to trade being just off the cutting edge for better economy.

Aircraft

Saab Gripen

Origin

Sweden

In service

1996

Max speed

Mach 2

No built

c.500, including orders

Unit cost

QR200 million

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The economisT?

ThereÕ s an app for ThaT

There is, of course, only one business magazine in Qatar worthy of that appellation but if you’re looking for an international title of renown then The Economist is likely to ring a bell. Cost, frequency and speed of delivery have often been issues for international magazines in this market. The Economist has been available online for some time but has now launched on two new apps for iPhone and iPad. The free apps include a weekly sample of articles chosen by the editor and the full issue is available through a purchase each week from 00.01 on Fridays. Digital and print subscribers can receive full access to The Economist on iPad, iPhone as well as online by using their print or online subscription credentials. Once downloaded, each issue is stored on the user’s device, making it possible to read the newspaper in full without an internet connection. Each issue also features the full audio edition. Single issues cost $6 (QR21); subscription rates are online at www.economist.com

iÕ m noT sure iTÕ s big enough...

Samsung introduces the new 65” 3D LED TV, presently the biggest 3D TV in the World. The C8000 is a monster of connectivity and social networking with its 'internet @TV' features so you can stream YouTube videos and view updates on your Facebook or Twitter accounts.

The TV is made from eco-friendly materials, while still delivering high build quality and technology that Samsung consumers are used to. So if you are looking for something to completely dominate your life and living room, then look no further. Yours for QR24,999 only.

asus, hi Asus has launched its improved M10 smartphone in the region offering functionality improvements and additional features. The M10 combines the Windows Mobile platform (with Microsoft Office 2010) and Garmin’s proven navigation, featuring access to Windows Marketplace which offers hundreds of apps. It boasts a 5mp camera which automatically geotags photos and allows users to share them via Facebook and Picasa. The M10 has a sleek design with a 3.5-inch WVGA display and a finger-friendly user interface. Keeping the phone responsive and the navigation smooth are 512 RAM and 512 ROM, while 4gb of Flash memory provides ample storage for multimedia and data. A 1500 mAh battery aims to salve that most common of smartphone complaints about operating times as a full QWERTY soft keyboard. HSDPA wireless connectivity and Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) complete the package. Available now at an RRP of QR1900.

Compiled by John Hunt

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facing off wiTh The evil empire

Facebook has bid to trademark the word ‘face’. The social networking site applied because it wants to stop others using the term in a way which damages its own brand.

Patent lawyers had doubted that a trademark would be granted for such a generic term, yet this move to will be seen as yet another example of the firm extending its reach over the internet. The move is also likely to raise further questions over the company’s motives and its long-term goals. With more than 500 million users, Facebook is by far the world’s largest social networking site.

But it has been dogged by criticism of its privacy policy and attacked for its slow response to claims that it encourages abuse. Facebook’s application does however limit the terms of its trademark to specific situations related to its business, so the general public will still be able to use ‘face’ without fear of breaking the law. What a relief.

six-figure aucTion

for a mouldy old apple Such is the mystifying power of the Apple brand, that its 1976 Apple I computer has been sold at auction by Christie’s for a cool $214,000 (QR779,000). The Apple I, with a processor thousands of times slower than an iPad, was one of only 200 models ever made, and was sold at Christie’s together with its original packaging and a signed letter from Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple. At its launch in 1976, the Apple I was the only personal computer to come with a fully assembled motherboard and cost $666.66. The Apple I was sold over the phone to an Italian businessman, Marco Boglione. Useless, archaic tech selling for six figures. I think I have a ZX Spectrum in my loft somewhere...

beaTles for sale

The Beatles’ archive of hits is finally being sold to music lovers via the internet and Apple’s iTunes.

Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison have finally agreed to allow downloads. Individual tracks will cost $1 (QR3.46) each, single albums $11 each and double albums $18 each. Fans will be able to buy the entire Beatles catalogue as a box set for $125. Of course, if you want the entire back catalogue for free, that’s doable as well. Albeit illegal. if you have a product, innovation or tech story that should appear here, please email: qtoday@omsqatar.com

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QTGA 2010

GoinG Green... but

t

he winners of the Qatar Today Green Awards 2010 were lauded on November 27 at an event that was attended by high-ranking officials and professionals from the sustainability and environmental sector, at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Yousuf Jassem Al-Darwish, Chairman of Oryx Advertising Company, Dr Saif Al-Hajri, Vice Chairman, Qatar Foundation, HE Kenjiro Monji, the Japanese

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The winners of QTGA 2010 along with the judges

Ambassador to Qatar, Dimitri Giokas, Chief Operating Officer at HSBC, Eng Issa M Al-Mohannadi, CEO, Dohaland and Adel Al-Mutawa, Executive Director, Group Communications, Qtel were all part of the high-profile event.

The third edition saw a good participation from all sectors, which itself was a clear indication of growing awareness of an environmental ethos in the country.

Over 80 nominations for nine categories

were received from organisations large and small engaged in the supply of diverse products and services.

Initiatives included: recycling of used equipment, upgrading the education curriculum to include environmental studies and process related eco-endeavours, such as carbon neutral constructions.

Winners in each category were chosen through a two-tier selection process. The selection panel comprised of renowned

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not with envy The original, and still the best. The Qatar Today Green Awards were the countryÕ s first of their kind back in 2008, and late last month enjoyed its third edition with a seamless ceremony at DohaÕ s Four Seasons Hotel.

QTGA 2010 WINNERS & RUNNERS UP Award

environmental experts, Dr Benno Boer, Ecological Sciences Advisor, UNESCO Arab Region, Dr Nobuyuki Yamaguchi from Qatar University, Kanchan Ghoshal, KPMG, Deena Al-Abdullah and Katrin Scholtz-Barth from Sustainable Qatar, screened every entry. Applicants were first short-listed by the judges and applicants were then requested to provide detailed information on their initiatives, based on which the judges made their

Winner

1st runner Up

2nd runner Up

Green Organisation

Aecom & Udc

ras Laffan Power co.

movenpick Tower and Suites

Green Innovation

Khalid cement Industries complex

Innovations Unlimited me

Johnson controls

environmental Vision in the energy Section

dolphin energy Limited

OrYX GTL Limited

TOPAZ marine Services (doha marine Services)

environmental Vision in the education Sector

Qatar Foundation Ð Housing & residence Life

Qatar University

meS Indian School

environmental Leadership

doha bank

energy city

Green retailer

Qtel

Vodafone Qatar

ebn Sina medical

Green Product or Service

Al Haya Waste management

cGc

Sigma paints

best Public Awareness campaign

Friends of environment

Tce QSTP-LLc

doha bank

Green roof & Green building design

Qatari diar Vinci company

Qatargas Operating company Ltd

energy city Qatar

final decision.

Dr Boer, who has been part of the judging process for QTGA since its inception, was particularly impressed with the quality of the applicants this year. He said, “Though there is scope for the number of applicants to increase in this country, I have to say that I was particularly impressed with the applications. Some of them are really noteworthy for their groundbreaking initiatives.”

Partner Support

Besides the ceremony, presentations made by HSBC and Dohaland, key partners and sponsors of The Green Awards 2010, highlighted the commitment and vision of the companies.

“HSBC has been a partner of Qatar Today Green Awards since their inception in 2008. We endeavour to bring awareness as well as tangible actions to the business world in Qatar and through this partner-

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QTGA 2010

The VIP table: (From left) Hesham Ismaeel AbdulRahman Al-Emadi, CEO, Energy City, Adel Al-Mutawa, Executive Director, Group Communications, Qtel, Dr Saif Al-Hajri, VC, Qatar Foundation, Yousuf Jassem Al-Darwish, Publisher & Editor-in Chief and Sandeep Sehgal, CEO of Oryx Advertising Co WLL, Eng Issa Al-Mohannadi, CEO, Dohaland and Dimirti Giokas, COO, HSBC

ship we can actively display our commitment to create a sustainable future in the country,” said Dimitri Giokas, Chief Operating Officer at HSBC. Commenting about the partnership, Dohaland, CEO, Eng Issa M Al-Mohannadi said, “Dohaland is delighted to partner with Qatar Today in taking on the challenge of spreading awareness on green issues in Qatar. Sustainability and environmental awareness are at the core of what we do at Dohaland, and partnering with an organization that shares with us these same values will ensure that individuals, businesses, and society at large stand up and take notice. Together we can create a 70

better, greener, more sustainable Qatar of the future.”

“It is heartening to see the support and deep-rooted commitment of our partners, which has made a Qatar Today Green Award a coveted honour.

The rise in the number of entries, the overall quality of the case studies and new projects being nominated are true signs that sustainability and eco-initiatives are becoming mainstream. The continued effort of past winners and nominees also indicates their commitment to the green cause. This strong platform allows us to expand the scope and make a difference at the grass roots level,” said Ravi

Raman, Vice President, Oryx Advertising Company.

Since 2008, Qatar Today Green Awards have recognised a broad spectrum of environmental activism, from grassroots to national, from single endeavours to activities reflecting the goals set out in longterm environmental visions and polices.

The Awards were instituted by Qatar Today – the flagship publication of Oryx Advertising and the only monthly business magazine of note in this country.

Oryx Advertising is one of the oldest and largest publishing houses in Qatar, with a history stretching back to the 1970s.

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The Ambassador of Japan HE Kenjiro Monji with his wife at the function

One of the VIP tables

Mohammed Al-Marri, Projects Director of Dohaland gives a presentation on their flagship Musheireb project

Sandeep Sehgal, CEO of Oryx Advertising Co WLL, welcomes the gathering

The judges of QTGA 2010 (from left): Deena Al-Abdullah, Environmental Advisor, Katrin Scholtz-Barth from Sustainable Qatar, Dr Nobuyuki Yamaguchi from Qatar University, Kanchan Ghoshal from KPMG and Dr Benno Boer, Ecological Sciences Advisor, UNESCO Arab Region and Qatar with Ravi Raman, VP of Oryx Advertising Company WLL december 10

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QTGA 2010

“I’m very proud to take this award for UDC. We would like to thank Qatar Today for their vision in instigating these awards and also the HH the Emir for striving to make Qatar a greener place to beÓ

Al-Darwish and Sehgal present the Green Organisation Award to the joint winners Aecom and UDC

Jerry Jackson, Technical Director, UDC

Ò I have only three words to say, letÕ s go greenÓ Hussein Kondakji, R&D and QC Manager Khalid Cement Industries Complex

Giokas from HSBC gives the Green Innovation Award to Khalid Cement Industries Complex

“We feel we have worked hard for this award. WeÕ re a young company but weÕ re vigilant in our attention to environmental issues, which are a priority for this firm” Ibrahim Al-Kuwari, Deputy General Manager Dolphin Energy Limited Giokas gives the Environmental Vision in Energy Sector Award to Dolphin Energy Limited 72

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“We would like to thank Qatar Today and its partners for recognising our environmental and societal efforts. ‘Go Green With Doha Bank’, is a simple slogan, but one that we adhere toÓ Al-Mohannadi presents the Environmental Leadership Award to Doha Bank

Herald Moras, Head of Doha Bank and Green Banking

Ò Corporate Social Responsibility is an important part of our company policy and itÕ s nice to be recognised for that.Ó

Al-Mohannadi gives the Green Retailer Award to Qtel

Adel Mohammed Al-Mutawa, Executive Director, Group Communications Qtel

Ò Engaging students in recycling activity is so important, as they are the leaders of tomorrow. We have to thank the students, as without them this process would not have taken placeÓ

Dr Al-Hajri presnts the Environmental Vision in Education Sector to Qatar Foundation-Housing & Residence Life

Christopher Silva, LEED AP, Sustainability Education Coordinator, Qatar Foundation december 10

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QTGA 2010

“All of us at QDVC thank the organisers for this honourÓ Hamad I.M.Al-Bishri, Deputy CEO, Qatari Diar Vinci Company

Ahmad Al-Abdullah, one of the founders of QGBC and Technical Officer of Tanween gives the Green Roof & Green Building Design Award to QDVC

Ò We really care about the environment; let us all enhance our environmental behaviour through knowledge and technology. Parents really need to make sure their children are environmentally aware - this is so important for all our futuresÓ

Shady Suleman, Director of Rooms, Four Seasons Hotel gives the Public Awareness Campaign Award to the Friends of Environment Centre

Dr Saif Al-Hajri, Vice Chairperson, QF and Head, Friends of Environment Centre

Ò WeÕ re proud to be recive the award for the third consecutive year. ItÕ s a great honour.Ó

Raman gives the Green Product or Service Award to Al Haya Waste Management 74

Ali Saeed Al-Marri, Managing Director Al Haya Waste Management

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90.

Braking news

diGitALiSinG theAtreS

mini AStOn mArtin debUtS At hArrOdS cAmArO iS the 'hOtteSt cAr' OF the yeAr

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ston Martin’s new luxury city car, the Cygnet – which will go into production next year – is making its global debut at Harrods in Knightsbridge, the world’s most prestigious department store.

Occupying a prominent position in the store’s iconic Brompton Road window display in central London, Cygnet is perfectly placed in the heart of the city, an ideal spot to experience this ultra-compact, luxury city car in its production-ready form for the first time.

Aston Martin’s characteristic design language is clearly referenced in Cygnet’s compact two-door body. Signature details like the famous aluminium grille, side strake and inverted rear lights create a distinguished, neatly-proportioned

form and a discretely stylish statement.

Painted, trimmed and assembled by the same technicians and craftspeople that create Aston Martin’s award-winning range of sports cars, Cygnet is the ultimate way to explore the contemporary city.

Cygnet is highly appropriate for the environment for which it has been designed. With ample performance and manoeuvrability for urban use, it is light, compact and fuel-efficient yet also capable of carrying up to four people, all while providing Aston Martin’s accomplished levels of luxury, comfort and quality. Cygnet, a tailor-made solution for the city, will help drive Aston Martin into an exciting future.

The Chevrolet Camaro has been named the “hottest car” at this year’s 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The inaugural SEMA Award recognised the most accessoryfriendly new models, based on the number of vehicles exhibited and the Chevrolet Camaro proved yet again to be the car of choice for all the driving enthusiasts.

“A booth space is a ballot, and the models these exhibitors have selected represent their vote,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. According to SEMA, exhibitors manufacture thousands of products that improve performance, convenience, appearance and comfort. While products are available for every make and model vehicle, exhibitors are investing more into the Chevrolet Camaro than any other car. Consumers, therefore, can expect to find more options for personalising their Camaro.

“More than any other venue, the cars exhibitors and attendees brought to SEMA embodied the passion and excitement of car enthusiasts everywhere,” said John Fitzpatrick, Chevrolet Performance Cars marketing manager, “Based on the sheer number of Camaros displayed on the floor, and parked in the adjacent lots, the Camaro is clearly the hottest car of the show.” december 10

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Braking news

trAininG PrOGrAmme tO UP cUStOmer SerVice

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lfardan Premier Motors Company recently hosted an expert technical training programme for its staff.

Professional trainers from Jaguar Land Rover MENA regional office gave a twoweek technical training course to advance the team’s knowledge of the latest vehicle technology. The training programme was held at Alfardan Premier Motors’ dedicated Jaguar Land Rover training facility.

Jaguar Land Rover manufactures the most technically advanced vehicles in their market segment. The 2010 model

vehicles feature a host of new technologies including a first in class dual view, in-car entertainment system and a range of new 5.0 litre engines. Regular training is carried out to ensure the Alfardan Premier Motors’ team knowledge is matched with their peers across the world. This ensures that its customers are provided with the highest levels of service and customer satisfaction. Jaguar Land Rover Regional Office Training department spokesman, Ryan Abbott, said, “It was great to be surrounded by skilled

SALeS teAm ShineS

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orsche Centre Doha, Al Boraq Automobiles Co., recently celebrated the successful achievements of two of its sales consultants.

Nader Kaviani won the Sales Excellence Awards initiated by Porsche’s regional office in Dubai. David Smith and James

Bourne, both Regional Operations Managers at Porsche Middle East and Africa, congratulated Kaviani. The competition was based on the total volume of new car sales over a six month period. Kaviani is looking forward to redeeming his first prize – a complimentary three-day tour

enthusiastic delegates in a good training environment.

Hosting this training for two weeks, Alfardan Premier Motors Company has shown solid commitment to the brand and the team that lies at the heart of its success. Jaguar Land Rover’s current model range embodies the latest technology and we aim to ensure that all staff are up to date with our product range.

Our vehicles are premium products and the after-sales support has to match the customers’ expectations.” in a Porsche vehicle from Switzerland to Southern Germany with the Porsche Travel Club.

Another sales consultant from Porsche Centre Doha, Iyad Nasser, also received special honours.

He is the first sales consultant in the Middle East region to have successfully achieved 98% Mystery Shop results and holds the third position in the Sales Excellence competition.

Porsche Centre Doha, Chairman and CEO, Salman Jassem Al-Darwish said: “We are very pleased to receive such recognition from Porsche Middle East and Africa. This achievement reflects the dedication and commitment of our sales team to offer unparalleled customer service by not only meeting but exceeding expectations. We congratulate Kaviani and Nasser for their outstanding performance.” december 10

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ADS

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93.

MarkeT waTCH

The FirsT Female designer oF mosQues

berluTi sTeps inTo doha

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xclusive shoe label Berluti opened its first store in Doha on 10 November. Four years after having opened its store in Dubai, the luxury label believes that Doha is ready for ready-to-wear and bespoke footwear for men. Located in the luxury area of the Villagio Mall, the Berluti showroom is, much like their shoes, a masterpiece in itself. Each detail is inspired from the design and architectural lines of the historic rue Marbeuf boutique and the result is a perfect balance between wood and leather.

The store was launched by Adel Ali Bin Ali, the Chairman of the Ali Bin Ali group and Nabeel Ali Bin Ali, Vice Chairman and CEO. In addition to their usual designs such as the celebrated “Alessandro lace-up court shoe” Berluti has also gone regional and offers traditional slippers which are set to be quite popular in the present market.

Berluti’s Artistic Director Olga Berluti says, “Arabian Princes, businessmen and students of Pan-Arabian origin have always walked through the doors of Berluti, driven by their love of our shoes and

respect for our artisanal craftsmanship.

They inspired us to dream and pushed us to the limits of artistic creation due to their desire for excellence, unparalleled expectations and extravagance. Each customer exemplified the heroic spirit of 1,001 Arabian Nights” With such faithful clientele from the region, Berluti currently operates four stores in the region - two in Dubai, one in Beirut and now their newest store in Doha.

Berluti store in the luxury area of the Villagio Mall

The luxurious interior reflects the same charming style of the historic rue Marbeuf boutique

marc JacobsÕ big bang

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rovocative and complex, confident, seductive and charismatic, youthful and captivating with infinite possibility - these are the words used to describe the new Marc Jacobs fragrance BANG. BANG is described as an honest self-expression of the designer himself. Jacobs takes this self-expression a step further by appearing for the first time in an advertising campaign for one of his products. The rather provocative picture of Jacobs lying on a bed of shiny

mylar covered only by the BANG perfume bottle speaks volumes of why this designer is known to be one of this generation’s hottest and most influential style icons.

Available in 50ml and 100ml eau de toilette sprays, 150ml aftershave balm, 200ml hair and body wash and a 75g deostick, Bang is this designer’s first masculine scent in almost a decade. This fragrance is a perfect balance of modern sophistication paired with Jacobs’ trademark irony and irreverence. december 10

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MarkeT waTCH

piageT in The limelighT again

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ver the span of almost a century and a half Piaget has developed a two-fold know-how in the fields of watch making and jewellery. Piaget’s horological inventiveness coupled both areas to perfection to give rise to the Limelight Magic Hour watch in 2007 and to the Limelight Twice watch in 2009.

The Limelight Magic Hour model

caused a sensation from the moment it was launched, winning prestigious awards including the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix for the Best Jewellery Watch. The Limelight Twice, though at first glance appears to be a fairly classic design won the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix in the same category as the Limelight Magic Hour. Unlike any other timepiece on the market, this watch is completely revers-

boconcepTÕ s new dining soluTions

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oft, upholstered dining comfort used to belong to the more formal dining room as upholstery often meant classic, traditional design. With the introduction of the new Nomi dining chair, BoConcept offers a comfortable upholstered chair made for the modern, casual dining style.

The chair is designed by Henrik Pedersen who enjoyed the challenge of creating a modern look for an upholstered chair' “Many modern dining chairs in recent years use new materials that can be moulded into characteristic shapes. So it was interesting to work with upholstery this time and it was obvious from the beginning that the chair should take on a semi-lounge look.

Very casual and very comfortable,” he said.

Nomi features low armrests that run around the frame of the seat with the back rest positioned inside the armrests. Working with the two elements separately has created a beautiful, lowlined chair. To continue the light expression, Pedersen opted for brushed steel as the leg material.

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ible. Each side has its own personality with one being more dressy and gem-set and the other being more relaxed. By rounding out its Limelight Creativity Collection in such a grand style, Piaget is not only conveying the bold creative freedom it lavishes on each of its jewellery models, but also offers women timepieces endowed with the capacity for self-transformation that enables them to adapt to their every desire.

corum celebraTes an iconic collecTion

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orum celebrates its 55th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of one of its most iconic collections, the Admiral’s Cup, by presenting the Admiral’s Cup Chronograph 44 Centro Mono-pusher. Though the classic twin-pusher chronograph is the most popular sportswatch complication, the mono-pusher is a more refined variation for more initiated customers.

The sporting spirit of this watch is highlighted by its 44mm case with characteristic twelve-sided shape, covered with an extremely resistant matt black PVD coating.

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A South AmericAn Showdown in dohA

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cyprus: pasT, 101010 0101010 10010 presenT, 100010 10101FuTure 0010

PHOTO CREDIT :Zafar Abbasi

doHa diary

putting your Shirt on the 2022 Bid

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ouble World Cup winners Argentina sneaked a win against fivetime winners Brazil, when striker Lionel Messi weaved his magic in the 90th minute for the only goal in a game that kept football fans glued to their seats at Doha's Khalifa Stadium on November 17.

Goalless until just before time up,

a seemingly tired Messi dug deep and dribbled past four Brazil defenders before shooting low into the corner of the net.

Qatar pulled off a result of its own by hosting the world’s top teams while Zinedine Zidane, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and tennis legend John McEnroe watched from the stands.

n front of thousands of supporters, Qatar 2022 Bid representatives and judges of the Guinness Book of World Records, QAPCO – Qatar Petrochemical Company broke the Guinness World Record for the largest T-shirt ever made, measuring 72.2 metres long by 48.7 metres wide.

The event took place at Aspire Park where the T-shirt was adjudged to be a world beater.

Dr Mohd Yousef Al-Mulla, GM of QAPCO, expressed his excitement that the record fell, and that the name of QAPCO will stand in the record books.

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t was an evening to remember at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex on November 17 as Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, two of the sport’s greats, locked horns once again.

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The three-set exhibition match went in favour of the American and the crowd in excess of 5,000 appreciated each and every shot of the legends. The match was followed by a doubles event in which McEnroe

teamed up with Ilie Nastase, to face Borg and Mansour Bahrami.

The matches were part of the Aspire4Sport Congress, which took place at the Aspire Dome from November 15-18.

PHOTO CREDIT :Zafar Abbasi

Bjorn And SuperBrAt mAtch up AgAin

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doHa diary

t QAtArÕ S BirthdAy BASh

dohAlAnd SAluteS QAtAri heritAge

A young winner with his Ferrari Bicycle and Dohaland representatives

o a

year ago, T Qatar, the local edition of T: The New York Times Style Magazine, was launched amidst great expectation and interest. Over six issues, the magazine has created quite a stir in the country. An elegant dinner affair in November marked its success and celebrated its first anniversary in style.

The venue was the picturesque terrace of Al Mourjan Restaurant on the Corniche.

Reprints of T Art designed by renowned artists and designers like Oscar de la Renta, Karl Lagerfeld and Jeff Koons were on display. This select screening was by invitation only and Qatar’s social glitterati, business heads, artists and prominent members of the art scene were in attendance.

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ver 3,500 people queued up at the Knowledge Enrichment Centre (KEC) off the Corniche on November 5 and 6, as Dohaland showed its support to the Asian community by participating in this year’s Reach Out To Asia’s (ROTA) “Wheels and Heels” event.

Dohaland organised a quiz aimed at expanding visitors’ knowledge and understanding of Qatari history and culture. The centre, which charts Qatar’s past and present and forecasts of its future through extensive displays, artifacts and audio-visual material, announced six winners of the “Know Your Qatari Heritage” quiz. Abul Al Jabar, Amna Al Bu Hadod and Umera Begum won Ferrari bicycles, while Fahad Al Dosari, Vahide Sabzali and Mahmoud Hashem won Apple iPads.

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doHa diary

gloBAl FuSion An Auction oF wordS enthrAllS AudienceS

Flamenco, tabla, electric bass guitar – Global fusion at its best

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ank Sarasin-Alpen (Qatar) LLC., a subsidiary of Bank Sarasin & Co. Ltd, together with its investment banking associate Alpen Capital Investment Bank (Qatar) LLC hosted its third annual Global Fusion concert on November 10, 2010 at the Intercontinental Doha.

Welcoming the audience to the third Global Fusion event in Doha, was Fidelis M Goetz, Head of Private Banking, Bank Sarasin & Co., Ltd, Switzerland. This year, the concert featured Trilok Gurtu, with musical sensations such as Andy Suzuki, Carolo Cantini, Johann Berby, Rosana Romero, Ahmet Tekbilek, and Sanago Mohamed Bachir. In keeping with the organisations’ support of local artistes, Qatari musician, Ateeq Saeed Mubarak Suwaidan performed with the other musicians from across the world on Middle Eastern Drums.

Work by Ali Hassan: ‘The Green Tree’

Ahmed Moustafa: ‘The Night Journey and Ascension’

otheby’s calligraphic auction ‘Hurouf: The Art of the Word’, will take place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Doha on December 16. The 145lot auction will showcase works by over 65 artists from 24 countries, with over 80 pieces in the sale which are contemporary interpretations of calligraphy. The entire auction carries a pre-sale estimate of in excess of $4 million (QR14.6 million).

‘Hurouf: The Art of the Word’ traces the developments of the Arabic script from its inception, with kufic leaves dating from the 8th century, through popular calligraphy of the 19th century to the highest calibre works by international calligraphers working today. In selecting some of the most talented, revered and innovative calligraphers working with the Arabic script from, Japan, the United States, Turkey, the Middle East, China and the Indian SubContinent, the auction aims to represent the developments of an art form that has entered its second millennium. The sale

features monumental pieces on canvas, in bronze and neon too, by, among others, leading artists such as Farhad Moshiri, Ahmed Moustafa, Parviz Tanavoli, Hassan Massoudy, Mohammed Ehsai, Ali Omar Ermes, Sadequain and Laila Shawa, and of particular relevance to Qatar are local artists Yousef Ahmad and Ali Hassan and resident artist MF Hussain.

Sotheby’s Middle East and India Department, Deputy Director, Dalya Islam commented: “We are delighted to bring this sale to Doha during its Year of Arab Culture, and place on the world stage a first by an international auction house, a retrospective of calligraphy through the ages, highlighting the very genesis of this technique, for private and institutional collectors and buyers of art to acquire, for students and the interested and appreciating public to study and enjoy. We believe that the regional cultural hub of Doha will provide the best platform to present such a themed sale.”

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inFdeX 2010 commemorAteS deSign initiAtiveS

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mbassadors and commercial attaches joined the cream of international designers to celebrate the success of the Qatari interior design industry at the INFDEX 2010 Networking Lunch and Awards at Doha Exhibition Center on November 11, 2010. VIP guests attending the event included the Ambassador of France HE Gilles Bonnaud, the Ambassador of Indonesia HE Rosy Munir, the Italian Commercial Attaché and the

Turkish Commercial Attaché Chairman and Managing Director of Jaidah Group Mohammad Al-Jaidah and Qatar Expo Group Vice Chairman, Roudi Baroudi.

Best Young Designer Award, which provides a platform for creative student designers to demonstrate their talent in front of the regional design industry, was sponsored by Qatari Diar. INFDEX 2010 Best Young Designer Award Jury headed by Lebanese Designer and Architect Dori Hitti presented the 2010 Awards

Best Young Designer Award – Furniture Design Category to Reem Mahmoud Zinia. The First Prize Winner in the Architecture/Interior Design Category was Aisha Al Mutawa of Qatar University.

The Best Environmental ecofriendly stand at INFDEX 2010 sponsored by Qatar Today Green Awards was given to Nasser bin Abdullah & Sons (Panasonic) for their stand design and for spreading awareness in sustainability. december 10

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gloBe TroT

cyprus:

emerging from a Historic past

By Sindhu Nair

The land of Aphrodite is attracting investors in the huge property development sector of the country

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f there is any similarity between Doha and Cyprus, it would be the frenzy of construction that is visible and then perhaps the size and the population of both countries. But the similarity ends there. In Cyprus, the construction activities continued all the way from Larnaca to the seaside city of Paphos, where we (journos) were put up, and most of the construction is tourismbased, for hotels or investment-based housing options. While in Doha, glistening towers are the order of the day and most of it is concentrated in the heart of the city.

The population in Doha comprises mostly expatriates (who form close to 75% of the total population) while in Cyprus there is a majority of Cypriot Greeks (75% of the total) while the Turks who occupy the northern part of the country form 10%. Expats make up the remainder.

A peaceful countryside with beautiful landscapes, comfortable and safe living conditions, (despite the Turkish invasion) and a long coastline and consequently views that one would die for, were my first impressions of the country. The people are friendly and there is an air of unhurried calm, one which makes you sit back and enjoy the land of mythical lore, a country where the Goddess of love, beauty and sensuality

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gloBe TroT

neAPOLiS: SmArt ecOcity

The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias lays the foundation stone for Neapolis EcoCity

emerged from the sea in a surge of foam.

And hence, the country seemed more like a “retirement haven” than a country with business prospects.

But there is more to Cyprus than just its tales of myth, and it took the launch ceremony of Neapolis, the new Eco City, to which media from Doha and other Middle East countries, Russia, China, India and the Americas were invited, to help in understanding the ambitions of the country.

The Minister of Trade, Commerce and Tourism, Antonis Paschalides welcomed the media and explained why the country is being touted as a land of “immense” investment potential.

Leptos Group, one the leading property developer in Cyprus, announced in front of international media, the start of an Eco City project, Neapolis, anticipated to generate a gross development value (GDV) in excess of Euro2.5 billion (QR12.125 billion) offering sustainable annual returns to its investors during the 13-year-development period. The project is an integrated urban mixed-use scheme located on a 1.1 million sq mt site in Pafos, Cyprus with an approved master plan for 520,000 building coefficient sq mt of development. The Neapolis Smart EcoCity is the first project of its kind in the Mediterranean and one of the largest in Europe.

The first phase of this project, consisting of the innovative smart eco-city infrastructure, the Neapolis Hospital and the Assisted Living Residences will commence in 2011.

The first of the Neapolis SmartEco Lifestyle Communities will go on sale

“Cyprus with its unique geographical position at the cross roads of Europe, Africa and Asia is in close proximity to the busy trade routes linking Europe with the Middle East, Russia, Central and Far East Asia.”

Sound Infrastructure, reliable telecom-

towards the latter part of the first phase. Phase one is already underway, with over Euro171 million (QR 829.35 million) of investment already committed to the development. The project will generate 8,000 new jobs by the close of 2018, contributing significantly to the local economy.

In other signature developments, Leptos Group sales have reached "record sales" from investors from Scandinavia, the UK, Russia and the Middle East who have supported property development in Cyprus.

Leptos Group, Founder and Chairman, Michael Leptos said, Ò Macroeconomic stability and sustained economic performance are only some of the attractions that Cyprus holds.

We envisage that the Neapolis Smart EcoCity project developed in the mythical Ô Aphrodite GardensÕ will represent the future in intelligent, eco-friendly living. It is a first for Cyprus and will be one of the largest in Europe.Ó

munications, low corporate taxes, high education standards and solid governance makes the country attractive to foreign investors, emphasised the Minister.

“Confidence and trust in the Cyprus Banks is another added advantage,” he said december 10

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gloBe TroT

the tOP 5 the sea Ð this is probably the most spectacular archaeological site in Cyprus.

3 Larnaca Salt Lake & Hala Sul-

1 Paphos Harbour & Castle The harbour at Paphos attracts visitors all year round. The view is superb, with lots of colourful fishing boats bobbing in the waters. The castle is the remains of a much earlier castle of the 1391 period, which was demolished by the Venetians.

The Ottomans used it as dungeons and the British as a warehouse for salt.

2 Kolossi Castle Ancient Curium and the castle at Kolossi are both in the Limassol area and can be visited together in a day. They are just two examples of the wealth of history to be found in Cyprus -- the Curium sites dating from the 2nd century AD and Kolossi from the 13th century. The ruins at Curium are to be found in breathtaking scenery overlooking

A history of invasions

But all of this didn’t come easy. Cyprus has a long history, one that makes all Cypriots sit up with pride.

Cypriot civilisation goes back 11,000 years according to archaeological evidence. The island acquired its Greek character after it was colonised by the Greeks between the 13th and the 14th century BC. It later came under the aegis of the Roman

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tan Tekke The Larnaca Salt Lake and site of the mosque or Tekke of Hala Sultan. Salt has been extracted from the lake since ancient times and this continues, on a small scale, to this day. If you are visiting Cyprus in late winter or early spring, look out for the visiting flamingos and other migratory birds.

4 Ayia Napa and Protaras If you like a bit of fast-paced entertainment, then Ayia Napa should be top of your list. It was once a small fishing village, but not anymore. It boasts of some of the best beaches on the island, lots of opportunities for water sports and is a popular destination for package tours.

5 Nicosia Look at any map of Nicosia and you will see the distinctive shape of the walls of the old city. The walls and their eleven bastions were built by the Venetians in the 1570’s. Most of the historic monuments of Nicosia can be found in the winding streets within the walls. It is also the site of the famous tourist quarter, Laiki Yitoniak, which is full of gift shops and restaurants.

Empire. Cyprus came under the rule of successive foreign powers, King Richard I of England, the Knights Templar, the Venetians, the Ottoman Turks and the British again.

Throughout the centuries and through these various invasions, the Greek identity, language and culture was retained and prevailed through centuries. A fact that is repeatedly mentioned by Greek Cypriots.

Ò Cyprus with its unique geographical position at the crossroads of Europe, Africa and Asia is in close proximity to the busy trade routes linking Europe with the Middle East, Russia, Central and Far East AsiaÓ Greek Cypriots launched an anti-colonial struggle against British rule from 1955 to 1959 and finally Cyprus gained its independence and became a constitutional republic. According to the Zurich-London agreements, political power was to be shared between the Greeks and Turkish Cypriots in a 7:3 ratio.

Everything was peaceful until 1974, when Turkish military aggression against Cyprus took a turn for the worse and these matters are still being discussed and efforts are ongoing for a peaceful solution.

A City being built

Even with political problems unresolved, the free-market economy in the government controlled area made a remarkable recovery since 1974 and Cyprus now enjoys a stable economy with a major thrust on tourism, light manufacturing and services.

“The climate, the EU status plus the infrastructure makes Cyprus a good destination for investment in property,” said the Minister. He also stressed on the strong business relations it shares with Qatar.

“We have a solid relationship with Qatar. The Emir visited us recently and some bilateral agreements were signed. Qatari Diar and the Cypriot government have agreed to set up a joint venture for the development of a leisure complex in Nicosia, Cyprus, with the initial investment greater than QR546 million. The area for the complex is close to the commercial hub of the capital and is expected to cover 50,000 square meters of construction. The project will include a 5-star hotel, luxury residential villas and apartments, retail space and office buildings,” he said n

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doha

CapiTal of arab CulTure, 2010

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builDing

tHe Digital stage

i

n October 2009, when Robert Delamere and Tom Shaw launched their online theatre portal, they didn't know they might be part of future school textbooks, along with Facebook’s Chris Hughes, Twitter’s Jack Dorsey and Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales.

While the founders of online social networks and content portals redefined knowhow and human relationships, the two British entrepreneurs reinvented theatre, giving the age-old showbiz a new avatar.

Delamere and Shaw are the founders of UK-based Digital Theatre (DT) firm. Their company drastically democratised theatre shows by filming them in digital format and streaming them to audiences around the globe in real time.

That means, the age of centralised theatre is gone, and a new lifeline is lent to an otherwise eroding industry.

Via the DT website, you can watch plays currently being performed in London, Paris, Moscow, Vancouver and other global arts capitals, online in their debut week, in return for a nominal fee.

Doha wanted to be part of the experience. And as a capstone of its festivities as the Capital of Arab Culture 2010, it invited 90

By Ahmed Lotfy

the two entrepreneurs for a two-fold mission: film the GCC Youth Theatre Festival (held in October) and train 17 talented young people on the latest skills of filming and recording theatrical productions for broadcast on digital media.

Qatar Today recently had a chat with the visitors.

Reproducing the Lure

COO & Creative Director Robert Delamere says, their idea was to create an internet service that records theatre shows locally to put them at the fingertips of a global audience via downloads.

“We aimed at putting innovation and

digital filming techniques at the service of culture and civilisations,Ó says Delamere.

“Filming theatre is not news anyway, but the approach and scope of distribution are. Traditional filming rendered a distant, detached version of the audiovisual lure in theatre. We wanted a rather closer engagement with the emotions and atmospherics,Ó notes Shaw, Production and Development Director at DT.

Creating Concept

Once their concept materialised, the budding entrepreneurs went into the routine challenges of startup owners. They had to raise starting capital, build a global-scale

Trainees tried their hands at real-life film editing sessions

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diGitiSinG the Gcc FeStiVAL Ò We aimed at putting innovation and digital filming techniques at the service of culture and civilisationsÓ Robert Delamere

COO & Creative Director, DT

“Traditional filming rendered a distant, detached version of the audiovisual lure in theatre. We wanted to build a rather closer engagement with the emotions and atmosphericsÓ Tom Shaw

Production and Development Director, DT

Ò After the successful experience in Qatar, we will try to replicate the success in other GCC nations. We created a model hereÓ Deborah Dignam

Drama and Dance Advisor, British Council, London

Digital Theatre will bring the performances of this year's GCC Youth Theatre Festival, held in Qatar, to audiences across the world.

It was the first time Digital Theatre has worked outside of the UK. Performances by youth theatre groups from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE performing at this year’s festival were recorded, and will be broadcast more widely using digital media.

And in December, the recordings will be screened in Doha, during the final month of the prestigious Doha, Arab Capital of Culture programme 2010. Subtitled films of the six plays can be reached at www.digitaltheatre.com.

online portal, interest effective partners and market the concept globally.

“Initially, we needed a start-up capital of a million pounds (QR5.8 million). At that time, we were too small a company to raise that amount of money,” says Shaw.

“But we received a good response from investors, willing to do a culture-related business, and partnered with a bunch of quality content developers: the Almeida Theatre Company, English Touring Theatre, the Royal Court Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Young Vic.And in October 2009, the DT portal was launched from which productions by leading British companies were accessible through a property Player.”

The first offering was Far From The Madding Crowd, Crowd a new adaptation of the Thomas Hardy classic by Mark Healy.

And it became the first time that theatre fans the world over could watch current shows in real time with attendant high quality. The reaction was overwhelming and immediately drew interest from the six continents.

“We got the right impetus to toil ahead,” says Delamere. “Today, a year after launch, we are in 109 countries as far apart as Malawi, Kuwait, Canada, Australia, Azerbaijan, etc. The portal receives tens of thousands of visitors, and generates a high return on investment. The idea is spreading very quickly and we are going equally fast.”

Middle East Debut

Delamere and Shaw were excited to do their Middle East debut from Qatar.

“It is impressive how Qatar is finding the balance between its tradition-rich past and the future. Working in Qatar was fun for

all of us. People are warm, welcoming and aware. After our experience here, we plan to visit other GCC nations, ”they say.

An Arts Delegation

In May 2010, Qatar dispatched an arts delegation headed by Khaled Al-Mulla, Head of youth activities at the Ministry of Culture, and film director Hafez Ali to the UK to explore the latest innovations in the arts scene and mull potential takeaways.

Deborah Dignam, the Drama and Dance Advisor at the British Council (London), who came here to oversee DT work, said, “When Khaled and Hafez met us, they seemed very interested in collaboration with BC London. They wanted the latest innovations happening in the UK. And they liked the idea of Digital Theatre.”

A partnership agreement was signed between the British Council, Qatar Foundation and Digital Theatre to show the debut of the British innovation in the Middle East.

Qatar was the right place for several reasons, not the least of which is its enormous enthusiasm to bring in fresh ideas, albeit at high cost.

Deborah is a digital advisor in charge of exploring new opportunities for theatre in the 21st century and how the digital landscape can revolutionise the prospects of the old art.

“After this successful experience in Qatar, we will try to replicate the success in other GCC nations. We worked hard here, to create a model that suits the region. And one of the great takeaways is that now we have a rich Arabic content from Qatar – the six plays filmed and ready to be uploaded to our site. We plan to screen them throughout the region, ” says Shaw. n december 10

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of minarets,

Domes anD stereotypes

Orna Ballout talks to Zeynep Fadillioglu, the first female designer of Mosques

f

or years, the role of women in the Islamic world has been a subject prone to controversy and sparked many debates. So it came as a shock to Zeynep Fadillioglu, when her interior design company was commissioned by the Sakir family to redesign the Sakirin Mosque in Turkey, in memory of their late mother and father.

“When I was given this wonderful opportunity, I had many sleepless nights as I wanted to achieve the best possible outcome on a project that means so much to so many people,” she shares.

“At a time when so much is being discussed wrongly of Islam not allowing women to have equal rights, the fact that a woman can build a mosque disproves this,” she says. december 10

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culTure capiTal It wasn’t a usual college route that led Fadillioglu into the design industry; first, she studied Computer Science at Sussex University, England, and then went on to study programme and system analysis before completing her education in Art History and Design at Inchbald School of Design in London.

However, after a number of years working as a systems analyst, it was her husband’s restaurant and nightclub business which eventually enticed her into the realm of interior design. And in 1995 she founded her now prestigious company, Zeynep Fadillioglu Design.

Designs at the Cultural Village

Fadillioglu and her team, mostly made up of women, have been busy. They are diligently preparing for the next significant offerings which will spark interest with their unique designs. “We will soon be unveiling our projects in Doha, two Mosques and a restaurant in the Cultural Village that will hopefully attract the attention of the world.”

Since its beginnings, the company has taken pride in striving for excellence and delivering each project with the utmost proficiency to achieve the best results.

The dedicated team of 18 professionals consisting of architects, interior designers, artists and graphic designers, all of whom are experts in their designated field, has accomplished the building and design of 140 projects in countries across the world including Qatar, Turkey, India and London.

On various occasions the company has triumphed sought after awards including the 'Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of The Year Award 2002' in London, and the 'Modern designer of The Year Award 2005' given by the Design and Decoration Awards in London.

A turning point

Whilst all of these projects and achievements have a special meaning to her, the re-design of The Sakirin Mosque in Istanbul is of great significance and holds a special place in her heart. Not only is it a masterpiece of exquisite design; it’s a symbolic reference point in her career that thrust her name into the spotlight as 94

the first ever woman in Islam to design a Mosque.

“In the Sakirin Mosque, I wanted to express myself in a new way as our prophet has said that everyday should be a new day for us. My inspiration for the design is based on Muslim, Ottoman and Seljuk roots. I wanted to leave traces of our times, not a copy of the past, otherwise the new generation would be unaware of us living in this century,” she says.

The 130 ft diameter dome-shaped Mosque boasts a marvellous contemporary look mixed with Islamic and Ottoman details. “I worked with both traditional and modern artists, this dual effect brought another dimension of linking understanding with believer’s roots,” she reveals about the inspiration behind the fusion.

The facade of the structure consists of wrought-iron grills and glass. On entry to the Mosque, a turquoise mihrab catches the eye, its colouring resembling tiles from the Seljuk times.

A grand chandelier consisting of three interwoven rings dominates the ceiling, carrying inscriptions with 99 names of God and the Nur Sura from the Quran; adorning this chandelier are carefully crafted spectacular drops of glass, designed by Nahide Buyukkaymakci, which are inspired by a prayer that says Allah’s light should fall on you like rain.

In the courtyard, a water fountain in the shape of a metal sphere commands the peaceful surrounding, with the metal cleverly reflecting the sky and the Mosque to symbolise the universe.

“It is a sincere privilege that my team has successfully accomplished a Mosque of such fine artistic craftsmanship, a place where people can find peace whilst connecting with God.” Besides creating mesmerising mosques and works of art; busy Fadillioglu manages to juggle between professions of designer, lecturer and grandmother in her busy schedule. She teaches Design Management and a Culture programme in Bilgi University, Turkey, and has just welcomed the newest addition to her close-knit family with the birth of her daughter’s son n

Ò At a time when so much is being discussed wrongly of Islam not allowing women to have equal rights, the fact that a woman can build a mosque disproves thisÓ

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nuMber gaMe 1. Michael Jackson

6. sTieg larsson

The King of Pop passed away last summer but his $275 million total was greater than the earnings of the two most profitable living acts, U2 and AC/DC, combined. Jackson’s posthumous earnings have peaked by shrewd negotiations by his estate, including a merchandising deal and the rights to his name. His film, This Is It, grossed over a quarter of a billion dollars.

Writer Larsson didn’t live long enough to see the incredible success of his series of three books, known as The Millennium Trilogy. He died before his book, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was published. More than 40 million copies of the books have been sold in 44 languages grossing a total of $15 million to date. Sony has well-advanced plans to produce a trilogy of films based on the books, starring Daniel Craig as the lead character Mikael Blomkvist.

Died: June 25, 2009

Died: nov. 9, 2004

2. elvis Presley

Died: august 16, 1977

7. TheoDor seuss geisel

The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll breathed his last in 1977. But that didn’t prevent his income from shooting up to $60 million, in 2009 up $5 million from 2008, thanks partly to admissions to his Graceland mansion and the Elvis Presley Cirque du Soleil shows launched in Las Vegas earlier this year. His posthumous assets include more than 200 licensing and merchandise deals, Graceland exhibits, touring tribute concerts and an Elvis-themed cruise to the Bahamas.

3. J.r.r. Tolkien

Died: september 2, 1973

Tolkein’s fantasty literary works – the Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion have righteously touted him as ‘the Father of Modern Fantasy Literature’. His classics have been thrillingly adapted for the big screen, keeping the cash registers ringing. A two-movie adaptation of his book The Hobbit is currently in preproduction in New Zealand. His earnings after his death on have summed up to $50 million.

4. charles schulz

Died: Feb 12, 2000

Schulz was the name behind the cute comic strip Peanuts. The brand is now owned by Iconix who purchased the cartoon and its characters for $175 million to form Peanuts Worldwide, LLC. Charles M Schulz Creative Associates will maintain a 20% stake in the new company. The late Schulz’ earnings have touched $33 million and continue to grow with his comic strip still appearing in 2,200 newspapers across 75 countries.

Died: sept. 24, 1991

Dr Seuss (his pen name) was an American writer and cartoonist known for his best-selling children’s books. Horton, the Grinch and his other iconic characters are now reaching audiences through iPhone applications and an attraction at Orlando’s Universal Studios theme park. Dr Seuss’ titles are set to sell three million copies this year, adding a lot more bucks to his $11 million earnings to date.

DeaD, but still

counting Some don't Seem to Stop minting money...

8. alberT einsTein Died: April 18, 1955 The great scientist is revered in his field. After his death, Einstein’s name was used to peddle Baby Einstein products, a majority Disney-owned venture designed to make infants smarter. Other lucrative tie-ins include Italy’s Banca Profilo’s ‘Face Value’ campaign, Chrysler's Ram brand truck ads and a collection of A J Morgan ‘geek chic’ glasses and videogames.

His collective earnings are around $10 million.

9. george sTeinbrenner

Died: July 13, 2010

Steinbrenner had proved to be an iconic franchise owner in professional sports.

The New York Yankees baseball team owner carried the club back to its championship heritage, brought a new stadium to the Bronx and made the team’s interlocking NY logo globally famous.

He also earned the nickname ‘The Boss’. Although Steinbrenner passed away during the team’s most recent season, his estate continues to earn as long as the Yankees continue to win.

5. John lennon

10. richarD roDgers

Lennon rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of the cherished Beatles band. EMI has launched the Gimme Some Truth campaign, thirty years after his death, re-releasing much of Lennon’s catalogue, resulting in several Top 10 chart appearances. His estate has earned $17 million so far, from the ‘Beatles Rock Band’ videogame and licensing deals with the likes of Cisco and Mont Blanc.

Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He is one of only two people to have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, a Tony, and a Pulitzer Prize. In 2009, the Netherlands’ Image Music Group bought the rights to the collaborative catalogue of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein for a reported $200 million. His assets after his death amounted to $7 million.

Died: Dec. 8, 1980

Died: Dec. 30, 1979

(Source: Forbes)

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