inside this issue
December 2017 - January 2018 / Vol. 43 / Issue 10
COVER STORY
34 THE YEAR THAT WAS
A recap of some of the landmark moments of 2017, a year in which the blockade on Qatar grabbed headlines across the world.
14 MISSION DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Zong Yan, CEO, Huawei Qatar, talks about the company’s digitalisation plans for the country.
54 TRACKING QATAR’S LANDMARK SPORTING EVENTS
The year 2017 witnessed important milestones for the country’s premier tennis, golf and squash tournaments.
60 SETTING LIMITS IN THE SKY
Analysing the role of the aviation industry in tackling the problem of carbon emissions.
inside this issue
December 2017 - January 2018 / Vol. 43 / Issue 10
18 A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS
The founders of Paws Rescue Qatar, Alison Caldwell and Emily Blenkinsop, share their experiences, insights and future plans.
24 QATAR’S NEW SHIPPING SERVICES
Various options are being explored by Qatar because of the ongoing conflict with its Arab neighbours.
26 YOUNG GUNS TO THE FORE
Representatives from 194 countries were in Bogota, Colombia, recently to participate in the One Young World Youth Summit.
48 BECOME A STRATEGIC JOBSEEKER
Quite often, landing a job is about being selective rather than applying randomly for vacancies.
50 EXPLORING ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Thomas Astebro, a professor of Strategy and Business Policy, talks about what drives people to become entrepreneurs.
and regulars 08
NEWS BITES
10
REALTY CHECK
12
BANK NOTES
13
OIL & GAS REVIEW
64
TECH TALK
66
AUTO NEWS
68
MARKET WATCH
70
DOHA DIARY
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from the desk As we get ready to welcome the year 2018, damage control would probably be a realistic goal for leaders around the world, if one was to go by the events that have unfolded in the year that just went by. There was no shortage of action in the region with Qatar being isolated by its Arab neighbours. What’s worrying though is the fact that there seems to be no solution on the cards, at least in the near future. Our Cover Story this time tracks the developments of the blockade on Qatar and presents a pictorial compilation of all the major news from around the world in 2017. US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the end of Robert Mugabe’s 30-year reign as Zimbabwe's president, and yet another nuclear test by North Korea attracted quite a bit of attention. The menace of terrorism continued to rear its ugly head with consistent strikes all over the world. There were three incidents in Britain itself, and a couple of major attacks in Afghanistan. However, there was some major relief for the Iraqis with their Prime Minister Haider Jawad Kadhim Al Abadi announcing that Daesh had been kicked out of Iraq. In our other stories, we analyse the dangers posed by drones should they get into the wrong hands; we have experts give their views on Qatar’s LNG market and also on the need for climate action. And we round things off with an exclusive interview with animal shelter Paws Rescue Qatar founders Alison Caldwell and Emily Blenkinsop. Happy Reading!
affairs > local QCB TO INVESTIGATE RIYAL MANIPULATION ATTEMPTS
ACCOMPANIED BY FATHER, EMIR ATTENDS NATIONAL DAY PARADE
The Doha Corniche came to life on December 18 as the nation celebrated its 10th National Day, the occasion made even more special by the events unfolding since June because of the blockade imposed on Qatar by its Arab neighbours.
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n a show of solidarity, the National Day parade was attended by Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as well as the Father Emir HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The show began with the national anthem, which was followed by readings of verses from the Holy Quran before 18
artillery rounds marked the National Day of Qatar. The parade began with aerial displays of various types of warplanes, helicopters, reconnaissance, transport and cargo aircraft followed by the Emiri Cavalry and Camel Corps of the Emiri Guard and the Guards of Honour.
A probe has been initiated by the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) into what it claims are attempts to harm the Qatari economy through the manipulation of its currency, securities and derivatives markets. QCB governor Sheikh Abdulla bin Saud Al Thani lashed out at the Saudi-led group of countries that imposed an economic boycott on Qatar on June 5. “We know blockading countries and their agents are attempting to manipulate and undermine our currency, securities and derivatives, as part of a coordinated strategy to damage Qatar’s economy,” said Sheikh Al Abdulla, adding: “We will not stand by while our country is attacked in this manner.” QCB has hired New York-based law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP to lead the investigation.
EMIR ROUNDS OFF WEST AFRICA TOUR WITH GHANA VISIT His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani signed a number of deals with Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, to boost ties in various fields, at the presidential palace in Accra.
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H Sheikh Tamim had earlier visited Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. President Akufo-Addo reiterated his country’s keenness to develop cooperation with Qatar, especially in the energy, infrastructure, aviation, sports, youth and food security sectors. The two sides also discussed the overall regional and international situation,
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especially in the Middle East and Africa. Later, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a number of agreements and MoUs. The agreements cover investments, aviation and youth and sports. The Emir thanked the president and the Ghanaian people for the warm reception and hospitality, expressing his desire to deepen bilateral relations and expand cooperation between the two countries.
NOW ENJOY 5G SERVICE IN DOHA, THANKS TO OOREDOO
“BOEING AWARDED $6.2 BN CONTRACT FOR QATAR’S F-15S”
Telecommunications company Ooredoo recently announced the launching of one of the first ‘5G Speed Experiences’ in various parts of Doha for a select number of VIP customers.
According to an announcement made by the US Department of Defense in December, Boeing has been awarded a $6.2 billion contract to manufacture 36 F-15 fighter jets for Qatar’s air force.
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he Pentagon said that the multirole aircraft are to be delivered at the end of 2022 and will be built by the aerospace giant in St Louis, in the US state of Missouri. “This contract provides for the foreign military sales requirement to procure 36 new F-15QA aircraft for the Qatar Emiri Air Force,” said the statement. According to Qatari Minister of Defence Khalid Al Attiyah, the deal underscored the “long-standing commitment of the state of Qatar in jointly working with our friends and allies in the United States in advancing our military cooperation for closer strategic collaboration in our fight to counter violent extremism and promote peace and stability in our region and beyond”.
PANEL SET UP TO HEAR DISPUTES OVER GOVT CONTRACTS
“This is a first-in-the-world landmark (moment) for Qatar, and demonstrates that the Ooredoo Supernet is one of the world’s leading networks,” said the company’s CEO Waleed Al Sayed. “We will continue working hard to provide Qatar with a world-class infrastructural backbone in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.” The benefits are available in select locations and will offer an extremely high-speed and low latency network with initial speeds of up to (and in some cases exceeding) 1Gbps. Access to Ooredoo’s ‘5G Speed Experience’ requires a special smartphone that has been calibrated to work with the Ooredoo pre-standardised 5G network and Supernet upgrades applied in the selected locations.
MOODY’S GIVES QATAR’S 2018 BUDGET ‘CREDIT POSITIVE’ RATING
A dispute resolution committee (DRC) has been set up in Qatar to address the administrative disputes arising prior to signing of contracts with government entities.
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he DRC will have representatives from the Ministry of Finance and the Qatar Chamber and will be headed by a judicial president of the Court of First Instance, chosen by the Supreme Judiciary Council. “The establishment of the committee can help resolve disputes between government entities on one side and companies entering the tenders on
the other,” said Hareb Rashid Hareb Al Muhannadi, head of the committee. Al Muhannadi further said that the DRC is aimed at easing the burden of the courts and speeding up the process for companies in terms of helping them exercise their rights with as little financial constraints as possible, adding that the rulings of the committee could be appealed at a higher court.
Describing Qatar’s approach to its 2018 budget as “prudent”, Moody’s Investors Service gave it a “credit positive” rating, noting that it “reduces the risk of fiscal slippage” that would increase the government’s debt burden at potentially higher costs. Moody’s also sees an “upside potential” for Qatar’s revenue in 2018 based on its higher oil price projections. The upcoming year’s state budget increases total spending by 2.4% year-on-year to QR 203.2 billion. The majority share of total spending (QR97.5 billion or 48%) will be allocated to capital expenditures, including QR 11.2 billion for projects related to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In line with Moody’s projections of total government spending of QR 205 billion (around 32% of GDP) in 2018, spending on wages and salaries is expected to grow the fastest at 8.8% and reach QR52.2 billion, while the rest will be allocated to other current expenditure.
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business > realty check SAK OPTIMISTIC ABOUT REAL ESTATE MARKET Real estate developer SAK Holding predicts a strong turnaround in Qatar’s property market. It projects an 8% growth in the long term and is also bullish on Qatar’s public spending in the run-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
EMIR ISSUES NEW LAW FOR REAL ESTATE BROKERS A law regarding the commitments of real estate brokerages, disciplinary accountability rules and suspension and revocation of licences was issued by HH Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in November. Law No. 22 of 2017 deals with the terms and conditions related to the licensing of practising real estate brokering.
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his law also includes the establishment of a real estate brokerage committee at the Ministry of Justice. One of the responsibilities of the committee will include looking into complaints of those affected by the decisions regarding brokers. The law will reconcile the conditions of real estate brokers and offices, once it is applied in compliance with its provisions, within a maximum period of six months from the date of its implementation. A decision by the Minister of Justice may extend the grace period once or several times.
JRE TO UNDERTAKE FOUR NEW LUXURY VILLA PROJECTS
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ust Real Estate (JRE) has added four state-of-the-art villa projects to meet the growing population demands of Qatar. The four projects – Castilla, Tulip, Messila and Wadi Al Wasaah – focus around luxury and modern family living. “As the leading property service provider in Qatar we constantly monitor, analyze and anticipate shifts in the rapidly evolving market dynamics,” said Engineer Nasser Al Ansari, Chairman, JRE. He added: “We have a diverse portfolio of property solutions to meet all consumer needs, and the additions of these three worldclass projects, designed to provide the complete living environment, further enhance our appeal and offerings for tenants, buyers and investors.”
QIA TO EXIT RMZ INDIA
Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and Baring Private Equity Partners are looking to exit India-based property developer RMZ. QIA, which has assets of $335 million globally, invested Rs. 600 crore in RMZ in 2013. 12 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
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IA currently holds 24% of the developer's shares, making it one of the biggest shareholders in the company. QIA is currently in negotiations with RMZ, and the final exit could happen in March 2018. “We are having final negotiations with QIA about pricing and the exit should happen by March,” said Raj Menda, co-owner and corporate chairman at RMZ. He added that the company will fund the exits to the investors through equity and debt. He added that the company has put off its plans to float real estate investment trust (REIT) plans as the investors are exiting their investments. He further said that once the buyback is done, RMZ will raise money from QIA for its forthcoming projects.
business > bank notes RESERVES APLENTY Qatar Central Bank Governor HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Saoud Al Thani has said that the bank has plenty of reserves with which it can achieve its monetary goals and also support the riyal.
DOHA BANK CEO EMPHASIZES ROLE OF DIGITAL CURRENCY
OUTLOOK FOR GCC BANKS STABLE, SAYS MOODY’S
Doha Bank CEO Dr R Seetharaman has said that digital currency will be the solution as a payment gateway because of financial transactions being driven by digital ecosystems and the evolution of both cyberspace and the banking industry.
According to Moody’s Investors Service’s report that came out in December, the outlook for GCC banks is stable overall, which reflects strong financial fundamentals. Moody’s added that the trend was more evident in the largest banking systems that provide resilience to profitability and loan quality challenges from slower economies. However, the report added that fiscal and geopolitical risks continue to pose challenges for various countries. Moody’s further said that real GDP growth in the region will pick up slightly to around 2% in 2018 as oil prices stabilise between $50 and $60 a barrel. Although fiscal consolidation efforts in the region will persist, key regional infrastructure projects, such as the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, will support capital spending and credit growth which should expand by 5% in 2018.
QATAR BANKS REGISTER JUMP IN DEPOSIT MOBILISATION
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he payment settlements cannot be conventional. It has to go through digital currency, and I am not talking about bitcoin or cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrencies can play a role but they have to be regulated. As of today, it is unchartered; no central bank has formally endorsed it,” said Seetharaman. Citing the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the changing dynamics of digital ecosystems, Seetharaman said IoT “is going to transform multifold”. He also said that from around six billion to seven billion gadgets today, the number will grow to 25 billion in the next five years and 100 billion in the next eight years.
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ccording to Qatar Central Bank figures, Doha’s banking sector registered more than 17% growth in total deposit mobilisation, which stood at QR794.28 billion. This was as a result of faster expansion in domestic deposits which mitigated the weakening overseas inflows. Domestic deposits, which constituted 83% of the total deposits, expanded by more than 24% year-on-year to QR656.58 billion, while overseas deposits, whose share was 17%, declined by about 8% to QR137.7 billion in October this year. The government and services sectors’ faster expansion in deposits helped boost the robust pace of domestic deposits. Deposits from the government soared by about 62% year-on-year to QR92.85 billion, from services by more than 54% to QR284.46 billion, and those from the industrials by about 10% to QR25.87 billion.
business > oil&gas “Global gas consumption is forecast to increase by 53% between 2017 and 2040. This growth will be led by non-OECD Asia, followed by the Middle East and Africa,” said Dr Mohammed Hussein Adeli, Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.
QATARGAS SIGNS 5-YEAR LNG DEAL WITH OMV
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ommenting on the occasion, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, President and CEO of Qatar Petroleum, and Chairman of the Qatargas Board of Directors, said: “We are very pleased to announce this new deal with OMV – an international, integrated oil and gas company operating from the heart of Europe. OMV provides major European
Qatargas Operating Company Limited (Qatargas) announced the signing of a new Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Austria’s OMV Gas Marketing & Trading GmbH (OMV) in December. According to the deal, Qatargas will deliver up to 1.1 million tonnes of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) per annum to OMV for five years. customers and distributors with tailored natural gas solutions, and we look forward to supplying them with reliable Qatari LNG.” He added: “With this deal, Qatargas has once again demonstrated its ability to capture new opportunities and expand its network of customers in an evolving market.”
GECF CONFIRMS CONVERGENCE OF REGIONAL GAS PRICES Dr Mohammed Hussein Adeli, Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), has said that the growing share of LNG trade in the proportion of total natural gas trade is expected to converge differences in prices of gas in various regions such as the US, Europe and Asia in the coming years. “The rising share of LNG trade will lead to convergence in different prices of natural gas prevailing in regional markets. This convergence in prices will also prevent arbitrage gains made by some traders who buy gas in low price regions and sell it to high price markets,” said Dr Adeli. “The trade of LNG is becoming more flexible for many reasons. LNG also has another characteristic which addresses the geo-political complexities and obstacles related to piped gas trade, which depends on diplomatic relations among countries involved in the pipeline routes,” he added.
PERRY HAILS QATAR, US LNG TIES During his recent two-day visit to Qatar, US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said the American solutions in Doha’s energy sector make business sense as both the US and Qatar have a shared interest in developing LNG’s long-term sustainability.
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e have a shared interest in developing LNG’s longterm sustainability and we hope Qatar will intensify partnerships with the US companies in the country’s oil and gas expansion plans,” said Perry. During his visit, he underscored theUS' ongoing commitment to its strategic partnership with Qatar, and highlighted the importance of bilateral cooperation in maintaining stability and economic security in the region. The US is the largest foreign investor in Qatar’s energy sector. Perry also met with His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Minister of Energy and Industry HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada and Qatar Petroleum President and CEO Saad Sherida Al Kaabi.
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Technology > listening post
“OUR MISSION IS DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION”
IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH QATAR TODAY, ZONG YAN, CEO, HUAWEI QATAR, TALKS ABOUT THE COMPANY’S DIGITALISATION PLANS FOR THE COUNTRY. BY UDAYAN NAG 16 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
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uawei Technologies Co. Ltd. has been consistently in the news over the last few months with regard to its activities in this country. The launch of the Huawei Nova 2 Plus smartphone, its ‘Gold Partnership’ with MEEZA, and the signing of an MoU with Microsoft have put the Chinese telecommunications equipment and services giant right in the thick of things in Qatar. Apart from that, they also participated in the ‘Made in China’ exhibition, which was organised at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in November. Keeping all these recent activities in mind, how does Huawei plan to go about its business in this country in the times ahead? “Huawei is very keen on doing its utmost towards implementing a programme of qualitative investment in order to contribute positively and resolutely towards the Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030,” says Zong Yan, CEO, Huawei Qatar. “Our recent activities are just a few of the initiatives that are currently on the agenda for the proliferation of Huawei’s contribution to this nation.” “Through our dedication to customer-
“THE PARTNERSHIP WITH MEEZA WILL BRING COSTEFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS AND STATE-OF-THE-ART IT SERVICES TO QATAR’S PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANISATIONS.” ZONG YAN CEO Huawei Qatar
centric innovation and strong associations, Huawei is well positioned to grow together with our respected partners within Qatar for the future of developing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) convergence within the exciting landscape, which is currently developing in a techsavvy and progressive environment.” Huawei recently launched its Nova 2 Plus smartphone in Qatar, which includes features like 3D facial recognition, Eye Comfort 2.0 and Phone Clone. Apart from talking about the importance of these
features in the world of smartphones today, Yan also tells us about the upcoming products that the company is planning to introduce in the Qatar market. “The Huawei Nova 2 Plus is the best mixture and fit for a millennial lifestyle as it comes with a mix of camera capabilities, stylish design, powerful software and outstanding audio experience. It is equipped with a unique 20MP front camera and 3D facial recognition and optimised beauty to deliver crisp and clear portraits. Equipped with photography applications for every moment or scenario, the smartphone offers a high-quality selfie experience to young users. Eye Comfort 2.0, Phone Clone and Huawei Share make the user experience more comfortable and efficient.” He adds: “We just unveiled our latest flagship smartphone series Mate 10, Mate 10 Pro and Porsche Design Mate 10. The Huawei Mate 10 and Huawei Mate 10 Pro are the first devices powered by the new Kirin 970 processor, delivering artificial intelligence (AI) enhancements for a faster, more customised mobile experience. The Kirin 970 is built using an advanced TSMC 10nm semiconductor manufacturing process and features an octa-core ARM 17 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
Technology > listening post
Cortex CPU, a first-to-market Mali G72 12-core GPU and the first NPU, designed specifically for a mobile device. The Kirin 970 also has a new dual ISP for an AIpowered intelligent camera. The Huawei Mate 10 and Huawei Mate 10 Pro have been available in Qatar since November.” Recently, Huawei entered into a partnership with MEEZA for developing ICT and smart solutions that are “world class yet cost-effective for organisations in various sectors in Qatar and the region”. Providing details about those solutions with regard to Qatar, and giving his views on how prepared the nation is for deriving the benefits of Huawei’s cloud strategy, Yan stresses Huawei’s commitment to helping governments and businesses in the Middle East in their digital transformation, and that they will go all out in supporting QNV 2030. “Through its diverse portfolio of products, solutions and platforms, Huawei strives to equip businesses to stay relevant and competitive in the digital age. We work to forge partnerships and alliances with local businesses in Qatar and the region to bring better technologies and services to Qatar and the region. As digitalisation impacts the way people work and play, 18 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
“WE USED GITEX AS A PLATFORM TO LAUNCH CUTTING-EDGE NEW PRODUCTS AND SOLUTIONS AND ANNOUNCE NEW COLLABORATIONS WITH INDUSTRY-LEADING PARTNERS.” customers are placing new demands on organisations. The challenge for businesses is to continue delivering value while staying profitable as the business environment transforms. The partnership with MEEZA will bring cost-effective solutions and stateof-the-art IT services to Qatar’s public and private sector organisations.” There has been a history of cooperation between Huawei and Microsoft, and in September this year a ‘strategic’ memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the companies by which Microsoft applications will be released on
Huawei Cloud. So, what are the Microsoft products that will be introduced online as a result of the MoU going to be? “The partnership enables customers to utilise the best cloud platforms and solutions offered by both tech giants. Huawei has provided the Windows Server and RDS for the SQL Server in its Huawei Cloud solution,” says Yan. “The new agreement between Huawei and Microsoft will provide enterpriselevel products, as well as hosting services and enterprise applications as a service. Huawei is now set to bring more Microsoft enterprise products online by building an open and win-win ecosystem in their mission to empower organisations as they transform. This will be achieved via an increased collaboration driving innovation against a seamless platform, which will benefit customers through industryleading technology.” Yan further says that due to the increasing demand on cloud services and the digital transformation in the region, Huawei and Microsoft will work closely to bring more products and services to the cloud ecosystem to meet the demands of their customers. Another shot in the arm for Huawei as far
"THE HUAWEI MATE 10 AND HUAWEI MATE 10 PRO ARE THE FIRST DEVICES POWERED BY THE NEW KIRIN 970 PROCESSOR, DELIVERING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) ENHANCEMENTS FOR A FASTER, MORE CUSTOMISED MOBILE EXPERIENCE."
as its endeavours in Qatar are concerned includes the digitisation of Hamad International Airport (HIA). According to Yan, Huawei has provided solutions and services for more than 40 airports, airlines and air traffic control authorities worldwide. “Our portfolio of airport solutions include visualised airport operation, panoramic video surveillance and aviation cloud, which together enhance passenger experience, enable smart operations and intelligent security protection, in addition to improving the ICT infrastructure to power aviation cloud platforms.” Huawei entered into a partnership with HIA in May this year, the objective of which was to accelerate digital transformation at the airport and offer a modern and efficient environment for a growing number of passengers, Yan further adds. “The agreement will be achieved through the co-creation of innovative concepts, prototypes and solutions by using Huawei’s cutting-edge technologies that will be shared with the community for wider benefit of the air transport industry. “Huawei aims at providing a wide range of ICT solutions for HIA, enabling them to achieve digital transformation and improve
their service capabilities, operational efficiency and revenue growth. The solutions could include indoor/outdoor modular data centres, servers and storage devices, converged cloud platforms, Big Data analytics platforms and integrated wired/wireless communications solutions.” And, another feather in the cap for the company was the Huawei Middle East Innovation Day, which was held on October 8 on the opening day of GITEX Technology Week 2017. Huawei’s second global annual event was themed ‘Exploration, Lights the Way Forward’.
“HUAWEI AIMS AT PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF ICT SOLUTIONS FOR HIA, ENABLING THEM TO ACHIEVE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND IMPROVE THEIR SERVICE CAPABILITIES, OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND REVENUE GROWTH.”
“We used GITEX as a platform to launch cutting-edge new products and solutions and announce new collaborations with industry-leading partners,” says Yan. “It unveiled our computing server strategy and solutions to drive digital transformation for the region’s businesses, including demonstrations of two new technologies: the FusionServer V5 and the Atlas intelligent cloud hardware platform, with the former making its regional debut.” “The company announced that its allflash storage OceanStor Dorado V3 is now certified as an enterprise storage solution for real-time database SAP HANA, meaning it can improve the efficiency of a system running SAP software by at least 30%.” Yan says that the ‘platform + ecosystem’ portfolio that Huawei showcased during GITEX Technology Week 2017 includes not only the power of global technology platforms but also the digital ecosystem of collaboration that the company is creating through “path-breaking business and technology alliances”, and that the event was an opportunity for Huawei to further demonstrate its commitment to becoming the partner of choice for Middle-Eastern organisations in their efforts to achieve digital transformation 19 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
animal welfare > listening post
A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH QATAR TODAY, PAWS RESCUE QATAR FOUNDERS, ALISON CALDWELL AND EMILY BLENKINSOP, SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES, INSIGHTS AND FUTURE PLANS. BY ANJALI JACOB
“NOW, TO FLY A BIG DOG TO THE US, IT WILL COST YOU NO MORE THAN QR3,000, INCLUDING THE CRATE CHARGES. SO IT IS VERY AMENABLE FOR RESCUE GROUPS AND OWNERS.” ALISON CALDWELL Founder, Paws Rescue Qatar
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aws Rescue Qatar is a non-profit animal rescue shelter which was started in 2013 by two friends, Allison Caldwell and Emily Blenkinsop. They got things under way by holding fundraisers for animals who required surgery and finding homes for stray animals in Qatar. Since then Paws Rescue has been expanding in numbers, both in terms of animals as well as volunteers. These days the name Paws evokes some kind of reaction from almost everyone in Qatar. After winning the Qatar British Business Forum’s (QBBF) ‘Work In The Community’ Award 2017, Paws has come further into the spotlight. So, what was the motivation behind starting Paws Rescue Qatar, and how did Caldwell and Blenkinsop connect with each other? “We met via Facebook. Emily was working in a veterinary clinic as a receptionist at the time,” says Caldwell. “We both had an interest in animal welfare. We were involved in a couple of rescue acts and tried to help each other as much as
possible. That’s how we started speaking initially.” Caldwell adds that they also started to take dogs in and shelter them at the vets where Blenkinsop was working at the time. “Eventually we outgrew the place because people were tagging us in posts on Facebook and the number of animals was increasing. So we had to move into a bigger place. We also couldn’t call ourselves Allison and Emily, so we came up with Paws Rescue Qatar.” What makes Paws Rescue different from other animal shelters in Qatar are the various partners that it has collaborated with in other countries, says Blenkinsop. “We aim at sending a lot of the animals out of Qatar. We collaborate with around 20 international groups to which we send animals. We also help each other by raising funds.” Commenting on the number of animals currently in their shelter, Blenkinsop says: “Right now, we have 115 dogs and 120 cats. It’s the lowest number we’ve ever had. At one point we had over 200 dogs.”
Regarding the fundraising efforts of the organisation, Blenkinsop says that most of the money is contributed by her and Caldwell. “We either put in the money ourselves or we hold fundraisers. So we try to do a few big fundraisers every year. We organised the Annual Paws Ball recently, which we conduct every October, and that really raises enough money to pay off a few of our bills and send some animals out of the country. We also try to keep some money aside for ongoing expenses like cleaning supplies, latex gloves, etc.” However, Caldwell mentions the fact that fundraising initiatives are not always enough because they have got full-time staff which needs to be paid. So, in order to raise more money Paws Rescue also provides facilities for boarding of animals whose owners go on vacation. The rescue missions of Paws Rescue are not the happiest of experiences, and Caldwell cites one example which has been etched in her memory. “There was this dog Arturo, who was dropped from a window in Ain Khaled. We got a call saying that there was a Saluki lying there which couldn’t move. We rushed over and took him to the vet. He had two severe fractures in his hind legs and his nerves had also been severed. It took him almost a year to get better. We helped raise funds for him and now he has been adopted by an amazing family who’s going to take him with them to England.” As far as getting to know about which animal has been abandoned where, Caldwell says: “We usually get tagged in posts on Facebook and receive messages on our website. We also get calls from the vets, and of course we find many animals on the streets as well.”
“WE AIM AT SENDING A LOT OF THE ANIMALS OUT OF THE COUNTRY. WE COLLABORATE WITH AROUND 20 INTERNATIONAL GROUPS TO WHICH WE SEND ANIMALS.” EMILY BLENKINSOP Founder, Paws Rescue Qatar
Caldwell had recently said that some pet owners feared the cost of flying a dog increasing from QR2,500 to as high as QR20,000. It was felt that such high costs would probably worsen the plight of dumped animals because increased costs would make it harder to relocate them. Has Qatar Airways addressed this issue in any way? “We recently approached Qatar Airways on this issue and they did come around and reduce the cost. Basically now, they’ve increased their accompanied baggage limit to 75kg, which allows any animal to fly as accompanied baggage,” says Caldwell. She adds: “Now, to fly a big dog to the US, it will cost you no more than QR3,000, including the crate charges. So it is very amenable for rescue groups and owners. The UK has different laws and restrictions so we’re always very specific about the animals we send there.” And finally, Caldwell and Blenkinsop talk about the facilities at their shelter to make life exciting for the animals, which include cat lounges and exercise areas for dogs. “In our communal cat lounges, we encourage people to sit and socialize with them,” says Blenkinsop. “As for the dogs, we have large communal exercise areas where they can play together with their balls and toys, and they get their daily walks as well.” Caldwell also adds: “We have volunteers that come in every week, who are completely in love with certain dogs that they can’t keep; so they come and take them out.” 21 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
apparel > listening post
22 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
FASHION ENTREPRENEURS, CO-FOUNDERS AND SISTERS, MAQDEEM AND AISHA AL NAAMA, TALK ABOUT THEIR TWO-YEAR-OLD BRAND AND THEIR LATEST QATAR NATIONAL DAY-INSPIRED COLLECTION. BY OLA DIAB
A
fter debuting with a revolutionary coloured abaya collection, Maqdeem has returned with a fifth collection, MAxMaqdeem, in commemoration of Qatar National Day 2017. Sisters and co-founders of Maqdeem, Maqdeem and Aisha Al Naama, released their first National Day-inspired collection in early December 2017. The collection, however, is not of the expected abayas, jalabiyas or any other traditional wear. Maqdeem brings its first ready-to-wear collection of T-shirts and sweaters in collaboration with Qatari artist Maryam Al Mulla. The collection pieces featured national colours including white and maroon with cultural characters and faces by Al Mulla. “There’s a lot of sense of patriotism especially after the situation in the region and Qatar. People always want to show their support. We thought this was a great opportunity to do something for National Day,” says Aisha. “Honestly, I never thought we’re going to do sweaters and T-shirts. It just came up like that. I was at home doing nothing. I told Aisha, ‘National Day is coming up!’” Maqdeem adds. But they were not interested in a typical National Day collection. “I believe a lot in collaborations in general. The more you collaborate with people, the richer the experience,” says
“THERE’S A LOT OF SENSE OF PATRIOTISM ESPECIALLY AFTER THE SITUATION IN THE REGION AND QATAR. PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT. WE THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING FOR NATIONAL DAY." Aisha. “Then this idea came across and I told Maqdeem why don’t we collaborate with a Qatari artist where the artist comes up with some artwork designs that reflect the culture and identity of Qatar. I don’t want to say specifically National Day because we don’t want it to be straightforward. We don’t want to do something too obvious like a flag or map. No, we want something more creative and shows a sense of Qatari identity, and also appeals to the international audience,” explains Aisha. Maqdeem decided to collaborate with Al Mulla where she produced exclusive artwork for Maqdeem’s collection. The MAxMaqdeem launch included an
event at Luminous Café at Four Seasons Doha, prior to Qatar National Day (December 18), on December 16 and 17 where Al Mulla also exhibited her artwork. The collection remained on display until January 2018. Named after the 25-year-old Qatari entrepreneur Maqdeem Al Naama, Maqdeem is a young contemporary fashion label founded in 2015. “The brand seeks to create exceptional pieces of affordable luxury garments that finely blend modern style, comfort and Arab cultural values. These are the qualities that represent Maqdeem as a modern-day woman, who is treading forward into the future with courage and determination, holding onto the rich history and heritage of their forefathers,” says Maqdeem. The name of the brand refers to a "Sinbook", an iconic traditional dhow from the region that has embarked on numerous journeys across uncharted waters and has embedded in the locals the love for traveling and exploring different cultures. Once established, Maqdeem was later joined by her 28-year-old sister, Aisha, who has been a crucial partner in the brand’s latest collections. “I'm always kind of there, giving feedback and helping out,” says Aisha. “Even if my sister wasn’t with me in the picture from the beginning, I would always go back to her for advice, always, the finishing, fabrics. When you 23 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
apparel > listening post
have a brand, you want criticism; you don’t want people to always say, ‘Wow. Nice!’ You need to improve…You won’t find someone to be honest 100% like your sister,” adds Maqdeem. Maqdeem ventured into abaya design at a young age. “I always used to make abayas for my sister and me as a kind of hobby. I used to get a lot of comments that my abayas are nice. So I began to make abayas for my cousins, then I began to get requests from people I don’t know. They made requests and I used to do it for them. I didn’t consider it a business,” explains Maqdeem. But it was only after she graduated from Qatar University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 2014 that Maqdeem released her first abaya collection with six pieces. “I was very focused on my education. It was very important to me to get above 95%. I was always focused on being an exceptional student,” she says. The brand was one of the first to bring out colourful abayas back in 2015 then it continued to bring something new every time. “People until now know me for my coloured abayas, this is what I stand out for. But that doesn’t mean that I will only do that,” says Maqdeem. Maqdeem’s debut collection, Chi, featured about 30 colourful abayas that 24 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
"I FEEL LIKE ONCE YOU ENTER THIS FIELD, YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT ANY CRITICISM. WHEN YOU START A NEW INITIATIVE, YOU WILL GET CRITICISM, IT’S INEVITABLE. THEN PEOPLE GET USED TO IT AND IT BECOMES SOMETHING NORMAL.”
were sold out within three days. Inspired by an Asian spa called “CHI”, the name in Chinese symbolises a strong life force which is believed to make any human feel alive. The bright and lively Chi collection aims at making one feel lively and radiate positivity. “Until today, it’s in people’s minds. For example, I still get requests from people. They say they’ve heard I do coloured abayas and ask whether I have any ready,” says Maqdeem, who says she’s received requests from the US, Malaysia, Tunisia, and of course, the neighbouring GCC countries. “They don’t just appeal to the Qatari market. They appeal to the
international market and we’ve received orders from people who are not specifically khalijis. They want to wear these abayas. I know lots of expats and they look at the abayas and want one. Because it’s kind of in-between an abaya and a dress,” explains Aisha. Soon after, Maqdeem released two other abaya collections: Sadu, a collection inspired by the traditional Bedouin fabric; and Emancipate, a collection aimed at encouraging women to break free from life restrictions and it is reflected in the colourful designs. Being unconventional, Maqdeem was criticised for attempting to change local traditions and culture. “I feel like once you enter this field, you have to accept any criticism. When you start a new initiative, you will get criticism, it’s inevitable. Then people get used to it and it becomes something normal. Just like when abayas used to be closed and now they’re open. At the beginning, people did not accept it. Now all the girls wear open abayas,” explains Maqdeem. “But I also learned something from the criticism. In the beginning, I was very focused on the coloured abayas that I didn’t even think of including black abayas…I can focus on coloured abayas and include black abayas to satisfy everyone’s tastes,” she adds.
“We have lots of abaya brands here but I think when it comes to Maqdeem, it’s more about using good-quality fabrics, focusing on natural fibers and things like that. Obviously, the evolution from abayas then to the last collection, we introduced for the first time, jalabiyas for Ramadan 2017. We know there is a market for jalabiyas in Doha especially during the Ramadan season but it was our first try,” adds Aisha. The National Day-themed capsule collection comes months after Maqdeem released a colourful collection of jalabiyas or kaftans for Ramadan 2017 called Adaptation SS’17, which according to Aisha, was inspired by the environment. “The designs were basically inspired from the desert and desert plants — succulents and cactuses. We know these plants are beautiful but they are also desert plants. There is beauty in the desert and this environment. We wanted to translate that into a collection,” she says. With every new collection, Maqdeem and Aisha try to find inspiration from their adventures. “I can tell you that the inspiration is not limited to a certain thing, culture, environment, or different countries, especially since we travel a lot. The idea of Maqdeem is that there’s always movement — to travel the world, to
“I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE INSPIRATION IS NOT LIMITED TO A CERTAIN THING, CULTURE, ENVIRONMENT, OR DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE TRAVEL A LOT. THE IDEA OF MAQDEEM IS THAT THERE’S ALWAYS MOVEMENT — TO TRAVEL THE WORLD, TO DISCOVER." discover,” explains Maqdeem. In addition to running Maqdeem, the young women hold full-time jobs as engineers and are frequent travelers as well. Aisha recently launched a travel blog aishaalnaama.com. “From the launch of the previous collections to now, I think one of the main areas of change is focus on fabric. This is something we’re up to now,” says Aisha. The brand is now focusing on studying and exploring fabrics. The capsule collection is of soft high-quality cotton-based fabric. “We don’t want to use any synthetic or commercialised fabrics,” says Aisha. The brand’s focus is always to use natural fabrics.
“With every collection, I learned something new. I learned the tastes of people, what the majority likes. What colours they like or don’t like. The fabrics they like and don’t like. For example, I really love natural fabrics. Most girls here love crepe, which is polyester. I honestly prefer more natural fabrics. Both my sister and I focus more on natural even if it’s polyester,” explains Maqdeem. As local fashion entrepreneurs running a young fashion label that has already launched about five collections, Maqdeem and Aisha have faced the challenges of the industry in Qatar. “Since I’ve begun in this field, I’ve faced two big challenges: the fabric, there is no variety, getting the fabrics in the quality I want; and production, good production,” says Maqdeem, adding that their latest MAxMaqdeem collection was produced abroad. “When you don’t have direct access to the fabrics themselves, this is one of the [challenging] things,” adds Aisha. As Maqdeem brings a new concept with every collection, new challenges arise. “The textile industry is very big so it doesn’t mean because you’re into clothing, you’ll be able to know everything…There are thousands and thousands of different specs you can choose from. It depends on what you’re looking for,” concludes Aysha 25 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
affairs > viewpoint
QATAR TO BENEFIT FROM
NEW SHIPPING SERVICES VARIOUS OPTIONS ARE BEING EXPLORED BY QATAR BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING CONFLICT WITH ITS ARAB NEIGHBOURS.
O
n September 17, the Swiss-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Taiwan’s Yang Ming Transport Corporation both opened new weekly lines to Qatar’s Hamad Port, south of Doha. Four ships, each with the capacity to accommodate 6,000 containers, including 400 reefer containers, have begun operating on MSC’s new East Mediterranean Service, which runs between ports in Turkey, Greece, India, Oman and Qatar. Yang Ming, meanwhile, launched its China Gulf Express Service with a single vessel that can also carry 6,000 containers. The ship’s route covers Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen and Shekou ports in China, Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Port Klang (Malaysia) and Hamad Port. Expansion under way at Hamad Port The new services will support Qatar’s efforts to diversify its trading partners, a target underpinned by the country’s $7.4 billion Hamad Port, inaugurated by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, at the beginning of September. Spanning 26 sq km, the facility will have the capacity to process 7.5 million containers per year once fully operational. The port is scheduled to reach completion by 2020.
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The port has been in partial operation since late 2015 when it began catering to vessels carrying roll-on/roll-off cargo, livestock and heavy equipment. However, the facility is now able to accommodate large container ships for the first time. This additional facility is pivotal for Qatar as recent regional tensions have meant that Doha-bound cargo can no longer be transferred from larger ships to smaller vessels in the UAE and at some other ports in the region as was previously the case. “The opening of the port will now bring further food security and economic diversification in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, a project that aims at boost ing the country’s economic diversity,” Jassim bin Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, the minister of transport and communications, told media after the inaugural ceremony. The construction of separate terminals designed to handle general cargo, cereal, livestock and vehicles at Hamad Port is expected to support pursuit of these goals. Speaking to the press in mid-September, Abdul Aziz Nasser Al Yafei, director of Hamad Port, said the government expects 1,000 vessels and 1 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to have entered the facility by the end of 2017. Milaha rolls out new lines The weeks leading up to Hamad Port’s opening saw maritime logistics player Milaha announce new services between Qatar and various international ports. One such initiative, the Pakistan Qatar Express Service (PQX), was launched on August 27, with the first vessel arriving at Hamad Port from Karachi on September 11. The route has a relatively short transit time of four days and is served by two 1700 TEU vessels, dedicated largely to the transportation of perishable items and foodstuffs. A service connecting the Qatari ports of Mesaieed and Hamad with
Karachi and the Indian port of Mundra is also expected to become operational in the near future. Four days prior to the PQX announcement, Milaha also confirmed that an ad hoc service it had been running between Hamad Port and the Port of Izmir in Turkey would be regularised to once every 20-25 days. One vessel with a capacity of more than 5,000 tons now services the 11day route, bearing temperature-controlled cargo and breakbulk cargo. The introduction of new shipping routes and supply chain solutions by Milaha follows the news of a drop in both revenue and profit in the first quarter of 2017. Operating revenues fell 21.4% year-on-year (y-o-y) to QR1.1 billion ($301.9 milion), while profit decreased 55% y-o-y to QR170 million ($46.7 million). The firm attributed the low figures to the global downturn in shipping, with Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, chairman of Milaha’s Board of Directors, stating that it would “continue to invest prudently for the long term”, following the release of the data at the beginning of August. The opening of new international routes suggests that Milaha is putting this strategy into action, while Hamad Port’s progress towards full operation could also help the company achieve a turnaround over the medium term. In addition, Milaha stands to benefit in the near term from higher earnings across the shipping industry, a trend that should also support Qatar’s broader maritime trade ambitions. On September 22, the Baltic Dry Index – the main sea freight index that tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk – reached a near three-and-a-half-year high of 1502. Average daily earnings for Cape, Panamax and Supramax vessels stood at $22,392, $12,006 and $10,723, respectively, up from $15,202, $5,790 and $7,019 in the previous year
BY OLIVER CORNOCK Managing Editor, Middle East Oxford Business Group
This Qatar economic update was produced by Oxford Business Group.
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green scene > viewpoint
WHY IT MATTERS
ONE YOUNG WORLD YOUTH SUMMIT
A DIVERSE CONSORTIUM OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM 194 COUNTRIES WAS IN BOGOTA, COLOMBIA, RECENTLY TO DISCUSS, AMONG OTHER ISSUES, THE ROLE OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN PROPAGATING PEACE.
28 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
T
he world is currently home to the largest generation of young people in history. With half of the world’s population being under the age of 30, the ideas and talents of young people will drive the success of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. That’s the relevance of One Young World (OYW), which is on a mission to discover the world’s greatest young changemakers, activists and innovators every year. OYW stages an annual summit where the most valuable young talent from global and national companies, NGOs, universities and other forward-thinking organisations are joined by world leaders. Its past and present counsellors include Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Bob Geldof, Kofi
Annan, Sir Richard Branson, Professor Muhammad Yunus, Mary Robinson, Emma Watson, Arianna Huffington and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. When I received an invitation to take part in OYW in Bogota, as a peace ambassador, by the European Commission, I knew that this summit was breaking the tradition. Unlike many forums before, this had a clear commitment to action. The importance of the role of the youth was equally mirrored by other honoured guests of the summit, for instance the former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who urged that providing our youth with the right skillset will enable to create a future for all. The One Young World Summit in Bogota saw a diverse consortium of representatives from 194 countries discuss the major challenges facing the world today – global
peace, the high and protracted incidence of unemployment, the acute social and economic obstacles faced by women, the environmental impacts of climate change, and the road to climate action. It also outlined the struggle with disabilities and the burning desire for it to be taken more seriously by society. An overwhelming theme emerged while discussing viable actions for change: the role that entrepreneurship and technology access will play in circumventing these challenges. Not only will these mechanisms create economic and employment opportunities, but tech and start-up ecosystems also represent mediums that youth can use as forms of expression. The 8th OYW summit also brought together young people from the Arab countries. During the summit, youth from the Arab region valued and committed to intercultural and cohesive societies and discussed the realities, challenges and aspirations among young Arabs. The overarching theme of One Young World 2017 Bogota was reconciliation and the role of young people in propagating peace. Giving substance to this theme, the youth from the Gulf Cooperation (GCC) countries came together in a show of solidarity and friendship to counter the unprecedented times of diplomatic crisis confronted by the region. Despite
the differences among the GCC countries, the forum participants were driven by a common desire to overcome prejudice and barriers by committing to intercultural dialogue and exchange of peace. Now as a One Young World ambassador, I believe more than ever before that as the youth of today, we have a critical role to play in creating opportunities for our communities and the world. We should harness and channel our passion and hunger for change by taking risks. With the support of the government and NGOs, we can work towards a more equitable and sustainable tomorrow. Empirical evidence shows this to be true. Unlike anyone before us, our generation has the tools to enact the change that will lead us to a prosperous future. Indeed, the world requires our energy, creativity, and our so-called young leaders in creating sustainable and innovative opportunities. The One Young World Summit gave young people a chance to have their voices heard on the global issues they care about. Young people will be instrumental in delivering these goals and making sure the world keeps its promises to end poverty, injustice, inequality, and promote women's empowerment and climate change for good. Youth summits like One Young World matter more than ever before
NEESHAD V S Co-Founder & National Coordinator, Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar (AYCM-Q) Middle East Manager, CliMates Focal Point, CAN Arab World
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Neeshad Shafi holds a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering and resides in Doha, Qatar. He is a youth environmental activist, educator, speaker and climate change advocate. He is currently serving as Co-Founder and National Coordinator for Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar (AYCMQ), Middle East Officer for CliMates, and Founding member of Youth Climate Lab. 29 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
sports > viewpoint
IS THE UNIFYING
POWER OF SPORT NOW MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER?
MUTAZ BARSHIM kisses the gold medal he won at the 2017 London World Championships.
EACH YEAR, THE QATAR NATIONAL DAY PROVIDES A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND INSPIRATIONAL SPIRIT OF OUR PEOPLE AND OUR COUNTRY.
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FARES IBRAHIM wins a silver medal in the clean and jerk event at the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships.
O
ver recent months, I have been incredibly humbled by how our nation has united through a shared pride and love for Qatar. We are an ambitious and optimistic nation, driven forward by our solidarity and the strength and ability of our people to achieve the very best for our country. For me, sport transcends everything that this year’s National Day celebrations epitomised and it is for this reason that sport is at the heart of our nation’s future development plans. Sport showcases the very best of humanity and it inspires humanity to give the very best version of itself. It inspires us all to push our boundaries, break down barriers and set our goals higher. It brings together different cultures, backgrounds and beliefs and promotes inclusivity, diversity and respect. Sport is an incredibly powerful tool
to guide the aspirations, hopes and dreams of our young people. This is why I love sport so much and this is why we launched our new ‘Team Qatar’ brand and strategy earlier this year, which embodies the shared values of our nation. Every day our athletes are striving to better themselves and to make Qatar proud. They show what can be achieved through hard work, determination, selfbelief and fair play. There are no better role models for our young people and, through our new brand, we are determined to place a greater focus on our heroes, sharing their stories, showcasing their journeys, and inspiring our nation through their incredible achievements. Our athletes are constantly flying Qatar’s flag high and it is our ambition to unite our nation through Team Qatar. It was with this vision in mind that we organised this year’s National Day Team Qatar flag relay. Over 400
“SPORT SHOWCASES THE VERY BEST OF HUMANITY AND IT INSPIRES HUMANITY TO GIVE THE VERY BEST VERSION OF ITSELF.”
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sports > viewpoint
SHEIKH JOAAN, SHEIKH KHALIFA and NASSER AL ATTIYAH at a flagraising ceremony.
“THE TEAM QATAR FLAG RELAY WAS A WONDERFUL OCCASION THAT SHOWCASED THE VERY BEST OF OUR NATION AND ITS PEOPLE.”
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athletes, schoolchildren, sports fans and inspirational individuals representing the diversity of Qatar carried the flag 200 km across our country and its most iconic landmarks, transporting it via a wide variety of sporting activities, including running, cycling, rowing, sailing, wheelchair racing and more, before culminating in a unifying celebration in the heart of Qatar’s National Day festivities, Darb Al Saai. The Team Qatar flag relay was a wonderful occasion that showcased the very best of our nation and its people, whilst transmitting a message of peace, friendship and solidarity, spreading the Olympic values and uniting everyone through Team Qatar. Our National Day celebrations also recognised the outstanding achievements of our athletes on the world stage throughout the past year, and it is the diversity of these achievements that has made me most proud. In May, Al Dana Al Mubarak became our first female athlete to win a gold medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games by claiming the 25 m pistol shooting title, whilst teammate Kholood Al Khalaf won bronze in the mixed team trap shooting, reflecting the strength and exciting future potential of our young female shooting team. In June, 19-year-old Fares Ibrahim was crowned World Junior Champion in
weightlifting, adding to his 2016 Asian Games title and seventh place finish at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Our prodigious talent continued his strong form by claiming a silver medal in the clean & jerk in his first senior World Championships in early December and as the youngest weightlifter in the competition, proving once again that he will be one of the key weightlifters to watch at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In July, our para-athletes made further history at the 2017 London World Championships. Abdelrahman Abdelqader became Qatar’s first-ever Para-Athletics World Champion with gold in the T34 shot put event, and Sara Masoud, who last year became Qatar’s firstever global female medallist with a silver at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, added another silver medal to her collection, also in the T34 shot put. Just a few weeks later in the same London Stadium, 20-year-old Abdelalah Haroun built on his 2016 World Youth Championship gold medal to claim a senior World Championship bronze medal in a strong 400 m final. In September, our young equestrian athlete Hamad Al Attiyah shone at the Ashgabat 2017 Asian Martial Arts and Indoor Games as he won Qatar’s first gold in the individual show jumping competition, adding another victory to our equestrian team’s recent accolades.
“THIS YEAR, AS PART OF MOMENTOUS HANDOVER CEREMONIES, WE HAD THE HONOUR TO RECEIVE THE FLAGS FOR THE FIG ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS AND IAAF ATHLETICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.”
SHEIKH KHALIFA and MUTAZ BARSHIM run with the Qatari flag.
However, the highlight of the year for Qatari sports was created once again by our sporting legend Mutaz Barshim. Following another outstanding season where he became world champion, Barshim won the Diamond League Trophy, became the first highjumper to be undefeated in an entire season since 2004 and jumped over 2.40 m for the fifth consecutive year, and received the ANOC Award for best athlete in Asia in 2017. Mutaz concluded the year by winning the prestigious IAAF World Athlete of the Year title, taking the crown from Usain Bolt. In doing so, Mutaz became the first highjumper and the first athlete from our region to win the award. Mutaz is a truly deserving winner and we could not be prouder of him for demonstrating what can be achieved through dedication and determination, and for consistently flying the flag high for Qatar. He is humble, hardworking and an inspirational role model for young people in Qatar and around the world. The Qatar Olympic Committee is committed to building on these achievements and ensuring that our development systems continue to produce more and more Qatari champions. In October this year, we successfully rolled out the first stage of Kun Riyadi, our Athlete Development Pathway that aims at identifying, nurturing and developing talent at every stage of an athlete’s career. The first stage focuses on early childhood, encouraging active play and exploration for 0-7-year-olds to help them develop motor skills that will become
effective later in life. The launch was a huge success and it was a pleasure to see how much fun and enjoyment the children got from participating in the sporting activities. I’ve no doubt that a future Mutaz Barshim was amongst them! Another significant opportunity to inspire future sporting heroes will be through our upcoming World Championships. This year, as part of momentous handover ceremonies, we had the honour to receive the flags for the FIG Artistic Gymnastics and IAAF Athletics World Championships, which Doha is hosting in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Both events will be staged in the Middle East for the first time and will bring with them a unique chance to showcase the very best of each sport to new audiences, capture the attention of new generations of athletes, and inspire our youth to participate in sport at any level. We are incredibly honoured and excited to host these events and progress is very much on track, continuing unaffected by the current political situation. Most importantly, we are committed to hosting these events at the highest possible level, continuing to show the world what Qatar is capable of and creating a unique and memorable experience for everyone that participates – be they spectators, athletes, coaches, officials, media, volunteers and more. We firmly believe in the power of sport to unite, inspire and transform lives in Qatar and the rest of the world. This is exactly what the Olympic spirit is all about and this is the fundamental ethos of Team Qatar
BY JOAAN BIN HAMAD AL THANI President Qatar Olympic Committee 33 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
affairs > local
QATAR CELEBRATES
10TH NATIONAL DAY
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SINCE BEING ESTABLISHED IN 2007, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF QATAR’S NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS WENT UP BY A NOTCH THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE HOSTILE ATTITUDE OF ITS NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES IN 2017. EMIR HH SHEIKH TAMIM BIN HAMAD AL THANI WAS JOINED BY HIS FATHER HH SHEIKH HAMAD BIN KHALIFA AL THANI IN THE CELEBRATIONS AS AN ENTIRE NATION UNITED IN SUPPORT OF QATAR’S SOVEREIGNTY.
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THE YEAR
THAT WAS 36 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
The Saudi Arabia-led blockade imposed on Qatar since June 5 has made Qatar and the rest of the Middle East a hotbed of conflict, controversy and strained relations. The year 2017 saw Qatar hold its ground and come out stronger than ever before. In other major news concerned with the region, after years of bloodshed in Iraq, terrorist organisation Daesh was ousted from the country. The announcement was made by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Jawad Kadhim Al Abadi on December 9. Unfortunately, there was no let-up in acts of violence in 2017 as terrorists continued to make their presence felt, with the UK having to grapple with the consequences of three attacks on its soil. As far as world news was concerned Emmanuel Macron of the En Marche! Party became, at age 39, the youngest-ever president of France when he defeated Marine Le Pen of the National Front. Elsewhere in the world, Robert Mugabe finally relinquished his position as the president of Zimbabwe after ruling the roost from 1987-2017. Sacked Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa was named as the new president on November 24. In other news that literally shook the earth, North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test on September 3, 2017. And another development which had similar implications: US President Donald Trump officially recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. 37 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
TIMELINE: BLOCKADE ON QATAR
JUNE
05
THE YEAR THAT WAS
COVER STORY Between 5:30a.m. and 6:30a.m., Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE and Egypt cut off all diplomatic ties with Qatar. With this move, all participating countries cut off air, sea and land routes with Qatar. On this day, Maldives and Yemen also cut off ties with Qatar. The US, Kuwait and Turkey urge the blockading countries to rethink their decision and come to a compromise to maintain unity among the GCC countries.
JUNE
18
Qatar Petroleum CEO Saad Sherida Al Kaabi announces that the Dolphin Gas pipeline will still continue to provide gas to the UAE, despite the ongoing crisis. He states that despite the “force majeure” clause in the agreement, which would allow them to stop supplying gas if they wanted, Qatar will not do so as it does not wish to cause any problems for the people of the UAE.
JUNE
11
Responding to charges of terrorism against Qatar and its alleged support for Hamas, the country’s Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani says that Qatar supports the people of Palestine rather than Hamas. Qatar also announces that there will be no change in policies for people from countries that have cut or reduced ties with Qatar. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that if the situation worsens, this crisis could have global consequences if it is not dealt with responsibly. FIFA president Gianni Infantino says that the crisis in the region will not stop Qatar from hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
This marked the deadline for all Qataris in the blockading countries to leave their territories. The blockading countries also order their citizens to return from Qatar.
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JUNE
19
JUNE
22 Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain issue Qatar a list of 13 demands, which includes shutting down the Al Jazeera channel, and give them 10 days to comply with these demands, which according to them will help resolve the blockade. But Qatar does not agree to the demands, saying that they are neither reasonable nor actionable.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson holds talks in Kuwait to help resolve the blockade. He also visits Qatar and Saudi Arabia on his four-day trip to the Gulf region in an effort to find a solution for the ongoing blockade. His visit signified a new, more active involvement of the US in solving the crisis. Tillerson also said that the blockade had consequences at the humanitarian level as it was disrupting the fight against Daesh.
JULY
10
JULY
20
Qatar’s Ministry of Interior says that the hacking of the Qatar News Agency website was traced back to the UAE. Investigators had traced the IP address of the hacker back to the UAE and the hacker had managed to access the QNA network in April using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and had scanned the website.
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TIMELINE: BLOCKADE ON QATAR
THE YEAR THAT WAS
COVER STORY
AUGUST
09
Qatar announces visa-free entry for citizens from 80 countries in a move to encourage tourism and air transport during the blockade. The move was aimed at making Qatar the most open country in the region.
AUGUST
25
Muslims from Qatar were unable to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj as a result of poor communication between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The Director of International Cooperation at Qatar’s National Human Rights Commission, Saad Sultan Al Abdullah, expressed his concern on the matter. He said: “Politics and human rights must be separated” and “there should be no mixing of political disputes and Muslims’ natural and human right to perform their religious duties.”
OCTOBER
10
UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, wrote on his Twitter account that “Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup should include a repudiation of policies supporting extremism and terrorism. Doha should review its record. Hosting of the World Cup should not be tainted by support of extremist individuals and organisations/terrorist figures; review of Qatar’s policies is a must”. This statement came after a Dubai police official said that the only way for the blockade to end was for Qatar to give up the World Cup.
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OCTOBER
30
Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa proposes the freezing of Qatar’s GCC membership as a move to further isolate the country from its brethren. Bahrain also said that it would not attend the GCC summit in December if Qatar took part. He also criticised Qatar for not agreeing to the 13 demands placed by the blockading countries.
DECEMBER
05
The annual GCC summit, originally scheduled for two days, ended just a few hours after it began. Of the six countries, only the heads of state of Kuwait and Qatar were present at the summit. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and UAE sent ministers and deputy prime ministers to the meet. UAE also announced a new partnership with Saudi Arabia, separate from the GCC, which involves military and trade relations.
DECEMBER
19
Saudi Arabia ‘permanently’ closes its land border with Qatar. The move comes as a part of the blockade against Qatar. Although the gate had been closed two weeks after the announcement of the embargo, it was reopened for pilgrims to perform Hajj. 41 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
WORLD NEWS
THE YEAR THAT WAS
COVER STORY
President Donald Trump condemns illegal immigration in the USA by ordering a wall to be built on the US-Mexico border. He used subversive language to describe Mexico and its immigrants in his White House campaign announcement. He promised to build a 2,000mile border between the USA and Mexico to keep the migrants out and also said that he would make the Mexicans pay for it.
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
More than 20 million people in Yemen, South Sudan, Nigeria and Somalia faced the risk of starvation due to a massive famine, the worst one since World War II. The famine lasted till June and ended because of the monetary help and food sent by the UN, UNICEF and the EU.
Rohingya militants attack the border police of Myanmar, which leads to over 70 deaths. Myanmar’s military forces retaliate by killing over a 1,000 Rohingya people and displacing close to 400,000 more from their homes. Bangladesh becomes a safe haven for the Rohingyas.
MAY
Emmanuel Macron of the En Marche! Party won the French Presidential Election against Marine Le Pen of the National Front. The first round of polling was held on April 23, 2017 under a state of emergency that was declared after the Paris Attacks in 2015. Macron was the youngest of all the candidates, having had no previous experience of running for the presidential office. He was the former economy minister in 2014, giving life to the “Macron Law” by promoting economic growth and opportunity. He founded the En Marche! Movement in April 2016 and resigned from the cabinet shortly after. He secured 66.1% of popular votes in the second round. 42 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
North Korea tests a powerful hydrogen bomb in a move to increase pressure on President Trump to stop the nuclear crisis in North Korea. The nuclear test brought along with it a 6.3-magnitude earthquake 10 km from North Korea’s nuclear test site in the north-east of the country. Experts have said that the bomb tested was 10 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Under Kim, North Korea has brought in resources to build nuclear weaponry, disregarding many US sanctions against it. Months after the test, aftershocks could be felt in parts of North Korea.
NOVEMBER Robert Mugabe was ousted from his former position as leader of the ruling party ZANU-PF. Members agreed to name sacked Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the new leader. Mugabe was also put under house arrest on November 15. After a joint session of both the House of Assembly and Senate on November 21, Mugabe announced his resignation as president. He also negotiated a deal before his resignation, in which he and his family would be free from prosecution, and his businesses would remain untouched. He also made a demand of $10 million.
DECEMBER
Donald Trump recognises Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. In a press meeting held at the White House, Trump directed the State Department to make arrangements to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump broke the trend his predecessors had followed by which they would sign a six-month waiver overriding a 1995 law requiring that the US Embassy be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Many officials and other heads of state have said that this will disrupt the stability of the region and have advised him to take back his statement.
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TERROR ATTACKS
THE YEAR THAT WAS
COVER STORY
MARCH
22
Khalid Masood, an English teacher, drove a car onto the pavement and into the pedestrians on Westminster Bridge. The attack killed six people and injured 49. The incident took place near the British Parliament. Police were unable to find any link with terrorist organisations, but termed the attack as “Islamist-related terrorism”. Not even three months after the Westminster attack, a van went off the road onto the pavement of London Bridge, killing three pedestrians and injuring many others on June 3. The three occupants of the van crashed the vehicle and ran to a nearby market area and began stabbing people, killing eight and injuring 48. The perpetrators were Khuram Shazad Butt, Youssef Zaghba and Rachid Redouane, who were identified as Daesh followers.
APRIL
21
Ten Taliban fighters attacked Camp Shaheen, headquarters of the Afghan National Army (ANA) in the Balkh Province. Media reported around 256 people killed and around 160 injured. The attack took place on a Friday, when most of the soldiers were unarmed and were either praying at the mosque or eating. The attack led to the resignation of then Minister of Defence Abdullah Habibi and Army Chief of Staff General Qadam Shah Shahim on April 24.
During a concert by American singer Ariana Grande at Manchester Arena, a home-made bomb was detonated by 22-year-old Salman Ramadan Abedi, which left 23 people dead and over 500 injured. Abedi was also killed in the suicide attack. According to reports from the coroner, the bomb killed people who were up to 20 metres away. British Prime Minister Theresa May expressed her strong disapproval of the act and offered her condolences to the affected families. As a mark of respect for the people who perished in the attack, a minute’s silence was observed on May 25, 2017.
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MAY
22
MAY
31
A truck bomb exploded at a crowded intersection in Kabul, Afghanistan, near the German Embassy killing more than 150 people and injuring over 400. The attack took place in the diplomatic quarter, which is one of the most fortified areas in the city with walls that are 10 feet high, and to enter it one must pass through several check points. Although many suspected the Afghanistan-based Haqqani network, no one claimed responsibility for the attack.
OCTOBER
01
A shooter opened fire on a crowd of concert goers at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. The attack left 58 people dead and 546 injured. The shooter was found to be a 64-year-old man, Stephen Paddock, who fired more than 1,000 shots from his room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel. Paddock was also found dead in his hotel room with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This is considered to be the deadliest mass shooting conducted by an individual in the US.
OCTOBER
14
A truck bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia, caused a massive blast killing over 500 people and injuring more than 300. Sixty-two people were also said to be missing. This was the deadliest attack in Somalia surpassing the bombing in Mogadishu in 2011, which killed 100 people. The bombing was suspected to have been carried out by Al Shabaab, a jihadist group based in East Africa. Somalian President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed declared three days of mourning in response to the attack.
45 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
END OF DAESH IN IRAQ
THE YEAR THAT WAS
COVER STORY
The Iraqi Civil War was a transformation of the Iraqi Insurgency (2011-2013) with the takeover of major northern Iraq areas, including the capital city of Mosul, by Daesh. The war has been going on since January 2014, even though on December 9, 2017 Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Jawad Kadhim Al Abadi announced that Daesh had been thrown out of the country. Many speculate that Daesh will continue to fight via insurgency. Here are the events that took place in 2017 during the civil war that led to the ‘expulsion’ of Daesh from Iraq.
JANUARY The month witnessed several incidents of bombings in Baghdad, Kirkuk, Mosul and Samarra. The attacks were mainly in the form of car bombs, which left hundreds of people, both adults and children, dead. On January 24, Mosul, which had been under the control of Daesh since 2014, experienced some relief as the eastern part of the city was liberated.
FEBRUARY
There were several more deaths of civilians by bombings and executions as the Iraqis tried to free themselves from Daesh’s control. On February 19, Iraqi Prime Minister Al Abadi announced the start of an operation to oust Daesh from western Mosul. Shifa Gardi, a prominent Iraqi journalist, and her cameraman were among the civilians killed in one of the bombings.
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MARCH
Several more bombings took place throughout the month, the most notable being the American-led bombing of the Al Aghawat Al Jadidah neighbourhood in western Mosul on March 17, which targeted Daesh but also resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians. Following the attack, the Iraqi Army stopped advancing in western Mosul temporarily.
On the night of April 4, the city of Takrit suffered an attack by Daesh militants. The perpetrators disguised themselves by wearing military uniforms and attacked security checkpoints and houses in the Zuhour neighbourhood. The weapons used were explosive belts, which caused 35 deaths and over 40 injuries.
APRIL
MAY JUNE
This month saw many bombings and executions by Daesh, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of many civilians and servicemen. On June 30, 10 Iraqi soldiers were killed in an attack by Daesh near the Syrian border.
Many deaths and injuries were caused by improvised explosive devices, which were used in many of the attacks. On May 30, a car bomb exploded outside an ice cream parlour in the Karrada neighbourhood of Baghdad, causing over 30 deaths and many injuries. Daesh, who were targeting Shia Muslims, claimed responsibility for the attack.
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END OF DAESH IN IRAQ
THE YEAR THAT WAS
COVER STORY
JULY The month saw the Iraqi Army declare victory over Daesh in the Battle of Mosul on July 10. This was a battle fought since October 2016 between the Iraqi troops and Daesh for control over the city of Mosul. The Iraqi forces tasted their first victory in January when eastern Mosul was liberated from Daesh.
AUGUST
On August 20, Prime Minister Al Abadi announced the Battle of Tal Afar to rid the city of Daesh. Iraqi forces went into battle on August 22 and by August 25 they managed to secure 90% of Tal Afar, killing more than 300 Daesh militants along the way. The battle went on till August 31, and ended in victory for the Iraqi Army.
SEPTEMBER
On September 14, Daesh militants carried out several attacks on the outskirts of Nasiriyah. The attacks were payback for all the losses they had suffered in their previous encounters with Iraqi forces. The attackers used hand guns, grenades and suicide vests, among other weapons, to kill and injure civilians. The attack resulted in over 88 deaths, including the attackers, and 93 injuries. During this period, the Iraqi forces had also made several offensive attacks to reclaim the areas of Al Anbar and Hawija from Daesh.
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OCTOBER
On October 8, Iraqi forces claimed victory in the Hawija offensive against Daesh. Following this, on October 16, the Iraqi forces battled with Peshmerga, the military forces of Kurdistan, to retake the city of Kirkuk from Kurdish control. On October 20, the Battle of Kirkuk ended with victory for the Iraqi forces. On October 26, the Iraqi Army started its military operation to expel the remaining presence of Daesh from Iraq.
NOVEMBER
Iraqi forces tried to take control of Al Qaim and Rawa, which were still under the control of Daesh. On November 11, mass graves containing more than 400 bodies of people killed by Daesh were found in Hawija.
DECEMBER
On December 9, Prime Minister Al Abadi declared that the war with Daesh was over. According to the Parliament’s Security and Defence Committee, approximately 20,000 supporters of Daesh still remain within the country, hiding carefully among groups of people displaced in the desert.
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affairs > bottom line
HOW TO BECOME A
STRATEGIC JOBSEEKER
QUITE OFTEN, LANDING A JOB IS ABOUT BEING SELECTIVE RATHER THAN APPLYING RANDOMLY FOR VACANCIES.
50 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
W
hile faced with a competitive job market, finding the right career option in a good company may seem to be nearly impossible at times. But if done smartly and strategically, your job search can be very fruitful. You’ll first need to learn the market secrets that all successful professionals know and swear by. Simply applying for a job here and there might not be enough. You need to adopt a thorough and systematic process. Here are the top five secrets of a strategic job search from Bayt.com:
Discover what you want in a career It is sometimes challenging for jobseekers to decide and know what they want out of their careers. Sometimes the stress of finding the job right after graduation or the pressing financial needs can divert you from your career goals and aspirations. But, it is imperative to decide on what you exactly want by asking yourself simple questions such as: Do I want to be in an office or on the road? Am I good with people? Do I thrive solo or within a team? What do I see myself doing in five, 10
and 20 years from now? What job attributes do I value the most (salary, flexibility, learning, growth, etc.)? Discover your true self You need to find out what sets you apart from others in your field. Look at your previous job and ask yourself: what was I known for? Were you the problem solver, the negotiator, the helper, or the strategic thinker? Do a truthful self-assessment and figure out your strengths and weaknesses. Knowing who you are will greatly help you choose the job you should go after and what to say when you’re at an interview. Most important though is never to pretend to be someone you are not just to please the hiring manager as this is bound to fail. Be selective but not overly picky With technology, everything is easier, faster, and on the go. Applying for jobs is no different. As a result, jobseekers can easily get too excited by the large number of jobs they find online and end up applying for all of them, which is an ineffective strategy. Even when you search for a specific job role that you’re interested in, this doesn’t mean that you should apply for all the results you find. For example, if you search for a sales position, go beyond the job title. Look for companies you’re interested in, research the company’s history and values, and utilise your social media and professional connections to see whether you know someone who works there and has an insider perspective. Learn about the company culture, the job requirements, and what the company likes in an employee. If you tick all the boxes, then that’s the signal
to go all out. This will also ensure that you actually have enough information about the company and the position on offer to strengthen your application and interview performance.
Visit www.bayt.com today and download the white paper to know more about the skills gap crisis in the Middle East.
Customise your CV A mistake that many jobseekers make is using the same CV for all their job applications. It is vital that your CV has the right keywords that will catch the hiring manager’s attention. Do not lie or exaggerate your experience, just highlight the achievements that the company you’re interested in needs to know the most. When applying for different industries and job roles, you need to pay attention to the specific keywords and requirements and alter your CV accordingly. Search smartly Be aware of all the possible tools and platforms that can help you with the job search. According to a Bayt.com poll, 78.5% of job seekers use online job sites to find their first jobs. Complement your job search with your network and connections. When you begin your job search, ask people who work in your field whether they know of any leads. Learning about these vacancies in advance can give you time to further build your professional image and move your application to the top. Being strategic when applying for jobs is arguably the most important approach, especially if you want your next career move to put and keep you on the right track. Looking into the future and deciding what goals you want to reach will help you decide the path you should choose today
ABOUT BAYT.COM Bayt.com is the #1 job site in the Middle East with more than 40,000 employers and over 29,400,000 registered job seekers from across the Middle East, North Africa and the rest of the world representing all industries, nationalities and career levels. Post a job or find jobs on www.bayt.com today and access the leading resource for job seekers and employers in the region. 51 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
affairs > bottom line
EXPLORING
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
STARTING ONE'S OWN BUSINESS INVOLVES GOING THROUGH A CHECK LIST, TICKING ALL THE BOXES, AND BEING PREPARED FOR THE WORST.
52 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
A
re you thinking of becoming an entrepreneur but cannot decide? Well, you are not alone. In this article I will first take a moment to reflect on my personal motivations for becoming an entrepreneur before examining the motivations of others. By answering three simple questions, I will help you to better understand why you should or should not become an entrepreneur. Ultimately, I hope you will realize that becoming an entrepreneur is not a decision that should be taken lightly. It all started when I was a PhD student at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. As I was approaching the end of my first year, my department head told me that my introductory stipend was nearing its end and would not be continued in my second year. Either I would have to find a professor who was willing to pay my tuition and living expenses, or I would have to raise money to cover it myself. At that time, the estimate for Carnegie Mellon tuition fees and other costs were roughly $32,000 per year. Back home, in Sweden, my parents were poor farmers without enough money even to visit me, let alone anything else. However, finding a professor to fund my education meant pursuing a thesis on a project that had already been funded. Although there were several potential projects available, none of them was particularly interesting for me – I wanted to do my own thing. I decided to somehow find the funding for my three remaining years myself. I also wanted to be with my girlfriend who was back in Sweden, so I packed up my only suitcase and returned home. A month before finishing my firstyear final exams, I sent a letter to about 20 large Swedish companies – Volvo, SKF, ABB, among others – stating that I would be available to do some consulting work should there be a need. It was quite presumptuous and I only received one reply. But Skandia Insurance Company did invite me to its headquarters in Stockholm to work on a project. Meanwhile, I was also able to secure a part-time job as a project manager for the upcoming year at a research institute affiliated with Chalmers University in Göteborg. In addition, over the course of the same year, I submitted about 20 applications and finally obtained two scholarships for my continued studies
Table 1
REASONS FOR STARTING A BUSINESS IN THE US
NON-PECUNIARY MOTIVATION (I WANT TO BE MY OWN BOSS; TIRED OF WORKING FOR OTHERS; FLEXIBILITY; SET MY OWN HOURS; ENJOY WORK
HAD A GOOD BUSINESS IDEA/ CREATE NEW PRODUCT
32.2
35.3
%
I9.5%
%
LACK OF OTHER EMPLOYMENT OPTION
2.2
TO GENERATE INCOME
OTHER
I0.8%
%
*Original Data Source: Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics
It turns out that people are mightily dissatisfied about being employees.
Table 2
Shows how dissatisfied Americans are about being an employee compared to being self-employed. The fraction that is either very or a little dissatisfied is twice as high among employees as it is among entrepreneurs.
3.8%
10.3%
VERY DISSATISFIED
2.0%
A LITTLE DISSATISFIED
5.8% 39.9%
45.9%
MODERATELY SATISFIED
29.8%
VERY SATISFIED
62.5% EMPLOYEES
SELF-EMPLOYED
53 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
affairs > bottom line
BY THOMAS ASTEBRO Astebro teaches entrepreneurship and managing innovation at HEC Paris. He holds a Master’s degree in Engineering and an MBA from Chalmers University of Technology.
ABOUT HEC PARIS Founded in 1881 by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, HEC Paris is a founding member of UniversitÈ ParisSaclay. It boasts a faculty of 138 full-time professors, more than 4,400 students and over 8,000 managers and executives in training each year. In 2010, HEC Paris joined Qatar Foundation and brought Executive Education programmes and research activity to Qatar and the rest of the region.
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in Pittsburgh. In retrospect, my year in Sweden was definitely a success from a venturing perspective. I had had a steady job that paid the bills, and I did approximately 100 days of consulting for Skandia, working on several interesting projects in Stockholm whilst touring their branches across Europe. I learned a myriad of new things about business, but the main reason for my becoming an entrepreneur was to make money. Indeed, the money I earned from consulting went straight to the bank and it lasted three years before being completely depleted, primarily due to the high tuition fees at Carnegie Mellon. Some may say that this was “necessity entrepreneurship” since I became an entrepreneur strictly to
fund my PhD studies. But it was relatively riskless and I certainly was not broke. However, consulting was not for me. By the end of my year in Sweden I was stressed and nursing a stomach ulcer. It was time to go back to Pittsburgh. Now, let us consider for a moment in more general terms the reasons why a person may start a business. This information may help calibrate your own decision to become an entrepreneur. Table 1 reports the responses of ‘nascent entrepreneurs’ in the US when asked: “Why do you want to start this business”? Rather surprisingly, among the five categories that comprise the most important reasons, making money is not one of them. Only one-fifth of the
entrepreneurs reported that they started a business to make money. Other than that, most cited non-monetary reasons like: “To be my own boss”, “I am tired of working for the man”, “I want to manage my own time.” If you want to start a business to be your own boss, you have plenty of company. In fact, an astounding 71% of all employees in the US and 42% of all French employees want to become entrepreneurs. Why is that so? Why are people so happy about being entrepreneurs? Partly it is because self-employed people feel that their work provides more autonomy, flexibility and skill utilisation. However, while self-employed people are more satisfied than wage workers with their jobs and with their life, they work longer hours, feel greater pressure at work, are in poorer health, and come home exhausted. In addition, their jobs limit their family time and make them too tired after work to enjoy the things they would like to do at home. The other complaints that the self-employed have include feeling unhappy and depressed, being constantly under stress, and their family getting fed up with them. Now, after reading the story of my first venture, and looking at the evidence of why people become entrepreneurs and how they feel about it, please take a moment to ask yourself these three questions before you consider becoming an entrepreneur: Will I enjoy it, given all the hardship, the late hours, and the stress? Would I be okay about losing all the money I put in a venture, including money from my friends and family who will be helping me with my investments? Will I be able to bounce back by getting a regular job if I fail? If you answer ‘‘no’’ to all of these questions, then you should definitely not become an entrepreneur. If all your answers are ‘‘yes’’, then you could do it, but understand that answering in the affirmative will not make you more successful. If one or two answers are no, you are in a tricky spot, and it would be a really bad idea for me to advise you on what to do next. If you answer ‘‘no’’ to all three questions you should definitely not be an entrepreneur. If you answer yes to all three questions then you will have fun, and you will hopefully not come out of it hurting too much. If you answer no to at least one, then think hard about doing something else that’s equally thrilling but less costly, such as hang-gliding or parachuting
affairs > local sports tag this
WC 2022:
NOT THE BE-ALL AND END-ALL OF...
56 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
NEWS RELATED TO THE 2022 WORLD CUP HAS BEEN SPLASHED WITH A FAIR DEGREE OF REGULARITY AS THE BLOCKADE IMPOSED ON QATAR ENTERS INTO ITS SIXTH MONTH. HOWEVER, THERE’S NO OVERLOOKING THE FACT THAT THE COUNTRY’S PREMIER TENNIS, SQUASH AND GOLF TOURNAMENTS REACHED IMPORTANT MILESTONES IN 2017.
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sports > tag this
As
Classic in 2001, there has been an Egyptian winner on seven out of nine occasions, with the tournament not held in ‘12 and ‘14 because of the World Championships. Interestingly, there were two editions of the event in ‘07 as there was no tournament in ‘06 because Doha hosted the Asian Games that year. That’s when the Egyptians really came into their own, with Ramy Ashour lifting the trophy in April and Amr Shabana following suit in October. A moment which seemed rather innocuous at the time actually turned Ashour’s title clash against Australia’s David Palmer on its head. Having lost the first game, Ashour decided to change his racquet in the all-important second game. He struck the ball against the wall with his ‘newly acquired tool’ for a few minutes and that was all it took to break Palmer’s momentum; Ashour ran away with the match in four games, the final score reading 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6. Shabana, who had been knocked out in the early rounds of the competition on that occasion, made sure that there Qatar Classic We start with the Qatar Classic squash tournament, the were no slip-ups later that year. He beat Gregory Gaultier of France 11-4, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5 in the latest edition of which was won by final. It was to be Shabana’s sole Qatar Mohamed El Shorbagy in November Classic title. Ashour, who has not this year. Formerly known as the Qatar competed in the tournament since International, the annual fixture has ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO I MADE MY 2011, has also not repeated the feat he attracted the world’s top men and BREAKTHROUGH IN QATAR achieved 10 years ago. women players year after year. With AND WE USED TO GET PAID IN One of the added attractions of the the Egyptians dominating the scene CASH. SO, I WENT STRAIGHT Qatar Classic this year was that the on the men’s circuit over the last DOWN TO THE JEWELLER’S total prize money was increased to decade, it came as no surprise that El WHO SPONSORED THE EVENT $165,000 from the earlier figure of Shorbagy became the first player in the AND BOUGHT A BRAND NEW $150,000. OMEGA WATCH. history of the tournament to win the In fact, a couple of years ago, 2009 title three times, taking advantage of champion Nick Matthew commented: defending champion and compatriot NICK MATHEW 2009 Qatar Classic Champion “About seven or eight years ago I Karim Abdel Gawad’s early exit. made my breakthrough in Qatar and Since being renamed the Qatar if there was not enough attention on Qatar and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the current Gulf crisis has put the focus back on the region’s sporting hub, albeit for all the wrong reasons. Enough has been said in the past about the country’s sporting tradition; however, what’s easy to undermine is the fact that things go back as early as the early '90s. The Qatar ExxonMobil Open (tennis), the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters (golf ), and the Qatar Classic (squash) reached landmark moments in 2017. While the tennis and squash tourneys celebrated 25 years, the inaugural edition of both tournaments having being held way back in 1992, the golf extravaganza was conducted for the 20th time this year. Here’s a brief on the above-mentioned events, their history well engrained in the country’s sporting legacy.
SINCE BEING RENAMED THE QATAR CLASSIC IN 2001, THERE HAS BEEN AN EGYPTIAN WINNER ON SEVEN OUT OF NINE OCCASIONS, WITH THE TOURNAMENT NOT HELD IN '12 AND '14 BECAUSE OF THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Egypt's Mohamed El Shorbagy won the Qatar Classic tournament in 2013, '15 and '17. 58 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE IS A HISTORY TO THIS EVENT, AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING THE TOURNAMENT OBVIOUSLY SHARE THE PASSION AND LOVE FOR THE SPORT.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
2017 ExxonMobil Open champion
we used to get paid in cash (US dollars). So, I went straight down to the jeweller’s who sponsored the event and bought a brand new Omega watch. I handed them all the cash that I had, which was probably about £3,000, and got quite a good deal as it was probably a £5,000 watch. Nowadays, it’s much more professional and it all gets paid into your bank account, which is probably a good thing as we were all lethal with cash in those days. It was in one pocket and out the other.” As far as the fairer sex is concerned, there is no getting past Malaysia’s Nicol Ann David, arguably the greatest woman player of all time. She might be past her prime now, but was invincible more often than not during her heyday, and won the Qatar Classic five times (April 2007, October 2007, 08, 10, 11), which included three successive titles. Australia’s Natalie Grinham was at the receiving end of David’s brilliance three times in a row, which incidentally included the Malaysian's first three tournament wins on Qatari soil. David’s last title here came in 2011 when she beat Northern Ireland’s Madeline Perry in the final. There was a gap of three years before the women’s edition of the tournament took place again. Laura Massaro of England came up trumps on that occasion, beating Nour El Sherbini of Egypt 11-8, 12-14, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 in a nailbiting finish. However, there has not been a ‘Qatar Classic’ involving women since 2015. Qatar ExxonMobil Open The year 1993 witnessed the inaugural edition of the tournament (the Qatar Total Open for women has been held every year since 2001). The likes of Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and Goran Ivanisevic stood out in the draw on that occasion. The summit clash went right down to the wire, with Becker getting the better of giant-serving Croat Ivanisevic 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-5. The German had earlier beaten Edberg in the last-four stage of the competition; it was to be his only title win in Qatar. The Becker-Edberg rivalry reached dizzying heights during the three successive Wimbledon finals from 1988-90. The pair clashed twice in Doha, during the semi-finals in ‘93 and in the first round in ‘96, with Becker coming out on top on both
Rafael Nadal at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex during the 2009 Qatar ExxonMobil Open. (Photo: Udayan Nag)
Roger Federer throws a ball into the crowd during the 2009 Qatar ExxonMobil Open. (Photo: Udayan Nag) 59 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
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ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF THE TENNIS TOURNAMENTS IN DOHA IS THAT ONE CAN BE MUCH CLOSER TO THE PLAYERS AND THEREBY THE ACTION. Photo: Udayan Nag
ANDY TAYLOR Tennis Announcer
occasions. However, Edberg who featured regularly in the season opener had his moments as well, winning back-to-back titles in 1994 and ‘95. ATP tournaments in Asia were a rare commodity during those times, and the willingness for players to travel to ‘non-Western’ countries was not something that could be taken for granted. Citing “mysterious diseases”, Edberg had in fact refused to travel to India for Sweden’s Davis Cup tie against India in ‘96.
BRITAIN’S ANDY MURRAY IN ACTION DURING THE 2009 QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN. MURRAY HAS WON THE TITLE TWICE AND HAS BEEN THE RUNNER-UP ON TWO OCCASIONS. (PHOTO: UDAYAN NAG)
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The fact that he competed year after year at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open does speak volumes for the event. The tournament being organised in early January makes it a popular destination for players, not only in terms of the weather but also because it’s treated as a prelude to the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year. The tournament was made a part of the ATP World Tour 250 series event calendar in 2009. The legendary Roger Federer holds the record for winning the most number of titles (3) in Doha, while Britain’s Andy Murray holds the distinction for the maximum number of final appearances (2007, 2008, 2009, 2017), having triumphed on two of those occasions – ‘08, ‘09. Interestingly, Rafael Nadal, who was crowned champion in 2014, also has four doubles titles to his name. Two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic is a staunch supporter of the event and paid it the ultimate compliment last year when he said: “The conditions for the players in Doha are terrific. The tennis centre is phenomenal. You can see that there is a history to this event, and the people who are running the tournament obviously share the passion and love for the sport.” And it’s not just the players who have taken a liking to the tournament. Tennis announcer Andy Taylor has been working at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open and Qatar Total Open since 2014. “One of the advantages of the tennis tournaments in Doha is that one can be much closer to the players and thereby the action, which is not possible in other places where gaining access to important areas might not be that easy,” he said earlier this year. There have been enough testimonials and developments in the last 25 years to suggest that Qatar’s prized tennis event has been a tremendous advertisement not just for the game but also for the entire nation, which has been associated with this sport over three decades. And one thing’s for sure: the Qatar ExxonMobil Open is here to stay and will be around for a long, long time to come.
Top: Australian Adam Scott is one of the few players to have won the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters twice '02 and '08. Bottom: Retief Goosen of South Africa with the winners trophy in 2007. (Photo: Udayan Nag)
Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Held at the Doha Golf Club since 1998, the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters has come a long way to become one of the most celebrated golf tournaments in the region. The event is part of the European tour and is organised every year towards the end of January. The names associated with it have become bigger and bigger over the years. The winners list includes Adam Scott and Ernie Els, both ranked number one in the world at certain points of their careers, and Sergio Garcia, ranked as high as number two in the world in 2008. Wang Jeung-hun of South Korea won the tournament this year. Multiple winners include Scott, Paul Lawrie and Branden Grace, who have won the tournament twice each. However, in its 20-year history, no player has ever defended the title won by him the previous year. As the years have progressed, players have developed a soft spot for the event. In fact, it has become a favourite of Thomas Bjørn (Denmark), winner here in 2011. “I remember the early editions of it. Obviously it was new and we didn’t know what to expect. Golf in the whole region was in its infancy,” says Bjørn. “You come to Qatar now and it’s just an amazing development in such a short space of time. As a tournament, the weather’s so good, the facilities are nice, and everything here has just grown, grown and grown. This golf tournament now just sits so well with the golf players and this whole three-week ‘desert swing’ blends together so well.” Speaking at the 20th anniversary of the event, the Dane further said that there has been a great list of champions because this run of events attracts a lot of top-class players and they just want to get their season started. “Top players look towards the Masters and their preparation starts now. When you have a venue like this, it’s such a good asset for a tournament, because it’s such a good golf course. It asks a lot of questions and top players will always look at that. That’s why it sits well with top players, and has great champions.” Bjørn also added that along with the other golfers, when
he first came here, it could never be imagined that Qatar would be hosting the FIFA World Cup in the future. “When we first came here, we thought it was so different, but you could see the attraction and the potential, and we’ve watched how Qatar has put itself on the world map. When they host events, they do it so well. “It’s important for Qatar to keep producing these worldclass events, putting themselves on the map and showing how well they do them, especially in the lead-up to the World Cup.” Echoing Bjørn’s words, Lawrie, victorious here in ‘99 and ‘12, in fact went a step further in praising the course at the Doha Golf Club. “It is my favourite course. It is pretty much the same...some new tees are there. Overall, the place is nearly the same. The top hasn’t changed. Obviously over the years, it (the tournament) has grown.” It would probably not be an exaggeration to say that the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters has come of age, and has, along with the tennis, squash and other sporting fixtures, played its part in making the country one of the top sporting destinations in the world. The World Cup can wait, at least for the time being With inputs from Udayan Nag 61 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
affairs > tag this
SETTING LIMITS IN THE
SKY
WITH CARBON EMISSIONS ON THE RISE ONCE AGAIN, WHAT ROLE CAN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY PLAY IN TACKLING THIS GLOBAL DILEMMA?
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s representatives from around the world gathered in Bonn for COP23 in November, the findings were anything but promising. After 2014-16 proved to be relatively quiet years in terms of carbon emissions, a 2% increase is expected for 2017, thanks largely to China, whose emissions are expected to register a 3.5% increase. This dealt a bitter blow to the Paris Agreement of 2015, which aims at keeping the global temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius. According to the International Energy Agency, Qatar’s per capita CO2 emissions (35.73 tonnes) is the highest in the world. This made developments at the
Qatar Sustainability Week, held at the Qatar National Convention Centre, from October 28 - November 4, 2017 all the more important. The carbon management steps taken by Qatar Airways at Hamad International Airport were part of the presentations during the eight-day event. The international aviation industry contributes around 2% of global carbon dioxide emissions. The aviation industry has set itself incremental targets for reductions in carbon emissions, which are: Improving aviation fuel efficiency by 1.5% each year from 2009 to 2020 Achieving carbon neutral growth in international aviation from 2020
aviation from 2020, while continuing to support the growth in passenger numbers and flights necessary to maintain national and global economic development.
Reducing net CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050 The aviation industry is pursuing a multilayered strategy to meet these targets, which include innovations in aircraft design, technology and the introduction of sustainable aviation fuels; more efficient aircraft operations during flight and while on the ground; and infrastructure improvements, including modernised air traffic management systems. Finally, the industry is also adopting a global marketbased measure to facilitate airlines’ contribution to carbon neutrality through filling any gap in emission reductions through carbon offsetting projects.
Importance of CORSIA Qatar was one of the 72 member states to be part of the landmark Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) agreement at the 39th session of the International Civil Aviation Assembly held in Montreal in October 2016. As the first global sectoral agreement to address CO2 emissions, CORSIA aims at enabling carbon neutral growth in international aviation from 2020. It is an offset scheme, which will require that airlines purchase and retire independently certified carbon credits to offset net carbon dioxide emissions above their emission level in 2020. This will enable a zero net increase in carbon emissions from international
Artificial borders Along with the maritime industry, international aviation is unique because of its trans-boundary characteristics, i.e., it is not possible to attribute the emissions resulting from international flights to any specific country. CORSIA therefore has been designed to overcome the challenge of national boundaries within an international context by enabling individual airlines to manage the emissions resulting from transboundary flights. Thus CORSIA can run in parallel with the carbon reduction schemes made by individual countries without compromising a nation’s commitments to the Paris Agreement. Global air navigation services Collaboration between all sectors within the aviation sector is essential in order to succeed in delivering its commitments to reduce carbon emissions. Air navigation service providers make a critical contribution to enabling airlines to reduce emissions. Examples of the ways in which the air traffic management sector contribute, include: New air traffic management technologies which automate how safe separation distances between aircraft are maintained to reduce ‘stacking’ and associated fuel consumption when 63 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
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preparing to land at busy airports Performance-based navigation systems use satellites to allow aircraft to optimise the efficiency of routes around airports to reduce CO2 emissions Air traffic controllers offer tactical directions and flexible use of congested airspace to ensure the most efficient route selection at the time of use Careful planning enables air traffic controllers to adopt advanced landing methods, which optimises the balance between noise and carbon emissions. Sustainable aviation fuels The aviation industry recognises the crucial role of sustainable biofuels in the long-term reduction of carbon emissions from aviation and the achievement of the aviation industry’s carbon reduction goals by 2050. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates that bioaviation fuels could reduce CO2 emission by up to 80% on a full lifecycle basis compared to conventional fossil fuels. If commercial aviation were to source 6% of its fuel from biofuel by 2020, it would reduce CO2 emissions by 5%. Sustainable aviation fuels can be sourced through processing of biomass such as waste materials through the use of new64 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
generation substances, such as plants, including algae, jatropha or camelina. The pathways for development and certification of sustainable aviation fuels can be expensive, with the total cost running into tens of millions of dollars. Collaborations between airlines, aircraft and engine manufacturers, fuel producers and governments have already enabled thousands of commercial flights to take place using blends of bio-aviation fuel. The role of governments will be central in supporting further research and development in sustainable bio-aviation fuels through providing financial incentives to the industry and in reducing costs through economies of scale. Role of Qatar Airways Qatar Airways (QA) has previously worked in partnership with Qatar University and the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) to complete phase 1 of a bio-aviation fuel research project. This research, led by QSTP, has involved the collection and identification of more than 98 strains of algae unique to Qatar, classifying the productivity of each for biomass growth potential and resilience to local climatic conditions. All parties are currently considering a second stage of research regarding a pilot phase, to test the
biofuel production pathway and gauge the commercialisation potential. QA measures the carbon emissions associated with all business operations within, to and from Doha, as well as selected destination airports. Aviation fuel is its biggest source of carbon emissions, representing up to 97% of total emissions during 2016-17. Qatar Airways’ fuel-saving initiatives supported a 1.4% efficiency improvement in 2016-17 compared to 2015-16. The fuel efficiency initiatives include investing in one of the most modern, fuel-efficient fleets in the sky; investing in efficient technology, including winglets (fin-like surface enhancements reducing aerodynamic drag); carefully planning the fuel required for each flight, thus minimising the weight of unnecessary fuel; reducing weight, e.g., extra potable water and surplus magazines reduces the fuel required to carry unnecessary weight; using reduced engines to taxi on arrival at Doha; and using preconditioned air and fixed electrical power instead of energy-intensive, on-board engines while waiting for departure. The content for this article has been provided by Qatar Airways; additional reporting by Udayan Nag
affairs > tech talk The year 2020 will be a pivotal one in AI-related employment dynamics as artificial intelligence (AI) will become a positive job motivator, according to Gartner, Inc.
BY 2020, AI WILL CREATE MORE JOBS THAN IT ELIMINATES: GARTNER
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he number of jobs affected by AI will vary by industry. Through 2019, healthcare, the public sector and education will see a continuous growth in job demand while manufacturing will be hit the hardest. Starting in 2020, AIrelated job creation will cross into positive territory, reaching two million new net jobs in 2025. “Many significant innovations in the past have been associated with a transition period of temporary job loss, followed by
recovery and business transformation, and AI will likely follow this route,” said Svetlana Sicular, Research Vice President at Gartner. “Unfortunately, most calamitous warnings of job losses confuse AI with automation that overshadows the greatest AI benefit – AI augmentation – a combination of human and artificial intelligence, where both complement each other,” added Sicular.
4D MAPPING FEATURES TO BE INTRODUCED IN QATAR
In order to provide assistance in urban planning as well as other applications in the country, the The Centre for Geographic Information Systems (CGIS) under the Ministry of Municipality and Environment is working on a cutting-edge technology to develop 4D mapping features in GIS. Manaf Ahmed Al Sada, Director of CGIS, made the announcement on the occasion of World GIS Day (November 15). “The growth rate of Qatar has truly been phenomenal and a lot of the success is owing to our ability to adapt to new technologies that aid in improving infrastructure, logistics and customer satisfaction,” said Al Sada. “Agencies and organisations throughout the world use GIS to incur minimal transportation complexities while empowering users to connect with dynamic environments in new and creative ways,” he added. 66 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
REGION’S FIRST RETAIL VIDEO AD SEQUENCING CAMPAIGN INTRODUCED
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or the first time in the Middle-Eastern region, Google has introduced a new sequencing feature that enables advertisers to target users with different messages within one overall campaign. The video ad sequencing feature was rolled out last week as part of a campaign created by Impact BBDO to promote the regional e-commerce channel of Centrepoint, the Middle East’s largest fashion retailer. The team from Google and MEC, a media planning agency, were involved in every stage of the campaign from planning, sharing best practices on creating videos to identifying the right audience which enabled the successful rollout of the videos. Commenting on the launch of the new feature, Alex Brunori, Creative Impact Lead Google MENA, said: “The video ad sequencing feature lets you string together ad creatives. You can pivot, you can react and you can take consumers down a different path depending on which ads are working for them.”
USING SMARTPHONES BEFORE SLEEP COULD MAKE KIDS OBESE
OOREDOO TEAMS UP WITH QA TO OFFER 5G SERVICES Ooredoo’s ‘5G Commercial Service Experience’, which has been undergoing testing since early November, has successfully completed the next phase of pre-standardised trials.
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ery soon, 5G Commercial Services will utilise the latest network technology to offer much higher speeds, capacity and better latency than the existing cellular systems. Ooredoo has been working with Qatar Airways to test elements of these services in preparation for the standardisation and launch of approved 5G technologies. “Ooredoo 5G Commercial Services will see us enable more businesses to fulfil their digital potential. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of this successful pre-standardised 5G connection for our business customers in Qatar and the impact this service can have on Qatar’s digital economy in the future,” said Waleed Al Sayed, Ooredoo’s Chief Executive Officer.
SAFETY AWARENESS COURTESY VODAFONE
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ore than 1,000 children, teachers and parents were part of Vodafone’s online safety drive held during the Doha International Book Fair in December. An augmented reality (AR) app, which brought everyday objects to life with overlaid informative videos and infographics, was used by the telecommunications company to help visitors learn about how to stay safe on the Internet. “In today’s ever-expanding digital world, the subject of online safety has become critical to understand. Nearly half of Qatari
According to a recent study, there is an increased risk of obesity in children who regularly play games on smartphones before going to bed. The study, published in the journal Global Pediatric Health, examined the sleep and technology habits of 234 children, aged between eight and 17 years. “We saw technology before bed being associated with less sleep and higher BMIs,” said Caitlyn Fuller, researcher at the Pennsylvania State University in the US. “We also saw this technology use being associated with more fatigue in the morning, which is another risk factor for higher BMIs. So we’re seeing a loop pattern forming,” added Fuller. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has suggestions to counter the problem. AAP tells parents to set limits for technology use, such as requiring children to put away their devices during meal times and keeping phones out of bedrooms at night.
children aged 8-15 own a smartphone, and 76% of children aged 9-16 have a social network profile,” said Mohammed Al Yami, External Affairs Director, Vodafone Qatar. “The average Qatari aged between nine and 16 years spends over three hours per day on the net, which is a considerable amount of time spent by people of different age groups online. It is therefore crucial that we ensure that the youth is surrounded with a healthy technology-driven atmosphere and that we don’t miss out on the extraordinary benefits of this revolutionary era in human communications,” he added. 67 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
affairs > auto news Alfardan Automobiles, the official BMW importers in Qatar, hosted an exclusive press conference for the all-new BMW X3 at their West Bay showroom.
ALL-NEW BMW X3 NOW IN QATAR
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he third generation of the BMW X3 follows in its predecessors’ tyre tracks by combining rugged off-road looks with a sporting presence. Its familiar proportions, including short front and rear overhangs, put the spotlight on the perfect weight distribution of the front and rear axle. Commenting on the all-new BMW X3, Ma’n Alhamawi, COO of Alfardan Automobiles, said: “Ever since the first edition of the BMW X3 arrived on the scene in 2003, it has been one of the most loved vehicles on the market. And now, its third generation is set to become another firm favourite, with its latest version showcasing the very best of what BMW has to offer: luxury, innovation, elegance and superb performance.”
ALL-NEW ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM MAKES QATAR DEBUT
ALFARDAN’S HIGH-END SERVICE CENTRE FOR LUXURY CARS Following its recent global debut in London, the new Rolls-Royce Phantom was also unveiled in Qatar in December.
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lfardan Sports Motors, the official dealers of Ferrari and Maserati in Qatar, unveiled a brand new luxury service centre for the world-renowned Italian car brands at The Pearl-Qatar. The dealership is the first among industry peers to open a dedicated luxury automobile facility in the country’s upscale leisure destination. The new service centre features a revolutionary ‘clinic’ concept that embodies the design style and innovation associated with the two iconic labels. The 2,107 m2 premise accommodate 20 working bays which are equipped with the latest diagnostic tools specially manufactured to support Maserati and Ferrari cars’ engineering. Commenting on the launch, Charly Dagher, General Manager of Ferrari and Maserati Qatar at Alfardan Sports Motors, said: “We are extremely delighted to open our one-of-itskind service centre for Ferrari and Maserati at The Pearl-Qatar. Being the first dealership to open its service centre in such an extraordinary location, Alfardan Sports Motors invested in such a prime location to provide the highest standard of service.’’
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The new flagship of the luxury car manufacturer was presented by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Doha, the sole dealer of the vehicle in the country. The New Phantom features a spectacular advancement with ‘The Gallery’. An unprecedented new concept in luxury, The Gallery redefines the motor car’s dashboard for the first time in 100 years. During the unveiling of the car, Christian Wettach, Phantom Product Manager at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, described the Phantom as “the epitome of effortless style, a historical nameplate that occupies its very individual space in the luxury constellation”. He further said: “Our customers - connoisseurs of true luxury - were asking for something even more individual to them, and we are proud to present the New Phantom as a modern yet timeless masterpiece, which makes your motor car as unique as your fingerprint.”
NBK’S NEW OFFER ON MERCEDES-BENZ ACTROS Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, the authorised general distributors of Mercedes-Benz in Qatar, launched a new offer on a wide range of Mercedes-Benz Actros trucks, including tractor heads, tippers and mixers, giving motorists a better chance to enjoy the best and most reliable truck in its category. The offer is valid till December 31, 2017 and includes monthly lease rentals for three years for new trucks, with the option to also own the trucks. The benefits included in the leasing options are comprehensive insurance, comprehensive maintenance, registration and warranty. Sheikh Faleh bin Nawaf Al Thani, Operations Director - Auto, NBK Holding, said: “Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles is committed to positively impact Qatar’s economy and is providing the auto market with the best trucks for all operations of construction, light and heavy duty operations. With this offer, we are providing clients in Qatar with more affordable options to perform their duties.”
AAB REVEALS NEW PRADO WITH REFINED EXTERIOR DESIGN
SUBARU XV 2018 HITS FULL THROTTLE IN QATAR Featuring a high driving position and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, the revamped Subaru XV is now in the Mannai Auto Group’s car showroom.
A new and improved Prado was recently unveiled for its ever-growing fan base in the GCC. The vehicle boasts modern and robust exterior styling, more sophisticated, comfortable and higher-quality interior design, improvements to its dynamic abilities and user-friendliness, both on and off the road.
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eaturing an ergonomically optimised and functionally grouped switchgear, a new dashboard design incorporates the large, 8-inch multimedia system, Optitron driver’s metres, a power steering wheel and switchgear-controlled 4.2’’ Multi-information Display. Takayuki Yoshitsugu, Chief Representative, Middle East and North Africa Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “The GCC countries have always had a loyal and growing customer base for Toyota vehicles, and today we are excited to unveil the new Prado. It strikes a balance between a refined design, in its exterior and interior, and superior driving dynamics that bring greater agility and efficiency in driving performance.”
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he all-new Subaru XV includes the pre-collision braking system: When it senses an impending collision with a vehicle or an obstacle in front, the Pre-Collision Braking System warns the driver with a buzzer and light on the dash. If the driver still does not take evasive action to avoid the collision, the system automatically applies the brakes to reduce any impact or, if possible, prevent the collision. Other features include the X-MODE Technology that takes command of the engine, transmission, Symmetrical AWD, brakes and other components to navigate you safely through challenging road conditions and varying terrain. And there is also the Adaptive Cruise Control: When it senses a vehicle in front, it adjusts the speed to keep a set distance from the vehicle in front by monitoring the distance and the difference in speed. 69 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
business > marketwatch CHEF ANTONIO UNVEILS NEW MENU AT CIOCCOLATITALIANI
Located in Lagoona Mall, with a stunning terrace overlooking the iconic fountain, the Cioccolatitaliani restaurant offers a unique experience for the palate with a menu inspired by a wide range of chocolates. Chef Antonio Rizzo recently introduced a totally reinvented new menu through which guests will rediscover the taste of Italy.
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ommenting on Cioccolatitaliani’s latest menu, Chef Antonio said: “Guests can experience an innovative selection and can opt for exotic dishes like the Chicken and Mango Salad with chicken breast strips, fresh passion fruit, mango, strawberries and cashew nuts...” Another delightful option that has been exclusively added to the menu is the pizza,
with 10 flavours to match each and every taste preference: Margherita, Vegetarian, Salami, Bolognese beef, and many other flavours, rich, textural and deliciously prepared with fresh ingredients. “The new menu is a fusion of flavours and aromas” added Chef Antonio. “Our goal is to be distinguished and bring a lot of joy and contentment into our guests' food journey while visiting Cioccolatitaliani.”
SHOP QATAR TO RETURN IN 2018 WITH DAZZLING OFFERS VODAFONE, GWC JOIN HANDS FOR ENHANCED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Vodafone’s Logistics department and GWC’s Contract Logistics and Information Technology department came together and used their expertise to develop an Android App and a web-based order management system (OMS) which allows for end-to-end management of the supply chain cycle. This includes real-time stock visibility and allocation, order placement, work flow approvals and notifications, distribution and delivery to Vodafone end customers. In addition, the system captures digital proof of delivery statements – all signed forms and cash collection details through digital devices – at the time of delivery to customers. This has enhanced efficiency and significantly reduced the delivery time of Vodafone products to customers, resulting in a better customer experience. Vodafone Qatar’s Chief Operating Officer, Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Jassim Al Thani, said: “As a company we’re committed to lead in digital innovation, blending the best of technology and human interaction in a personal, instant and easy way.” 70 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
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hop Qatar is set to return for its second edition with discounts on popular brands, car and cash prizes worth QR4 million, and a colourful schedule of fashion and entertainment events. The festival will be held from January 7 to February 7, 2018 under the slogan ‘A Brand New Tradition’. The festival will focus on the new and enticing additions to Qatar’s burgeoning retail scene, and will witness the participation of 13 malls and shopping complexes. Retail outlets around Qatar will be providing special offers and discounts of up to 50% on a range of consumer goods, including clothes, electronics, cosmetics and accessories for men, women and children. The participating malls are AlKhor Mall, City Centre, Doha Festival City, Gulf Mall, Hyatt Plaza, Lagoona Mall, Landmark Mall, Mall of Qatar, Tawar Mall, The Gate Mall, Villaggio, Ezdan Mall and Dar Al Salam Mall.
RICHARD MILLE LAUNCHES LIMITED EDITION OF RM 030 PSG
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ichard Mille recently launched the RM 030 PSG Limited Edition at the Richard Mille Boutique, located at The Pearl-Qatar. Qatar’s legendary love for football was united with the passion of its watch collectors in the company of Paris Saint-Germain captain Thiago Silva and players Dani Alves and Adrien Rabiot. The launch was attended by Peter Harrison, CEO Richard Mille Europe, Middle East and Africa, Fahad Al Sulaiti, CEO of the Education Above All Foundation, Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim,
world high jump champion, South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk, 400 metre Olympic gold medallist, world champion and world record holder, along with VIP guests, watch connoisseurs and members of the press. The RM 030 PSG watch was created to honour the partnership between Richard Mille and Paris Saint-Germain. The piece has a case made of TZP-B Blue Ceramic, with a Red TPT Quartz case band, and is a limited edition release of only 100 pieces sold exclusively through Richard Mille boutiques in Paris and Doha.
PALMA AND AURA LAUNCH TWO NEW RESTAURANTS
AURA Hospitality & Food Services and its sister company Palma Hospitality Group officially opened two new dining outlets, Gahwetna and Jwala, in Doha’s Medina Centrale, The Pearl, during the Lifestyle Festival. Gahwetna is a unique all-day dining outlet, which features authentic Qatari cuisine. The restaurant welcomes guests in its cozy ambience, which recreates a typical Qatari house, and presents its authentic and eclectic menu inspired by the Khaleeji culture.
ENJOY WARWICK DOHA’S
WINTER ACTIVITIES WITH FAMILY
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ocated at the centre of Doha, Warwick Doha puts its guests in the vicinity of the Souq Waqif, Aspire Zone Sports Complex, Hamad Hospital, Mall of Qatar, US Embassy, Museum of Islamic Art, Doha Festival City and the West Bay neighbourhood. You will find a new standard of luxury – from the health club to the rooftop pool – at the hotel. With a combination of contemporary and classic design, a range of stylish rooms and suites, and a variety
of restaurants offering a fantastic selection of Italian, Arabic and international dishes, Warwick Doha is designed to create an unforgettable stay in Qatar. The hotel has two unique room packages from now until the end of the year at great prices: Book two nights and enjoy accommodation for three nights (breakfast included) Book two nights, in one or two rooms, for the price of one (breakfast included)
On the other hand, Jwala, a unique fine dining contemporary restaurant with its rich and varied menu, promises to take guests on a multi-sensory journey through the diverse gastronomic traditions of India. Featuring elegant yet minimalistic Indianinspired decor, the outlet is billed to become the favourite Indian dining destination among Doha’s food-loving community. Celebrations to welcome newcomers in the picturesque settings of Medina Centrale featured live performances of street artists, stilt walkers and music bands, as well as karaoke events and exclusive entertainment sessions.
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city life > doha diary
ROLE OF SMES DISCUSSED IN DOHA INVESTMENT FORUM
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olicymakers, industry experts and key market participants from across Qatar came together for the 2017 Doha Investment Forum in November. The forum was held to discuss the most recent scenarios with regard to how stock exchanges contribute to a country’s growth and the role which small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can play in enabling entrepreneurial companies to be the driving force of global economies. Over 100 investment management professionals were given the opportunity
to discuss global trends and each organisation’s contributions in relation to the topic. Key speakers at the event included Rashid bin Ali Al Mansoori, CEO and Board Member, Qatar Stock Exchange. "We are very aware that a customised market for SMEs has been a successful model around the world. Our own QE Venture Market has learnt the lessons and is designed with initial and ongoing compliance requirements that lower the normal barriers to SME listing,” said Al Mansoori.
DUTCH AMBASSADOR VISITS TRIMOO PARKS The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, HE Dr Bahia Tahzib-Lie, visited Trimoo Parks in December where she was given a guided tour of the development of a cutting-edge entertainment park at Doha Festival City (DFC).
ROUNDTABLE ON ISLAMIC FINANCE, FINTECH AND CRYPTOCURRENCIES
T During her visit, Dr Tahzib-Lie learnt about the alliance between Trimoo Parks and the Dutch NHTV Breda University of Applied Sciences – one of the leading universities in the world in the field of leisure and tourism. NHTV Breda University has seconded a team of its top students specialising in Entertainment Attractions and Theme Parks Management to work in collaboration with Trimoo Parks. The students are currently working on a project for JUNIVERSE – The World’s 1st City in Space, with a wide range of learning and edutainment attractions that aim at inspiring and entertaining children. JUNIVERSE is one of the four theme parks being developed by Trimoo at DFC. 72 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
he Center for Islamic Economics and Finance (CIEF), part of the College of Islamic Studies (CIS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), organised a roundtable in December to explore how Islamic finance stakeholders, regional financial institutions and regulators are viewing developments in Fintech and cryptocurrencies. The keynote address was delivered by HE the Governor of Qatar Central Bank, Sheikh Abdullah Saud Al Thani, whilst Professor Volker Nienhaus, former president of the University of Marburg, Germany, and a well-known scholar of Islamic economics and finance, chaired the discussion. In his remarks at the roundtable, HE Al Thani said: “The Islamic finance industry has grown considerably over the past decade to become one of the fastest-growing financial systems today. By contrast, other conventional banking systems have been challenged significantly by the global financial crisis.”
HEC PARIS HONOURS CLASS OF 2017 AT GRADUATION CEREMONY
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EC Paris honoured the HEC Paris Executive MBA (EMBA) and Specialized Master in Strategic Business Unit Management (SBUM) graduating classes of 2017 during a ceremony held at the St Regis Hotel. This year’s graduating class was the largest since HEC Paris’ inception in Qatar. Dr Nils Plambeck, Dean and CEO of HEC Paris in Qatar, and Professor Nathalie
QTA BACKS BUILDING SERVICES QATAR EVENT
Lugagne, Associate Dean of Executive Education at HEC Paris, were amongst the speakers who praised the graduates at the grand ceremony. His Excellency Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi, Minister of Municipality and Environment for the State of Qatar, and Engineer Abdulla Hassan Al Mehshadi, CEO of Msheireb Properties and an HEC Paris alumnus, also attended the ceremony.
QATARI ENTREPRENEURS PITCH IDEAS AT 'DEMO DAY'
dmg events Doha has announced that the inaugural edition of Building Services Qatar will be officially supported by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA). The exhibition, brought to the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center by the organisers of The Big 5 portfolio of construction industry events, will run from September 24-26, 2018. Apart from live product demonstrations, Building Services Qatar will feature a variety of educational elements such as a unique internationally certified Continuing Professional Development (CPD) workshop programme, technical seminars and business matchmaking. The CPD content will explore key market trends, themes and opportunities in transport, education, health, sports, commercial and retail sector-related projects, all of which will target thousands of active knowledgeable industry professionals and investors. “Building Services Qatar will provide each sector with sustainable and innovative building solutions supporting Qatar’s 2030 Vision, and the legacy of infrastructure linked to Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022,” said Andy White, Senior Vice President of dmg events.
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atar Business Incubation Center (QBIC), owned by Qatar Development Bank (QDB), announced the winners of its ninth wave of the LeanStartup Program (LSP) during Demo Day. Eleven startups pitched to a panel of judges, investors and key partners at the QBIC Campus, with QNB sponsoring this flagship event for the second time this year. QBIC’s most recent outreach campaign – calling on budding Qatari entrepreneurs
to take part in diversifying their country’s economy – reached out to the nationalistic fervour within the Qatari community and ended up contributing in a big way to the record number of startups (over 100) that were accepted in LSP 9. Seven of the 11 startups which pitched their ideas at Demo Day were chosen to be incubated and will be receiving mentoring services, office space and, most importantly, financial support to start turning their ideas into viable businesses. 73 > QATAR TODAY > DECEMBER '17 - JANUARY '18
city life > doha diary NAMA CENTER: CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP As a continuation of its strategy and approach in the field of human development, NAMA Center participated as a ‘Community Partner’ in the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) activities in November.
QFBA ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF ITS 2018 SPECIALISED PROGRAMMES
GEW comes in line with the country's strategy and orientation in supporting the youth to develop their entrepreneurial capacities and skills in order to empower them to assume a leading role in the building and development process. NAMA Center’s participation as a Community Partner emanates from its belief that the university is the platform that gives birth to future leaders and that the centre, which aims at building the youth’s capacities and preparing them for the future, should work closely with Qatar University and other establishments that organise youth gathering activities.
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s part of its efforts to encourage companies and institutions in the public and private sectors to develop their human resources and achieve their goals, the Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) is announcing the launch of a range of open training programmes for 2018 to empower the largest number of new employees and professionals in Qatar to benefit from academic and professional development, which will be on a par with the highest international standards. The programmes offer the latest internationally recognised certifications in legal financial accounting, internal auditing, managerial accounting, financial markets and asset management, compliance and anti-money laundering, as well as other distinguished programmes. The step comes in the framework of QFBA’s relentless pursuit to keep up with the latest in financial and administrative training development in order to promote Qatar's youth in theory and practice, as well as in the context of its active participation in the fields of human resources and economic development, towards its effective contribution to the realisation of Qatar National Vision 2030.
SASOL, PARKS DEPARTMENT OPEN FIRST INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND
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nder the patronage of HE Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi, Minister of Municipality and Environment, Sasol, the international integrated chemicals and energy company, together with the Parks Department of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, opened the first inclusive playground in the region at Al Legtaifiya Park, which featured modified
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playground equipment, including a slide and a swing for wheelchair users. The inclusive playground opens a new frontier for accessibility in Qatar and invites children of all ages and abilities to play together. The launch was attended by Sasol joint CEOs Stephen Cornell and Bongani Nqwababa, a representative of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment,
Accessible Qatar ambassadors, members of the media, children from Al Shafallah Center and adults and children with mobility impairment. All attendees had the opportunity to experience the park first-hand and were treated to a special demonstration of wheelchair fencing, one of the inclusive sports that’s being supported by the Accessible Qatar initiative.