Tamimi Gram 2022 by Al Tamimi & Company

Issue 007 | January 2022

NOT JUST

ANOTHER

NEWSLETTER

Happy New Year!

Hello and welcome to the January issue of Tamimi Gram. In this issue we have Ehab Taha answering 21 questions and in our Meet @ Tamimi segment, Babitha Vasanth is in the quick-fire questions hot seat. Colin Short takes us on a South African adventure from George to Hermanus and, and Zeina Makarem shares with us her delicious Key Lime Pie Bar recipe. In this month’s review and recommendations Matthew Heaton, takes us through this year in films. In addition, we have two special segments this month, first a did you know from Colin Short on cyber terrorism and second Tamimi Green – where we highlight our participation in green initiatives. Tamimi Tots is back, can you guess your colleagues from their baby pictures? There’s loads more for you in this edition, so happy reading and Happy New Year! The Tamimi Gram working group

21 Questions with Ehab Taha

Meet @ Tamimi: Babitha Vasanth

Tamimi Bakes: Key Lime Pie Bars

My Bike Tour: Western Cape, South Africa

My Travels: Expo 2020

Review and Recommendations

Tamimi Green

Cyber Terrorism

Annual Employee Recognition Ceremony

Tamimi Tots

New Joiners

EHAB TAHA 4

Randa Fakhoury’s

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Meet @ Tamimi

Indian Spicy food anytime but nothing to beat the Nash Spicy fries which I cannot resist. They have a stall at Global Village and it’s a Must try for spicy food lovers.

get to know your colleagues

What’s your favorite hobby? Collecting old coins, stamps, and heirloom within the family. I have a Parker pen that belonged my Dad’s grandfather which now is like more than 100 years old. A magnifying glass which belongs to my Mum’s grandfather, which is again 100 years old and few other valuable.

Babitha Vasanth Senior Receptionist, SHARJAH Tell us about a fun or interesting fact that happened during one of your regular work days. There is never a dull day at work, Reception is the place every colleague passes by first thing at work and everyday someone has a story for me that brings a special smile and sometimes even tears. Once Indian Breakfast was ordered at work among few of us and I literally could see tears rolling down their eyes and their face turning out to be red like tomatoes and they decided never to let me order Indian food for them ever.

Where do you usually have lunch on a working day? As my working hours consists of shifts. I usually have my lunch before I come to work but during afternoon shift, I join my few friends to finish their lunch . I get invited to taste their special Menu for the day. Once in a while I also get surprise lunch.

😊

Tell us two truths and one lie Truth 1): I intend to cry easily. When someone shares few moments of their personal feelings, I can never hold on to my tears. Truth 2): I can never let go of memories. They remain with me forever. Lie: If I tell you that I do not like sweets... then trust me it’s my biggest lie ever.

Who is your hero? Always My Dad, because he taught me a valuable lesson which I learnt by just watching him. He was always ready to give more than being ready to take. This was his happiness. He worked at Oil Field supply - Dubai for nearly 45 years in the same company and even today if I meet any known 6

of nowhere. At times even with someone who I have met for the first time they just open up like a book to me and in the end of the conversation, I feel happy that I could spend time with them to bring a smile before they leave my side.

If you could live in any city, where would it be and why? Bali – after watching the movie Eat Pray Love that city has captured my heart. I have also heard stories from friends who have travelled to Bali that it is so full of nature and magic and the people there always have a smile on their face which reflect their heart. So yes, I have to visit.

If you could change something in the world, what would it be? person, they still have my Dad’s name in their heart. I feel every child has a special parent to remember and hold on and no matter what age we are today, we can always be sure there is a shoulder waiting for us to lean on.

What kind of pet do you have, and how did you choose its name?

What TV show or movie do you absolutely refuse to watch? Why?

We love to have pets at home. We have a beautiful Border Collie at home named Noey. As a puppy she liked to bite on anything she finds to her like, hence we had to keep saying NO and we ended up naming her NOey. She is our everything. There is never a moment without her. We even celebrate her Birthday each year on December 4th and now she is 4 years old. Noey has her own Instagram page too @noey.the.doggo.

Horror movies... I can never watch them for even a second. I am a person who likes to have fun and so I cannot watch such movies screaming and being scared. Already life is full, or mysteries so why go watch such to drive your senses go crazy. Watch a comedy and laugh rather than watching horror and screaming.

What’s your favorite famous or inspirational quote?

What characteristic do you like most about yourself?

Do not be dead serious about your life, **** it is just a play. We never have a moment of our life without worries, no matter how much we enjoy the day but at night thoughts just keep coming and going. This quote helps me to sleep. One should try thinking about it, trust me you will have a good sleep.

Who would you most like to switch places with for a day (could be anyone — a celebrity) Actress Judi Dench because the kindness as a human being she IS, it is very hard to find someone like her. There is a lot a person like myself who can learn what life is about from her. Every movie of hers there is sincere love and patience that is very hard to have in our daily life. She is an inspiration for me.

Actually, it is tough question. To be honest I am not sure if I can answer because every moment is a learning moment in my life at work or even at home. I strongly feel that there is more to know about myself before I can answer this question. Now I really have to think harder Randa. I feel it is listening, listening to someone who wants to share or take their troubles away not just among family and friends, but it just happens suddenly out

This is a hard one. I do not think I can change this SOMETHING but wherever I can, I shall try. I want to bring smile and laughter to children who have not got a chance to smile without a family of their own. I want to change this feeling at least for a day in their life. I hope one day I can rent a big villa and invite the children over for a full day of fun and love so they can forget this feeling at least for a day.

What’s your most interesting/ embarrassing office story? Many interesting stories but never embarrassing moment. Interesting is when someone passes by me with so much of tension and why? Just to get coffee or tea stains off their shirts or tops when they have an important meeting, or need a home remedy for a quick relief of symptoms. They know that I have a solution and no need to worry.

What motivates you? Waking up early before sunrise. I love to sleep but then one day I realised that whenever I wake up late, half of my day just vanishes away. So, I decided to wake up early to have a long day especially during weekends. I am still trying harder

😊

How do you wind down after work? Once I reach home, first place I visit is my refrigerator. Like a burglar, I dig everything to find something soothing to calm myself even if it is a cold glass of water or some yogurt... This is a habit right from school days.

Dark or milk chocolate? Milk chocolates anytime day or night.

Pizza or burgers? Pizzaaaaaaaaaaa. I forget the weight gain and think of happy moments. 7

PREPARATION I’ve really enjoyed cooking this, the ingredients were really easy to get a hold of. It’s also really light but in the same time you can’t eat it if your on a diet, because the amount of condensed milk it has. Having it in the fridge was really exciting and it’s the definition of bitter sweet. I was planning to dress up the dining table with this lemon pie. I also consider it one of the easiest most delicious lemon covered dessert.

INGREDIENTS •

1 (11-ounce) box vanilla wafers

•

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

•

8 tablespoons/115 grams unsalted butter, melted

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Meanwhile, prepare the filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together condensed milk, egg yolks, lime juice and lime zest.

Pour filling over crust (it’s O.K. if it’s still warm) and bake until the filling is set, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely, then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Use a sharp knife to release edges. Using the parchment overhang, carefully lift and transfer the bar to a cutting board. Just before serving, whip heavy cream and confectioners’ sugar until soft peaks form. Top bars with whipped cream and cut into 16 squares to serve.

For the Filling •

1 ¾ cup/420 milliliters condensed milk

•

5 large egg yolks

•

1 cup/180 milliliters Key lime or conventional lime juice

•

1 teaspoon lime zest

For the Topping

•

1 cup/240 milliliters cold heavy cream

•

1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar

Line a 9-inch square pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides. In a food processor, combine vanilla wafers and sugar, and pulse until you have fine crumbs. Add butter and process until evenly moistened. Transfer mixture to prepared pan and press it down into an even layer.Bake until fragrant and a shade darker, 15 to 17 minutes.

My Bike Tour From George to Hermanus

by Colin Short, IT Director

Just before joining Al Tamimi & Company, I had the privilege of completing a 6 day, 600km mountain bike tour from George to Hermanus in the Western Cape, South Africa. What makes this tour special is the fact that it was 100% unassisted, we simply unpacked our bikes at the airport, loaded our supplies into a small pannier bag, and hit the road. Our journey took us through some of the most picturesque parts of South Africa. From the lush mountains of the Monteque P ass to the unforgiving wasteland of The Hell to the beautiful w ine farms of Greyton and on to our final destination, where the whales come to play, Hermanus. It was an amazing adventure and highly recommended!

Airport kickoff

L ocals

The small Karoo

Escaped the Karoo Water stop

The Karoo

Montagu P ass

More locals

The Hell Climb to the Hell

In Hell Place of the Gods

I can smell the sea!

The Hell Valley Climb out the Hell

No really, climb out of hell

Hello Hermanus 12

All photos are by the author

Travel around theworld in one place by Barbara Koenen-Geerdink, BD & Marketing Director

The e N h t erlands Umbrellas are the way Dutch people protect themselves from rain and they need to use it quite a lot as The Netherlands does experience heavy rainfall on a regular basis. Just like Singapore they introduce visitors to the concept of vertical farming with lots of green on the walls but the best experience is when you enter the video room and are handed an umbrella which you need to carry with you. I won’t spoil the fun and tell you what happens next, it is best to experience that yourself if you have the opportunity to do so. e N we Z aland Taking you through its Maori history, you see fascinating shots in the movie room, which is pretty much displayed all around you once you stand in the middle, giving you literally a 360 degree view of all the country has to ofier. From beaches to forest to mountains with amazing views. You enter the pavilion touching a r“ ain wall” which adds to the experience when entering the building. p S ain The most impressive part of Spain’s pavilion was the movie they displayed in their cinema room. The movie was a short film about 10 minutes but it really plays with your emotions in a way as it leaves a very strong message about how we treat and more importantly should be treating our planet. Spain is also part of the Sustainability District and they stayed on theme in a nice and certainly inspiring way.

a S udi rA abia Probably one of the best visits of Expo and they pull ofi quite a show. Local dancers dance to traditional music, holding their swords and swinging to the beats of the Arabic tunes. Once you enter the pavilion, you get onto an escalator and follow the journey of ancient Saudi all the way through to the “future”. I was surprised by the lightening efiects and the modern artisty installations they used. Truly impressive. Especially at night time this is worth a visit as even the building leaves you a nice surprise.

With travel restrictions still in place, because of the rapidly spreading Omicrom variant of the novel Corona virus, it is still quite tricky going to places. But luckily there is an alternative right at our region’s doorstep to overcome the FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) syndrome many of us will face in relation to travel, which is a visit to EXPO 2020 in Dubai. In this travel segment of Tamimi Gram, we will take you to the Singapore, Sweden, Spain, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Mozambique pavilions in the Sustainability District of EXPO

2020 and even The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Opportunity District, all in one go, without actually going anywhere, how amazing is that?! Visiting EXPO 2020 does feel a bit like travelling the world in a short period of time. I have at least made up my mind of where I want to go next when Covid has hopefully finally made its return (and will never come back!). Obviously it is still not the real deal of travelling to new places but it is an experience I am sure everyone would enjoy.

iS ngapore As expected, the Singapore pavilion is in the Sustainability District of EXPO 2020 and the building is covered in greenery. Lots of plants sticking out from everywhere giving you almost some sort of jungle like feeling. Vertical farming is what it’s called according to what I have been told. It feels like you are instantly at one with nature as soon as you step into the pavilion. Really nicely done and gives you a great sense of how green Singapore is if you were to visit the country and city in person. w S eden The country where Ikea was invented. No surprise you see a lot of wood, in fact the Woods of Sweden is what it is called. Going through a forest of tree trunks and back to basic with the activities they have set out for you to complete. From reading books to children to playing board games, Sweden took a very traditional and rather conservative approach to their EXPO pavilion, which is quite refreshing considering the overwhelmingly modern and even fiashy approach most countries took.

o M a z mbiu q e Surely Mozambique’s budget for the EXPO Pavilion was rather limited, but they made a real efiort trying to give you the true Mozambique experience. From walking on a beach to watching wildlife. It did feel like I was on holiday for a little bit.

The first lockdown in 2020 meant that for all of us we dived into parts of Netflix that we didn’t know existed. The familiar hierarchy of selecting films on Netflix: •

First, those films you are genuinely interested in seeing

•

Second, films you’ve seen before but are happy to watch again

•

Third, films you’ve seen before and can’t remember how they ended

•

Fourth, films suggested to you by the Netflix algorithm because of the other films you’ve watched

•

Fifth (and hopefully finally), Jean-Claude van Damme’s back catalogue

And so it goes. Restrictions continuing into 2021 and a reluctance to go to the cinema meant I was left really scraping the barrel of video streaming: Netflix, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Disney +, Now TV (really, there is such a thing). My film highlights for 2021 were: Jason Statham for the “Ryan Reynolds Award for Playing the Same Character no matter what the film” Aside from the obvious physical similarities between us, I’m convinced that Jason Statham only spent one day in acting school, at the end of which he had perfected the surly, aggressive, Cockney hitman role and thought there was no need to learn anything else. I am ashamed to say I think I have now watched every film Jason Statham has been in (or maybe I’ve just seen one film 15 times, it’s hard to tell). That said, Wrath of Man is quite decent. Spoiler alert: Statham plays a surly, aggressive, Cockney hitman in the film.

White Tiger for the “Most disappointing adaptation of a great book” award. A film that came really strongly recommended with great reviews. Whilst brilliantly filmed, it seemed to miss the essence of the novel and achieved the rare feat of making everyone portrayed seem unlikeable. Maybe it’s just one of those books that no film can do justice to your own personal interpretation.

James Bond for the “Excessively Over-hyped but Ultimately really good film” award. A brilliant, if very over-long, film with some great knitted clothing, amazing cars and lots of knowing references to earlier Bond films. A colleague did spoil it a little by telling me the ending (though that wasn’t so bad as when someone many years ago said to me, before I’d seen Sixth Sense, that “you’d never know Bruce Willis is a ghost all the way through”). A really strong ending to Daniel Craig’s reign as Bond, almost enough to make you overlook the frankly odd Quantum of Solace and the shocking Spectre. Spoiler alert: when James Bond, at the start of the film, says: “we have all the time in the world…” you know instantly that he really, really doesn’t. So a mixed bag in 2021. My film ambitions for 2022 are to get to the cinema more, don’t be tempted to watch even one Steven Seagal film on Netflix, and for Jason Statham to star as Hamlet in a star-studded Shakespearean adaptation that will demonstrate the sheer breadth of his acting genius. Oh… 16

Clean Up 2021 Colleagues from our Abu Dhabi office participate in the 20th Annual Clean Up UAE Campaign. The event took place over six pre-specified days starting from 6 Dec 2021 to 16 Dec 2021 in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah.

Living Business 2021 Nina Gupte represented the firm at Living Business 2021. The aim of this initiative is to make a positive impact on our sustainability goals. Nina highlighted the various sustainable initiatives that we at Al Tamimi & Company; such as: • Waste management • Reduction of paper consumption • Use of filtered water • Methods incorporated towards Energy Consumption • Reduction in Travel and the Hybrid working model in order to reduce our Carbon Foot Print

Maha Issa, Raya Damaj, Maha Ayche, Natalia Ratkevicius, Lina Kourdi, Rand Abdul Karim

Hacking and cyber terrorism have become lucrative businesses in the underworld where the “bad guys” are just as happy to go after average citizens as they are multinational companies. The recent ransomware pandemic stands testament to that. Businesses spend billions of dollars annually in an attempt to thwart their efforts but the “bad guys” always seem to be one step ahead. This is because most businesses forget about their weakest link in the war against cyber terrorism, us humans… Raising awareness is the single most effective way to thwart attackers.

In the first six months of 2021, 1,767 data breaches, exposing more than 18.8 billion records were reported. However, in reality, many breaches (estimated at more than double) are unknown and go unreported. Dr. Mohamed Al-Kuwaiti, UAE’s cyber chief, warns that the Middle East is facing a “cyber pandemic” due to the region›s recent digital adoption brought on by COVID. The UAE alone experienced a 250% increase in cyber-attacks in 2020! 20

What we are doing? With this in mind, our cyber security and compliance teams will be conducting various campaigns over the coming months to raise our awareness levels. These campaigns have been designed to get their message across, in a fun way, in no longer than a few minutes.

20th Anniversary Akbar Ali

20th Anniversary Valerie Rodrigues

Core Values Ambassador Hema Shetty

Core Values Ambassador Nadeen Haddadin

Core Values Ambassador Sultan Al Mutairi

Cross-Selling Champion Christina Sochacki

Cross-Selling Champion Gabriel Yuen

Cross-Selling Champion Hayna Abdelrahim

CSR / Pro Bono Alina Ponomarova

CSR / Pro Bono Kareem Bessisso

Innovation Nour El Chami

Knowledge Management John Gaffney

Knowledge Management Mosaab Aly

Law Update: Superstar Natalia Kumar

Law Update: Key Contributor Charlotte Sutcliffe

Team Player Mays Abdulrasool

Team Player Mazin Eltayieb

Team Player Samail El Tahir

Quality & Client Care Alanood Allhaib

Quality & Client Care Lina Samaha

Quality & Client Care Noor Al Taei

Team Player Tala Shriem

Team Player Vijay Kumaran

MCs Afaf K. Bitar and Sharon Danso-Missah

Quality & Client Care Passant Ahmed

Quality & Client Care Pedro Castro

Quality & Client Care Rasha Hussein

Team Award CSR - Litigation

Quality & Client Care Vincent Percival

Team Player Adnan Al Rifaei

Team Player Marvin Roces

Team Award CPT Office Move

Team Award Credit Control

Can you guess your colleague from their baby pictures?

Al Tamimi & Company has a remarkable reputation in the market in regards to work culture and professionalism. As a new joiner I was welcomed in such a way that I really don’t feel I just started 3 weeks ago, everyone in the team is welcoming and supporting which made it really easy for me to adjust in a new environment. My on boarding process was truly smooth with no hindrances, so all in all an amazing first impression when it comes to process or technology related to IT. Raheel Sarfaraz, Payroll Manager, HR

HINT: Polish your dancing shoes and get ready for Dabke' - a Levantine folk dance - when around this girl... She grew up to become a real 'Dabbike', and has represented Palestine her home land in several dancing events... W ish she cooked as good as she dances Dabke', her husband must say!! 26

Hayat Rafique

Associate

Jeddah

Alia Jumean

Associate

Qatar QFC

Clive Charles D'Souza

Paralegal

Abu Dhabi

Damian John Wright

Senior Associate

DIFC

Iman Elgendy

Secretary

DIFC

Kathinka Wiig Honore

Associate

DIFC

Khizar Latif

Trainee Solicitor

DIFC

Nashmi Al Otaibi

Associate

Riyadh

Neil Morgan

Senior Counsel, Head of Sports & Events

DIFC

Nusaybah Al Mohawes

Administrative Assistant

Riyadh

Raheel Sarfaraz

Payroll Manager

DIFC

Rana Al Khowaiter

Trainee Lawyer

Riyadh

Saeed Al Burghuthi

Legal Assistant

Riyadh

Sara Al Tamimi

Team Leader

DIFC

Wisam Sindi

Associate

Riyadh 27

If you have any suggestions or would like to contribute, please email a.joshi@tamimi.com 28