Gulf Insider - May 2021 by Gulf Insider Media

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The multi-award winning Arabian Magazine

MAY 2021 | ISSUE 191

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Contents May 2021 Issue 191

06 18

06 08 12 14

16 18 Simply unparalleled online presence that connects region’s most inspired communities.

Building a dream home in Bahrain Staying invested An Elite Summer Escape - Elite Hospitality Group This Amwaj property is offering a guaranteed 8% return on investment! - Kazerooni Car Reivew - Beauty, Muscle and Power! Car Reivew - Sweden’s Answer to German Luxury

Publisher & Editor in Chief

Nicholas C. Cooksey

Comment...

Editorial

Angela Acosta Elyzabeth Ramirez

Editorial Contributors

Nicholas Cortes Bill Daly

Sales & Business Development

Charlie Cooksey

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Layout Designs

Dhanraj S

Admin & Finance

Nikesh Pola

Here's last month’s most 'Liked' #BestInBahrain picture posted to our social media.

Photography

Angelo Jose A

Distribution Mohammed Yousif Aramex Al Ayam For advertising contact Charlie Cooksey +973 3652 0004 charlie@gulf-insider.com

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P.O. Box 26810, Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: +973 1700 4575 Fax: +973 1772 1722 Printed at Awal Press, Kingdom of Bahrain. Registered with Ministry of Information approval no. TFI-431©. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. All Rights Reserved. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Bahrain BD2 | KSA SR20 | Kuwait KD1.75 | Oman RO2 | Qatar QR20 | UAE DHS20

Complimentary Copy

The multi-award winning Arabian Magazine

MAY 2021 | ISSUE 191

May 16 2021: After months of closure the causeway reopens and Saudis start heading to Bahrain again

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The multi-award winning Arabian Magazine

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Gulf Insider May 2021

Money & Business

BUILDING A DREAM HOME IN BAHRAIN

You can bring your dream home into reality with Mozoon, right in the heart of Diyar Al Muharraq.

hen it comes to building a home, Bahrain has always been an ideal destination because of its vibrant culture, vast opportunities, and ambitious economic aims. Today, we are giving you more insights on one of the best plot options for your dream home in the Kingdom… Mozoon, in Diyar Al Muharraq, is an ideal location for those looking to live a sophisticated yet laid-back lifestyle, offering a quiet residential environment with stunning skyline and waterfront views. Designed to meet the requirements of a diverse spectrum of individual home builders, this freehold investment is open for all nationalities. It is a great choice for those looking to enjoy an upscale lifestyle with its accessible plot options, with the added benefits of residing in a fully-integrated modern city. The Mozoon neighbourhood is situated between the Al Bareh and Al Naseem communities. It allows residents direct access to Al Naseem 6

Gulf Insider May 2021

The Mozoon neighbourhood is situated between the Al Bareh and Al Naseem communities.

facilities to accommodate basic everyday needs. The Mozoon provides options of both waterfront plots and inner residential plots starting from 320 sqm in size. Right in the center of the neighbourhood will also be a local retail area for added convenience to its residents. For efficiency, all amenities and services including schools, hospitals,

Money & Business

The Mozoon provides options of both waterfront plots and inner residential plots starting from 320 sqm in size. hotels, mosques, parks, as well as sandy beaches and leisure spaces will be available for the residents. Diyar Al Muharraq is only 20-minutes away from the Bahrain International Airport and Bahrain’s capital, Manama, and 30-minutes away from the King Fahad Causeway. The Mozoon neighbourhood has been fully planned to offer residents the highest quality of living with easy access to the retail centres and prime

up-and-coming shopping destinations such as the Souq Al Baraha, ThaiMart, Marassi Galleria, and Dragon City Bahrain. Soon-to-open hotels and beach resorts will also be easily accessible to Mozoon residents.

For more information, book a meeting with Diyar Virtual Property Advisor or call 80008880. For international calls, contact +973 7755 6606.

Gulf Insider May 2021

Money & Business

STAYING INVESTED Yves Bonzon, Group Chief Investment Officer at Swiss Wealth Manager, Julius Baer talks to Gulf Insider on how the pandemic impacted secular trends and opportunities going forward.

id you see a major shift in trends from 2019 to 2020 due to the pandemic?

The pandemic did not as much shift secular trends as accelerated them, and substantially at that. When we first formulated the key themes for this decade, we hypothesized the end of the neoliberal era was close and envisioned a new unorthodox policy template which

Gulf Insider May 2021

places a greater importance on fiscal stimulus and debt monetization, as suggested by proponents of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT). The immediate policy response to the Covid-19 crisis was taken right out of that MMT policy toolbox – with governments rushing to implement massive stimulus programs, backed by central banks annihilating rates to their lowest levels, while pumping liquidity to support asset prices.

Recently, the Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Powell, confirmed that the central bank will not even think about raising rates until they see the white in inflation’s eye. This is an extreme departure from the old policy paradigm.

How has Covid-19 changed how you look at strategic asset allocation? The Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA)

Money & Business

Yves Bonzon Group Chief Investment Officer at Swiss Wealth Manager, Julius Baer

The next decade is all about the second wave of digitalisation – data and AI proliferating and disrupting all kinds of industries.

is the backbone of the investment process, and its role has been reinforced during the pandemic. First, the sharp market decline in March 2020 and whiplash recovery that followed made abundantly clear just how costly it is to flee to cash when turmoil shakes markets. The SAA provides an anchor, an allocation that investors can rely on in volatile times while staying invested. Second, political forces are going to play a growing influence on markets, blurring traditional market signals. In this environment, tactical moves are extremely hard to implement in a profitable way.

As CIO, were you able to counter the impact of an extraneous shock such as the virus and successfully manage client portfolios? The Covid-19 recession was the first externally triggered global recession since WWII. We stayed invested throughout the volatile environment in spring 2020, and once the waters calmed, added to risky assets that were to profit from the generous liquidity conditions guaranteed by central banks. This has turned out to be a rather successful strategy.

In the current Covid-19 situation, how do you recommend investors act with regard to their portfolio? Vaccination programs around the world are gaining considerable momentum. An important factor to take into account is the fact that vaccines based on mRNA technologies can be quickly adapted to counter these mutant variants. Overall, the global recovery remains on track and we remain invested.

What secular themes should investors focus on in the next decade? The next decade is all about the second wave of digitalisation – data and AI proliferating and disrupting all kinds of industries. One area that is being profoundly affected and has, in our view, substantial growth potential, is life sciences. Another fundamental change to ‘traditional’ global asset allocation is China. The Chinese economy is set to become the largest globally this decade and it will not be enough, going forward, for the global investor to monitor the U.S. financial and economic cycle only. Finally, electricity and cleantech will be everywhere, from singular vehicles to entire cities. Gulf Insider May 2021

Money & Business

Alireza Valizadeh CEO and Market Head, Julius Baer Dubai & Bahrain, Julius Baer (Middle East) Ltd

Back to basics

In the long-run, for value-tilted stocks to truly outperform, inflation and GDP growth need to be back for good.

What major sectors will reap the most benefits in 2021? The rotation from ‘covid winners’ to ‘covid losers’ that accelerated in the first quarter of 2021 is quite advanced and entered a consolidation phase in late March. Going forward, there still might be some upside to the trade, but returns will be much more muted. In the long-run, for value-tilted stocks to truly outperform, inflation and GDP growth need to be back for good. In our view, high-quality secular growth remains the cornerstone of a long-term oriented portfolio.

Finally, on a personal and professional level, how has the covid-19 pandemic impacted you? After 31 years in business, unexpected change of circumstances is an opportunity to reflect on the way I work and the way we manage the business. For the CIO specifically, such market dislocations are an opportunity to make a difference and demonstrate to our clients the value of a structured and time-tested investment process. During good times, it is sometimes not straightforward for clients to understand the value they get from doing business with true experts. 10

Gulf Insider May 2021

The traditional private banking model has undergone a major evolution over the last couple of decades. Our main focus is on generating and preserving wealth for our clients. Though digitalisation is increasingly playing an important role to make things more accessible to clients, the core of our business rests in our people. It is through the trust we build with care, passion and excellence that we are able to enhance our value proposition across generations. A good example is our discretionary mandates which allow for end-to-end handling of individual client portfolios based on our CIO House view. This is truly where our expertise comes into play and we are able to showcase the success of our strategic asset allocation. Our litmus test was the pandemic, where we supported clients to stay invested while helping them navigate through the increased levels of volatility in global markets.

Investment trends We see a growing focus on topics such as succession planning that have come to the forefront given the nature of the pandemic. Another topic which has gained traction is the growing spotlight on sustainability. We also believe that investments into AI, digital health, shifting future cities, and e-mobility will continue to gain prominence in the coming years.

People & Culture

AN ELITE SUMMER ESCAPE Elite Hospitality Group welcomes guests with a special summer treat this year offering special packages valid until the end of September 2021.

he Elite Salamatik program was created to ensure that each guest has a safe stay with their family and friends. The program is implemented at all their hotels across the Kingdom.

Elite Seef Residence Hotel This summer, you and your family can explore the special offers at the Elite Seef Residence Hotel located at the center of the Kingdom’s main shopping area. Their one and two-bedroom family suites are elegantly furnished in modern leather interiors. The suites include a fully equipped modular kitchen, lavish bathrooms, a home theatre system with in-house TV channels, digital satellite television system and 24 hours personalized room service with special menus. The one-bedroom suite starts at BD 30 net per night and includes WiFi and a packed breakfast meal for two. 12

Gulf Insider May 2021

People & Culture

Elite Resort & SPA Hotel

The Elite Salamatik program was created to ensure that each guest has a safe stay with their family and friends.

Overlook the sea while enjoying the exquisite experience at the Elite Resort & Spa which promises both an exciting and relaxing atmosphere. This summer, the spacious onebedroom suite offer starts at BD 33 net per night, and includes free WiFi and a packed breakfast for two. The elegant two-bedroom suite starting at BD 55 net is the perfect choice for a family of four to unwind. The offer includes a personalized packed breakfast service.

Elite Grande Hotel The Elite Grand Hotel offers and promotions this summer are designed for a perfect summer escape. The hotel offers a combination of luxury and city, nestled in the heart of the Seef area, close to the largest shopping complex on the island – Bahrain City Centre. The two-bed room family suite is a perfect spot to unwind if you are looking for a relaxing atmosphere. Each spacious suite, starting at BD55

net, is lavishly furnished with grand bathrooms, complete home theatre systems in each bedroom with DVD, and HDTV satellite channels, high-speed internet access, direct dialing facility and digital safe-deposit lockers. The two-bedroom suite starts includes a breakfast meal for four persons. Guests can further benefit from their special offers at the hotel gym and pool.

Elite Hospitality Catering The excellent food and service Elite is known for is now delivered to your doorstep. Specializing in institutional catering in offices and factories, Elite Hospitality Catering is supplying to large corporates, banks, factories and ministries. They also cater for events such as receptions, cocktail parties, BBQ’s, birthdays, anniversaries and graduation celebrations.

For bookings and more details please call: +973 17 558 200 or visit www.elitegrouphotels.com

Gulf Insider May 2021

Money & Business

THIS AMWAJ PROPERTY IS OFFERING A GUARANTEED 8% RETURN ON INVESTMENT!

More and more people are looking for somewhere to invest their hard earned money for a better return. Kazerooni Heights offers just that!

ne of the easiest ways to enter the real estate market is to do so as an investor. However, it is not always easy to find developers that offer high returns for their properties. Today, we’re delving deeper on Kazerooni Height’s investment scheme.

Why invest in Kazerooni Heights? Kazerooni Heights offers investors apartments that are guaranteed 14

Gulf Insider May 2021

to generate high returns. See the simplified table of how much you’ll be earning when you choose their “8% Return on Investment for 5 Years” option. The investment scheme allows you to own the apartment and receive an income yield of 8% annually for a term of 5 years. The payment of the income yield is guaranteed by postdated cheques issued by the developer. The highlight of this investment, however, are the breathtaking, fully-

equipped and bespoke apartments – something that most developers in Bahrain fail to deliver. If you choose to invest with Kazerooni Heights, you’ll be able to take advantage of their brand new apartments that are ready to move in. You also don’t have to worry about anything else as the property has a ready title deed! When you pay the apartment purchase price in full, you will receive all the documents necessary to transfer the title of the property to your

Money & Business

If you choose to invest with Kazerooni Heights, you’ll be able to take advantage of their brand new apartments that are ready to move in.

name and obtain the title deed from the Survey and Land Registration Bureau. Moreover, all service charges relating to the building and Amwaj Island, as well as maintenance expenses, will be covered by the developer for these 5 years.

If that’s not enough reason to wow you, read more about why it’s important to choose a trusted developer like Kazerooni Group here.

Size of Apartment

Starting Apartment Price

Total Return on Annual Cash Investment for 5 years Income

1 Bedroom Unit (88sqm)

BD83,600

BD 33,440

BD 6,688

2 Bedroom Unit (128sqm)

BD121,600

BD 48,640

BD 9,728

2 Bedroom Unit (164sqm)

BD151,700

BD 60,680

BD 12,136

2 Bedroom + Maid’s Unit (167sqm)

BD158,650

BD 63,460

BD 12,692

3 Bedroom + Maid’s Unit (253sqm)

BD253,000

BD 101,200

BD 20,240

3 Bedroom Duplex Unit (247sqm)

BD247,000

BD BD 98,800

BD 19,760

*Total return on investment varies depending on the size of apartment. *Investment option: 8% return on investment per year in 5 years Gulf Insider May 2021

Car Bahrain

BEAUTY, MUSCLE AND POWER! Charlie Cooksey from Gulf Insider drives the new Ferrari F8 Spider

Gulf Insider May 2021

Car Bahrain

T The F8 Spider was designed in parallel with the F8 Tributo - the most powerful, fastest, and lightest Ferrari for its type.

he F8 Spider is a mid-rearmounted two-seater that provides jaw dropping performance with reputedly the best 8-cylinder engine in the world. It offers intense driving pleasure, unprecedented handling, and superior ride comfort. Luxuriously stitched leather seats hold you in secure comfort no matter how hard you drive this car. Every element of the dash, steering wheel, door panels and tunnel is beautifully designed. It was a beautiful April day – not too hot, and while waiting at the Al Hawaj traffic lights, I remembered this car becomes a convertible at the touch of a button… So, I activated the process, by which, the blue sky opened up for me. The conversion to an open top sports car takes a dozen or so seconds and is mechanics as an art form. I realized all eyes from within the other cars around me were watching with fascination as the car changed. The F8 Spider was designed in parallel with the F8 Tributo - the most powerful, fastest, and lightest Ferrari for its type. They replace the 488 GTB and 488 Spider and have been significantly improved to provide even better control

and on-board comfort. The 3.9 litre twin turbo V8 engine produces a massive 710 horsepower, which is 49 hp more than its predecessor. Overall performance levels are significantly higher, thanks to the increase not just in power, but weight reduction and improved aerodynamic coefficient. This is a seriously fast car. It will go from zero to 100 kph in just 2.9 seconds. When driving fast, the massive horsepower is skilfully controlled thanks to Ferrari technology, so it doesn’t smash you in the back when you put your foot down. Rather, the car’s torque ramps up with every gear employed and thanks to masterful engineering and technology, it lets you throw it about like it’s a Golf GTI. It makes you think you’re a more skilled driver than you actually are. And this Ferrari also behaves itself impeccably in the slow-moving Manama traffic, pottering along at low speed in comfort and without fuss.

Available in Bahrain from Euro Motors, the sole authorized dealership of Ferrari in Bahrain. For more information, call +973 1775 0750. Gulf Insider May 2021

Car Bahrain

SWEDEN’S ANSWER TO GERMAN LUXURY Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) come to Bahrain. Gulf Insider drives the new Volvo XC60.

olvo is the Swedish alternative to German luxury cars such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes. The XC60 is Volvo’s mid-sized SUV that directly competes with rivals such as the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. It’s based on the same underpinnings as the company’s luxurious XC90, but it’s a bit shorter, costs less, and has five

Gulf Insider May 2021

seats instead of the XC90’s seven. The mild-hybrid powertrain in the XC60 range combines a powerful 2.0-litre engine with a 48-volt battery and energy recovery system to reduce fuel consumption and improve drivability and response. Plug-in hybrid versions offer electriconly range of up to 50 kilometers with impressive performance. Powertrains

range from 197 to 405hp, with CO2 emissions from just 55g/km. I understand that full charging takes little more than 2 hours. Driving the XC60 over a couple of days, I admit that I wouldn’t be aware it even had an electric motor other than it being silent whenever I turned on the ignition. Otherwise, it drives as ‘normal’ – which is very nice indeed.

Car Bahrain

When it comes to interior quality, Volvos are among the best. The XC60 is classy and elegant.

When it comes to interior quality, Volvos are among the best. The XC60 is classy and elegant. It feels upmarket and solid. The instruments are clear and kept to a minimum for a clean and uncomplicated look. Its large 9.0in touchscreen is crisp and, unusually, set into the dashboard in portrait instead of landscape position. There’s a convenient home button at the bottom, just like an iPad. There’s wireless phone charging and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring. The model I drove had the optional Bowers & Wilkins stereo which delivered seriously crisp and punchy sound quality.

General visibility is excellent and it comes equipped with front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. You can also choose to add a 360-degree bird’s-eye-view camera and a self-parking system. The XC60 has some of the most advanced safety features and was awarded the maximum five stars in its Euro NCAP’s safety test, with a brilliant 98% adult occupant score and 95% for safety assistance. For more info and to arrange your own test drive in Bahrain, call +973 17500900, or visit the Motorcity showroom in Sanad.

Gulf Insider May 2021

Car Bahrain

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Photo by: By @htm281

Got some cool car photos we can feature? Send them our way! editorial@gulf-insider.com

Gulf Insider May 2021

carbahrainbh

Car Bahrain

Social Media is changing business

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Most businesses in Bahrain lack advanced digital and social media marketing skills to expertly manage a successful digital strategy, so missing major opportunities they don’t even realize. The good news is we can inexpensively create an effective digital strategy for your business, and manage it for you, for less than the salary of an employee - freeing you to run your business. We also build beautiful websites optimized to generate income for businesses, and provide online services including SEO, design, e-commerce, photography and video production.

For a FREE evaluation of your businesses digital marketing needs. call +973 36 188 100 | 1700 4575

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