The Alea Journal January/February 2022

THE JOURNAL JANUARY 2022

BUSINESS // TRAVEL // POLITICS // CULTURE // LIFE PRODUCED BY

ALEA GLOBAL GROUP

Contents FOREWORD

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SAUDI ARABIA’S UNEXPECTED NEW INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

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FRANCE REMOVES HIJAB CAMPAIGN AMID BACKLASH

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BILQIS ABDUL-QAADIR AND THE DEBATE ABOUT HIJABS IN SPORT

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LUXURY RETAIL TRENDS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

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NETFLIX SEEKS OUT KUWAITI TALENT

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POST-COVID ECONOMY IN QATAR

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INTRODUCING THE GREEN MOON PROJECT

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KUWAIT’S AMBITIOUS SMART CITIES PROJECT

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THECIRCLE: A NEW EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR THE MALDIVES

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ALL ABOUT ACUMEN: INVESTING WITH HEART

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FROM FINE DINING TO FINE SNOOZING

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WELCOME

JANUARY 2022

The alea journal FOREWORD BY MOHAMMAD AL DUAIJ CEO OF ALEA GLOBAL GROUP We are finally seeing the world beginning to open up again in a way that feels more longlasting than the stop-start restrictions we have been used to.

Here at Alea Global Group and at all of our family office events we have been preparing for this moment, and to implement the changes we know we wanted to make from the lessons we have learned during this time.

We are not alone. This issue of The Alea Journal is full of optimism and the uplifting projects others have been undertaking around the world to better their businesses and their communities.

We look at how Saudi Arabia is harnessing the power of entertainment to build a new and robust post-oil economy. We also see how Kuwait has entered the smart city market.

We meet theCircle, a new project educating children online, and we learn about Acumen who promote philanthropic investment which empowers people to tackle poverty.

In other positive news, entertainment giant Netflix has taken meaningful steps to bring Kuwaiti and Saudi stories and voices to its network, We spoke to Chalhoub Group about the resilience of luxury retail in the Middle East, and we spoke to Green Moon Project about how they are looking to create agriculture in space.

Our friends and partners Elcielo Group have also branched out from the world class restaurant business to open a world class hotel.

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Yes, it's fair to say this issue is full of ingenuity, hope, and people striving for a better future either because of or in spite of the trials of the past two years.

So let us look back on this period we are now leaving as a blessing in many ways, as it spurs us on to greater things with a renewed sense of gratitude for the time and freedom we may otherwise have taken for granted.

I hope to see many of you at our family office events throughout this year, and please do keep in touch about your work – especially if you would like to see it featured in this journal.

As ever you can contact me at info@aleaglobalgroup.com

Saudi Arabia’s UNexpected new investment opportunities

It was only as recently as 2018 that the first cinemas were permitted to open again in Saudi Arabia after being banned in the 1980s.

The first ever Red Sea Film Festival took place in December 2021, making a big statement about the film sector’s intentions and presenting an international focus.

And now the country is wasting no time catching up and possibly even overtaking other countries when it comes to film production and exhibition.

It’s not the only major change in the country when it comes to lifestyle and entertainment.

U n d e r C r o w n P r i n c e M o h a m m e d b i n S a l ma n , Saudi has done away with gender segregation in settings such as restaurants, and has scrapped the ban on women being allowed to drive.

Saudi Arabia recently announced a huge investment of $64 billion in its film industry, which will see it competing with Hollywood while trying to attract the global film sector to use Saudi’s landscapes and talent.

Festivals and gigs have been introduced to the nation’s social calendar, and there is an openness to a kind of entertainment creation and consumption that hasn’t been part of Saudi’s story until now.

Unspoilt landscapes like those of UNESCO World Heritage Site Al-Ula are a draw for filmmakers looking for the perfect backdrops for their big budget masterpieces.

But this is not simply about culture for culture’s sake. Culture is often misrepresented as being a ‘nice to have’, an additional extra on top of other more weighty industries.

By declaring itself open for showbusiness Saudi Arabia is making a big cultural connection with the rest of the world, and transforming its image at the same time.

The truth, however, is very different.

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We need only look at some statistics from the USA’s National Endowment for the Arts and the Bureau of Economic Analysis for an example of how important culture really is: In 2019 (pre-pandemic), the sector had been expanding, and production of arts and cultural goods and services in the US added 4.3% to the country’s GDP, totalling $919.7 billion. This is a greater financial contribution than that of construction, transportation, mining and agriculture During the three years from 2017-2019, the value added to the GDP from the arts and cultural sector grew at a higher rate than the US economy as a whole The arts and cultural sectors employed 5.2 million people on payroll, not including self-employed contractors

Viewed through an economic lens, the decision to make such a major investment in the Saudi arts, culture and entertainment industry makes perfect sense.

Just as Kuwait is making moves away from a reliance on oil by invsting in smart cities, so is Saudi Arabia setting its sights on replacing fossil fuels with film.

And this kind of investment will not only benefit those with the skills and ambition to work in film, but rather will spark the growth of an ecosystem which is required for film production and exhibition to happen.

Technology, construction, transport, accommodation, catering and infrastructure are all required to support film production.

Exhibition is also a larger economy than simply cinemas and festivals. Should Saudi Arabia become a destination for film lovers to enjoy watching film and visiting film locations, there is a travel, tourism and hospitality sector that will benefit from this investment too.

Crucially, this opens the door to further investment in Saudi Arabia from around the world, as the country plugs into a well established industry that has a proven track record for transforming the fortunes of locations almost overnight.

The knock-on effect will be huge and positive for so many other sectors as a result of this investment, and although film may seem on the surface to be a frivolous thing on which to spend $64 billion, this could be a real blockbuster move for Saudi Arabia.

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France removes hijab campaign amid backlash P o s t e r s p r o m o t i n g t ol e r a n c e a n d a c c e p t a n c e o f Muslim women wearing the hijab were removed from display in France after a public outcry.

Tweets promoting the campaign have been deleted, but not before being widely shared on social media by people on both sides of the argument.

The poster campaign by the Council of Europe called for respect for Muslim women who choose to wear headscarves, a visible sign of faith, with the slogan ‘Beauty is in diversity as freedom is in hijab’.

France is thought to be the country with the largest anti-Muslim minority, around 5 million people, and ha banned the public wearing of the full-face Islamic veil.

The campaign was criticised by some of the most well known politicians in France, who claimed the hijab did not in fact represent freedom, with some claiming the campaign actively encouraged women to wear headscarves.

Muslim women and other critics of the backlash have pointed out that the freedom to choose to wear the hijab is a fundamental freedom, and that the removed of the campaign images contradicts its own messaging around the issue of freedom.

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Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir and the debate about hijabs in sport Basketball player Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir is a sports star, but she’s also a Muslim icon who helped to transform the way the sport views and accommodates players of faith.

Her battle to be allowed to play and wear her hijab at the same time eventually paid off after four years, and in 2017 the rule was reversed.

She has broken records with her performances on the court, but her stratospheric career was temporarily halted when the International Basketball Federation introduced new rules which meant she couldn’t wear her hair covering while playing.

Not only did this open up her own career once again, but it also meant younger generations of Muslim women wouldn’t have to choose between their faith and a sport they love.

Ultimately Bilqis chose her faith over her sport, and reluctantly withdrew from the sport while continuing to play a part in introducing young people to the game.

But her latest battle is one of citizenship, as she has been denied permanent residency in Canada despite all this good work, and will have to move back to America – at least for the moment.

Fr o m h e r n e w h o m e i n C a n a d a s h e s e t u p a sports academy for girls called Dribbling Down Barriers, and has also done a great deal of coaching in faith schools to help produce new players who can continue her groundbreaking legacy.

We’re fully supportive of Bilqis’ work both on and off the court, and while we can’t understand why Canada would turn down the opportunity to call her one of their own, we are sure there are bigger things in store for this incredible sportswoman.

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Luxury retail trends in the Middle East Expert insight from Chalhoub Group

Chalhoub Group operates with 15 luxury brands and 62 retail stores across Kuwait alone, and is present across UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, India, Egypt, and Latin America. We interviewed Elie Antoun of Chalhoub Group in Kuwait to find out what happened to the luxury market during the pandemic, and what he thinks its future will be.

reward themselves, to give themselves a treat after they passed through the pandemic. So, this treat could be either online or brick and mortar or combined, we can see especially in Kuwait, the affinity of customers to visit the malls.

Are you noticing any emerging trends among your customers in Kuwait and how they buy?

What is your experience of the luxury retail environment in the Middle East at the moment?

So in Kuwait in specific the online business is growing yet there is a clear affinity of customers to visit the brick and mortar and have this personal interaction with our great people on the floor, and our great products - to touch them, to feel them, to try them etc.

Post-pandemic the market is changing and it is all centric towards the customer. All our actions and business plans are focused towards satisfying our customers, how we delight and exhilarate them in our service and in our offers, be it online or be it brick and mortar.

The Kuwaiti customer is intelligent, critical and price sensitive as well, and they have a taste of luxury with their high purchasing power. Kuwait encountered in 2021 a very good business improvement in terms of sales. 50% say that in the next three months, they will be spending more on luxury fashion than pre COVID.

The customer is still interested in a special experience in the brick and mortar market, and this is why Chalhoub Group is still investing with the right brands, the right locations in the right malls to provide our customers with the right experience.

And I think from a positive perspective, customers are taking a delightful revenge when they go to the market and shop. Usually they travel and they shop across Europe, Asia, etc. With the limitations of travel and with the offer that we have in Kuwait. We sensed in 2021 that more loyalty is built between our customers and our brands, between our customers and our people on the floor, between our customers and our stores, between our customers

In parallel, we are also aggressively building on our online engagement with our customers, providing them with a complimentary experience that they need and they ask for.

Some consumer insights that were collected in 2021 December: 72% Consider shopping to be a treat. So customers are looking for ways to

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and our online offers. And the most important thing is that as a business, from a people perspective, we were ready for it. We have been ready for it.

Our people on the floor are trained and so enthusiastic to build loyalty with the customers. They act as the salesperson not only in the brick and mortar, but also online connecting through WhatsApp, connecting through all our social media platforms. This played a very important role in building loyalty and providing exceptional inspiring experiences.

Do you have any specific examples of brands that have proved particularly popular for the customer throughout the pandemic?

Yes. We have Tanagra and Tanagra is a very good example. During the pandemic Tanagra grew in sales with a clear double digit growth, not because of the brick and mortar but mainly from that clienteling from online. And when the malls opened again, we were astonished how our customers were deeply involved with our new offers that we promoted to them either by clienteling, meaning WhatsApp direct with our salespeople, or through our online platform. They were coming and asking for specific products that were promoted online, to check them on floor and buy them on floor or vice versa. They were buying with trust, they trusted our people, they trusted our products, and most important, they trusted the Chalhoub group.

Another important factor is the homeware category. Hospitality has always been very sensitive and very important in this region. Luxury is not only fashion and beauty, but it's also homeware. Post-pandemic, because most of the people were spending most of their time at home, they try to create this luxury not only by their dress, perfume or make up, but they are creating luxurious surroundings, and Tanagra was there for them.

Post-pandemic, what will stick and what will we lose when it comes to our luxury shopping experience?

There are many factors that will be affecting the post pandemic trend.

The personal luxury goods market could recover pre covid levels according to two scenarios. Either a full rebound in 2021 or a paced recovery in 2022. And it will depend on key focus factors such as common trends, tourism recovery consumer, confidence at a global and regional level. There is nothing that is certain. Nowadays, we are passing through an environment of uncertainty and we have to respond mainly to come to the consumer trends as their main focus, planning without taking the consumer as the center of our plan is a waste of time.

I think it's very important to keep on our radar the fashion trends that will emerge now in 2022. Whether it’s Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Saudi, any market will all be concerned by all the conversations happening around the metaverse, that is a very important topic for the year when it comes to shopping. And definitely social commerce that is rising more and more in the region, and how we can benefit from it as a retailer. And the third topic that is trending now is circular fashion, linked to the circular economy and the bigger sustainability agenda. So on a group level, we are very keen to make sure that we are catering to the power consumer, when we know about any topics emerging or any trend emerging.

For more information visit chalhoubgroup.com

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netflix seeks out kuwaiti talent

Digital entertainment giant Netflix has teamed up with Kuwait’s National Creative Industries Group (NCIG) to bring new writing talent to the s c r e e n , s p e c i f i ca l l y w r i t e r s f r o m K u w a i t a n d Saudi Arabia.

The NCIG TV Writers’ Lab 6x6 programme will incubate and support six writers. Between them they will create six series projects which will be ready to pitch to Netflix and to other potential funders and exhibitors at the end of the process.

After an open call for submissions in November 2021, six writers were chosen for the programme and their names were announced in January 2022.

The final six are Kuwaiti writers Jassem AlQamis and Faisal Al-Balushi, and they are joined by Osama Bin Ali Shar, Muhammad Nidal Jalal Salam, Roland Fayadh Hassan and Dania Wassim Al-Tayeb who are all from Saudi Arabia.

If successful in creating a project through the programme and pitching it to Netflix, every writer has the potential to work with Netflix to

see his or her work developed as a show which will be aired on the network.

Sh o u l d N e t f l i x d e c l i n e t o d e v e l o p a n y o n e o f t h e projects, the writer will continue to own the intellectual property of that project entirely, and will then be free to pitch it to other potential producers or networks.

It’s not surprising that the NCIG is the vehicle through which this is happening in Kuwait. The NCIG has made it their mission to find and develop new Arabic media talent, and already has a large studio facility.

CEO Sheikha Al-Zain Sabah Al-Naser Al-Sabah came up with the concept of Lab 6x6. She has a long history of empowering young people through her work with Kuwait’s Ministry of State for Youth Affairs, as well as having a career in film production herself.

This opportunity is the first time a programme like this has been trialed in the region. It will hopefully be just the beginning of international cultural brands like Netflix recognising the importance of including talent and stories from the Arab world in their global distribution to audiences who want to enjoy them.

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Post-covid economy in Qatar

An interview with Princess Al Anoud bin Thani of the Qatar Financial Center about her work and her predictions for the future of Qatar's economy

Could you give a brief overview of your career path so far?

My career is devoted to inspiring and implementing socially conscious economic development and diversification through the public and private sectors and civil society.

I am currently Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Business Officer of Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority, where I play an integral part in achieving QFC’s vision of transforming Doha into a leading global financial and commercial hub through attracting FDI and developing a sustainable local economy.

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Prior to joining the QFC, I served as the Qatar Country Representative and Director for Silatech, a Qatar-based social initiative that connects young people to employment o p p o r t u n i t i e s a c r o s s t h e A r a b re g i o n .

I often represent QFC in industry conferences, business development meetings with potential clients, and other outreach activities. I also maintain and develop key relationships w i t h s e n i o r cl i e n t s a n d o t h e r r e l e v a n t stakeholders.

Out of my deep belief in the need to support Arab youth empowerment, I greatly expanded Silatech’s operations within Qatar, helping connect thousands of young people to private sector opportunities and supporting economic development across the MENA region. My efforts here extend several positions with UN agencies and international organisations specialising in economic development, education, and youth employment.

I am fortunate to work alongside talented and thoughtful colleagues, which means that amid my structured and rigid schedule, every day at work can mean getting a few surprises, new wisdom, and inspiration.

How does your work give you insight into the Qatar economy?

To be effective at my job, I must know Qatar’s economic landscape. That said, part of the job is to follow the economic developments in Qatar, the competition, and the markets we hope to penetrate.

A recipient of numerous honours and awards, including being named as a Global Shaper by the World Economic Forum, Young Arab Achiever, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani Education Excellence Award, and was recently honoured as a 2021 Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

As Deputy CEO & Chief Business Officer of the QFC, I am also in constant contact with Qatar’s business leaders which are great sources of insight and offer varying perspectives on Qatar’s different economic sectors and future growth.

Studying Economics and Political Science served as an important base for my career.

However, the work that I undertook at United Nations Agencies and Amnesty International provided me with the opportunity to balance my economic and financial knowledge with the social and humanitarian awareness and ensured that throughout my career I have strived for responsible and ethical business development that assists those who need it most, expanding opportunity for youth in our region, advancing women’s role in society, while contributing to the goals and ambitions that my country is committed to achieving.

How has the pandemic impacted the Qatar economy?

As with all economies worldwide, the restriction of population movement due to COVID-19 slowed down Qatar’s economic activities. Almost all sectors were affected, including construction, retail and trade, services, real estate, travel and tourism, and finance.

However, some service activities witnessed expansion in their use and increase in production. These include distance education programmes, healthcare, ICT, and e-commerce.

What does your work involve on a day-today basis?

There was also an increase in the volume of trade and production of disinfectants and PPEs. Another positive effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is the increased adoption of new technology, which boosted the digital and fintech sectors.

My work pivots around growing QFC and building the company brand. If I am not planning strategies to create new business opportunities for QFC and attract foreign direct investment with my team or senior leadership, you will find me in meetings or correspondence with key stakeholders or potential partners working on securing new Business.

Thanks to the government’s quick response to mitigate the health and economic impact of COVID-19, Qatar saw early signs of recovery from

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the global health crisis. Qatar’s GDP fell by about -2.6 per cent in 2020 but started to rebound this year. The World Bank forecasts Qatar’s economy to grow 3 per cent this year, 4.1 per cent in 2022, and 4.5 per cent in 2023.

How will the forthcoming World Cup affect the economy in Qatar?

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will undoubtedly boost Qatar’s economy, with about 1.5 million tourists bringing a significant income to the country.

The increased economic activities during the mega event will raise Qatar’s GDP, which will likely remain high after the event, given the economic developments associated with hosting the event and global publicity, which can entice tourism and investment into the country.

The Qatar government has invested significantly to develop its tourism industry, with a focus on promoting luxury tourism. After the World Cup, Qatar is expected to receive about 3.5 million tourists, which can reach 7.4 million by the year 2030.

This spike in tourism will have a ripple effect on other sectors, increasing activities in retail, hospitality,

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service, and financial industries, spurring further Qatar’s economic growth.

What other factors may affect the Qatar economy in the coming decade in your View?

The country would have realised Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV2030) in the next decade, which means it has fully established a diverse, sustainable, knowledge-based economy.

Qatar’s investment and development plans since launching QNV 2030 in 2008, would be the most significant factor that will dictate the country’s economic state in the next ten years.

As Qatar steers from a carbon-based economy, the sports, tourism, digital, and financial (particularly Islamic finance and financial technology) sectors will become primary contributors to the country’s economic growth.

In line with QNV 2030, Qatar launched the North Field expansion plan, which is expected to start producing by the end of 2023. This project will help meet the world’s growing demand for cleaner energy and a significant move by Qatar for creating a sustainable economy.

Introducing The GREEN MOON PROJECT The Green Moon Project has an ambitious plan to transform objects in space into sources of food. We caught up with José María Ortega-Hernández to find out more.

Could you give an overview of the Green Moon Project?

The Green Moon Project is about Space Agriculture.

It is possible to see how important this will be in the near future since many crewed missions, thanks to the space accessibility democratization, will end on the Moon surface or even on Mars.

In addition to that, space tourism seems to be a very powerful business as well.

The project is made up of three main building blocks: planetary geology, plant biology and space technology.

We are using the Lanzarote Island (in the Canary Islands in Spain) as our main natural island since we are using the soil from the volcanic Timanfaya National Park as a simulant of the one that is expected to be found on the Moon or even Mars in order to perform our tests on Earth to simulate what is going to be happening in these celestial bodies.

In addition to that, we have a collaboration agreement signed with the Center of Space Exploration (COSE) in

Chongqing that will allow us to join a potential future Chinese mission to the Moon to better understand how crops will behave under lunar gravity conditions which are six times lower than Earth gravity.

W h a t w a s y o u r o wn c a r e e r path before forming the company which led you to this point?

I did study Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering as a bachelor and then I completed it with a Master in Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering.

At the same time I am coordinating Green Moon Project, I am finishing the PhD in Space Agriculture Technology at both Wrexham Glyndwr University (Wales) and the University of Chester (England) both in the United Kingdom.

In addition to that, I did manage to become Vehicle Architecture Engineer at the British car manufacturer, Bentley Motors Limited.

Back at University, when we started Green Moon Project in September 2016, we competed in a competition called Lab2Moon in India within the Google Lunar X Prize.

The project was originally

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selected as one of the 15 finalists among more than 3400 projects submitted all around the world.

What makes your particular solution special and different from previous kinds of technology or other companies?

At Green Moon Project we are merging the best from the three main building pillars of the project as Planetary Geology, Plant Biology and Space Engineering to offer something that has never been shown before.

For instance, the project not only wants to understand how crops will behave under the lunar gravity which is six times lower than Earth gravity but also, it wants to understand the interaction between the plant and the soil.

This is a really new and different approach never seen before.

Who are you currently working with?

We have many partnerships and collaborations.

For instance from the Spanish public perspective we count on the support from the Instituto de Geociencias and from the Spanish private side, the Research and Development Agriculture company called InnoPlant.

From an international perspective, we count on the support from the Chinese Center of Space Exploration.

The same ones that managed to first plant on the Moon during the Chang' e 4 mission to the Moon.

What stage of testing are you at now?

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We are mainly testing the horticultural crops on top of the basaltic soil /taken from the volcanic Lanzarote island) as a simulant of the soil that we may find on the Moon or Mars.

We are planning to perform more tests in Lanzarote and Granada in Spain. Potentially, we will be launching the first experiments to the Moon.

We are currently focus on the new encapsulated greenhouse to better understand how crops will grow under the lunar conditions.

These encapsulated environments manage to have the same conditions that there exist on Earth but o the Moon.

The only variables are lunar gravity and cosmic radiation.

Knowing those differences, it is want is wanted to better understand.

environments but also will provide them with oxygen and will make a carbon dioxide removal.

What is the next step?

Finish the next encapsulated greenhouse construction, continue with more tests and open a new round of investors.

What is your dream outcome for the project?

To be not only launching those encapsulated environments to the Moon and Mars but even beyond.

The main scientific target of the project is to better understand how crops will behave under different celestial bodies' conditions.

As Elon Musk says, humankind will become an interplanetary species and that is why we really need to understand how crops will behave under different conditions since they will not only feed the humans in these new

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In the future, the idea is to be using the data collected to better create those big greenhouses (potentially to be firstly located in lunar or martian lava tubes) since they will be protected from the cosmic radiation.

We will have those greenhouses on the Moon or even Mars but we have to know all that information previously to the human arrival to those places.

The main target in 10 years' time will be to have the first greenhouses on the Moon with the data collected from our first small encapsulated environments in order to support future habitability using the space resources located insitu (ISRU).

For more information visit greenmoonproject.com

Kuwait’s ambitious smart cities project In an attention-grabbing move towards a greener future, Kuwait will become the first country in the Middle East to develop a city designed to be environmentally-friendly and smart.

The city of South Saad Al Abdullah will be the region’s pioneering ‘smart city’, using cutting edge technology to enhance daily life.

Things like traffic control, and monitoring of infrastructure will be done using AI and will be able to respond quickly and effectively to the needs of citizens.

By creating and running a city in this way, there will be as little waste as possible across all manner of everyday processes, making huge energy savings and cutting down on pollution as efficiency goes up.

The city is expected to cost around $4billion and work will start later this year on the 64 square-kilometer plot.

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As well as developing homes for 400,000 people, the project will make a statement about Kuwait’s intentions to move beyond the oil economy it is otherwise best known for.

By delivering a 30-year transformative vision known as Kuwait 2035, Kuwait will transform itself into a financial and trade hub with a focus on key areas including sustainability, improving living standards, and developing infrastructure.

This new smart city will be a living embodiment of those ambitions, and it will join a worldwide smart cities industry with a projected value of $2.6 trillion in the next three years alone.

thecircle: a new educational programme for the maldives and beyond

The brainchild of mathematician and a computer scientist Professor Hassan Ugail, theCircle is revolutionising extracurricular education for children in his native Maldives and could soon spread further afield.

We spoke to Professor Ugail about the programme.

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Could you explain a little about your professional background and give us a timeline of your career to date?

Fo r a s l o n g a s I r e m e m b e r , I h a v e a l w a y s b e e n interested in mathematics and science. I did my primary and secondary school education in the Maldives.

Upon completing my A-Levels in the Maldives, I moved to London to do my first degree in mathematics at King's College London under a British Council funded scholarship. After completing my first degree with first-class honours, I did a PGCE at King's College London.

I was then offered a scholarship under the Overseas Research Students scheme funded by the British government

to do my PhD in applied mathematics at the University of Leeds. In the year 2000, I completed my PhD and then took up a two-year postdoctoral research position at the University Leeds under a EU funded project.

I joined the University of Bradford as a lecturer in 2002. I managed to climb up the academic ladder very quickly and became a full professor of visual computing in 2009 at the age of 38. I now head the Center for Visual Computing at the University of Bradford and conduct world-leading research in the area of visual computing and machine learning. I am particularly interested in computer-based face recognition and face analysis including facial ageing and facial emotion analysis.

What does the Ugail Foundation do and what is the history of it's setting up?

Although I left the Maldives at a very young age, in my heart and mind I never left the country. I have always had close contact with the Maldives had the desire to help the Maldivians as much as I can. I have always believed in empowering Maldivians is an important and worthy cause. In that sense, Ugail Foundation was established in 2019 to bring together the people empowerment work that I have been doing for over 25 years.

Our mission through Ugail Foundation is to empower people of all ages through learning, education and knowledge transfer.

What is theCircle and what is its mission?

theCircle is a bold initiative by

the Ugail Foundation to empower people across the spectrum of all ages and abilities through education and learning.

Could you give some examples of the feedback you have had from children and / or parents about being part of theCircle?

Through theCircle programme, we provide modern and comfortable spaces in which intellectual stimulation thrives - these are places in which people can meet, read and learn and in these places people can carry out intellectual work.

Interestingly, we have 100% positive feedback from the participants of all of our programmes. The reason is, we have devised many ways to engage the participants in their learning. We also take a lot of feedback and are continuously adapting our content and modes of delivery. Recently, one 12 year old on our Coding and Critical Thinking programme wrote a letter to me thanking me for initiating theCircle and he also said he is looking forward to sending his own children to this programme one day. I have received thousands of such touching letters from kids and parents.

Through theCircle we also provide innovative onlinebased learning opportunities for people of all ages. For example, for the past two years, we have been teaching kids of ages between 7 and 17 years, coding, critical thinking and leadership skill and over 5000 kids have had learning experiences through theCircle programmes so far.

How has theCircle grown?

We started theCircle in 2020 in the middle of the COVID19 pandemic. The initial idea was to connect kids with UK based tutors through online means. We started off with a programme called theCircle Kids and initially, we had 400 kids on the programme.

Now we have four learning programmes for kids: Coding and Critical Thinking, Advanced Coding, Creative English and the Leaders of Tomorrow. Each programme is unique in its own right and delivers learning in a very engaging way. We also run a programme called Let's Learn English Together for adults which is very popular among the parents.

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What ambitions do you have for The Circle in the future?

I think the last two years of theCircle project has given us a lot of insight into teaching and learning in an ever-changing world where physical proximity is no longer a barrier. We have also learnt how to engage individuals in the learning process and how to provide controls to the learners.

Such mechanisms make learning a lot more meaningful, fun and engaging.

Our ambition now is to take this blueprint and see if we can replicate it across the globe.

For more information visit thecircle.mv

all about acumen: Investing with heart

Formerly the Acumen Fund, and now known simply as Acumen, this nonprofit investment fund specializes in empowering social enterprises that can create real change for those in poverty and on low incomes.

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By investing in these kinds of targeted social enterprises, Acumen seeks to create real change in the world, starting with some of the poorest people in society.

O v e r t he p a s t 1 5 y e a r s , A c u m e n h a s funded 113 valuable projects with philanthropic capital totalling around $115million. The projects supported by Acumen are those that have the very best odds of tackling poverty directly or indirectly through the products and services they provide.

Acumen also provides education and development for entrepreneurs who want to help enact social change.

Jacqueline moved to Rwanda and started a new c a r e e r , c r e a t i n g h e r o w n m i c r o - f i n a n c e b an k , Duterimbere, which specialized in loans to women for grassroots entrepreneurial projects.

Through Acumen Academy’s fellowships and courses, people around the world can learn how to become part of the solution to global poverty problems.

Following the success of Duterimbere, Jacqueline expanded her ambitions and raised the money to found Acumen.

Some of the enterprises funded by Acumen include:

If Acumen sounds like the perfect combination of great business sense and a sound understanding of on-the-ground global poverty issues, that’s because it has an origin story that brings together these two elements in a fated way.

WaterHealth International, who supply clean water to the poorest people in rural India, Ghana and the Philippines.

PEG Africa, who provide solar energy products to people in Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal without access to the power grid

Founded by investment banking professional Jacqueline Novogratz in 2001, Acumen is the result of her trip to Central Africa while still working for Chase Bank.

Acumen particularly favors agricultural, clean energy and healthcare projects, and champions the approach of investing in and empowering people through entrepreneurship as a way of tackling poverty.

While there, Jacqueline observed the lack of access poor people had to banking services and loans, and therefore opportunities to better their lives.

Find out more at acumen.org

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BIG FUTURE

Mexico - 27th March bigfuturefestival.com

From fine dining to fine snoozing restaurateurs elcielo group open their first hotel

Alea Global Group is honoured to be working with Elcielo Group to bring their hospitality expertise to the Middle East.

Elcielo have a history of creating memorable dining experiences at their restaurants around the world, and now they've turned their hands to a hotel in Colombia.

After opening successful restaurants in Colombia (Bogota and Medellin), as well as Miami and Washington DC in the US, Elcielo realised they had the skills and customer base they needed to be able to enter the hotel market.

It's never entirely about the food when it comes to building a beloved restaurant brand. With their unique and impressive yet cosy dining rooms, they already knew how to create the perfect relaxing atmosphere.

Putting the same care and attention into a hotel experience as they always have a dining experience, Elcielo have created a beautiful hideaway in Medellin.

With a rooftop pool, wooden panellng, and greenery both inside and out, it's a little bit of nature but with a cosmopolitan twist.

And of course you can expect the food to be flawless as well.

To find out more and book, visit elcielohotel.com

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Upcoming Events 27 March 2022 Big Future Mexico 28-29 March 2022 Latam Family Office Investment Summit Mexico City, Mexico 5-6 May 2022 APAC Family Office Investment Summit Singapore 7-8 November 2022 Middle East Family Office Investment Summit Dubai, UAE

See aleaglobalgroup.com for updates

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