Bahrain This Month - August 2022

August 2022 | Vol. 26

Since 1997

| Issue 8 | BD2 / SR20

YOUR GUIDE TO A GREAT WAY OF LIFE

INDIA IN BAHRAIN

A Special Supplement Commemorating the 75th Independence Day of India

DINING

EDUCATION SPECIAL

PEOPLE

The Jackrabbit Slims on their Funky Tracks, Creative Process, and Bahrain’s Music Scene

A Feast at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain’s Nirvana

HAPPENINGS

Nightlife and Family Entertainment

WTM Rotaract President, Razan Jamal, Shares Her Plans for the Organisation In Her Shoes – Nivine Abouzeid Bally’s Edgy A/W 2022 Collection Beauty Essentials Parenting bahrainthismonth.com

Arts

Culture

Clubs

Sports

Interviews

Lifestyle

Dining

Nightlife

Digital Edition

bystander

the French National Day, French Ambassador, HE Jérôme Cauchard, French National Day Toheldcelebrate a Bastille Day reception at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa.

4 August 2022

www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery

THE TEAM Publisher and Chairman George F. Middleton

Bahrain This Month August 2022

Editor Farah Baig Contributors Behnaz Sanjana, Bill Grieve, Kristian Harrison, Pria Masson, Ouiam Charkani El Hassani, Simran Tiwari

W

Editorial Consultant Ahdeya Ahmed

elcome to another very exciting and informative edition of Bahrain This Month. If there’s anything we’ve learned in July, it’s that anything is possible in Bahrain (even rain in the middle of summer). So, we’re going to go ahead and take that energy into August.

Print Production Manager Sabu Sebastian Art Director Hatem Monem

Bahrain was, is and always will be an exciting place to live and we’re here to tell you how you can make the most of it. Flick through our pages to stay up to-date with what’s going on at some of the most exciting locations and events on the island. Learn more about local and homegrown up-and-coming talent and their contributions to the social and entertainment fabric of the country.

Graphic Designer Kailas Wadke Webmaster Nishad Eapen

In fact, you can visit our website (www.bahrainthismonth.com) at any time, where you can search for any event or activity happening on the island and, in many cases see the photographic evidence of what took place where and when! Our coverage spans from nightlife to embassy receptions to corporate events, to private parties to theatre and family entertainment.

CRM & Database Coordinator Muna Yousef Staff Photographer Subeesh Kumar N S Administration and Finance Samson Vaz, Marlyn Ragasa

Bahrain has always been known to be a hub for creative talent and a melting pot of different cultures and nationalities. So as nightlife and events take centre-stage once again, people now have the opportunity to enjoy this talent with a newfound appreciation. The Bahrain-based band ‘Jack Rabbit Slims’ has continued to impress the masses at live events with their ever-so-groovy original tracks inspired by The Bee Gees, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and many more. We had the pleasure of interviewing the band who were pleased to share their story!

Distribution Team CM Abdul Rahman, Gopal Arul Kumar Distributor Al Hilal Group (Hilal Direct Services) Media Sales Director Anuradha Manhas anuradha@redhousemarketing.com

This month, the Republic of India celebrates its momentous 75th Independence Day for which we were happy to create a very special feature supplement. For this issue, we spoke to Mr. Abdulrahman Juma, President of the Bahrain India Society which promotes culture, friendship and business between the two communities. Be sure to read our insightful interview with the Indian ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, HE Piyush Srivastava which is also available on our YouTube channel via QR code and digital edition auto-play. Did you know that a Bollywood film shot in Bahrain held its premiere here last month? We spoke to Adnan Malik, a former journalist-turned-filmmaker/actor who took a leap of faith to make the movie.

DIGITAL & CONTENT MARKETING TEAM Digital Strategy Director Lini Reghunath Digital Marketing & Social Media Director Farah Baig Social Media Managers Simran Tiwari, Rohit Reghunath

In our dining section you’ll find plenty of fantastic listings from some of the very best restaurants in the Kingdom. We also had the pleasure of dining at the opulent Indian restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, Nirvana, which was truly a special experience.

Printing Press Union Press, Bahrain Published monthly by

RED HOUSE MARKETING P.O. Box 20461, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: (+973) 17 813-777, Fax: (+973) 17 813-700 Email: info@redhousemarketing.com www.bahrainthismonth.com © Copyright Reserved 2005-2020 The concept, content, style and design of this publication remain the exclusive property of Red House Marketing (Jersey) Ltd. and must not be reproduced in any form whatsoever without prior written permission. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. However, Red House Marketing cannot accept legal responsibility for any error or omission.

• Views expressed in this magazine by journalists and writers are not necessarily those of the publishers of Bahrain This Month.

Licensed by the Ministry of Information Publication Code: TA001 ISBN 1 899 348 09 3

1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION Bahrain: BD24 Gulf and international subscriptions available on request.

www.bahrainthismonth.com www.womanthismonth.com

Woman This Month continues to be the ultimate source of fashion, beauty and parenting in the region. This is, of course, in addition to a very inspiring interview with the young new president of Rotaract Bahrain, Razan Jamal. She shares her insights on the achievements of the community-driven organisation and the plans for her tenure.

Our 300th issue has plenty for you to look forward to, so needless to say, Bahrain This Month (as always) continues to be, ‘Your Guide to a Great Way of Life!’

COVER Cover Picture: August 2022 | Vol. 26

Since 1997

| Issue 8 | BD2 / SR20

George F. Middleton Publisher and Chairman

YOUR GUIDE TO A GREAT WAY OF LIFE

INDIA IN BAHRAIN

A Special Supplement Commemorating the 75th Independence Day of India

DINING

EDUCATION SPECIAL

PEOPLE

The Jackrabbit Slims on their Funky Tracks, Creative Process, and Bahrain’s Music Scene

A Feast at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain’s Nirvana

HAPPENINGS

Nightlife and Family Entertainment

WTM Rotaract President, Razan Jamal, Shares Her Plans for the Organisation In Her Shoes – Nivine Abouzeid Bally’s Edgy A/W 2022 Collection Beauty Essentials Parenting bahrainthismonth.com

Arts

Culture

Clubs

Sports

Interviews

Lifestyle

Dining

Scan this QR Code to subscribe to the digital edition of the magazine.

Digital Edition

Nightlife

August 2022

5

AUGUST ISSUE 300

10

CONTENTS

HAPPENINGS

10

The best of nightlife and family entertainment!

FEATURE

15

Excelling Through Education

We delve into select educational establishments to discover what makes them different and how they can be essential for your child’s success.

15

28

31

45

46

52

INTERVIEW

28

Play that Funky Music!

Bahrain-based band The Jackrabbit Slims tells us about their creative process, their thoughts on the music scene and plans for the future.

INDIA IN BAHRAIN

31

A special supplement celebrating the diplomatic and commercial ties between India and Bahrain.

DINING

45 46

Experiencing Nirvana

Farah Baig dines at The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain’s phenomenal Indian restaurant, Nirvana.

Culinary Happenings in August

COMMERCE

52 54

Business Bites Know your Company – And Your Investors

Pria Masson explores the kind of investments you can tap into while maintaining the best interest of your company.

MOTORING

55

The Road to Progress

56

Motoring News

Motoring correspondent Kristian Harrison looks at how India is modernising its road network and the logistical problems it may face in the future.

6 August 2022

54

55

56

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bhthismonth

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AUGUST ISSUE 232

70

CONTENTS

FASHION

68

Timeless Yet Edgy Designs

We explore Bally’s Autumn/Winter 2022 collection which shows signs of timeless design and an evolving modern wardrobe.

PEOPLE

68

74

70

Calling for Change

We speak to the young and ambitious new president of Rotaract Bahrain, Razan Jamal, about her plans and what makes the community-driven organisation special.

BEAUTY

76

78

74

Beauty Essentials – Summer Saviours!

76

Transform Your Skin!

Looking your best is a little easier this hot summer with these fantastic cosmetics, haircare and fragrances.

5 Nourishing Products Your Skin Will Thank You For

LIFESTYLE

78

True to Your Roots

Behnaz Sanjana explores how greenery can have a calming effect on the senses, making your home space your personal haven.

OPINION

72 www.womanthismonth.com womanthismonth 8

August 2022

81

72

Please Take Me Seriously

80

Back to School with a Smile.

The first day back at school can be quite daunting. Ouiam El Hassani tells us how to make the experience better for our little ones.

In Her Shoes – Nivine Abouzeid

81 rhmbahrain

Founder and Managing Director of Atteline, Sophie Simpson, explores an issue that we all might be dealing with subconsciously.

Nivine Abouzeid, the Marketing and PR Manager at Sevens Holding, is a clear inspiration for young women wishing to pursue careers in Marketing. Let’s take a walk in her shoes! www.womanthismonth.com

bystander

Bahrain Summer Festival Launch

The Bahrain National Museum welcomed distinguished guests and media members at the Bahrain National Museum to mark the opening of the Bahrain Summer Festival. The guests were then transported to the Art Centre’s halls to experience the festival’s programme, followed by a visit to the Cultural Hall where the opening event “An Evening of Classical Music by pianists Mohamed AlNajjar and Haya and Layan AlHamad” was held.

Introducing

Hair Transplant & Trichology Services DR. LALIT B. RAJPAL Consultant - Plastic, Reconstructive & Hair Transplant Surgeon

Clinical Expertise Male Hair Transplant for Hair Loss Scalp • Beard & Moustache • Eyebrows Female Hair Transplant for Hair Loss Scalp • Eyebrows Hair Loss Post Trauma / Burns / Scars Royal Bahrain Hospital

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RBH Medical Center

1749 1749

3355 8311 August 2022 9

happenings

AUGUST HAPPENINGS A PLAY TO REMEMBER EVERY WEDNESDAY

SOUNDS BEACHY

BURLESQUE LAS VEGAS

VIOLA

There’s no need for you to fly to Las Vegas when you can get a theatrical extravaganza right here in Bahrain. Viola, one of the trendiest locations in Adliya’s Block 338, brings you a unique, one-of-a-kind experience that’s a combination of unparalleled choreography mixed with classical burlesque dance routines.

To ensure your booking, we advise making a reservation well in advance.

The show starts at 9.30pm.

Call 17 231-231.

TAKE THE ROOF OFF AUGUST 18

BAHRAIN UNDERGROUND MUSIC MOVEMENT (BUMM)

IRISH VILLAGE ROOFTOP BY SELEKTED

AUGUST 12 & 26 12:00 PM 12:00 AM

PLAYLIST POOL AND BEACH PARTY

THE ART HOTEL & RESORT AMWAJ

Expect an enveloping funky atmosphere and summer dance hits with the best uplifting music, lots of splashing and mesmerising entertainment at the Playlist Pool and Beach Party happening this August. As you beat the summer heat lounging by the pool and beach, celebrated DJs, a saxophonist and percussionist, carnival Brazilian dancers, fire shows, and more are sure to capture your attention and make it a day to remember!

Music and entertainment by: DJ Mysterioo Arif (Bahrain) DJ Kristina V (Belarus) Na Der (Bahrain) PapaPush (India) F-Jaay (Bahrain) DJ Asia (Russia) Madani (Sudan) Nacim (Algeria) DJ Cossta (Bahrain) Kumru (Turkey) Amanda (France) Saxophonist Elton (PK) Violinist Suay Doganay (Turkey) Limited pre-sale tickets are available for BD 10. The party starts at noon and wraps up at midnight.

Call 37 777-845.

The Bahrain Underground Music (BUMM) is back in the heart of Adliya at the funky Irish Village Rooftop. Get ready for a spectacular experience and live entertainment featuring top-notch DJ’s, live performances, fire shows and more! Doors open at 8pm.

This event is free of charge for couples and mixed groups before 11pm and will be priced at BD 10 person after 11pm.

Call 37 777-845.

10 August 2022

www.bahrainthismonth.com/events

bystander

New Perfume Legacy

Kolmaz Paris, a luxury fragrance company in the Kingdom, unveiled its new perfume, Legacy, at Oasis Mall Juffair. The brand has a range of stellar fragrances available at six branches across Bahrain.

BAHRAIN's ONLY WATER PARK

DAILY SHOWS CARNIVAL CHARACTERS STILT WALKERS LATIN DANCE SHOW HIP HOP MUSIC & DANCE

SUMMER

CARNIVAL www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery

UNICYCLE DUO KIDSANIA ACTIVITIES WAVES AT WAVES BY DJ HANA ROLA BOLA CIRCUS PAINT THE NIGHT SHOWS

August 2022 11

happenings

PURELY EUPHORIC AUGUST 12

EUPHORIA

COOL AS ICE CALEXICO

The popular Euphoria event at Calexico by Project Void is back with a classic line-up that’ll add a unique atmosphere to the already known groovy tunes of Euphoria. This time, you’ll enter the VOID. Sam Gino, Infrared and Julian Mesa will take the stage for one of the most anticipated Euphoria events! Pre-sale tickets are priced at BD 7 each and will be BD 10 at the door.

Call 32 226-113.

ONE FOR THE FAMILY UNTIL AUGUST 27

BAHRAIN BEACH FESTIVAL

BILAJ AL JAZAYER, WATER GARDEN CITY BEACH, MARRASI BEACH

Are you ready for an incredibly exciting summer? For all our beach lovers, this one’s for you!

The Bahrain Beach Festival is taking place at some of the best beaches in Bahrain! Indulge in days filled with lots of sun, sea and sand with your loved ones, and make it a summer to remember. Additionally, visitors can enjoy live performances, water sports, beach activities and more!

Visit www.calendar.bh.

12 August 2022

AUGUST 4 – SEPTEMBER 3

WADI SKATE

WADI AL SAIL MALL, RIFFA

For all our ice-skating enthusiasts, this one’s for you! Lace up your skates and enjoy a summer on ice at Wadi Skate. With spectacular live entertainment and delicious refreshments, the Wadi Al Sail Ice Rink is the perfect spot to unwind with friends after work, some chilly fun on the weekend or to spend a day out with the family. Enjoy the experience on weekdays from noon to 10pm, or on weekends from noon to midnight.

Tickets are priced at BD 5 each.

Call 17 580-446.

ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES! AUGUST 29 AND 30

WOOD WORKING AND REPURPOSING WORKSHOP

BUDAIYA ART STUDIO

At this spectacular workshop, presented by the exceptionally skilled Ms. Shoug Ali Alainati, Bahrain’s first female carpenter, learn all about woodworking and repurposing. Expect to learn everything there is to know about various materials, woodworking safety, as well as the finest methods for sourcing, designing, and finishing wood.

The cost of the workshop is BD 45 for two sessions that run six hours in total.

This workshop is from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.

Call 17 280-022. www.bahrainthismonth.com/events

bystander

the occasion of the 45th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Nepal and the Kingdom of Bahrain, Aruna Nepal Tourism Event On Ghising, Charge’d’Affaires a.i, and the Embassy of Nepal held a tourism promotion event at Wyndham Grand, Manama.

Healthy. Tasty.

And now connected.

Choose from hundreds* of tasty meals recommended based on your preferences. Pair to the NutriU App, pick a recipe and send it to your Airfryer. Monitor your meal from the comfort of your couch, the App will tell you once your meal is done!

• Daily inspiration for new recipes based on your preferences • Tasty Airfryer recipes for healthy living every day • Step by step guidance for more elaborate recipes

HD9280/90 * Number of recipes may vary per country

Get your favorite Philips Home Appliances on

shop.fakhroo.com www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery

+973 39 46 10 24 August 2022 13

happenings

GRAB SOME POPCORN AUGUST 2, 9, 16, 23 AND 30

RAVEN’S NEST MOVIE NIGHTS

PUT ON YOUR DANCING SHOES RAVEN’S NEST

Raven’s Night movie nights this August are not for the squeamish. Be sure to bring your squad along and enjoy the best of psychological thrillers and mind-bending movies. You can anticipate a comfortable ambiance, a wide selection of food and drink, and great company. The schedule for August is as follows: Split (2nd), 1917 (9th), Young Frankenstein (16th), Parasite (23rd) and The Mummy (30th). Don’t miss these timeless works, each of which will keep you on your toes.

The movie starts at 7.30pm but we recommend getting there early to secure your seats.

Call 33 448-477.

EVERY TUESDAY

LATIN NIGHTS AT EL CHAPO

EL CHAPO, ADLIYA

Spin, twirl and immerse yourself in lush Latino beats every Tuesday in the perfect setting of El Chapo. Bring your dancing shoes, learn new moves, or simply enjoy amazing Latin beats presented by DJ Talalino and Baba Sounds. The night kicks off at 8pm.

Call 37 738-838.

THE BEST START TO YOUR WEEKEND EVERY SUNDAY

NIGHT TALES BY PROJECT VOID

HALO LOUNGE

Here’s a good way to get the week started. The bustling Block 338 in Adliya is home to Halo Lounge, which has an entertaining and pleasant atmosphere. Expect the grooviest of music at Night Tales by Project Void with DJ Infrared, DJ Sam Gino, and more. Airline and hospitality staff can avail of a 15 percent discount, and it is also ladies’ night. It doesn’t get better than this so be sure to check it out with your friends. Doors open at 9pm.

Call 36 906-900.

14 August 2022

www.bahrainthismonth.com/events

education

Excelling Through Education Benjamin Franklin famously said: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Truer words have never been spoken as a quality education is essential when it comes to developing the minds of the youth so they may grow to be independent and forwardthinking individuals.

With the Kingdom’s education sector continuing to grow, there is no doubt that Bahrain has no dearth of schools, universities, educational institutes and other related establishments. With countless options to choose from, settling on one can be quite the task. We delve into some of the establishments which stand out to discover what makes them different and how they can be essential in your child’s journey to succeed.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

August 2022 15

education

GLOBAL EDUCATION WITH A HOLISTIC APPROACH

Located in Diyar al Muharraq, offering a 21st-century curriculum with high academic standards, the Canadian School Bahrain (CSB) offers the British Columbia (BC), Canada curriculum from Nursery to Grade 8. The school’s philosophy is to provide global education with a holistic approach, focusing on developing the child’s core competencies of communications, and creative and critical thinking while developing positive personal and cultural identity.

BC Curriculum and Personalised Learning

learning also encompasses place-based learning, where learning experiences are adapted to the local environment or an individual context.

Life Skills Programmes In line with its inquiry-based learning method and holistic approach, the school has been conducting various life skill programmes and workshops for the students. The life skills programmes expose students to something new that they can learn from while having fun and being creative simultaneously preparing to be future-ready.

A collaboration with INJAZ Bahrain is a coding from scratch software workshop for Grade 6 students. With the purpose of teaching students basic coding which they used to create animations, short stories, and creative videos using their literacy, numeracy, and creative thinking skills.

CSB offers the British Columbia (BC), Canada curriculum - an internationally renowned education programme of the highest standard. The BC Curriculum teaches students by fostering a lifelong love of learning by offering a balanced, concept and inquiry-based approach that is student-centred.

The programme focuses on personalised learning by enhancing student engagement in learning and giving students choices — more of a say in what and how they learn — leading to lifelong, selfdirected learning. Students and teachers develop learning plans to build on students’ interests, goals, and learning needs. Involving students in reflecting on their work and setting new goals based on their reflections allows them to take more control of their learning. Personalised

Junior Banking Programme The Junior Banking programme is a one-of-akind hands-on learning programme in collaboration with Al Salam Bank which aims to develop financial literacy and vital life skills for students. The life skill programme provides students with hands-on experience and develops their financial literacy skills from a young age, setting a solid foundation for a brighter future, embedding a heightened awareness of financial responsibility, and equipping students with core life skills in the likes of the basics of money management and healthy saving habits.

Scan the QR code to watch a video about the programme

16 August 2022

Coding with Scratch Workshop

Scan the QR code to watch a video about the workshop

Junior iCamp Programme Hosted by INJAZ Bahrain, the Junior iCamp workshop fosters Grade 5 students’ spirit of entrepreneurship. The principle of learning by doing, helped them to learn how to work with deadlines and collaborate to solve problems, and delegate responsibility.

Scan the QR code to watch a video about the programme Canadian School Bahrain currently offers schooling from Nursery to Grade 8 with registrations ongoing.

Call 66 644-234 for more information. www.bahrainthismonth.com

STUDENT-CENTERED APPROACH Diyar Al Muharraq

REGISTRATION IS STILL ONGOING

2022/2023 Call us on

66644234 13691111 First certified BC Curriculum School in Bahrain

canadianschoolbh @canadianschoolbh canadianschoolbh www.canadianschoolbh.com

bystander

Egyptian 70th Anniversary

To celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the 23rd of July Revolution, Egyptian Ambassador, HE Yasser Shaban and his wife Aya Ismail, hosted a reception at Gulf Hotel Bahrain.

18 August 2022

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The Best of British Education in Bahrain

education

The British School of Bahrain (BSB) is renowned for offering the best holistic UK-based education within Bahrain. An outstanding school with over 26 years of heritage, BSB’s core values of ‘Excellence, Responsibility and Individuality’ underpin everything that the school does and are epitomised by its three pillars of ‘Academics, Sports and Creative Arts’.

Students within The British School of Bahrain have the space and freedom to be themselves and achieve greater things as a result. The British School of Bahrain is an all-through school for students aged three to 18, from early years (Nursery) through to GCSE and A-Level.

With over 90 nationalities on the student roll, BSB is Bahrain’s most diverse school and offers a vibrant international culture of endeavour that empowers every child.

With three rigorous inspections undertaken by industry professionals, the school was once again re-affirmed as one of the foremost “Outstanding Schools” by the Bahrain Quality Assurance inspectorate (BQA). At the same time, the British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspectors concluded that the school provides an excellent quality of education for its students - the highest of accolades from this prestigious inspection regime.

At the British School of Bahrain, students develop their academic knowledge while enhancing their 21st century skills and

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understanding, to become confident, successful, and independent members of a global society achieving top international examination results and accessing the best universities in the world.

As an Inspired school, BSB’s students benefit from unique global connectivity. Inspired Education is the leading global premium schools group, offering excellence in Kindergarten to Upper 6th education to over 65,000 students in a network of over 80 schools across five continents.

The wellbeing of the students, parents, and staff always remains the first priority at the British School of Bahrain. The school is renowned for its welcoming and inclusive culture. This is modern schooling at its best.

Admissions are now open for September 2022, for more information, please contact the Admissions team on 17 610-944 or visit www. britishschoolofbahrain.com for more information.

August 2022 19

bystander

Young Entrepreneurs Competition Award Ceremony

Under the Patronage of HH Sheikha Hessa Bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, INJAZ Bahrain held the 14th edition of the INJAZ Bahrain Young Entrepreneurs Competition award ceremony at Wyndham Grand Hotel, Manama. At the event, the winners of the 2022 Young Entrepreneurs Competition were announced along with the special awards winners, exclusive CEO job shadowing opportunities for the top 5 students and 79 internship opportunities within diverse sectors of the industry.

Project NSOU The Rotaract Family celebrated a year of triumphs with the screening of Project NSOU Documentary. Viewers were taken on a journey through the numerous activities the Rotaract volunteers have undertaken in Ghana and the impact they had on the local communities there.

President Tanima Chakravorty, chief members and volunteers spoke of their moving experiences which has earned Rotaract Bahrain five regional awards. The screening was held at Darseen Cafe at the Bahrain National Museum.

20 August 2022

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education

The Best of Early Learning

comes back to thank us not just for the knowledge learnt, but also for the love and care their children receive while with us.

“Our programme is constantly evolving to incorporate new teaching and learning methods and techniques as children’s needs change. We also feature extensive extra-curricular activities which enrich the learning experience and hence our children engage in Art, Craft, Music and Dance sessions every day. Outdoor field trips for educational and entertainment purposes are conducted as well.”

New Zing Kindergarten is open to children of all nationalities, with English as the primary language and Arabic optional. Registration for the new academic year is open now. Contact 17 233-693 or 17 234-420 for more information.

Pre-school education is vitally important for child development, and New Zing Kindergarten is leading the way with children at pre-KG, KG2 and KG3 ages currently being accepted for this year. We spoke to Principal, Rosemarie Abraham, to learn more.

“Teaching is not just a profession, but a passion for me,” says Mrs Abraham, encapsulating the ethos with which she has run New Zing Kindergarten since 2010.

In an amazing career, she has been working with children between the ages of 18 months and six years old for the last 40 years. She was a teacher in the Kingdom prior to opening the

www.bahrainthismonth.com

kindergarten, but felt like her calling was with younger children where she could mould their tender minds in the best possible manner.

She explains: “The way each child adds to your experience in their own different way is amazing. You learn something new every day when you are with them. The difference we have made is echoed by every parent who

August 2022 21

bystander

Korean History Through Dance and Music

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in partnership with the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, organised the dance and musical performance ‘Korean History Through Dance & Music’ – a part of the Bahrain Summer Festival programme. The B-boy dance crew ‘MAKERS’ made its debut in the Kingdom of Bahrain with elaborate choreography depicting Korea’s most highlighted historical events, teamed with talented Korean traditional music vocalist, Kim Yeonjin; a Korean traditional music, GUGAK, artist. The performances were held for the public to enjoy at the Avenues Mall and at the Cultural Hall.

22 August 2022

www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery

75th

Independence Day Greetings from the Management, Principal, Staff, Students and Parents of New Millennium School

“Nurturing Responsible Global Citizens” +973 17272700

nmsbahrain

www.nms.edu.bh

BUILDING 399, ROAD 3009, BLOCK 330 BUGHAZAL, MANAMA, KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

bystander

Indonesian Traditional Dance and Music

The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia hosted a performance of ‘Indonesian Traditional Dance and Music’ at the Bahrain Cultural Hall as part of the Bahrain Summer Festival

THMC Connect

Thattai Hindu Merchants Community launched its first THMC Connect event. Members of the community met and connected with Indian Ambassador, HE Piyush Srivastava, along with several leading Bahraini Businessmen and entrepreneurs over breakfast at the THMC Auditorium.

24 August 2022

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education

An Able Leader

One of the Kingdom’s top educational institutes, the American University of Bahrain (AUBH), has appointed Dr. Bradley J. Cook to be its next president, starting this summer.

Dr. Cook first arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1976, a defining experience that stayed with him throughout his career. “Despite moving back to the United States and working in numerous institutes in my ‘other’ home, Utah, my upbringing in the Gulf region led me to naturally gravitate back here,” he says.

He joins AUBH with more than thirty years of distinguished international and regional experience in higher education across the U.S. and the Middle East. He earned three degrees based on his love of the region, including a Doctorate of Philosophy in Middle East Studies from the University of Oxford, plus Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Stanford University.

Dr Cook’s previous MENA-based postings include working at the American University in Cairo (AUC) and being the President of the Abu Dhabi Women’s College.

He explains: “Coming back to Bahrain is like coming home for me. I can’t wait to get engaged with the work and I am honoured to join AUBH at this exciting time. I’m enamoured with the vision of the founders and look forward to working closely with the University’s leadership to spearhead its continued development and achieve its noble mission to students in Bahrain and beyond.

“The University has a very strong foundation, thanks to the work of its Founding President Dr. Susan E. Saxton, and I see so much nascent potential. My mandate is to legitimise the University in terms of U.S. Institutional Accreditation and be an effective ambassador for American-style education in the region.

Ultimately, we want to create a dynamic environment where students can learn safely.”

Dr. Cook is an accomplished leader who has contributed to exceptional student outcomes and institutional development in his previous senior-level positions at U.S. accredited higher education institutions. He previously served as the 17th President of Snow College in the U.S. and led it through record growth and other successes including the best ranking in the State of Utah by US News and World Report and 7th best public college in the West. In 2020, Snow College was ranked number one nationally in its class for student success. Earlier in his career, Dr. Cook served as provost at Southern Utah University (SUU) during a period where it achieved record high student success rates, created over 25 new academic programmes and centres, and elevated SUU’s academic reputation as one of the premier public regional universities in the Intermountain West.

Unlock Tomorrow at AUBH Bahrain’s American-style University

At the American University of Bahrain, it is a core part of our mission to provide quality education and prepare our students for an evolving and competitive job market. AUBH students have access to a wide array of opportunities to realize their professional and personal goals, in a student-centric, multicultural, and flexible, American-style University environment, on par with the best universities around the world. Beyond academia, they also have access to social, athletic and other extra-curricular activities making AUBH home. Admissions are open for the 2022-2023 academic year. The deadline to apply is September 4, 2022.

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August 2022 25 26/07/2022 17:37

bystander

Opening of Momento Restaurant The opening of

Momento Restaurant & Terrace was held at the luxurious hospitality property, Al Areen Palace & Spa by Accor. Momento Restaurant’s culinary concept is inspired by the very best of Mediterranean cuisine and culture. The food philosophy is based on Sol, Tierra and Fuego which is an inspiration from the three elements (sea, land and fire). The restaurant blends traditional and modern cooking techniques utilizing fresh costal and local ingredients.

Irish Weekend

Guests enjoyed an Irish weekend at JJ’s Irish Restaurant, which recently opened the doors to its stunning new venue in Adliya’s vibrant Block 338.

26 August 2022

Unilever Inauguration

An inauguration ceremony was held to mark Unilever’s move into their new head office in Seef.

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education

Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow In a burgeoning education sector, it’s becoming more challenging for institutions to stand out from the crowd, but a new heavyweight has thrown its hat into the ring with the promise of highvalue education and unlocking the potential in every student.

UniGrad Education Centre, situated in Suqayyah, provides an array of undergraduate, post-graduate, diploma and post-graduate diploma courses from various reputed universities, through online and study-abroad programmes.

ceremony took place at the IGNOU campus in New Delhi, India, and it now leaves UniGrad as the authorised centre of IGNOU in Bahrain for a number of undergrad and post-grad courses.

The Summer Dhamaka 2022 Dance and Music fest organised by UniGrad was another day of joy and celebration for students who had studied hard and stressed over their 12th standard board exams, showing again how the centre values its students’ mental wellbeing.

With the motto ‘Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow’, UniGrad is continuing its dedicated service to students and contributing greatly to educational services in the Kingdom.

UniGrad labels itself as providing not just the best academic services, but also the best campus experience in this region, which includes interactive sessions, seminars, sports, fine arts and other extra-curricular activities.

These, the centre says, are aimed at the holistic development of its students to breed a more successful personal and professional life.

This summer, for young students aged between six and 12, UniGrad has organised a two-month summer camp jointly with Lulu Dana Mall.

Taking place at the mall, the camp features a plethora of ‘learningthrough-fun’ activities, such as yoga, karate, public speaking, dance, drawing and colouring.

Another important milestone which UniGrad is celebrating is striking a deal with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), currently the world’s largest university with more than 3.5 million students. The official

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August 2022 27

interview

Play that

! c i s u M y k n Fu

Bahrain-based band, The Jackrabbit Slims, have been mesmerising audiences at sell-out events in the Kingdom with their groovy music.

Farah Baig finds out about their creative process, their thoughts on the music scene and plans for the near and distant future.

T

he Kingdom of Bahrain has been known to be a hub of creativity in the region for decades. As the years go by, this fact hasn’t changed but has rather been amplified by unmatched talent in the Kingdom that continues to reinvent, ignite and diversify the creative scene.

One band that has been getting people moving on their feet is The Jackrabbit Slims – a Bahrain-based band whose tracks can be described as dynamically funky and a burst of energy. How would most people describe the vibe at the venues they perform at? Electric.

What makes the band even more special is the fact that it consists of five seasoned musicians, Leila Matahen (lead vocals), Iba Almohsen (electric guitar and backing vocals), Ismail Gharib (bass guitar), Joel Dev (keyboards) and Krishain De Waas (drums), each with their own exciting journey through music.

“The band was initially started by Leila and 28 August 2022

Ismail,” says Iba. “One of the advantages of living in Bahrain is that the music community is closely-knit and so we were able to find likeminded musicians that are interested in the style of music we wanted to produce and that would be fun and easy to work with.”

Their individual sounds have culminated in the form of The Jackrabbit Slims’ Neo-Funk fusion of funk rhythms and pop-inspired melodies.

“Our influences range from classic artists like the BeeGees and James Brown to more modern artists like Lizzo and After Funk. Any artist with the ability to captivate an audience and keep a party going is perfect for us,” he says.

In addition, the Jackrabbit Slims are known for their original tracks which are influenced by legendary musicians such as Aretha Franklin and Prince. “All bands and musicians have to learn covers because they teach us different styles of music, give us ideas and inspiration and also keeps us musically fresh. Even when you perform only originals, many bands still

like to learn covers to keep learning and also to play the music they like,” he elaborates.

“There is no real fixed formula to how we create our music. Sometimes one of the band members will introduce the others to a melody or some chords and if we feel it, we collectively turn it into a full song,” he says of the band’s creative process. “Other times the main ideas are born out of a jam session and that’s the beauty of the creative process – it’s flexible.”

As with most compositions, some of the band’s music is inspired by real-life situations, much like their song ‘Platonic’ written by the lead vocalist, Leila. “I wrote the song, Platonic, about my current partner when we were still just friends. We had a long and beautiful friendship before we officially got together and this song is basically me wondering if my feelings were beyond friendship and if he felt the same,” explains Leila. “I must have been right because we’re married now.” www.bahrainthismonth.com

interview

To date, the band has performed at several events including the Playlist Picnic (2022), Bahrain Rocks, Bahrain Jazz Festival (2018, 2019 and 2022), Muse Night at Calexico, Comic Con Bahrain (2019), and opened for the international sensation, Blue, at their concert in Bahrain in 2019.

“We’ve been fortunate to have participated in some great events. I think I’d have to say that one of our most memorable shows was the Bahrain International Jazz Festival 2021 where we showcased some of our original songs and received amazing reactions from the audience with a jam-packed floor,” says Iba. Now that The Jackrabbit Slims have created a fan base in Bahrain, they plan on reaching out to an even wider audience. “We’re now getting in touch with various organisers in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Kuwait and Egypt to export our music from Bahrain to the rest of the world,” he states.

know that whenever an internationally known artist comes to Bahrain, the whole country is in an uproar. Tickets for artists like John Legend, Kings of Leon, Eric Clapton, and the upcoming Justin Bieber show sold like crazy.

“If Bahrain-based bands or artists had the opportunity to open for big name artists when they’re in our neck of the woods, it could be huge for a lot of us. There is definitely enough incredible talent on this island to stand out in a big way,” he adds.

While the band has created a significant impact and continues to grow its fan following, it’s still faced with challenges, namely finding the time and the cultural stigma surrounding music.

“Since we all work its hard sometimes to find the time to practice and create music, but we make the time since we all love this band so much,” he says.

The band believes that the music scene in Bahrain is and has always been one of the most welcoming and inclusive communities.

“We are privileged to be a part of. We all show up to support each other and it never feels like there is ever any competition between artists or bands. Whatever your style of music is, there’s room for you,” he says.

As for the stigma, Iba acknowledge that the situation is in fact changing.

“I think many still view music as a pastime and hobby and they just don’t understand how serious we are about it. So, the support can be lacking, at times, from our surrounding environment, but our fans have been a blessing!” he states.

In terms of further growth for Bahrain-based artists and support that could potentially propel them to the international stage, he says: “We all

“They have shown us all the love and support in the world and we want to reciprocate that love by providing

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them with new and exciting music and to hopefully, one day, be able to represent Bahrain in the international scene,” he concludes.

The Jackrabbit Slims are currently taking a short break while some of the band members visit their family abroad over the summer. That being said, the band is also spending these sweltering months working away on their equally hot EP which will be released before the end of the year.

Be sure to check out their social media accounts (@jackrabbit.slims on Instagram) for all updates related to the release of their first EP and upcoming performances, which they expect to resume following summer.

August 2022 29

bystander

World Cinema Premiere The first Bahraini director in

Bollywood, Adnan Malik, had his movie Khel Kood Aur Bhoot (Fun, Frolic, and Ghost) premiere in Bahrain in July at Cinepolis Atrium Mall, Saar. KKAB is the first-ever madein-Bahrain movie with over 80 percent of it, including three songs, shot in the Kingdom.

The movie, which showcases many of Bahrain’s tourism attractions, promotes the kingdom as a great filming destination as well as a leading financial centre in the region.

BIS Networking Lunch Under the patronage of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Bahrain India Society held a business networking luncheon featuring guest speaker, HE Zayed R Alzayani, Minister of Industry and Commerce. The luncheon was held at the Gulf Hotel Bahrain.

30 August 2022

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75 Celebrating the 75th Year of Independence of the Republic of India

Brought to you by

India in Bahrain

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS The Republic of India is celebrating its 75th year of Independence this year. On this momentous occasion, Farah Baig spoke to the Indian ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, HE Piyush Srivastava, about the significant developments and milestone achievements between the two countries including the Indian cumulative foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bahrain which has reached approximately USD1.5 billion.

32 August 2022

Your Excellency, on the occasion of the 75th year of independence of the Republic of India, what can you tell us about the country’s achievements?

This year is a milestone in the journey of independent India. We are celebrating the 75th anniversary of India’s independence with the theme ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahostav’. The celebrations spanning over two years were inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi on 12 March, 2021, commemorating the historic Dandi March.

India’s progress and achievements are there for all to see. A pluralistic society and the largest democracy on earth, India has made tremendous strides in socio-economic development, and in industrial, scientific and technological advances.

In almost all sectors, from agriculture, heavy engineering, infrastructure, services, health, education, to hi-tech areas of space, defence, IT, AI, big data, pharmaceuticals and medical, India is today at the top of the ladder. The Indian economy is well poised to become the growth engine of the world.

What do you consider to be some of the most significant achievements in India over recent years?

India’s growth story has been phenomenal, but I will focus on sectors relevant to contemporary times. In the post-COVID period, when economic www.bahrainthismonth.com

India in Bahrain recovery is a major focus for all governments, the Government of India’s substantial efforts have led to India becoming the fastest growing major economy in the world today. In the fiscal year 2021-22, India attracted its highest ever FDI with USD83.6 billion. This is testimony to our aggressive push for economic and infrastructure development, and our business and investor-friendly climate.

India is steadily claiming its place in the global value chain of manufacturing. It is the largest two-wheeler and 4th largest car manufacturer in the world. However, it has not left traditional sectors behind. As food security increasingly threatens global markets, India has remained the second largest food grains producer in the world.

India is also spearheading progressive movements, having built its renewable infrastructure to claim the 4th largest capacity of renewable energy; thus, playing a key role in the global community on environment and climate change matters.

In the 75 years journey of independent India, we have followed the principle of ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’ i.e. ‘The world is one family’. This was evident in India’s leading role in the global fight against COVID-19. With its top class and highly competitive pharmaceutical industry, which is 3rd largest in the world by volume, and the world’s largest vaccine production capacity, India provided vaccines, medicines and other medical assistance to over 150 countries across the world.

What is the current status of the commercial and economic relationship between the two countries?

Our bilateral trade registered a growth of about 55 percent in the year 2021-22 and reached the highest ever level of USD1.65 billion. Investments on both sides are also increasing. The Indian cumulative foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bahrain has reached to approximately USD1.5 billion increasing by more than 35 percent since 2019.

Our bilateral cooperation is diversifying from traditional areas to the new emerging areas of pharmaceuticals, IT, space, Fintech and renewable energy reflecting contemporary times. The cooperation is set to intensify in the coming days as India and Bahrain find themselves in a complementary position to benefit each other. Technology, economy, IT, health, education, energy, manufacturing, skill and youth will be the key drivers.

In a recent interview with BTM, you mentioned that there were several key sectors of the Indian economy which offer good potential for Bahrain investment. Have there been any further developments on this front?

Both in health and pharmaceuticals and renewable energy sectors, the government agencies as well as private sectors of our two countries are working to increase collaboration www.bahrainthismonth.com

in bilateral trade and investment, capacity building and exchange of professionals.

Bahraini counterparts to make Bahrain’s fight against pandemic a success.

Given traditional reliance of Gulf countries on India in the food sector, as well as the recent focus of the government of Bahrain in ensuring food security, this sector has emerged as a key area of bilateral economic cooperation. India intends to be a partner of Bahrain in its food security efforts. We aspire to turn the traditional trading relations in this sector into a strategic one. There are significant opportunities for investment in food parks in India.

The Indian embassy recently organised a World Yoga Day event. Can you tell us about the success of such events in raising awareness about Indian culture, and bridging the gap between communities?

The Embassy celebrated the International Day of Yoga (IDY) this year with two events on 21 June 2022 as part of the ‘Global Yoga Ring’ the live telecast of Yoga sessions across the world. The events were a culmination of over 30 events throughout June to celebrate Yoga.

How many Indians reside in the Kingdom?

Which sectors are they primarily involved in?

The Indian community numbers around 350,000, and constitutes almost a quarter of the population of Bahrain. Our vibrant community in Bahrain plays an important role in promoting our bilateral ties and further strengthening the existing goodwill between our two countries.

While a large chunk of them are employed in blue collar jobs; many are CEOs, CFOs, and professionals, including chartered accountants, doctors, engineers, teachers and nurses. In addition, a number of Indian families own and run very successful businesses in Bahrain.

What can you tell us about the impact of the CBSE curriculum and Indians employed in the education sector in Bahrain? How many Bahrainis are currently pursuing their higher education in India?

I am very happy to share that more than 24,000 students are studying in the eight Indian CBSE Schools in Bahrain. CBSE schools are among the best, and are known for their quality education in the region. These schools also demonstrate the effectiveness of Indian education system as thousands of locals and other expatriates prefer to admit their children in the CBSE schools.

In 2019, just before the pandemic, more than 100 students from Bahrain went to India to pursue their studies. The trend got temporarily disrupted during the pandemic. However, I am happy to share that recently we are seeing an increase in the issuance of education visas to Bahraini students.

What can you tell us about Indians employed in the healthcare sector in Bahrain? What are some of their most significant achievements?

Our collaboration in the healthcare sector as well as exchange of medical professionals is not new. If I recall correctly, one Indian doctor, Dr. Bhandarkar visited Bahrain as early as 1925 and opened a clinic in Muharraq.

There are approximately 8,000 Indian health professionals in Bahrain including doctors, nurses and technical staff across all government and private hospitals. There is also significant Indian investment in Bahrain’s healthcare sector. During the pandemic, Indian healthcare workers rose to the challenge, and worked shoulder-to-shoulder with their

On the morning of June 21, there was a simultaneous Yoga session held at seven Indian schools in Bahrain which saw the participation of 700 students. The evening session at the Isa Sports City, in association with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and National Health Regularly Authority was attended by around 400 yoga enthusiasts including yoga practitioners, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives from Indian associations, and members of Indian and Bahraini community.

This year’s events witnessed overwhelming participation of over 4,000 people.

What are some of the most significant developments between the two countries in recent years?

During the pandemic period, the high-level interactions, bilateral visits and meetings of structural mechanisms continued. Hon’ble Prime Minister Modi held telephonic conversations with HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa as well as HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and Prime Minister. Both our Foreign Ministers visited each other’s countries. The Minister of State for External Affairs of India visited Bahrain, and Undersecretary for Political Affairs, MoFA visited India in March 2022.

Ministers of Oil, Youth Affairs and Sports and Education have held virtual meetings.

Several meetings of bilateral mechanisms in diverse sectors have been held. This includes the 3rd meeting of High Joint Commission led

by Foreign Ministers of the two countries; 5th meeting of Foreign Office Consultations led

by Undersecretary, MoFA from Bahraini side and Secretary, MEA from Indian side as well as Joint Working Groups in the areas of Health, Renewable Energy, Security and Counter Terrorism.

In addition, Bahrain joined International Solar Alliance as its 86th member in March 2022.

The list is pretty long, but to sum it up, I foresee immense opportunities, potential and complementarities for greater collaboration and partnerships between our two countries.

Scan the QR code to watch the video interview:

August 2022 33

India in Bahrain

A Life Well Lived

Most notably, 36 years ago, she became the first woman Indian Police Service (IPS) officer in Karnataka, and since, her extensive and varied career ensued earning her several titles including artist, writer, and Director General of Police.

Dr. Jija, what was it like being the first woman in the Indian Police Service during the mid-80s and what has changed since then?

The majority of the challenges that I faced then are not being met by my colleagues now as subordinates have accepted women as IPS officers. When I first joined, people did not know how to address or even salute me – an issue that does not exist now. In addition, we didn’t have facilities for women, even for washing, but this has changed.

You have pursued a post-graduate degree in journalism. Have you followed this passion for writing outside of police work and would you consider authoring a book?

The journalism diploma was an evening programme which naturally provided me with the opportunity to write. My creative writing includes writing short stories, and I believe I have two or three books within me too. That being said, I have started writing a life story, but I wouldn’t want it to end up being a book that is too thick, too involved or one that gives away too many details, or is just some boring autobiography!

I’ve also started writing a children’s book aside from a book detailing my encounters with people for which I have written ten or 12 chapters. Let me get that out first and write about my more colourful police journey.

My favourite authors are Maya Angelou and the Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh. I am currently reading his book ‘Europa’ which received the Booker Prize from India. I also enjoy books about astrology and spirituality.

A true inspiration to all, Dr. Jija Madhavan Harisingh has had a prolific career which spans decades and industries. Her experience includes working in both, the public and private sectors. She has lived a colourful life and on a recent visit to Bahrain shared some of her invaluable insights with George Middleton.

You completed your Ph.D. or thesis on women’s empowerment, doing a socioeconomic study of women recruited into the police force in Karnataka. What was the most exciting finding in your research?

What was interesting in the study that I’d like to explore further is that women feel empowered in that they have been able to capture the agency, within the family, society, and the workplace, at all levels. Generally, they feel empowered and have been able to establish themselves in having a voice in economic affairs and areas which involves decisions making such as where to send their children to school, if they should go on holiday and where, how they should celebrate festivals, and what they should buy. In all those things, women have established themselves and their power of agency.

Does law enforcement need to get more involved with protecting women in India, or do you think that laws are in place now?

Law enforcement must be stricter; the police must be sensitive to victims. Sometimes you

34 August 2022

www.bahrainthismonth.com

India in Bahrain find that the constables themselves, let people get away.

I want to also talk about the ‘#Metoo’ movement in Hollywood. There have been similar instances with seniors and MPs who have admitted to doing similar things. In fact, I watched a documentary where a film director in India openly admitted to doing actresses favours in exchange for roles. “Of course, I sleep with the actresses. If they cooperate with me, I will give them jobs,” he said. I couldn’t believe he admitted to this on camera in front of all these people. It was bizarre because that was before the ‘#Metoo’ movement exploded in the West.

Have you taken any particular delight in putting any specially privileged individual where he belongs - in jail?

I was an officer on deputation to a company; I went before the board for the selection committee for an interview, and the company’s chairman told me to call him. So many interviews are part of the hiring process, and I called him without even thinking about it. He had asked me to meet him at his hotel room and so I asked my colleague if he could spare his evening, and he agreed to come.

I asked my colleague to meet me at the hotel lobby and then called the chairman to let him know I was at the reception. He was frightened when he saw me with my colleague! You should have seen his face! (Laughs). I can’t say for sure that he had ill intentions, but it is something he was known for doing. He was always wary of me after that.

There was another extremely powerful guy high up in authority who went down for five to six years in jail for harassment where I was involved in the case.

I think harassment is so painful. It’s sad on a surface level, but on the inside when you’ve reported someone, you have the sweet fragrance of honey, knowing that you’ve done the right thing.

What advice would you have for women today who may also go into a traditionally malewww.bahrainthismonth.com

based work environment? Is it more accessible now than it was 36 years ago?

It is slightly more accessible, but India is not a uniform, small country; it has 1.4 billion people. So, the culture is not uniform, the education level is not consistent, and it all depends on the area; in some places, it is backward while in other cities, it is forward, and women will face challenges depending on where they might be based or living. Wife beatings are still prevalent in India; there are high rates of suicides among women. No conclusive research shows that you will be free from these issues if you are more educated.

people have access to safe and secure soil that is free from pesticides and that the same type of people don’t control this part of the economy.

What do you think lies in the future for you?

I feel I’m a self-reliant person as I don’t live for the approval or disapproval of others. I only need my approval and ask myself: “Have I learned something new today? Have I done enough?”.

I don’t have significant plans for myself.

You’ve exhibited your art all over the world.

What was your most exhilarating experience as an artist?

I had started my journey with painting in India.

At some point, I was sent to Australia for a course in Change Management at a university outside Sydney for four months. Once, when everyone had gone home for the weekend, and I was alone, I started painting. Then, one artist and the director of the local museum were passing by; they paused, looked at my artwork, and said, “Would you like to have an exhibition?”. I was leaving for India in a month,

so they went to the state gallery, and an exhibition hall was created for me. This hall, where I had my solo show ‘Indian Magic’ now has a three-year waiting list.

Over the years, I’ve had to re-evaluate the price of my paintings, as I did not want to sell them for exorbitant fees, I tried to sell them and make them affordable so people could buy them.

Where do you find the time to focus on so many things and excel at them? What is your secret?

It’s about managing your time, structuring your time, prioritising, and working, and then you can achieve a lot. I do so much work at night. My watch says I slept last night for three hours and 31 minutes. (Laughs) Do you have any goals left?

Yes, I want to get into nutritional security in my country, which focuses on ensuring that August 2022 35

India in Bahrain

A Master of Trade Abdulrahman Juma is one of Bahrain’s most well-regarded businessmen, serving as the Chairman of UNEECO, which is known for providing electrical and electronic engineering solutions in Bahrain, and also as the President of the Bahrain India Society. Bahrain This Month sat down with him to learn more about business relations between Bahrain and India.

Mr. Juma is a proud member of one of Bahrain’s oldest merchant families, who for the last five generations have conducted trade between Bahrain and India. Training as a mechanical engineer and graduating from a university in the UK, he began his career at BAPCO before starting his own company. It was during this time that he forged strong business relations across the globe.

“I engaged with numerous companies across the world,” he says. “Firstly there were Japanese firms, then American, British, Belgian, French and other European businesses. For whatever reason, I totally missed India and that part of the world, and it wasn’t until much later in my career that I was actually approached by Larsen & Toubro, an Indian technology and engineering company, and that’s when it opened my eyes to the incredible opportunities in the country.

“When L&T approached me, I visited them and I found their products to be fantastic and high quality. I set up a small factory with them and now our turnover exceeds BD4 million annually. It’s an incredible success story and although UNEECO also deals with other companies in similar fields such as light fittings and bus ducts, I definitely owe L&T a deep gratitude for being the gateway to the Indian market.”

Over the last four decades, Mr. Juma has been instrumental in contributing to the growth of business and commerce in the Kingdom, pushing government authorities and consultants hard to implement the same level of international standards here.

Arguably, his greatest achievement is promoting cultural relations as the President of the Bahrain India Society. Founded in 2008, its aim is to bring together the two communities to promote culture, friendship and business amongst other facets.

36 August 2022

The BIS is now 146 members strong, including individuals and companies, with numbers increasing regularly. The society meets regularly with seminars, both business and social, which continue to attract both Bahraini and Indian nationals to network.

“The Bahrain India Society continues to be a great success in this regard,” Mr. Juma says. “Our main achievement recently has been the launch of the book ‘Gandhi: His Engagement with Islam and the Arab World,’ written by BIS founder Abdulnabi Alshoala. It was first published in Arabic, then later in English, Hindi, Urdu and Malayalam.

“Furthermore, alongside high level meetings with the Economic Development Board, we have helped to set up Indian companies with the American Chamber of Commerce to use Bahrain as a base. We’ve also hosted some very popular cultural functions too, such as a Bollywood theatre production.

“I would like to thank all staff at the Indian embassy, in particular the current Ambassador of India HE Piyush Srivastava, who is one of the most dynamic ambassadors I’ve ever encountered and whose energy reflects on us and makes us work harder.”

As for the future, Mr. Juma believes that the Kingdom is recovering strongly post-pandemic and will continue to forge strong ties with India.

He explains: “I think both manufacturers and consumers have the appetite to resume business as normal. As such, I expect trade between India and Bahrain to increase, especially in the electrical field which I specialise in, and also with food and textile products in particular.”

Scan the QR code to watch the video interview: www.bahrainthismonth.com

India in Bahrain

A Partner for Progress Established in 1976, the Bahrain-based company Universal Electro-Engineering (UNEECO) considers itself a market leader in providing electrical and electronic engineering solutions in the Kingdom. A large portion of the firm’s success comes from its products imported from around the world, including India. products since 2009. L&T by Schneider Electric India Pvt. Ltd., an Indian technology and engineering company, approached UNEECO’s UPS Division - a gateway to a relationship that now turns over more than BD1.5 million annually.

Other companies associated with the UPS Division include RR Global, Precise Electrical, Modutec, Elmex, Kalpa Electricals and many more, providing products such as electrical components, cables, terminals and accessories.

UNEECO, which established its first assembly plant in Salmabad now operates out of a stateof-the-art facility in BIIP at Bahrain’s Al Hidd Industrial Area.

UNEECO’s Unique Power Switchgears (UPS) Division, has had a storied history with Indian

UNEECO’s Chairman, Mr. Abdulrahman Juma said: “We are continuously impressed overall with the quality and durability of Indian products, and their reputation continues to be improved and recognised. They consistently meet global standards in terms of quality and value for money.”

“We are very happy to continue working with them into the future and appreciate that they are very flexible; they are consistently willing to modify or tailor things to the Bahrain market based on our requests,” he adds.

LV Fuse Board Ser ving Customer Needs Since 2009

A Division of

UNEECO’s Director, Mr. Jayashankar Viswanathan, explained: “We have proudly worked with Indian companies since 2009. We use Indian products to build some of our products including LV power, control panels and distribution boards, in addition to providing capacitor panels to our customers.”

The UPS Division has been involved in several recognisable projects and developments using its extensive portfolio of international products.

Imports from India in particular were put to use on some of Bahrain’s biggest development projects. These include: Al Sahel Resort, EWA Pilot Project, Abraj Lulu Project, Mall of Dilmunia, Al Safwa Tower and many more.

Mini Feeder Pillar

Group of Companies UK

Tel: (+973) 17826644 Fax: (+973) 17827090 Website : www.uneeco.com

BAHRAIN & INDIA TOGETHER IN FORGING A TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP OF EXCELLENCE www.bahrainthismonth.com

August 2022 37

India in Bahrain

There’s no place like home Bahrain has long been a source of successful business ventures and fruitful relationships.

Anil Nair, Managing Director of Karle Advisory & Consultancy Services W.L.L., tells us about his personal and professional experiences which began 38 years ago on our magical island.

After leaving India in 1983, Anil lived an expatriate life including 11 years in Bahrain from 1985 to 1996, before obtaining Australian residency and then citizenship in 2002. He returned to Bahrain in 2008 and has been here ever since.

Anil said: “I started my career in financial services with a subsidiary of British American Tobacco. That journey has led me through diversified organisations in multiple international locations.

“More importantly, along that journey I met and married my wonderful wife, Karina, when she was employed with Gulf Air here in Bahrain, and we have two sons Karan and Kyle. They are the primary reasons and motivation that I do what I do.”

When Anil first returned to Bahrain, he was the Group CEO of Mannai Group, one of the Kingdom’s most prominent business houses. He also has experience as the CEO of a global sportsmedia business with interests in television production, events, publishing and merchandising.

However, he feels there is time for a change to refresh and move forward. “Being stagnant is a slippery slope to nowhere,” he explains.

“Therefore, I have set up an advisory firm in Bahrain. In addition, with overseas investments from institutional investors and family offices, my partners and I are in the process of incorporating companies with interests in real estate, private equity and crypto platforms.”

38 August 2022

Anil’s decision to return to Bahrain and continue to forge his and his family’s future on the island with his latest venture came from his belief that the Kingdom is an easy place to fit back into even after a prolonged absence, provides a great environment to raise his two boys and has a business-friendly government.

He says: “We tend to take a lot that Bahrain has to offer for granted. Believe me, not many countries can offer an environment that is safe and friendly, with great schools, value for money, an easy-paced lifestyle and a confluence of diverse cultures and people that enrich us, both as individuals and collectively.

“The Bahraini people are without doubt the greatest asset the Kingdom has to offer.

Memories go back a lifetime and I have far too many fabulous ones to put down. If you were to ask me what my favourite memories are of Bahrain, then of course I met Karina here, that’s got to be the top of that list!

“Other great memories include forming lifelong friendships, playing golf both on His Majesty King Hamad’s private course and in a blinding shamaal on a sand course, relaxing on a tiny magical strip of sand called Jarada, playing Bridge at various clubs, cricket on a concrete carpeted pitch, being part of an early squash league called the ‘Duffers’ and winning a few navigation rallies at the Bahrain Motor Club.

“I can’t wait to make many more memories here, both personal and professional, in the years to come.”

www.bahrainthismonth.com

India in Bahrain Abdul Rasheed Puthusseri has a storied history in the food and beverage business. We questioned him on his love of the industry and in particular, his role as the founder and managing director of Unique Restaurant Management.

Developing Unique Concepts

Could you tell our readers a little bit about yourself and your experience?

My family have always been in the business and they insisted on me lending a hand in supporting them. The more I engaged with the restaurant’s daily operations, the more I fell in love with the idea of family and friends uniting around a table of good scrumptious meals.

as scrumptious meals. Mumbai Spices is my brainchild that strives to serve a variety of street food dishes from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. This is solely the reason why the concept was a huge success. The menu has something for everyone!

Mumbai Spices started at Sharjah Airport, and currently has branches in Dubai, Sharjah, Qatar and Bahrain.

What can you tell us about the restaurants that fall under Unique Restaurant Management?

It’s my passion to develop new and fun concepts. Mumbai Spices and Alreef Panasia are two of my projects that I believe are very familiar to the crowd in Bahrain. Alrayah Catering is a unit that has actively catered to hospitals, gatherings and celebrations of any capacity. Hashtag Grab is a cloud kitchen concept of filling continental meals you can grab and enjoy while on the go. Finally, I’m sure Al-Osra is a concept that doesn’t require much of an introduction!

Are there any plans for expansion or the diversification of products and services?

Developing new concepts will always remain my passion and I find myself working on a new concept every day. However, I can reveal that Mumbai Spices is set to make a comeback in Bahrain Mall with state-of-the-art interiors to enhance the experience!

I am also working on setting up an F&B consultancy, like an innovation lab, to impart the knowledge and wisdom I have earned over these years to help others realise their passion and dreams.

Mumbai Spices has proved very popular. What do you believe is the reason for its monumental success?

I realised that I could create a home away from home for Indian people with something as simple

YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR ALL THINGS GIRLY AND FABULOUS

Beauty Fashion Home Wellbeing Local Issues www.womanthismonth.com

www.bahrainthismonth.com

August 2022 39

India in Bahrain

A BIT OF BAHRAIN IN BOLLYWOOD The Bahrain film scene has achieved a major milestone as the first Bollywood production to be majority-filmed in the country has been released. Khel Kood Aur Bhoot (‘Fun, Frolic and Ghost’) is the work of Adnan Malik, a former journalist-turned-filmmaker who took a leap of faith to make the movie. We sat down with him to find out more about his gamble, the film and the future on the back of its success.

40 August 2022

www.bahrainthismonth.com

India in Bahrain Congratulations on the release of your film, Adnan! Could you tell our readers how you came to be a filmmaker?

I wanted to get away from the realism of news agency journalism and public relations, which were equally daunting. I firmly believe that anything you can see in your mind’s eye you can achieve, so I quit, had faith in God and in my dreams, packed my bags, and took the flight to my ancestral homeland - India.

How do you feel about completing the project?

It’s a dream for any creative person to see their work play out on the big screen. Due to unforeseen events such as the pandemic, I used to joke with friends that my movie might have the tagline ‘never in the cinema near you.’ Eventually, the film was completed in three blocks of 20 days, so approximately two months.

When I released it on India’s largest streaming platform – MXPlayer – on May 13, it was incredible as it gave my movie the visibility I had hoped for. It also rewarded me with an audience of millions. The only tiny drawback was that platform did not have any Bahraini or Arabian Gulf presence for that matter. With constant requests to release in Bahrain, the only option I saw was either to release in cinemas or tie up with other platforms like Netflix or Amazon which had a regional presence. Luckily, cinema chains came on board to release my movie.

I’m especially proud that the movie picked up an ‘honourable mention’ in the 2019 edition of the Columbus International Film and Animation Festival – the oldest American film festival.

What compelled you to produce your movie? Is filmmaking something you have always been interested in?

I was told during my acting training that on a daily basis, at least 6,000 or more people come to Mumbai with dreams of making it in the film industry. With such a huge influx and large pool of talent, the chances for success are fairly slim. I was fortunate to have my family’s support to pursue my dream and also my journalism background and living outside India www.bahrainthismonth.com

gave me out-of-the-box thinking. Producing my own movie gave me the artistic and creative freedom to do as I desired.

What can you tell us about the movie, the cast and production team?

Khel Kood Aur Boot is a story inspired by the true events of six friends who embark on a documentary-film-making adventure to figure out whether ghosts exist or not. Their interviews with the common people lead them to a supposedly haunted house in the suburbs near Mumbai, where they come face-to-face with the frightening truth. I had the concept for several years in my head and I partly narrated the story to my acting class in Mumbai and it freaked them out! I do owe credit for the title to my mum, though!

Finding a break in Bollywood can be very tough in light of the competition and talent available. From the beginning, the idea was to give new talent a chance, and find new and unknown faces for the movie. I believe horror movies have a better impact on the audience when they see unfamiliar actors. The easiest character to cast was myself as I felt I could portray the non-resident Indian with ease.

All others were selected either through auditions or by bumping into them in the street and asking!

shot here is a unique selling point for us.

Bahrain has a rich history and culture and, of course, a huge Indian population. Bollywood movies and series have been shot in neighbouring Gulf countries but never here, so I thought it was time to fix that.

A lot of the visual style and storytelling is very classic Bollywood. How, to you, does this differ from traditional Western/Hollywood filmmaking?

Filmmaking is a technological enterprise and personally speaking, Hollywood is way ahead in terms of technology and originality in scripting and filming. A lot of what is used in the West eventually trickles down to the East, inspiring filmmakers around the world to do the same.

Also, both Hollywood and Bollywood employ different methods of doing business and they both make very different movies. The main distinctions revolve around how both make films that are spread across genre, special effects, budget, the market and audience, and last but not the least, the cast.

Yes, Bollywood has a lot to catch up to do with Hollywood, but with the market opening up for new directors, a leapfrog in technology for filmmakers from the subcontinent, and fresh talent emerging, Indian cinema will pass with flying colours.

I will add that Bollywood is a force to reckon with now. The Indian film industry cannot be ignored anymore. It is growing exponentially both in terms of revenue generation and profits. It has not only managed to attract global audiences, filmmakers, and actors but also Western production houses such as Disney, Warner Bros., 21st Century Fox, etc., to name a few, who are reaping the rewards of their investments.

What was the main inspiration behind the story?

It’s inspired by some paranormal experiences that occurred during my teenage days with friends in Bahrain. This story is based on those occurrences and, of course, dramatically sprinkled with some Bollywood masala – the usual songs and dances to add commercial value.

The films has a fun end-credits sequence with bloopers, what are some of the more fun on-set anecdotes you can recall?

There are many incidents as it was a great team to work with. However, there were also some scary incidents that we laughed about later like when I had to literally rescue my 250-pound co-actor in a swimming pool scene.

He didn’t know how to swim, but he said he could as he didn’t want to be left out of the scene. I had to drag him kicking, screaming and clawing out of there.

Approximately 85 percent of the movie was shot in Bahrain. What compelled you to pick Bahrain as the primary location?

Bahrain is my homeland and every citizen is a representative of their own country, and we need to look at how we can align ourselves with His Majesty King Hamad’s vision for the Kingdom. I’ve always wanted to do something for my country and also something that my parents and family, in general, would be proud of.

What are your plans for the future? Is there a sequel in mind?

Yes. A sequel is in the works and in fact is in the treatment stage at the moment! Furthermore, I’m planning to bring the first Bollywood acting workshop to Bahrain in October with a renowned Bollywood cinematographer. For those who would like to learn to act in front of a camera, this would be an ideal learning opportunity. Some of the workshop participants could be chosen for the sequel.

Some of the support cast are based in Bahrain, including my sister Almas, who is a doctor at King Hamad Hospital’s emergency ward.

Movies are a great medium for promoting a destination and the fact that it’s the first movie August 2022 41

India in Bahrain

Nurturing Global Citizens through Experiential Learning

E

stablished in the year 2004, The New Millennium School (NMS) – Bahrain functions under the banner of Knowledge Management Group, led by the honourable Chairman, Padmashree Dr. Ravi Pillai - a visionary entrepreneur, passionate educationist, pioneer par excellence in industry, charity and education. The school has carved a niche for itself with an indomitable progress and an unparalleled track record of excellence under the dynamic leadership of the Principal, Mr. Arun Kuumar Sharma, whose foresighted vision, selfless service and innovative guidance in teaching and learning practices is the fruition of the school to be accredited ‘Good’ by the BQA. NMS is proud to be a school where scholastic and co-scholastic activities are closely interwoven into the holistic curricular fabric blended with experiential connects, thus imparting world class education. Its primary aim is to foster student-led learning that is founded and nurtured by the core values of ‘Honesty, Integrity and Sensitivity’, the cornerstone to learning at NMS. The school endorses and commits itself towards the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals by ensuring inclusive and quality education through a plethora of innovative Teaching-Learning practices. The teaching

methodology at NMS facilitates quality education for developing an equipoise individual with civic sense and social responsibility. The core teaching methodologies include Flip Learning, Interdisciplinary Approach, Life Connect, Multiple Intelligence Skills, use of VAT (Visual, Auditory, Tactile) skills, Learning Objectives-based worksheets and experiential learning.

Promoting students to think out of the box is a usual practice within the school. Some of the student-initiated activities include self-scripted class assemblies, commerce kitchens, charity drives and charity book sales. This is in addition to launching campaigns on ‘environmental sensitivity, safety and healthy life style’, maintaining the school garden, DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) Time, CURA (an initiative for recycling paper), Earth Hour, E-magazine, Model United Nations, Technozone, Radio NMS, writing GDBD (Good Deed Bank Deposit) in the Almanac daily, and expression time and wellness time during online classes.

The school’s strong digital infrastructure had been successful in meeting every child’s learning needs and engage the learners enthusiastically during the pandemic. The additional support provided to the students during the smart classes conducted through flip and blended learning featured interactive activities, online assignments, individual projects and enriched learning resources from KG to Grade 12, instilled optimism and flexible learning pathways for the learners during the crisis hour.

NMS has always and shall always continue to ensure a balance between knowledge and its implications, seek to teach solutions in real life situations and groom children to be creative and constructive future citizens.

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www.bahrainthismonth.com

dining

REDEFINING PAW-FECT EXPERIENCES

The Hilton Bahrain team recently visited Bahrain Animal Rescue Centre (BARC) and has set pet travel experiences to new heights by being a pet-friendly hotel in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

As Hilton Bahrain gears up for the hotel’s opening, the property has expressed its continuous commitment to drive positive impact on the environment and its local community. On June 11, 2022, the team paid a visit to Bahrain’s Animal Rescue Centre, formerly known as The Dogfather’s Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre to shine a light on the nonprofit organisation, which is dedicated to caring for rescued dogs and cats.

“As we begin to approach the countdown of our opening, I am very pleased to announce that Hilton Bahrain is a pet-friendly hotel. We continue to improve and redefine travel experiences and we understand the need for pet lovers, such as I, to have a trusted destination that will provide fantastic experiences not just for guests but for their pets too,” said General Manager of Hilton Bahrain, Tamer Farouk.

The centre shelters approximately 320 dogs and 150 cats on a rented piece of land in Hamala which has been developed to house the animals. The organisation has been rescuing animals for over 10 years, and solely relies on donations and volunteers to keep the shelter running. Its main goal is to care, rehabilitate and ultimately find loving homes through pet adoption – both locally and abroad.

“Caring for our furry friends is an integral part of our identity and so is caring for our environment and local community. This recent activity with BARC is just the beginning of many projects lined-up to support local organisations dedicated to sheltering these rescued animals. We salute their efforts and we will definitely continue our support to this worthy cause,” he added.

The certified pet-friendly hotel redefines upscale urban living with paw-fect services so pets can have their own memorable experiences, including exclusive VIP pet membership, grooming services, treats and their own in-room pet dining menu.

Hilton Bahrain, opening its doors in August of 2022, is set to showcase an upscale urban lifestyle with its 348 leading-edge studios and apartments that cater to both short and long staying guests, and six distinct restaurants and lounges awaiting to unfold and transform the culinary scene in the country.

For inquiries and to support the shelter, kindly follow @ bahrainanimalrescuecentre on Instagram.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

August 2022 43

bystander

8th International Day of Yoga The

Embassy of India in association with the Ministry of Youth & Sports Affairs and National Health Regulatory Authority, celebrated the 8th International Day of Yoga on 21 June, 2022 by organising a yoga session at Isa Sports City Halls. The event which was held in partnership with Art of Living, Bahrain India Culture and Arts Services, and the Bahrain Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India included a brief session on yoga demonstrations and practice. The event was attended by HE Piyush Srivastava, Indian Ambassador, Mahmood Abdulsamad, Head of Operations Re-engineering at the Ministry of Youth & Sports Affairs, Namat Al Subaie, Advisor of Allied Medical Profession at the National Health Regulatory Authority and some members of diplomatic corps.

Indian and Bahraini Yoga Centers, Indian Associations and yoga enthusiasts, numbering close to 500 participated in the event.

WMC 13th Biennial Global Conference Bahrain The World

Malayalee Council hosted its biennial Global Conference at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa. The event was held under the esteemed patronage of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism and the Indian Embassy.

Over 250 delegates from all over the world attended as well as dignitaries from the Central and Kerala State Governments.

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Experiencing Nirvana

dining

The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain has always set a benchmark for culinary experiences in the Kingdom over the years.

This month, Farah Baig had the pleasure of dining at their fine-dining Indian restaurant, Nirvana.

F

ine dining experiences have always belonged in a class of their own; being able to savour a beautifully-plated dish in an opulent location while enjoying good service is truly special. It’s natural that The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain comes to mind when one thinks of fine dining in the Kingdom. So, the thought of enjoying Indian food at their restaurant Nirvana, this month, was truly exciting.

The first thing you notice when you walk into Nirvana is its palatial interiors - stunning red columns, beautiful woodwork, flickering candles and crystalware, woven tablecloths and artwork that brings to mind stories of royalty. It all sets the scene for the experience.

To whet our appetite, we were served three condiments – pickled onions, mint chutney and a sweet mango chutney, accompanied by the oh-so-addictive papad. Next, we were presented with the artistically plated Chowk Ki Tikki - a pan-fried potato and peas patty served with tamarind chutney. The tikki was a true treat for the eyes and palate; we enjoyed the light crunch of the tikki and medley of flavours with the tamarind chutney adding a wonderful zing.

What followed was the Jhinga Til Theenka – a deep-fried prawn with sesame seeds served with sweet chili sauce. The delicately spiced prawn and texture of the sesame seeds was www.bahrainthismonth.com

chicken pieces, flavourful long-grain rice and topped with a sprinkling of crisp onions. The raita, topped with roasted cumin seeds, adds another dimension of the flavour to the already fantastic dish with its cooling yogurt.

truly special. Given that it was a hot summer day, and to refresh my palate before the mains, I decided to try one of Nirvana’s many refreshing drinks – the Rose petal lemonade.

Tandoori grills are one of the most popular offerings when it comes to Indian cuisine, and Nirvana’s tandoori platters were extremely memorable! The non-vegetarian platter is served sizzling, laden with succulent prawns, chicken and lamb which are just bursting with flavour and cooked to perfection – the perfect char, yet moist.

What would an Indian dining experience be without a good biriyani? Nirvana’s chicken biriyani is served Dum style, with the flavour and aroma of a myriad of spices sealed in.

The biriyani is fragrant, filled with tender

It’s fascinating how the Indian subcontinent has managed to perfect several types of curries – reinventing flavours through the use of different spices and bases. While there are plenty to choose from, a favourite for most diners is the rich Makhani. We relished the flavours of the Paneer and Dal Makhani which were creamy and had just about the right amount of spice to suit any palate.

Indian sweets are plentiful and creative.

To end our experience, we enjoyed a trio of desserts – gulab jamun, rasmalai and kulfi. The gulab jamun was served traditionally warm with a drizzle of syrup, the cool kulfi on delicious vermicelli and the pillowy-soft rasmalai with crushed pistachios. So delicious!

Nirvana truly knowns how to charm your senses with its beautiful interiors and impeccable dishes. it’s more than a dining venue, it’s an experience that will ignite your desire to go back for more.

August 2022 45

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Cool for the Summer

Don’t let the heat and humidity get to you; stay cool within the stylish precincts of Bahrain’s favourite dining venues while you savour world-class food and beverage to tide you through the season.

FANTASTIC FRIDAYS What better way to spoil yourself on the weekend other than a luxurious brunch at CUT by Wolfgang Puck at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay. Gather with family and friends to enjoy Wolfgang Puck’s favourite dishes prepared by Executive Chef Brian Becher and his team every Friday, 12.30pm – 03.30pm. The delicious meal is priced at BD36, inclusive of limited beverages, or BD50, including the extended beverage package.

17 115-044.

MEMORIES TO CHERISH Al Areen Palace & Spa by Accor has a new dining offering in town – Momento, that stages a ‘Momento Friday Brunch’ every Friday, from noon 4pm. The concept of this lavish afternoon meal is of a buffet served to your table, wherein a selection of Mediterranean appetizers, main courses and desserts can be savoured on a refillable basis. Prices start from BD24 per person, with kids under 6 being served complimentary, and those between 6 - twelve years of age dine at 50 per cent discount.

Call 17 845-000.

AN ODE TO INDIA Celebrate the Indian Independence Day on August 15 from 7pm – 11pm with a lavish dinner buffet bursting with strong flavours and aromatic spices, at Origins, at Vida Beach Resort Marassi Al Bahrain, inspired by the region’s famous cuisine. Enjoy Chef Chetan Singh Rana’s take on traditional Indian dishes reinterpreted with global culinary techniques and influences as well as popular international delights, all priced at BD18 per person. All Indian nationals will enjoy a 25 per cent discount. The evening will be complemented by soulful live Indian entertainment to give the ambience a distinctive flair.

Call 77 488-100.

46 August 2022

THE BEST OF BURGERS Butcher and Buns Lounge is the newest gourmet offering at the ground floor of Le Meridien City Centre Bahrain. This born-in-Bahrain dining destination is an ideal spot for burger lovers to make some sumptuous memories. The venue is open daily from 1pm - 1am, serving home-style burgers and giant milkshakes. The patties are never frozen, and the buns are freshly baked daily.

Call 17 171-000.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

tablehopping

SIZZLING BITES Bite into your favourite dishes and get ready to welcome the weekend with Flaming Nights at Silk’s restaurant located at the Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain. Satisfy your taste buds with the finest quality and ultra-flavourful steaks, sizzling skillets, and flame-grilled meats all in one place with live entertainment from the DJ. The gala evening runs from 7pm – 11pm, and is priced at BD26+++ per person, including unlimited selected beverages.

Call 17 460-017 or WhatsApp 33 640-032

A NEW JAPANESE EXPERIENCE Bahrain’s gourmands are in for a treat with the debut of Gyuto, a brandnew Japanese restaurant, recently inaugurated at Al Liwan, in Hamala.

Gyuto offers an innovative dining experience by suffusing a contemporary touch to classic Japanese cuisine. A selection of novel dishes from Gyuto’s menu includes Black Cod and Prawn Dim Sum served with lemongrass, sesame oil and ponzu garlic; Crispy Lobster Bao; Japanese Yellowtail Sashimi served with jalapeño salsa, citrus soy and orange jelly; and Firecracker Roses Maki with salmon roses, chopped spicy salmon and tempura crumb. A special vegetarian menu comprising the decadent dishes is available.

Desserts have a contemporary Japanese twist, with dishes including Miso Caramel Cheesecake and Chocolate Matcha Fondant.

Call 77 999-444.

A CELEBRATORY FEAST

A TASTE OF PARIS Legendz Steakhouse at the InterContinental Regency Bahrain presents Café de Paris, to offer guests an experience of the world-famous ‘Café de Paris’.

From the original secret recipe, the venue serves delicious, juicy steaks with a Cafe de Paris sauce, along with French fries and a green salad. This lipsmacking delight is available from 6.30pm – 10.30pm, starting at BD22.

Call 17 227-777. www.bahrainthismonth.com

This Independence Day awaken your senses to a host of delicious delicacies curated specially for you at Jashan, the Indian fine dining restaurant at Wyndham Garden Manama.

Choose your set menu with options of starters, main course and a soft beverage, or, enjoy a main course, dessert and a soft beverage. This special set menu is available from August 13-15 for lunch, from noon – 3pm, and for dinner, from 7pm – 11.45pm. It costs BD7.500 per person.

Call 66 398-787.

August 2022 47

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OLÉ – LET’S GO TO SPAIN Salero Bahrain, the chic Spanish outlet located at the first floor of The Westin City Centre Bahrain is the perfect place to savour authentic Spanish treats like paellas and tapas. Guests can enjoy a satiating Business Lunch from Monday to Thursday at 1pm – 5pm, priced at BD11 per person.

For those looking for some excitement, the venue will be the stage for La Tomatina – the annual tomato-throwing festival celebrated in Buñol, on August 31. Guests can revel in all day Happy Hour and fun games with prizes to mark this Spanish tradition. Reservation is required.

Call 17 171-300.

AS ITALIAN AS IT GETS Join the famous Italian Ferragosto culinary celebrations every day throughout August, from 7pm – 11pm, at The Bistro by Origins at Vida Beach Resort Marassi Al Bahrain. Dig into a special Italian-themed set menu, crafted by Chef Nicolas, packed with traditional favourites, complemented by an extensive list of fine grape from across various regions. The Festa Italiana di Ferragosto is priced at BD25, 10 per cent discount on selected Italian grape.

Call 77 488-100.

TEATIME TREATS Spend a delightful afternoon at Gallery Lobby Lounge at the Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain and enjoy afternoon high tea served with sweet and savoury treats that are guaranteed to pleasure, plus a cup of tea or coffee to warm your heart. The high-tea affair is priced at BD15+++ for two people, daily from 2pm – 6pm (excluding weekends).

Call 17 460-017 or WhatsApp 33 640-032

PERFECT FOR SUMMER Bay View at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay introduces refreshing desserts, capturing the spirit of Italian summers, and offers worldly renowned Italian gelato in a contemporary style until August 31, from 11am – 11pm. The famous Italian desserts prepared with a twist of delicious local flavours will be the season’s favourite. Mouth-watering desserts with impressive presentations for the perfect Italian experience are crafted by Executive Chef Leonardo Di Clemente and Executive Pastry Chef Imad Boukli.

Call 17 115-500.

48 August 2022

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

Paddle Tournament

The Rotary Club of Seef Bahrain, known for its philanthropic efforts in the Kingdom, recently held a Padel Tournament at Let’s Padel located at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain. Proceeds raised through the event will primarily contribute towards sponsoring the educational costs of disadvantaged students in addition to various community development initiatives.

Padel, a sport that combines squash and tennis, has grown in popularity in the Kingdom over the last two years.

Raita

Sha Tha Sunday-Wednesday (Lunch & Dinner) Vegetarian Thali available

@b  Available at Lanterns Budaiya only

www.lanternsrestaurant.com lanternsbudaiya www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery

1759 0591 August 2022 49

tablehopping

LIMITLESS EATS Golden Tulip Bahrain is the perfect central location for a Business Lunch to fuel yourself for the rest of the day. This offer is priced at BD8 per person, inclusive of soft drinks, and is available from Sunday – Thursday every week, from noon – 3pm. Book one day in advance and get a 20 percent discount.

Call 17 535-000 / 39 995-166 /5182/5142

It’s Unlimited BBQ Night at Ya Hala RoofTop Lounge at the Ramada Hotel & Suites Amwaj Islands by Wyndham every Thursday from 7.30pm – 11pm. Savour all things barbequed and grilled to perfection including a wide variety of meat, seafood, chicken, and vegetables, in addition to side dishes and desserts. All this while you enjoy the relaxing sea views. Prices are BD15 per person, including unlimited barbeque and soft drinks, or BD25 per person, including unlimited barbeque and selected beverages.

Call 66 390-498.

Fraser Suites Diplomatic Area Bahrain has the ideal culinary offering for private get-togethers with a ‘Served Buffet Style’ Menu for a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 30 guests. A variety of cuisines can be selected from - international, Asian, Indian, Arabic or Italian. Courses include appetisers (hot and cold starters, soup, salad, live stations depending on the cuisine selected), main course and dessert.

Call 16 161-888 or WhatsApp 33 621-016

DINING WITH PANACHE The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa invites diners to Bo.Sabi:, a dining destination that’s abuzz with culinary action.

Wednesdays are Ladies Night, for girls to let their hair down with entertainment from the DJ, 7pm onwards, and three complementary cocktails from 8pm – 11pm.

On Thursdays it’s “Bo.Sabi Live” with live Entertainment for guests from 8pm – 11pm.

Bo.Sabi Brunch on Fridays has an inviting spread of food, unlimited selected beverages and live entertainment, all from noon - 4pm, for BD32.

Call 17 531- 666.

50 August 2022

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

Thai Full Moon Festival was held at Water Garden City Beach much to the delight of residents. The exciting event Thai Full Moon Festival The featured performances by a Thai band, DJs, exquisite food, fruits and thirst-quenching bubble teas for all to enjoy.

Innovations That Delight

Dr. Samer Ma

ki

17522733

www.olivermaki.com

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@makirest makirestaurant August 2022 51

business bites

The Region’s First Digital Exchange Hub Bahrain Bourse (BHB) and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) have announced the launch of the region’s first digital exchange hub – Tabadul. The exchanges commemorated this landmark achievement towards the launch of Tabadul with an official bell ringing ceremony live streamed from BHB and the ADX headquarters.

Tabadul was the result of the signed strategic partnership agreement in November 2021 between Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and Bahrain Bourse (BHB) to implement a cross-border plan in trading and post-trading environments. Based on the mutual market access model, Tabadul will allow investments across Bahrain Bourse and Abu Dhabi and enable investors to trade directly on both exchanges through licensed brokers in both markets.

Tabadul will be accessible to all investors whom have registered with eligible local brokers and filled out the requisite KYC documents

required by the local exchange in their country of residence. Securities on Tabadul are traded in the respective exchange’s local currency, and in the specified currency of the traded asset for some cases, with no minimum amount required for orders. Investors can trade on on-boarded exchanges during the designated days and trading hours. All investors must follow the respective capital markets official holidays and trading hours to trade securities accordingly.

Investing in the Community The telecommunications company, stc Bahrain, celebrated the spirit of Eid by refurnishing the homes of Bahraini families in the Kingdom in partnership with the Royal Humanitarian Foundation. The initiative was part of its ongoing community programme, ‘Fereej’, meaning ‘neighborhood’ in Arabic. As part of the initiative, stc Bahrain joined efforts with the Ministry of Housing to extend financial support in furnishing houses for underprivileged Bahraini women to transform their houses into sustainable and stable living spaces. stc Bahrain furnished 32 homes of less fortunate families, through their living areas or selected

spaces. The aim of the initiative was to empower families to celebrate Eid Al-Adha with their families and loved ones in a comfortable and new interior.

Chief Government Affairs Officer at stc Bahrain, Shaikh Zayed Al Khalifa, said “Looking into the wellbeing of local families is one of our core areas of focus, and as such, we are committed to support the government’s vision to create a sustainable and stable local community and to develop neighborhoods’ growth and prosperity. We are grateful to work alongside major partners, especially the Royal Humanitarian Foundation.”

SUPPORTING BAHRAINI STARTUPS Bahrain´s first Business Angels Company, Tenmou, which provides both mentorship and capital to high-potential, innovative Bahraini entrepreneurs from the seed stage, concluded its Investors Awareness Programme.

Over two days, 25 Bahraini investors participated in the programme, which was sponsored by CIPE (The Center for International Private Enterprise) as well as the US Department of State under the Middle East Initiative (MEPI) – a partnership which included the Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society (BBWS).

52 August 2022

During the programme, training was conducted by Alexa Hall - a global expert in finance, project management, cross-functional team leadership and organisational strategy. Ms. Hall has also worked for several of the largest global companies such as Google, Hewlett and others. She covered a broad variety of topics including evaluating companies, feasibility studies, identifying new growth horizons, and exploring investment opportunities and challenges locally, regionally, and globally in light of Industry 4.0.

The awareness programme is part of the Tenmou Collaboration Agreement with CIPE (The Center for International Private Enterprise), which the two parties signed in December 2021.

Tenmou is currently working to provide support and direction to several Bahraini startups that are expanding and growing through this agreement. www.bahrainthismonth.com

business bites

Benefit and IGA explore joint digital transformation initiatives The Fintech company and electronic financial transactions service provider, BENEFIT, hosted a meeting with the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) to discuss opportunities to further enhance advanced technology deployment in Bahrain. The discussion between iGA Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed and BENEFIT Chief Executive, Abdulwahed AlJanahi outlined the objectives of the high-level partnership. “iGA provides comprehensive and accessible government services to help the public and private sectors function more efficiently. BENEFIT recognises the importance of ICT management and governance, blockchain, AI, and cloud computing in creating new frontiers for economic growth and innovation, and is optimistic about the opportunities for collaboration with the iGA,” said Mr. AlJanahi.

ongoing collaboration will allow us to leverage BENEFIT’s advanced infrastructure in providing a comprehensive range of public services that meet the needs of beneficiaries,” said Mr. Al Qaed.

Several successful projects have been implemented as part of the collaboration between BENEFIT and the iGA, including the national eKYC platform and the Bahrain Credit Reference Bureau service, available via the National Portal, bahrain.bh.

“BENEFIT is a key partner in Bahrain’s digital transformation journey; our

IN PURSUIT OF DISTINGUISHED LEGAL SERVICES Salwa Ahmed Al Khalifa’s Law Firm has signed an MOU with Albertson Solicitors Legal Practice based in London. The agreement aims to provide specialised and distinguished legal services to the clients of both parties, whether in the Kingdom of Bahrain and GCC states or UK and EU countries. This is in addition to ensuring the best legal representation and protection for the clients of both parties.

Advocate Shaikha Salwa Ahmed Al Khalifa Advocates and Legal Consultants was established in 1987, and is a member of the Arab legal series, which includes several of the most famous law firms in the Arab world and distributed over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Sultanate of Oman, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Lebanon.

Supporting Educational Programmes Seef Properties recently donated an amount to INJAZ Bahrain to support their educational programmes.

The support cheque was handed over by Seef Properties Deputy Chairman and CSR Committee Chairman, Dr. Mustafa Ali Al Sayed, to INJAZ Bahrain Executive Director, Hana Sarwani, during a special ceremony held at Seef Properties headquarters at Seef Mall – Seef District, in the presence of Seef Properties CEO, Ahmed Yusuf.

Seef Properties is built on four strategic values to create a better future for all: support, culture, sustainability, and awareness. The initiative is part of Seef Properties’ strategy to reinforce social responsibility, and its keenness to consolidate cooperation with various training and educational institutions in order to support its qualitative initiatives in the fields of education and the implementation of distinctive development and humanitarian projects. www.bahrainthismonth.com

August 2022 53

commerce

KNOW YOUR COMPANY – AND YOUR INVESTORS

A

s a business consultant, over the years, I have had clients at various stages of their business – usually approaching me to help them at the stage when they need funds. A recent client had a very interesting idea that was well planned and quite ready for execution. The company needed funds but they could bootstrap for a short while. Yet, the resistance to the suggestion that they bootstrap was higher than the resistance to take on an investor. When I asked what they need the investors for, the answers were quite unclear – apart from “money” of course.

Just like you need to make sure your own oxygen mask is in place first in an airplane, when it comes to your company, you need to ensure that the urgent requirements are met.

Pria Masson explores the kind of investments you can tap into while maintaining the best interest of your company.

vision and double resources (almost) that can expand to new markets, customers, etc. at a pace which is unmanageable through regular growth patterns.

Do you need the “value” earlystage funding?

The broad investor type that you are looking for will depend on the stage of your business cycle.

Equity funding begins with bootstrapping – where you self-fund. At the next level, there is pre-seed, seed and then finally Series A, B, C

Do you need a strategic partner?

A strategic investor by definition will look beyond the numbers – he will look at synergies. Often, the strategic investor will see value in processes, customers, markets, employees or technology. A lot of these will be intangible in nature and are likely to change because of the strategic tie-up. This sort of investor will inherently be involved in the daily functioning and will want a say in how your business is run - a big way.

54 August 2022

These investors demand high standards of accountability and deliverables with them, which can be daunting for a new set up.

However, the biggest upside is that once the initial funding is complete, the start-up minimises its overall growth risks. The next few rounds of funding for growth are a lot easier if you have an angel or seed fund backing you up. Often these funds give you the option of a combination of debt and equity investments. Debt is usually available if you approach an incubator facility for your start-up.

In 2021, global venture investments touched a whopping USD643 billion. Of this, early-stage start-ups raised an enormous USD201 billion and seed funding itself touched USD29.4 billion. Businesses are in need of funding, and it seems like equity is a very popular route. An equity relationship is a play of equity share, the value promised and whether you can deliver on your plans – because once you sign, the strings are expensive to break. The worry is it is often turning into the desperate route.

Articulate what you need, set your boundaries in place and know the consequences on either side. Remember- ‘company care’ comes before ‘investor care’.

The first step is then to ask – what are the actual requirements and which investor will really help your company to breathe better?

If the synergies are strong enough and the implementation noise manageable, this is one of the fastest ways for an organisation to grow – since it is actually two strategies, a new

are comfortable with a lot of attached strings – tangible and intangible.

etc. The early rounds usually come coupled with expertise to ensure the start-up takes off as expected. This is the best form of funding if you are looking for significant value add and

Pria is the Founder and Managing Director of GMI Advisory WLL– a Management Consultancy specialising in emerging businesses. You can visit her company website http://www.gmiadvisory. com/ to connect with her. You can follow Pria at her Instagram handle @guide_my_idea www.bahrainthismonth.com

motoring

THE ROAD TO PROGRESS

From the days of the earliest rickshaws in the late 19th century to becoming the world’s fourth-largest automobile industry in the present day, India’s history with vehicles is fascinating. Motoring correspondent Kristian Harrison looks further at how India is modernising its road network and the logistical problems it may face in the future.

I

ndia has a sprawling area of 3.287 million km² and the second-largest road network in the world after the United States, with more than 6.5 million km of roads, but the comparative quality of said roads is essentially chalk and cheese.

Only slightly more than half of these roads are surfaced, and despite major efforts to modernise the country’s road structure, the network remains badly underdeveloped considering 71 percent of Indian freight and 85 percent of passenger traffic is via road.

One of the main issues is that more than 60 percent of these roads are rural while national highways, the arterial roads connecting state capitals, ports and rail junctions, account for a measly 1.5 percent of the total.

Considering the national highways carry 40 percent of freight and passengers (indeed, the Indian government calls these roads the ‘economic backbone of the country’), it is clear there was a huge discrepancy which needed addressing.

in ways which could only have been dreamed about.

Firstly, Phase I of the project will raise the national highway connection to a total of 550 districts out of India’s 718 districts, up from 300 previously. Each highway has a minimum of four lanes and it is hoped that total national freight load will double to 80 percent upon completion, which is scheduled for 2024.

This all seems great and modern, but India shortly faces another major problem. With the world shifting to greener energy and fuels, with substantial international pressure from major conglomerates and governments to cut carbon emissions, India finds itself on the back foot.

So, what can be done? Well, the government decided the answer was ‘something major’.

Major as in, the single largest outlay for a government road construction scheme ever. At least they were decisive!

Unfortunately, in a sort of self-serving vicious circle, massive highway construction promotes a more integrated national economy and a huge increase in road traffic whereas before it was often trains that were used for crosscountry travel, if people even bothered at all.

The Bharatmala Pariyojana, as the project is called, is an investment for 83,677km of new highways at a cost of INR10.63 lakh crore (BD52.8 billion). The benefits of this project will be unparalleled, connecting the country

This in turn has spurred further rapid growth in the country’s oil consumption, especially transport fuels such as gasoline and diesel. It has grown at an average annual rate of eight percent over the last three years, hitting 5.15m barrels per day in 2022.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

The country is currently the world’s third-largest oil consumer behind the United States and China. Given how few motor vehicles the country currently has per head of population, and how underdeveloped the road network remains despite the Bharatmala project, there is enormous potential for growth in oil consumption over the next 10-15 years, as much as double the current use if the gravest predictions are to be believed.

In the meantime, the Western world is shifting to electrical vehicles and synthetic biofuels.

However, the costs of these remain high for the vast majority of India’s population. Not to mention that India is only just connecting the country by road on a major scale, never mind implementing frequent charging stations along these highways and having enough consistent and reliable power in more rural areas to make them usable.

While India continues lay down roads to drive the country towards the future, it already finds itself at a crossroad.

August 2022 55

motoring news

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF TURBO BENTLEYS! Bentley celebrated four decades of handcrafting turbocharged grand tourers with a ten-car parade at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. In the forty years since the first turbocharged Bentley, the immense reserves of power and effortless torque that characterise Bentley engines have become inseparably associated with turbocharging.

Bentley Motors displayed seven turbocharged Bentley models from its Heritage Collection at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, alongside key models from the current range.

Today the advantages of turbocharging have seen its universal adoption from city cars to supercars. But it was a bold step in 1982 for Bentley to adopt the technology and one that paid off handsomely. In the words of automotive historian Eric Dymock, it was a decision that ‘recaptured Bentley’s soul’. That soul can be experienced today in Bentleys W12, 4.0 V8 and V6 models; the tidal wave of torque that is integral to Bentley’s appeal owes much to the turbocharger.

Bentley’s ten-car parade at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

ELECTRIFYING LUXURY WITH THE BMW 7 SERIES

The first series-produced vehicles of the new BMW 7 Series have rolled off the production lines of BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, Germany and are expected to be available to customers worldwide by autumn this year. In a double debut, the new top-of-the-range BMW has been manufactured not only with highly efficient combustion engines but also as the fully electric BMW i7. The BMW 7 Series is the first luxury sedan in the world to offer customers a choice between three types of drive: fully electric, combustion-powered and, soon, plug-in hybrid.

Plant Dingolfing, in Lower Bavaria, has been the home of the flagship BMW 7 Series since 1977 and is now manufacturing the seventh generation. To date, it has manufactured a grand total of over 11 million BMW cars, and a further production milestone is on the schedule this year: the two millionth BMW 7 Series.

The BMW Group invested over EUR300 million to ready the Dingolfing vehicle plant for production of the new BMW 7 Series.The European plant is increasingly being transformed into a BMW iFACTORY practising the ‘Lean. Green. Digital.’ Approach with sustainable production in Plant Dingolfing is realised by a range of measures. These include sourcing 100 percent green energy, re-using several hundred existing production robots in the bodyshop, and reducing the consumption of resources in the paintshop.

In addition, Dingolfing currently has a recycling quota of over 90 percent and an even higher re-use quota of more than 99 percent. In 2021, this sent total residual waste tumbling to just 580 grams per car produced.

NEW RIDE IN TOWN Chinese automaker GAC MOTOR recently launched its high-tech and full-size SUV, the All New GS8 in Saudi Arabia.

Armed with an upgraded design and brand-new technology, the All New GS8 is now better positioned to offer an experience of prestige and comfort to drivers. The updated exterior features an all-new powerful wing front face and GAC MOTOR’s one-of-a-kind ‘Eye of the Conqueror’ LED headlamps to capture the model’s signature power look.

Inside, the driver seat comes standard in leather upholstery, is power-adjustable in eight ways, and features a memory seat function for high standard comfort and convenience. A 2.0T GDI engine, which provides an upgraded torque of 400 Nm, is paired with a megastar chassis and Third Generation 8AT transmission for smooth and balanced power.

From optimising model features to strengthening brand visibility, GAC MOTOR has been keeping things exciting for its Middle Eastern consumers, as the region is a key market in the company’s ongoing strategy to expand its international influence.

56 August 2022

www.bahrainthismonth.com

motoring news

SAUDI RACER REEMA JUFFALI LOOKS AHEAD AT RED BULL RING RETURN Theeba Motorsport Founder and Saudi driver, Reema Juffali, and her teammate, Adam Christodoulou were forced to withdraw from Race Two of the International GT Open in Hungary due to damage. Theeba Motorsport looks to regroup as a team ahead of Red Bull Ring return in September.

At the Hungaroring on July 9, Juffali and her team-mate, Adam Christodoulou, sustained weekend-ending damage following a collision during Race One in Hungary. Despite the unfortunate result, Ms. Juffali had a positive outlook, stating that the team showed a lot promise over the first half.

“Adam delivered a strong result in qualifying and put us in a good position at the end of the first stint before I took over for the final third,” she added, praising her teammate.

Mr. Christodoulou said: “Obviously, it’s disappointing for our race to end in the barriers but motorsport is unpredictable and while there are good days, it’s inevitable that we’ll face some challenges along the way. We’ll come back fighting in Austria.”

THE ALLNEW KIA CARENS HITS THE ROAD

Theeba Motorsport now looks to carry forward the pace it showed in Hungary, with its eyes set on a return to action on September 10 at the Red Bull Ring.

Kia Corporation is set to launch the Carens in select MEA markets in the third quarter of 2022. The recreational vehicle (RV) is a global product from Kia that brings the sophistication of a family mover and the sportiness of an SUV in one compelling package.

The Kia Carens is a comfortable and spacious three-row seater with the longest wheelbase in its class. The car comes with a Hi-Secure Safety Package as standard across all trims, which includes six airbags making it one of the safest vehicles on the market.

The RV offers both petrol and diesel powertrains combined with multiple transmission options, including the 7DCT and 6AT. In addition, the Kia Carens offers flexible seating options and features such as the Sliding Type Seat Under Tray, Retractable Seatback Table, a rear door spot lamp and bottle and gadget holders in the third row – redefining automotive practicality.

The Kia Carens is loaded with multiple class-leading features and safety features including Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Hill-Assist Control (HAC), Downhill Brake Control (DBC), Brake Assist System (BAS), Highline TPMS and All Wheel Disc Brake making it perfect for family.

HYUNDAI’S ALL-ELECTRIC IONIQ 6 Hyundai Motor Company has revealed the streamlined and timeless design of the IONIQ 6 - the second model in its IONIQ dedicated all-electric-vehicle lineup brand.

Inspired by Hyundai’s Prophecy EV Concept, IONIQ 6 is characterised by clean, simple lines and a pure aerodynamic form. IONIQ 6’s electrified streamliner typology and mindful cocoon-like interior embody a silhouette for the new era of electric mobility, while the overall design theme of Ethical Uniqueness reflects Hyundai’s commitment to energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.

IONIQ 6 has an ultra-low drag coefficient of just 0.21, assisted by its low nose, active air flaps at the front, wheel gap reducers, and optional slim digital side mirrors. The IONIQ 6’s aerodynamic aptitude is further heightened with its elliptical winginspired spoiler with winglet, slight boat-tail structure, and separation traps on both sides of the rear bumper. Even underneath the car, the undercarriage has a full cover, optimised deflectors and reduced wheel-arch gap to achieve better aerodynamics.

In addition, the designers applied sustainable materials to the exterior, including recycled pigment paint from end-of-life tires to the cladding and bamboo charcoal pigment paint to the body. www.bahrainthismonth.com

August 2022 57

opinion

INFLUENCE

-The Power of Persuasion

By Bill Grieve

Beware the negative destructive influence and autonomous application of “wasta” which can have serious consequences…

Influence is the foundation of all media advertising and marketing. As a dynamic force, influence can be productive or destructive.

Positive influence can be productive or developmental and negative influence can be counterproductive and even destructive.

BTM’s Bill Grieve looks at what influence is, how it can be applied, wielded, and used apart from the positive and destructive yields that come from it.

58 August 2022

I

nfluence is defined as “a force one person (the agent) exerts on someone else (the target) to induce a change in the target, including changes in behaviour, opinions, attitudes, goals, needs and values” and “the ability to affect the behaviour of others in a particular direction.”

Influence is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something, or the effect itself and generally defined as: To have an effect on the way that someone behaves or thinks, especially by giving them an example to follow influence somebody/ something – “His writings have influenced the lives of millions”; “To be strongly influenced by something”; “Don’t let me influence you either way” (English Oxford Dictionary).

“The power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways: sway. 2a: the act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command. b: corrupt interference with authority for personal gain. 3: one that

exerts influence” (The Merriam-Webster English Dictionary).

Types of influence often applied by media directly sway or influence the attitude of individuals and socio-economic groups and demographics in: -

• • • • • • • • •

Buying Spending Investing Giving/donating Attending Participating Supporting Ostracising/exclusion Political decisions

In the European context Wasta is called a “Patron – Client” relationship often contractual, in which a powerful or influential person provides rewards and services to humbler and weaker persons in return for loyalty and support. Such relationships are found in simple or traditional societies especially between peasants and landlords or politicians and may involve both coercion and consent. www.bahrainthismonth.com

opinion

Caveat Emptor – Latin for “Buyer Beware”

Story 3 A mother who is the CEO’s friend helped her daughter to secure a job in a bank. After completing her three-month probation period, she took leave to have cosmetic surgery done, that endured until the end of year.

During the year end appraisal period, she got her first promotion despite technically being on leave for the duration of the entire year.

Story 4 A company employee who is the son of the Chairman’s close friend does not attend work, is not delivering, responding to emails or respecting his line manager. All he seems to do with ease is receive his salary at the end of every month. Every time his line manager writes comments or raises complaints against his performance and attitude, the HR manager shuts him up and changes the appraisal to show a good evaluation and grant him a good bonus!

Contrary to popular belief, there are some very positive educational and training influences that we all may have witnessed from time to time.

These positive influences can sometimes be life-changing and include being a role model, mentorship, coaching, teaching, guiding and directing.

Story 5 The head of IT at a company, who is the cause of most disasters through incompetence, got promoted because he made himself available on call for the Chairman. Whenever the Chairman needs to fix his network or adjust his laptop background or do more silly stuff, he calls the IT manager who runs to his house like a pet dog.

Structured professional counselling, guiding, mentoring, educating, training, and schooling in positive ways that respect morals and the normal social standards of societies and communities.

Proper guidance identifies moral duties responsibilities, obligations, and disciplines to do the right thing and set the correct example.

That being said, most individuals use their influence in a very negative sense of the word. Here are some common types of negative or destructive influence seen everyday: 1. Wasta - Powerful influence by a person in authority circumventing process or procedure.

Wasta is typically influence carried out by people in positions of authority or power, often over riding procedures/protocols, using a position of authority to achieve personal goals or aims. The simple failing of wasta is that it is based on absolute authority which always has the potential for corruption and abuse. Wasta can also be positive, and these events are often found in the upliftment of deserving individuals, fast track funding/financing for legitimate projects and short cutting bureaucracy and red tape in organisations or government bodies.

Here are a few shocking instances of negative wasta as witnessed recounted by various individuals: Story 1 At a bank, the Chairman of the board is the cousin of the CEO and cousin of another board member, which half of the bank management who handle critical managerial positions are part of his family. They get promotions every year or even six months, regardless of the quality-ofservice delivery.

The children are board members in other competing banks too, so we can only imagine how Friday gatherings are conducted.

Story 2 A big client spoke to the Chairman of a company requesting him to hire his daughter. The Chairman spoke to the CEO who instructed the head of HR to hire her immediately. She was hired as a manager, despite only having two years of prior experience, without going through the recruitment process that would normally take 2-4 months. The woman did not undergo the usual recruitment process and hence did not have an interview, did not submit a CV and was not screened either. In fact, no other candidates were even considered for the role, regardless of their experience. Following her fast-track appointment, her office was prepared much to the shock of her colleagues as no budget was approved for the position. www.bahrainthismonth.com

“Despite all the policies that restrict hiring family members and asking for full declarations before joining, this bad practice appears to be in play and is being applied by top people in organisations.” – a Bahraini business leader.

2. Social Influence and Peer Pressure “Trolling”, hounding, baiting and belittling people on social media, or constantly criticising them over their views. Peer Pressure – the feeling of being “obligated” to say do, carry out or join in on something negative or counterproductive by a social network, friends, or peer group.

Don’t put your head in a fire just because your friends tell you to!

3. Negative and Life Changing Destructive Influence Examples of this could range from individuals convincing and encouraging others to take drugs. steal, lie, cheat, misbehave, commit crimes, carry out sexual harassment, infidelity and even adultery.

A particular senior pilot in a commercial carrier used a combination of tactics, bullying and sexual innuendos to get attractive foreign flight attendants hired by the airline to sleep with him. In addition to bullying the flight attendants himself, he convinced his colleagues and subordinate network to bully them and make their work life difficult if they did not “give in” to his demands and “make him happy” or visit him in his room down route - regardless of their marital status. This (sexual) harassment is ‘the elephant in the room’ that no one wants to talk about.

Trust no one and treat yourself with suspicion…

August 2022 59

tv releases

Releases

Wedding Season

Pallavi Sharda will play Asha and Suraj Sharma plays Ravi in this new romantic comedy. The movie, directed

by Tom Dey (best known for Shanghai Noon), is about two individuals who agree to go to weddings as a pair to avoid uncomfortable conversations.

Their friendship quickly blossoms into love, though.

Planning a night in? Check out these exciting films and TV series recommended

by Kristian Harrison.

13: The Musical

One of the biggest musicals Netflix has produced to date, 13: The Musical, is based on the Broadway show by Jason Robert Brown and Dan Elish, and is about a young boy moving from New York City to a small town in Indiana. Josh Peck leads the cast with Rhea Perlman, Debra Messing and Peter Hermann also set to star..

Day Shift

A hard-working blue-collar dad (Jamie Foxx) just wants to provide a good life for his quickwitted daughter, but his mundane San Fernando Valley pool cleaning job is a front for his real source of income; hunting and killing vampires as part of an international union of vampire hunters.

The Sandman

One of the most ambitious TV releases of the year is undoubtedly The Sandman. It’s a series adapted from the Neil Gaiman comic books which has been impossible up until this point to adapt. Upon escaping after decades of imprisonment by a mortal wizard, Dream (Tom Sturridge), the personification of dreams, sets about to reclaim his lost equipment.

60 August 2022

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie

When a mysterious stranger arrives from the future with a dire warning, Leo is forced to rise and lead his brothers, Raph, Donnie and Mikey in a fight to save the world from a terrifying alien species. www.bahrainthismonth.com

tv releases

Don’t Make Me Go

When single father Max (John Cho) discovers he has a terminal disease, he decides to try to squeeze all the years of love and support he’ll miss out on with his teenage daughter Wally (Mia Isaac) into whatever time he has left with her. Hanging the promise of some long-awaited driving lessons over Wally’s head, he convinces her to join him on an unforgettable road trip from California to New Orleans for his 20th college reunion.

Prey

Set in the Comanche Nation 300 years ago, Prey is the story of a young woman, Naru, a fierce and highly skilled warrior. She has been raised in the shadow of some of the most legendary hunters who roam the Great Plains, so when danger threatens her camp, she sets out to protect her people. The prey she stalks, and ultimately confronts, turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal, resulting in a vicious and terrifying showdown between the two adversaries. www.bahrainthismonth.com

Anything’s Possible

Anything’s Possible is a coming-of-age romantic-comedy about a confident teen girl named Kelsa (Eva Reign) and the peaks and valleys she encounters whilst navigating her senior year of high school. Her world is thrown even more off-kilter when her classmate, Khal (Abubakr Ali), musters up the courage to ask her out, spurring both drama and an exciting new adventure for the both of them.

Star Wars Summer Vacation

Looking for a much-needed break, Finn arranges a surprise vacation for his friends Rey, Poe, Rose, Chewie, BB-8, R2-D2 and C-3PO, aboard the luxurious Halcyon. However, Finn’s plan to have one last hurrah together quickly goes awry when he’s separated from the group.

While searching for his friends, he encounters three Force ghosts: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Leia Organa, who each share their own unexpected stories of vacations gone wrong, helping him to understand that holidays are about more than just having fun.

I Am Groot

“I Am Groot” is a collection of five original shorts starring Baby Groot, everyone’s favourite little tree, and will feature the voice of Vin Diesel. Each short follows Baby Groot as he grows up in the galaxy, going on adventures with new and unusual characters that get him into trouble.

August 2022 61

games

GAMES: F1 22 VERDICT:

Another authentic racing sim

RATING:

WHAT IS IT?

F1 22 is a racing video game developed by Codemasters and published by EA Sports. The game holds an official license of the 2022 Formula One and Formula 2 championships, including all teams, cars and drivers.

GAMEPLAY

F1 22 features new car models with updated physics. The game also features an updated track list, adding the new Miami International Autodrome. Sprint races, a new addition to the sport, are also included as is adaptive AI, which adjusts the pace of AI cars according to the performance of players to ensure players are competitive from race-to-race. Other new features include immersive broadcast options, designed after televised Formula One broadcasts, as well as interactive pit stops. The game also introduces a customisable hub mode called F1 Life to allow players to collect supercars, clothing and accessories.

CUPHEAD - THE DELICIOUS LAST COURSE

Brothers Cuphead and Mugman are joined by the clever, adventurous Ms. Chalice for a rollicking adventure on previously undiscovered Inkwell Isle! With the aid of new weapons, magical charms and Ms. Chalice’s unique abilities, players will take on a new cast of fearsome, larger than life bosses to assist the jolly Chef Saltbaker in Cuphead’s final challenging quest!

GRAPHICS

As always, the circuits are inch-perfect replicas but under the surface, the same old problems apply. The crowd look like terrible cardboard cut-outs and the drivers out of the car are poorly animated. Luckily, on the track, the game is smooth as butter and pixel-perfect when it matters. Small touches, like neat new postrace clips of the battle-worn cars and updated camera angles on the old podium celebrations, slightly rejuvenate parts of the series.

STRAY

Lost, alone and separated from family, a stray cat must untangle an ancient mystery to escape a long-forgotten city. Stray is a third-person cat adventure game set amidst the detailed, neon-lit alleys of a decaying cybercity and the murky environments of its seedy underbelly.

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CAPCOM FIGHTING COLLECTION

Capcom Fighting Collection features legends from Capcom’s competitive arcade gaming history, faithfully reproduced to play just like they did back in the arcades!

The Collection includes additional settings to improve your at-home experience, and also supports online multiplayer, so you can battle friends and worldwide opponents alike from the comfort of your own room.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

music

Imagine Dragons

Mercury: Act 2 After the catharsis of 2021’s Act 1, Imagine Dragons completes the story with Mercury: Act 2, a whopping 18-track journey that examines the time after the shock and grief of loss has begun to settle. While part one processed those messy emotions with some of the rawest and most vulnerable moments in the band’s usual radio-friendly catalogue, part two loses focus by biting off more than they can chew. There are plenty of great songs here – fully expected for a band as hook-savvy as Imagine Dragons – but there’s simply too much going on and not enough editorial trimming to make this as impactful an experience as Act 1.

DRAKE – HONESTLY, NEVERMIND Verdict:

A welcome change of genre for the rap superstar.

What’s the story?

Jack Johnson

Meet the Moonlight Jack Johnson’s gentle, mellow vibes have been his stock in trade since his 2001 debut, and that doesn’t change on Meet the Moonlight, his eighth studio album, delivered some 21 years after his first. That’s a long stretch of time to mine the same vein, but the relaxed vibes here are somewhat deceptive; underneath the placid surface, Johnson is taking a few risks. These subtle shifts and shadings help make Meet the Moonlight a quietly adventurous album as well as one of Jack Johnson’s best.

Honestly, Nevermind is the seventh studio album by Canadian rapper and singer Drake, which was surprise-released with little marketing. The album includes a feature from 21 Savage and production from a variety of producers, including Gordo, Black Coffee, and 40. A stylistic departure from Drake’s previous releases, Honestly, Nevermind adopts house and Baltimore club.

Worth a listen?

One of the underrated aspects of Drake’s charm is his prowess as a vocalist. Paired with the right mood or set of lyrics, he can conjure up a pretty convincing case that he’s something of an R&B visionary. Here, Drake touches on new sounds like house music and Baltimore club, delves into guitar jazz fleetingly, and only invites a couple of guests along to contribute instead of the usual cast of hundreds. It makes for one of his most varied and interesting records, with a melancholy, slightly defensive lyrical viewpoint that’s familiar to all who have ever heard a Drake song, but here it feels somehow like the words cut a little closer to the bone.

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Journey

Freedom Freedom is Journey’s 15th studio effort and their third outing with vocalist Arnel Pineda. Journey’s post-Steve Perry releases have been reliable yet unremarkable, with showrunners Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain attempting to wring out every last bit of headband sweat from the group’s chart-topping heydays. That trend continues on Freedom, a relentlessly anthemic and underwhelming set filled with over-the-counter power ballads and bloated rockers that do very little to earn a 70-minute runtime.

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www.themoth.org

If you love the art of storytelling, you are going to love this website. The Moth houses real life stories told by the people themselves. It also has a podcast which features all the stories told across the world on Moth stages and you can download the entire history if you want more.

WEBSITES The internet is home to over 1.6 billion websites. Which of these is worth your time? Kristian Harrison finds out.

www.thechive.com

The Chive is a photo and video blog of the wacky, insane and the curious. From absurd photobombs to thoughtinspiring landscapes, The Chive delivers on addictive appeal. While much of the content caters to postadolescents and college-aged youths, there is a definite broader appeal for anyone who likes curious news.

www.explosm.net

www.omgfacts.com

OMG Facts brings you some of the most interesting facts online as voted by its site audience. All facts are thoroughly researched and include topics in history, science, politics, religion and more. You can submit your own fact if you have an idea to help contribute to the site. You can also browse through their Top Facts section for some of the most top voted facts on the site.

If webcomics such as Cyanide and Happiness are your thing, then you have to visit this site which hosts the most popular and funniest webcomics out there. There’s a new webcomic every day, but you can also head on over to the website and press the question mark button over and over again to view random comics.

Cohiba’s 55th Anniversary

Faieq Al Zayani Company held a celebration to celebrate Cohiba 55th Anniversary Limited Edition. The event was held at Oliveto Restaurant in Adliya.

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gadgets

GADGETS

There are plenty of fun, interesting and useful gadgets available on the market these days. Check out Kristian Harrison’s top finds.

FITBIT ARIA WI - FI SMART SCALE

These are wireless smart scales. They won’t just tell you your weight, they’ll track weight changes and monitor your BMI and body fat percentage for up to seven people. The data is uploaded via your Wi-Fi network and is available online or in a free iPhone app.

METAL ART MECH WARRIOR PHONE STAND

Similar to mechs featured in movies and computer games, this work of art, complete with dual machine gun arms, stands menacingly on your desk whether at home or in the office. The phone holder has a padded seat for your device to sit in, protecting it whilst in place. Each phone stand is slightly different as they are all crafted by hand.

Junkyard bits and bobs, nuts, bolts, chains and everything in-between are soldered together to create a secure place for you to keep your muchloved device.

IKETTLE

CONNECTOR PEN

This useful gadget contains a micro USB and an eight-pin charging adaptor all concealed within a black metallic pen.

When extended, the Connector Pen will provide just over 21cm of cable allowing you to charge your smartphone from any standard USB port. When not in use, it is all neatly stored away inside the body of the pen and can even be used as a stylus when the pen nib is retracted.

Using the iKettle’s built in Wi-Fi, you can start boiling your kettle from anywhere in the house. With the iKettle app, you will save up to two days a year preboiling your kettle! Not only can it boil the water for you, but it will also notify you when it’s ready to pour, needs refilling and when it’s empty. A selection of different temperatures allows you to make your hot drink the way it should be.

PLAYBULB BLUETOOTH CANDLE

It’s an LED light that looks just like a candle. Download the free app from your app store and you can choose the colour of your candle. Blues, greens, pinks and neutrals; every colour under the rainbow is available at your fingertips. If you can’t decide on what colour you fancy then simply give your phone a shake and it will randomly select a colour for you.

Find all these nifty gadgets at amazon.com www.bahrainthismonth.com

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apps

Shabaam

Shabaam is a new GIF maker app that allows you to spice up your favourite GIFs with some added audio. Choose a GIF from the app’s extensive library and then use your device to record your voice (or any sound of your choice) to be dubbed over the GIF. The final product is a short video (because it can’t remain in GIF format due to the audio) that you can save to your device or share through other apps.

APPS REVIEW

BTM BRINGS YOU THE LOW-DOWN ON THE LATEST AND GREATEST AVAILABLE APPS. Bite

Instead of having to endlessly browse through generic restaurant menus and peruse through too many unhelpful reviews, Bite focuses on providing users with high-quality imagery and information that actually matters. Bite users are encouraged to share their experiences with dishes they tried using applicable review options that focus on rating aspects of taste, quality and cost.

Zedge

If you really want to make your smartphone or tablet your own, Zedge is the app you’ll want to use to personalise your device’s ringtones, notifications and alarm sounds. The app offers thousands of high-quality sounds that are free and easy to download, from obscure sounds to classic jingles, and you can set a custom ringtone for each person in your contact list.

Yarn

Yarn features a large library of stories told in text message format as if you were snooping through somebody else’s phone and reading their conversations. Episodes and conversations are updated daily, and you can enjoy stories from several categories including mystery, romance, comedy, sci-fi, fantasy and others.

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Bahrain Edition

BEAUTY | FASHION | HOME | WELLBEING | LOCAL ISSUES

August 2022 | Issue 232

LIFESTYLE Bring Some Greenery Indoors!

FASHION Discovering Bally’s Edgy A/W 2022 Collection

OPINION BEAUTY The Best of Beauty Essentials Transform Your Skin

How to Make Your Child’s First Day at School Easier Sophie Simpson on Being Taken Seriously

INTERVIEW Rotaract Bahrain President, Razan Jamal, on Her Call for Change and Plans for the Year www.womanthismonth.com

In Her Shoes – Nivine Abouzeid

FASHION | fashion forward

Timeless

Edgy Designs

Yet

Ahead of the cooler months, we explore Bally’s Autumn/ Winter 2022 collection which shows signs of timeless design while pushing boundaries through intelligent craftsmanship and an evolving modern wardrobe.

E

choed across a tactile journey, supple leather ready-to-wear commingles with woven and crocheted accessories, sensual bombé-edged footwear, ribbed suede accents and soft hair calf styles. Recalling Bally’s Swiss origins, references to architecture and graphic design are articulated through origami-like structural handbags and curved, block-heels.

Expertly crafted leather looks feature supple grains for a smooth handfeel, with soft-padded leather overcoats, quilted shoes and accessories.

Light, ribbed knits and wool jerseys provide an airy contrast to structural, leather-bonded shapes, alongside sturdy, recycled nylons, denim-effect cottons, cashmeres and traceable wool knits made in Italy.

The collection’s colour palette is harmonious, inspired by nature, including signature neutrals like bone, hemp, dusty whites and midnight.

Bolder shades bring the season’s palette to completion with Heritage Red accents, oceania and octanium blues, pale fossil and dark mineral.

With a better future in mind, Bally’s commitment to Sustainability is further interwoven throughout the collection, embracing innovation and ecofriendly processes, materials and techniques.

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FASHION | fashion forward

Bold Bags

The new silhouettes of the Arc range, with its Ahria tote, Ares shoulder bag and Ariel clutch, bring a graphic nature and origami-like folds, adding structural integrity and sophistication. Essential staples, including pillbox bags with B-Chain embossing and B-Echo recycled nylon styles and Alpine camo motifs, feature. Leather craft presents across women’s bags, including the woven Beckie shoulder bag with wrapped B-Chain hardware.

Statement Shoes

A new Alpine camo in neutral soft hair calf styles elevates slouchy, thighhigh boots with wooden soles, rubber toe caps and B-Chain undersoles, and mules with metallic B-Chain hardware. The hiking-inspired Valais embodies a pioneering spirit with mixed material, bi-colour stitching and high-volume soles, also reimagined as knee-high Chelsea boots in black grained leathers with bombé edge details.

Sleek, feminine Grace shoes with B-Chain embossing is modernised with curved block heels. Norwegian-constructed, boat-inspired Tread shoes feature a contemporary, sharp take, as the iconic Curling is reinterpreted in soft padding, animating Bally’s heritage of craftsmanship.

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PEOPLE | interview

CALLING FOR CHANGE The international service organisation Rotaract, which initially started off as the Rotary International youth programme, is known worldwide for its charity initiatives. Rotaract Bahrain, one of several Rotaract clubs across the world, has been a champion of change in the Kingdom and beyond borders too. Farah Baig had a chat with Rotaract Bahrain’s new president, Razan Jamal, about her ambitious plans and what makes the club so special.

Rotaract clubs are known for cultivating leaders, promoting professionalism and improving communities worldwide. The Bahrain chapter of the communitydriven organisation too has earned a glowing reputation for itself through its foresighted charity initiatives which include international campaigns that serve as a catalyst for positive change.

MEET THE NEW PRESIDENT

Rotaract Bahrain’s new president, Razan Jamal, has always had a knack for charitable giving and hopes to inspire sustainable changes during her time at the helm of the youth organisation. “By profession, I am an interior designer, but I have always had a passion for a variety of things. I want to be a leader and strongly believe that you lead not by what you actually have, but rather by what you give,” says Ms. Jamal.

“This is what motivates me. As long as I am giving to others, with no expectation of receiving anything in return, I have a noble character and will make an impact as part of society,” she adds.

By garnering her know-how and supportive contacts, Razan hopes to encourage a better future for the youth during her tenure. “Over the last two years, with the outbreak of COVID-19, everything moved towards a virtual world as we all sat at home and did our best to adapt. Hence, this year my motto for Rotaract is ‘Calling for Change’ – a change in ideas, change in mindset and a change to be more successful,” she highlights.

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PEOPLE | interview

UNDERSTANDING ROTARACT

Razan has now been a member of Rotaract Bahrain for five or six years and was compelled by the variety of causes that the organisation supports. “I realised that if I joined other organisations, I would be limited to supporting a single purpose, but with Rotaract we can even create a new cause for support. Then there’s the fact that it’s structured; you have an idea, but then you also have a team, board of directors, members and then the rest of Bahrain – countless helping hands so can propel your cause to success,” she explains.

“Rotaract has been a platform for the youth to share, grow, speak up and help others long before social media gained popularity,” she adds.

A NOTABLE MILSETONE AND EARNED TRUST From July 2021 to July 2022, Rotaract was led by its then president Tanima Chakravorty.

During her tenure, the organisation commendably completed a transformative international initiative – Project NSUO. “The initiative was proposed by Tanima following a life-changing encounter. Through NSUO, a Tiwi word for water, rural households across nine villages in Accra, Ghana now have access to clean and sanitary water.

Prior to the project, women and children had to walk for hours just to find water and even then, it was not suitable in any way or form,” explains Razan.

The main outcome of Project NSUO was the purchase and installation of a water pump meaning that children may now focus on their education and countless hours, previously used to search for water, can be spent on development. “Through the joint efforts of the members and volunteers, this campaign was a great success and has created an impact that

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will be felt for generations,” she adds.

In addition to the NSUO Project, Rotaract Bahrain held a collaborative event through which individuals with Down Syndrome were able to effectively demonstrate their potential while interacting with members of the public. “We created a stall for them through which they sold baked goods. The thing that made this special was the fact that we were only there to support them but they were in-charge of the process from start to finish – buying the ingredients, baking, packaging, setting up and selling to potential customers.

It was very inspiring!” she says.

a rapport and realise that it is a friendly environment where you can support local causes and grow as an individual. People that are interested in joining the club can do so any year, and have to attend three general meetings following which we screen and elect new members,” she explains.

“Regarding my key international initiative, I hope to propose a cause related to education and improving the quality of life for refugees,” she adds.

“I believe that the reason for the success of Rotaract’s campaigns is trust. We don’t just talk, we deliver.” says Razan. “People, naturally, want to be sure that any amount that they donate goes towards the intended cause. So, when people see the results and difference made by our campaigns, such as the NSUO Project, we earn their trust.”

MOVING FORWARD Some of Razan’s primary aims as president of Rotaract Bahrain is to increase awareness about the organisation, aside from the effects of plastic. “It’s not just one aim that I have during my tenure, but several honourable causes and initiatives which shall support the sustainability of Rotaract. In addition, I intend to organise a large-scale event which shall involve several charities while making the public realise that Rotaract is not just a club, but a proactive organisation that does fun things that aid others,” she says.

There are currently over 55 Rotaract Bahrain members – a number that Razan hopes to steadily grow while filtering potential members. “We recently had five guests attend a general meeting with existing members – an experience that allows people to build

Those wishing to get in touch with Rotaract Bahrain in order to inquire about their membership, support one of their causes or just stay up-to-date with their activities may do so by following @rotaractbahrain on Instagram.

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LIFESTYLE | opinion

Please Take Me Seriously

I

t is the end of a demanding work week and, to my delight, I have been invited to dinner with new friends. I am now six weeks into opening Atteline’s second office outside of Dubai and it is fraught with all the classic challenges one might imagine.

I re-confirm tomorrow’s Zoom meetings, check in with team directors, and ensure all pressing matters have been addressed with our office managers. I send off my last emails and tidy up my to-do list. Much to my delight and boundless gratitude, as I step out of the office, I see that our wonderful nanny, without whom I couldn’t possibly manage the delicate balance of work and home life, has the children fed, bathed and ready for evening story times and bedtime cuddles. I relish our daily routines together, surrendering to every moment of quality time that we get to enjoy as a family.

Why is it that by our mid30s or after having children, women have to shout louder to be heard or for people to take an interest in our individual achievements?

Following a night out with new acquaintances, Founder and Managing Director of Atteline, Sophie Simpson, explores an issue that we all might be dealing with subconsciously.

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Once the children have drifted off to sleep and my husband has retreated to the peace of the lounge, I run a comb through my hair, pat on some blush and make a dash for the taxi. As we pass through the unfamiliar kaleidoscope of urban lights, my mind flicks between client strategy, the children’s vaccinations and how delighted I am to be joining my newest female acquaintances for dinner and a debrief on expat life.

The four of us exchanged pleasantries and settle into a drink, before the conversation drifts from one person to the next, meandering between where to find the best healthy food grocers and effective teething hacks, to which schools host the most accomplished teachers and what our better halves do.

I enjoy the conversational journey, not merely for its useful insights, but for the way it helps to slowly reveal the unique personalities and idiosyncrasies of my chatty dinner companions or, dare I say it, new friends. Once the evening becomes an unspoken wrap, we take care of the bill, throw our enthusiasm behind

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LIFESTYLE | opinion the motion of coordinating a follow-up soiree, and part ways feeling satisfied. Yet as I relax into the rear seat of my ride home, I toy with the possibility that “satisfied” might not be an accurate way to describe my return journey sentiment.

Reflecting on the evening’s agenda, it dawns on me that outside of discussing my 10-month old’s unprecedented strength and the chaos of finding a base for our tenure in South East Asia, not at any point did we dig a little deeper into who we are as “individual women”. I let out an audible sigh, disappointed in myself mostly for not digging deeper or indeed at all. However, now that I thought about it, this has been a recurring theme as I have so happily become a mother of two and entered into my mid 30s.

I was left to ponder on the possibility of a collective assumption that we were all living in the shadows of our partners’ amazing careers (and yet we are not!), and that to have exciting ones of our own was not a particularly feasible prospect. Could we really be looked upon as “trailing spouses”, supposedly unable to keep our own careers in simultaneous acceleration? I found it difficult to bat away the taunting thoughts, hoping that if someone truly believed our realities could be otherwise, then surely more people would pose the question? But I have realised I am hardly asked these days – and nor do I ask enough – “What do you do?”

Why in today’s world must women not be asked, “What do you do?” and be only associated with their family unit? At the end of the day, I see the very purpose of forging connections with new peers and nurturing friendships, is to cultivate a supportive forum within which we can share our stories, our fears, our passions and our dreams. We should not be held back by stereotypes or wanting to fit in and we should definitely not need to be asked to share.

Today, every part of me is geared towards the championing of women both in business and in the home.

I take my hat off to the stay-at-home mum (quite possibly the most difficult job in the world), to the women who are risking it all to give their dreams a chance, to those who have had to forfeit their careers in the face of supporting their family (with or without children), and to the ones who have thrown all their resources at achieving as close to a work-life balance as is circumstantially possible.

All I propose is that, as peers, we challenge ourselves to truly see each other, lead with curiosity by leaving our assumptions at the door, and open up the chance to celebrate the unique, arduous and fascinating journeys of each and every one of us, men and women alike. Because that, in my opinion, is the essence of life.

This got me thinking, why is it that by our mid-30s or after having children, women become labelled? Why is it we have to shout louder to be heard? Why is it that acquaintances in our fellow age group are not yet making an even more conscious decision to dig deep, and find out more about one another? With all the advancements, particularly for women, why is it that we are still held back by our own unconscious biases and gender stereotypes? Thinking back to that dinner party, I don’t believe it came down to a lack of interest, it truly came down to gender-based assumptions. Had I asked the question, I would have stumbled into a fascinating discussion on remote-working, part-time opportunities, breadwinning wives, and an incredible array of hobbies and interests.

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BEAUTY | news

SUMMER-WORTHY LIPSTICKS FROM FLORMAR

You’ll stay about the rising temperatures this summer with the perfect pout, courtesy of Flormar. Whether it’s classic tones you have in mind or you are eager to push yourself out of your ‘colour’ comfort zone, you’ll find a perfect lippie in Flormar’s collection.

Here are six top summer-tastic lipsticks from Flormar’s range of best-selling lipstick collections.

Deluxe Cashmere Lipstick Stylo You can never go wrong with a classic red, and this fabulous Flormar semimatte lipstick can be used to enhance any look – from day to night. It also moisturises and protects your lips with its formula, rich in special antioxidants.

Super Matte Lipstick This velvety and creamy lipstick with a super matte finish is perfect for those of you eager to experiment with colours. This season, purple is everywhere as its majestic and elegant vibe adds that oomph factor to any outfit.

Kiss Me More Lip Tattoo Nude shades never go out of fashion and this season is no different. Perfect for an effortless glam and natural look, find your shade and make the most of the long summer days. This lip tattoo by Flormar has a long-lasting formula and smooth, creamy texture meaning it won’t smudge.

Available at all Flormar stores.

– Summer Saviours!

Looking your best is a little easier this hot summer with these fantastic cosmetics, haircare and fragrances.

Summers in the Middle East have always been tough, but something about this year is unrelenting.

The heat, humidity and dust are inescapable and so looking our best can be a task. Fret not, though, for we have compiled some of our favourite products that will either stay put, have your hair looking its best or you smelling divine.

GET PRETTY COLOURFUL WITH MAX FACTOR The MAX FACTOR Masterpiece Nude Palette Eyeshadow is an ultra-versatile and universally flattering eye contouring palette. It features five perfectly paired shades so anyone can master the most glamorous nude eye look.

The perfectly combined eyeshadows allow you to contour your eyes in endless combinations! Each shade is highlypigmented, long-lasting and blends precisely due to the dual-tip applicator. You can also build these beautiful hues to your hearts content, creating matte, shimmery or sparkly finishes.

Available at all leading beauty stockists.

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BEAUTY | news

UNVEILING THE OUD MALAKI PERFUME OIL Dive into the world of fragrance oils with Swiss Arabian, a leading fragrance house in the region, with their latest launch, Oud Malaki. This perfume oil is an intensely crisp and woody scent that’s both easy to wear on its own or layered, resulting in a regal olfactory that leaves a lasting trail of beautiful fragrance.

As the oil formula melts into your skin, it awakens the senses with the aromas of saffron, apple, and pink pepper. As soon as the perfume sets into place, you’re enveloped by the opulent rose and precious oud notes developed with a hint of herbal sage before the warm notes of amber, musk, and vanilla finish off your magical signature scent.

The result is an exquisite elixir that has a strong, smoky, and seductive scent perfect for both men and women. Discover the full Malaki collection from Swiss Arabian which includes a range of perfume oils including Rose Malaki, Mukhalat Malaki and Musk Malaki.

Available at www.swissarabian.com.

GLOW WITH RMS BEAUTY If you’re looking toxin-free beauty products, check out RMS Beauty – a pioneer of the clean beauty movement.

We love the versatile Luminizer x Quad Palette which feature RMS’s award-winning cream luminizers that awaken skin creating the ultimate light-reflective, dewy glow. The Luminizer X features four shades: subtle warm nude champagne rosé, warm blush champagne, champagne fizz and elegant sheer glitter that can be used on their own or blended to create a custom, luminous look for any occasion. The nourishing formula hydrates as it melts into skin instead of floating on top for an elegant, refined finish.

RMS Beauty products are formulated using raw, food-grade, organic and natural ingredients that are sustainably sourced from the depths of nature and unique to indigenous cultures.

Available at www.thesecretskin.com.

SAVE YOUR DRY HAIR WITH ROSSANO FERRETTI The heat this summer is unrelenting, and one thing we can all say we’re dealing with is the consequential dry hair. We all know what that means – more frizz, breakage, tangles and dullness.

This summer you’ll find relief with Rossano Ferretti’s well-formulated haircare products.

One of our favourites is their Nourishing Hair Mask which is designed with every texture of dry hair in mind. This lightweight mask will not weigh down your hair, but rather work to hydrate even the coarsest of hair. The mask contains Shea Butter to naturally soothe, moisturise and protect, Keratin to improve elasticity and protect against cuticle damage and Green Tea, a natural antioxidant with Vitamin C, E and Polyphenols to nourish, calm and soften the hair and scalp, as well as work against hair loss and add shine.

With fruity notes of Peach and Mandarin, combined with Vanilla and Caramel, this nourishing mask thoroughly destresses hair and leaves it softer, shinier and more manageable.

Available at EnerBeauty.com, Namshi.com and TheSecretSkin.com.

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skincare

THE BODY SHOP’S 3-IN-1 WASH SCRUB MASK TPeople can experience oily skin at various points in their life and The Body Shop’s Tea Tree range is the perfect solution for keeping it under control. Known for its natural purifying powers, tea tree oil has always been a winner for oily and blemished skin.

The range includes other potent ingredients such as Salicylic acid known for clearing pores of excess oil and impurities. It also includes Hyaluronic Acid to help balance the skin and keep it moisturised. Be sure to check out the 3-in-1 Wash Scrub Mask from the range which (you guessed it!) is a face wash, scrub and mask in one.

Transform Your Skin!

5 Nourishing Products Your Skin Will Thank You For These hot summer months are surely taking a toll on the health and appearance of our skin, so a routine or refreshing product is a must. Whether you’re dealing with tired eyes, dry skin or are just in need of rejuvenation this summer, we’re positive you’ll love these products.

SKIN GYM’S VIBRATING LIFT & CONTOUR BEAUTY ROLLER Beauty rollers are all the rage these days. Skin Gym’s Jade Vibrating Lift & Contour Beauty Roller will elevate your skincare regimen with its 6,000 vibrations per minute leaving you with dewy -fresh skin after every use!

The Vibrating Lift & Contour Beauty Roller is also available in Rose Quartz.

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THE KIND COLLECTIVE MIRACLE GLO SKIN SERUM A year after its debut in Australia, The KIND Collective is making its entry into the GCC market.

The Miracle Glo Skin Serum is a multi-purpose serum creating the smooth base of a primer, the glow of a highlighter, all while nourishing skin with the serum base of Hyaluronic Acid and natural plant botanicals. It nourishes the skin with Kakadu Plum, Kangaroo Paw and Vitamin E.

JUANA SKIN FACE OIL A face oil is your best friend to help hydrate, nourish and protect your skin. Perfect for de-stress and hydration, the Juana Skin Face Oil sinks directly into your skin. Simply apply two to three drops on your cleansed skin to rehydrate your skin at night for the day ahead and wake up to a beautifully smooth and luminous complexion.

IXORA’S SIGNATURE FACE TONERS Harnessing the power of natural and certified organic ingredients, using a combination of modern science and results-driven formulations, Ixora’s clean beauty products are transforming the skincare routine to rid the use of harsh chemicals.

You can restore and balance the skin's pH levels with Ixora’s signature Face Toners to lock in moisture and vitamins. During the toning phase, the Ixora toner closes pores and tightens cell gaps to prepare for exfoliation, and provides the skin with essential nutrition.

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bystander

birthday celebration was held for George George Cheriyan’s Birthday ACheriyan at Brazil Rodizio Grill & Lounge in Adliya.

Grape and Cheese Night

Vida Beach Resort Marassi Al Bahrain recently held a Grape and Cheese night. Guests enjoyed the delicacies while enjoying live music.

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LIFESTYLE | home

TRUE TO YOUR ROOTS A dash (or heavy dollop) of greenery indoors can have a calming effect on the senses, making your home space your personal haven to unwind and decompress from the stresses of the outside world.

Plants can be a simple addition to spruce up your spaces at minimal cost, ideal for those of us living in rental residences. But if you feel that your green thumb is always off-colour, and no plant lives to see more than a few days under your watch, fret not. There are a few hardy indoor varieties that will transition you from plant monster to plant mum effortlessly.

Bahrain has no dearth of nurseries to go and take your pick of indoor greens. Most of them offer a variety of ceramic planters to stage your green pets in, as well as a pertinent pointers to care for them.

Snake Plant

This one is the father of fussfree house plants. It needs infrequent watering, and prefers being completely dried out in between waterings. The resilient succulents do well even in dark corners of the house, in small pots. The variety with yellow borders on the leaves are known as Mother-inLaw’s Tongue. Just saying.

Pothos

Usually known as the Money Plant, this one grows well in soil or water. Besides the belief that the leaves of this plant attract good luck and prosperity (worth a shot, we say), it purifies the air from environmental pollutants and puts a positive vibe in your spaces. It has recently been known to reduce harmful radiations from electronic devices.

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Jade

Jade enlivens the environment with its small, bright shiny leaves. It is a hardy plant that doesn’t crave much attention and requires water when the top soil is dry to the touch. With a tendency to ‘cascade’ as it grows, it’s ideal to house them in hanging planters for playful appeal.

Spider Ivy

This is one of the most adaptable and easy to grow. With slender pastel green leaves sporting an off-white strip, it looks attractive in any space. Baby plants (resembling tiny spiders) that are off-shoots of the mother plant can be re-planted to start new plants.

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LIFESTYLE | home

Pretty Planters

Namshi

Lifestyle

H&M

Peace Lily

When cared for correctly (which is quite easy to do) the plant greets you with pretty white flowers. Happy with low to bright indirect sunlight, Peace Lilies can put up with weekly or bi-weekly sprinkling in humid conditions. The plant prevents formation of mildew and can remove mould spores from the air.

Two-tiered Cake stand namshi.com

amazon.com

The One

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LIFESTYLE | opinion

BACK TO SCHOOL WITH A SMILE

The first day back at school can be quite daunting.

Ouiam El Hassani tells us how to make the experience better for our little ones.

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s summer comes to an end, there comes a new kind of excitement. Back in the air, is the idea of going back to school, and with it comes the twinge of nostalgia that comes with a new school year.

We all know what the idea of going back to school involves, either because we have been there, or because we are there right now, but with our kids this time. We all know too well that fun hunt for just the right backpack, the perfect lunchbox, those shopping trips for all a kid might need – or might not need, but JUST IN CASE. As a parent, what also comes along with that excitement is the concern and the stress of not being in control of your little one’s life.

Looking back, the worries we had as kids pale in comparison to the worries we have about our own kids. As summer comes to an end, and you prepare for someone else to care, nurture, and love your child the back-to-school anxiety you feel as a parent is overwhelming.

Will the teacher love them and recognise their talents?

Will she be warm and safe?

Will the other kids be nice to him?

Will he get on the right bus?

Will she eat the lunch I pack for her?

Will he have everything he needs to be creative and successful?

how old they are, the novelty behind the whole experience - even if they have been going to school before - is something that can keep them from sleeping at night. Especially if the child is shy, or moving to a new school where he knows no one.

That little fear from the ‘FIRST DAY’ can be easily tackled by talking to them about all the great things that are waiting for them.

Walk them through what will happen that day: which is usually the teachers going over classroom rules, to know what’s allowed and what’s not. Remind them that they will be meeting all their old friends, and that first days of school are also great to make new friends too. You can even pretend to be in school, and take turns of how to approach a new friend, it’s so much fun and so helpful for shy kids.

Having a new outfit/pair of shoes that the kid has chosen especially for their first day of

school is also a great way to reduce the stress that first days of school can cause. If the school they go to requires a uniform, then maybe think of a nice watch, new hair band, or a piece of jewellery to show their personal style.

Make sure your little one is well prepared and has all the supplies they need for school.

Some schools distribute supply lists before the year begins, while other schools take care of most things, but still, just to give the little one some peace of mind, go through his backpack the night before, stock up with pencils, notebooks, and whatever else they might need. Maybe even add a book or a magazine for that bus ride.

Always remind them that good sleep the night before is very important to have a great day in school, as well as having a healthy breakfast in the morning. Remind them to always use their good habits, to always raise their hands if they want to talk, and to take notes if they need to remember something. The best advice you can give a child though is to remind them to always try their best, and to keep smiling, because after all school is FUN.

If we look at the situation from the child’s point of view, it is even scarier! No matter

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August 2022

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last word

In Her Shoes

Being a passionate, ambitious young person endowed with a sense of continuous learning, Nivine Abouzeid is a clear inspiration for young women wishing to pursue careers in Marketing. Nivine is the Marketing and PR Manager at Sevens Holding and has an unwavering drive to succeed. Let’s take a walk in her shoes!

What is an achievement you are most proud of?

Name 3 things you are most grateful for right now.

I am really thrilled with my current occupation that involves interaction with crowds which had a significant impact on improving my personality and self-esteem while learning so many management skills at a young age.

1. The trust that my superior is giving me 2. The relationship I have with others 3. All opportunities that I have and that allows me to do what I love in my job.

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

Machboos because it’s a traditional dish and an ideal dish to share with family and friends.

Which country do you consider your dream holiday destination and why?

United States - the land of opportunities. This is basically because it’s the focus of the world and everyone idolises them. I know I have potential and my ambition is to maximise my potential and grow globally.

Name one movie you never get sick of:

Flightplan starring Jodie Foster. I like thrillers.

Cats or dogs?

Nivine Abouzeid

Cats indeed. I was always scared of dogs… perhaps it’s a childhood phobia.

What is a cause you are passionate about and why?

What's a fun fact about you that most people don't know?

I am scared of dark rooms which is why I always sleep with a light on. www.womanthismonth.com

Ending poverty by increasing the level of education of people. All the problems that the world is suffering from is either caused by poverty or ignorance due to people’s lack of knowledge. If you just improve education, you can prevent poverty and the chaos that is caused by it.

Name 5 things you never leave the house without:

My phone, keys, makeup, perfume and my bag.

August 2022

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advertisers index Educational Institutions

American University of Bahrain . .25 Canadian School Bahrain. . . . . . . .17 New Millennium School Bahrain .23 New Zing Kindergarten. . . . . . . . . .21 The British School of Bahrain . . . .19 Unigrad Education Center W.L.L . .27

Hotels & Serviced Residences

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Hilton Bahrain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Ramee Grand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Medical & Dental Services

Royal Bahrain Hospital . . . . . . . . . . .9

Motoring

Al Haddad Motors: Mercedes

American University of Bahrain

Behbehani Brothers Co.(Porsche)

Canadian School Bahrain

Energie Fitness

Hilton Bahrain

New Millennium School Bahrain

New Zing Kindergarten

Ramee Grand

Royal Bahrain Hospital

The Lost Paradise of Dilmun

UNEECO Group

Unigrad Education Center W.L.L

V.M & Bros.Co. W.L.L.

Al Haddad Motors (Mercedes) . . IFC Behbehani Brothers Co.(Porsche) BC

Others

Energie Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Mohammed Fakhroo & Bros.(Philips) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 The Lost Paradise of Dilmun . . . . .11 UNEECO Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 V.M & Bros.Co. W.L.L.(Priya) . . . IBC

Maki Restaurants Group Co.

Mohammed Fakhroo & Bros (Philips)

Restaurants & Cafes

Maki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Lanterns Restaurant & Lounge . . .49

The British School of Bahrain

The Lanterns Restaurant

Charity Lunch The International Ladies Society held a Charity Luncheon at Lagoon SPA & Resort in Budaiya.

82 August 2022

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