Issue 2 2015 ISSN 2009-499X (PRINT) / ISSN 2009-6216 (ON-LINE ISSUE)
THE ARAB-IRISH JOURNAL
The history and cultural richness of Middle East awaits you.
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ISSUE 2 2015 ISSN 2009 -499X (PRINT)/ISSN 2009 - 6216 (ON-LINE ISSUE)
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In This Issue
CO N N EC T I N G T H E CO N N EC T E D I N I R EL A N D A N D TH E A R A B STATES
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AICC
THE ARAB-IRISH JOURNAL
ISSN 2009-499X Publisher Abbeyville Publications Limited The Arab-Irish Journal Suite 127 Grange Hill, Baldoyle Ind Park, Baldoyle, Dublin 13, Ireland Tel: +353 (0) 1 806 3000 Fax: +353 (0) 1 806 3001 Int: +353 1 8063000 Email: info@arabirishjournal.com Web: www.arabirishjournal.com
ie.linkedin.com/pub/arab-irish-journal Managing Director and CEO Dermot Hogan dermot@arabirishjournal.com Business Development Manager Shane Sutton shane@abbeyvillepublications.ie Advertising Sales Manager Emmet O’Connor emmet@abbeyvillepublications.ie Office Intern Eamon Mooney eamon@abbeyvillepublications.ie Journalist Lynne Nolan
WELCOME W
elcome to the latest issue of the Arab-Irish Journal. Sincere thanks to everyone who made this issue possible, including the AICC, the editorial contributors and, of course, our advertisers and many thanks for your continued support. Much has happened in Arab-Irish business relations since our last publication and we hope we have covered some of the important events in this issue. In March, the inaugural Arab-Irish Business Forum was held in Dublin in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and was attended by some of the most influential business leaders both in Ireland and in the Arab states. Hosted jointly by the AICC, Emirates Airline, Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland, we hope the next Arab-Irish Business Forum is of equal success, if not bigger and better. Ireland has had two new ambassadors added to the diplomatic community over the last couple of months and we are delighted to welcome H.E. Ms. Soha Gendi, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt and H.E. Dr. Saeed Al Shamsi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Ireland. We also celebrated Morocco Day on a beautiful summer’s day in The Royal Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire with H.E. Ambassador Khales, Embassy of The Kingdom of Morocco. Emirate’s Brendan Noonan talks with Amanda Gavin and also please take a look at Grid Finance, Emergency Logistics Team, Women in Business and RTE’s George Lee on a recent visit to Dubai. We always welcome comments and criticism and positively encourage these; without your feedback, we cannot improve. With this in mind, please do let us know how and where we might be able to improve content in the Journal; what type of content you would like to see added (or even removed); and what events might be covered in future editions. Dermot Hogan Editor.
Photographer Paul Byrne paul@arabirishjournal.com - 085 826 6339 Middle East Editor Amanda Gavin amanda@arabirishjournal.com +971 55 556 1588 Member Firm Legal Advisor Peppe Santoro www.venturelaw.ie Graphic Design Rob Lewis www.minx.ie Web Design Eric Hewson www.his.ie Distribution www.lettershop.ie
AICC 34 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: + 353 (0)1 662 4451 Fax:+ 353 (0)1 662 4729 Email: info@aicc.ie Web: www.aicc.ie Ahmad Younis Secretary-General & CEO Evelyn Harrington Trade Services Manager Orla Treacy Office Assistant Dima Shannan Office Assistant Rafal Sabir Head Of Translations Ruth Spain Trade Services Assistant Manager
Disclaimer: All rights reserved. The opinions and views expressed in this publication are not neccessarily those of Abbeyville Publications, The Arab-Irish Journal or the Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce. Readers are requested to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers particular circumstances. While every effort is taken to ensure accuracy of the information contained in this publication the publisher Abbeyville Publications or the Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce are not liable for any errors and/or omissions contained in this publication.
The Arab-Irish Journal | 1
In This Issue
8
Contents 1 4 6 8 12 16 20 22 24 26 30 36 38 40 42 46 52 58
Welcome from Editor
Address from Ahmad R. Younis, CEO ArabIrish Chamber of Commerce
Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce Chairman Joe Geoghegan
The New UAE Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Dr. Saeed Mohammad Al-Shamsi.
Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby
12
Dubai Duty Free Irish Open
Morocco Day celebrations in Dublin with H.E. Ambassador Khales Emirates Airline’s Brendan Noonan speaks with Amanda Gavin Irish Village Dubai
Irish Saudi Arabia Business Council with Chairman Joe Lynch
16
The Inaugural Arab-Irish Forum held in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham The New Suez Canal Extension Opens
HRH Princess Muna of Jordan visits RCSI
Irish and Jordanian Governments sign MOU Grid Finance
News
RTE’s George Lee visits the UAE
Women in Business with Amanda Gavin
www.arabirishjournal.com 2 | The Arab-Irish Journal
In This Issue
52
62 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 82 84 86 88 90
George Boole visits UCC
Trade Figures
The Bonnington Hotel
Founder and CEO MedColl Roz Martin
Shopping at Arnotts
Shopping at Brown Thomas
Expert Advice from Abu Dhabi Paddy
Emergency Logistics Team
Mount Falcon Estate Co. Mayo
Middle East citizens transiting through Dublin to the USA.
62
Standard Bred Racing will it take of in the Gulf.
78
Motoring: The Maserati with Mark Gallivan
Book Review: The Sun Shines Sometimes by Salwa Elhamamsy reviewed by Emmet O’Connor.
92 96
Useful Contacts
Dates for your Diary.
88 16 www.arabirishjournal.com The Arab-Irish Journal | 3
AICC
The Arab Irish Chamber Of Commerce Mr. Ahmad R. Younis, Secretary-General & CEO A very warm welcome to The Arab-Irish Journal. As we enter the autumn and with the end of the year already looming on the horizon, 2015 has proved to be a particularly successful year to date. In addition to many promising developments both here in Ireland and in the Arab world, the Chamber are delighted to have settled into our new headquarters at 34 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2. The premises, which is housed with a beautifully refurnished Georgian building, will have its official opening in 22 October 2015, which will be carried out by Minister Richard Bruton. With more good news that Irish exports reached a record high earlier this year and continue to play a key role in the economic recovery. In line with overall trends, Irish exports to the 20 countries in the Arab region are also on the rise. Indeed goods exports reached €2.3 billion in the twelve months to 30 June 2015, up by 32 per cent on the same period in 2014. Saudi Arabia remains the largest market for Irish exports, accounting for some 40 per cent of all exports during the period, thanks to substantial growth of 43 per cent during the period under review. This brought Irish exports to the country up to close to €1bn for the first time (€918m). Growth was also evident in the United Arab Emirates, where exports advanced by 35 per cent to €412m; Egypt (+64% to €245m); and Kuwait (+59% to €108m). When services exports are added to the equation, it seems reasonable to suggest that Irish exports to the region should reach the forecast goal of €6bn a year by 2020. However, there are some challenges. Economic growth in the region is stalling, with the drop in oil prices a significant factor. According to the World Bank, the Gulf countries could lose about US $ 215 billion in oil revenues in 2015, equivalent to 14 per cent of their combined GDP. HSBC says for example that the Saudi economy may grow by 2.8 per cent this year, the slowest pace since 2009, while economic growth in the United Arab Emirates, the second-biggest destination for Irish exports, will slow to 3.1 per cent from an estimated 4.9 per cent in 2014. This is feeding into trade figures, with the IMF forecasting that exports from the Middle East and North Africa region will fall by a fifth, to $1.2tn, this year. And, of more interest to Irish exporters, 4 | The Arab-Irish Journal
imports to the region are also expected to fall, but by a much less significant 3 per cent, to $1.2 trillion in 2015. However, opportunities for Irish based companies to grow their share of exports in the region remains significant, particularly as economies in the region move further towards non-oil related growth. And Irish companies are increasingly seeking out these opportunities, through events such as a trade mission in April to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in April, in which 63 Irish companies participated. Food exports, for example, remain a significant opportunity for Irish companies, with an estimated 80-90 per cent of food consumed in the Gulf region imported. Population growth and developing western tastes are helping Irish exporters in this regard. Yoghurt manufacturer Glenisk for example, started selling its products in retail chain Spinneys in the United Arab Emirates during the year. Indeed while Irish food exports to the region fell by 23 per cent in the year to 30 June 2015, dairy products actually increased by 16 per cent, while meat exports rose by 30 per cent, albeit from a low base. Saudi Arabia for example, a destination for so many Irish exports, is forecast to increase its dairy consumption by 42 per cent by 2023 according to the OECD. The country is also emerging as a niche market for Irish beef. And there is also opportunity in ICT and computer equipment, as the Gulf states increasingly turn towards the knowledge economy. Exports of computers rose by 40 per cent in the year, while exports of medicines and pharmaceutical products experienced substantial growth, of the order of 90 per cent during the year, up to €477m, while essential oils and perfume products remain the largest export product, accounting for about a third of all exports. On a concluding note, I would just like to reiterate how pleased all of us as the AICC are with the year 2015 so far. It has been a very historic moment in the Chamber’s history, and certainly one of our most rewarding to date. The continued support we have received from both the staff and the full board of the Chamber have been paramount in making this happen and we look forward to continued success. Best regards, Ahmad Younis
We bring
EXPERTISE to the table.
The Arab region presents vast potential for commercial, investment and economic exchanges. It also presents particular challenges. The AICC is uniquely positioned to help you through or around obstacles. We’ve been in the business for 25 years. We’ve forged strong relationships with the Arab embassies and local chambers of commerce, giving us close ties to the decisionmakers and the people of influence at every level right across the region. If you are interested in exploring business opportunities in the Arab countries, make us your first point of contact.
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The Arab-Irish Journal | 5
Joe Geoghegan
Saudi Arabia
New Opportunities for Ireland
Mr Joe Geoghegan, Chairman of AICC Irish merchandise exports to Saudi Arabia grew by 45% in the 12 months to end July 2015, to reach €937 million. This represents 39.5% of Ireland’s total merchandise exports to the Arab markets and the figure can be expected to exceed €1 billion by December 2015. These numbers reflect the enormous potential of this market of 31.4 million people which has $664 billion in national reserves, large annual revenues from oil exports, GDP per capita of $25,725, and highly ambitious development plans for many years to come plus the money to finance them. The country also has a well capitalised banking system, low inflation, growing household income and rising consumer demand. This is an ideal environment in which private sector businesses can thrive and this has been happening at a rapid rate in recent years, with strong government support. Growth has been particularly strong in the areas of health care, education, construction, mining, tourism and manufacturing generally, 6 | The Arab-Irish Journal
Mr Joe Geoghegan, Chairman of AICC
Joe Geoghegan
and foreign companies are encouraged to become involved. However, constraining factors which have affected the rate of private sector growth include restrictions on overseas investment in the Kingdom, scarcity of experienced staff, slow moving bureaucracy and labour restrictions.
Royal Decree
In keeping with the government’s policy of decreasing national dependency on oil by encouraging the growth of private sector businesses including FDI, a Royal Decree was issued on 4 September 2015 asking the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to examine all trade and investment regulations which affect international companies doing business in the Kingdom. The objective is to identify and remove unnecessary obstacles and to provide incentives, including unrestricted foreign ownership in certain sectors, to overseas companies wishing to do business in Saudi Arabia. This represents a significant development which should lead to attractive new opportunities
for Irish companies in the Saudi market. Of particular interest are investments which will involve manufacturing in the Kingdom and transfer of technology, and which will offer employment and training opportunities for Saudi citizens. Such investments may allow for 100% ownership by the overseas investor plus various other incentives. It is also expected that these changes may allow international companies to sell directly to consumers in the Kingdom and to become directly involved in retail and wholesale businesses. SAGIA has also recently announced that, from 1 January, 2016, they will implement their Fast Track Procedure for all types of investments, representing a positive response to the concerns about slow bureaucracy. Under this procedure all applications will require only three documents to be submitted by foreign investors and less than five days for completion of the application. A significant improvement. Interested Irish companies should monitor the SAGIA website for further developments. www.sagia.gov.sa The Arab-Irish Journal | 7
UAE-Ireland
President Micheal D Higgins with His Excellency Dr. Saeed Al Shamsi Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Ireland
UAE-Ireland Continuing Success and Growth. Interview with His Excellency Dr. Saeed Al Shamsi Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Ireland for the Arab-Irish Journal What similarities do you see between Ireland and the UAE? There are many similarities between the UAE and Ireland. Both countries enjoy political stability, international respect and they share the desire to attract foreign investment and trades from the wider world. Over the past years, the UAE has formulated policies to improve business performance, stimulate economic growth, and diversify the sources of national income. The UAE Embassy in Ireland is working along these lines. There are numerous opportunities for economic cooperation between the UAE and Ireland in many sectors, including renewable 8 | The Arab-Irish Journal
energy, IT, agri-food, and tourism. While Ireland has succeeded in attracting large UAE companies operating in the aviation sector, such as Etihad and Emirates airlines, the UAE was able to attract Irish businesses operating in the IT, engineering, and research sectors such as Zed Communication and Sammon Group. In the tourism sector, the UAE is now an established holiday destination for Irish tourists, and the numbers of UAE citizens visiting Ireland is growing. There is also collaboration in the education sector. There are UAE students following their higher education in Irish universities at present and there are also Irish educational institutions and a large
UAE-Ireland
Burj Khalifa足- Dubai
number of Irish teachers working in the UAE. The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding in higher education and scientific research in 2014. The MoU provides for closer ties and cooperation between educational institutions in both countries. In the years to come, the Embassy is looking forward to working in all these fields and eventually
enhancing the economic relations between our two friendly countries. What do you see as the biggest challenges starting business for an Irish company in the UAE? There are no real challenges other than knowing the rules and regulations for doing business The Arab-Irish Journal | 9
UAE-Ireland
in the UAE. The Embassy and the Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce do their best to assist all companies interested in doing business there. The country is now an established centre for global trade and economic activities. One of the distinctive features of the UAE is its unique geographical location. The country is surrounded by ambitious emerging markets, and it is serving as a meeting point for world cultures and civilizations. As a result, businesses operating in the UAE have the opportunity to expand in the region and beyond. To the east international investors could have easy access to the heavily populated markets of the Asian continent, the Far East and Australia. The emerging African economies are also within easy reach, thanks to the excellent global network that Etihad and Emirates Airlines have established over the past years. It is also worth noting that there are huge business opportunities for Irish companies looking 10 | The Arab-Irish Journal
to start, expand or relocate in the UAE Free Zones areas. The benefits for establishing businesses there are enormous such as tax exemptions, repatriation of capital and profits, corporate tax exemptions, and there is no tax on personal income. Companies operating in the UAE, whether national, international or multinational, find all the support and facilities they need. The UAE has enacted business laws to attract investors, it established competent and resourceful administration, and the infrastructure and telecommunications facilities are of the highest international standard. Dubai Ports World has a very strong portfolio in supporting international businesses. All year round, the UAE attracts companies and commercial entities from all over the world to specialised international exhibitions and trade fairs. Hosting Expo 2020 would be a very good opportunity for the UAE to display all it can offer to international trade and business.
UAE-Ireland
Sheikh Zayed Mosque -Abu Dhabi
Growth in bilateral trade between the UAE and Ireland Taking the recent trade figures into account would give an indication of how bilateral trade between the UAE and Ireland is progressing. In the period from April 2013 to March 2014 Ireland exports to the UAE reached €280 Million while imports reached to about €17 Million, and from April 2014 to March 2015 Ireland exports to the UAE reached to about €368 Million and imports reached €31 Million. As figures indicate, there is almost 24% increase in Irish exports in the last year, and an increase of 45% in imports from the UAE. The Embassy on its part would exert all necessary efforts in the years ahead to encourage trade missions between the two countries with an aim of identifying potential business opportunities and boosting future economic relations. The thriving economy of the UAE and the recent strong performance of the Irish economy would undoubtedly play significant roles in this regard.
AlDar Headquarters -Abu Dhabi
The Arab-Irish Journal | 11
Dubai Duty Free
Eighth Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby a triumphant success The 150th Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby which was won by the John Gosden-trained, Jack Hobbs
12 | The Arab Irish Journal
The eighth Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, which was staged at The Curragh Racecourse, Co. Kildare, Ireland was a triumphant success. The world’s leading airport retailer sponsored six of the eight races on the card including the flagship race, the 150th Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby which was won by the John Gosden trained, Jack Hobbs. The horse, which is owned by Godolphin & Partners, including John Gosden’s wife, Rachel was always comfortable sitting just off the pace before producing his winning run with over a furlong to race. He was soon in command and stormed clear for a majestic victory, in front of an attendance of 25,255 under a confident William Buick. Trainer, John Godson said, “He is a wonderful horse, he fought all the way to the line. We are really thrilled with this result and are very grateful to Sheikh Mohammed and his support."
Winning jockey, William Buick said, “He was the best horse in the race, it was my race to lose!” Colm McLoughlin, the Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free presented the winning connections with a brand new, specially commissioned trophy which was made for the 150th anniversary, in front of a packed grandstand. Straight after the presentation, opera singer, Celine Byrne sang, ‘When Irish Eyes Are Smiling’ before an airplane circled the sky above and released parachute jumpers much to the delight of the crowd. The parachuters then landed on the race track itself, right in front of the grandstand for an exceptionally dramatic finish to the 150th Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby. Earlier on in the day, Colm McLoughlin and his team at Dubai Duty Free hosted almost 400 guests in their VIP private pavilion, situated just beside the winning post. The day commenced
Dubai Duty Free
Jack Hobbs at the finish post
with a drinks reception followed by a sumptuous lunch and full hospitality and entertainment, including a magician, a caricature artist, two jazzbands and a string quartet. Colm McLoughlin was delighted with the day and said, “This is our eighth year sponsoring the Irish Derby. Every year it gets bigger and better. This has been an even more exciting year as it marks the 150th running of this prestigious race. The title sponsorship of the Irish Derby is very important for us and is in line with our global strategy of high profile sports sponsorships.” Dubai Duty Free was also inducted into the Curragh Racecourse Hall of Fame on the day. The induction ceremony took place in the Parade Ring and Dubai Duty Free now join a prestigious role of honour. Just days before the main event, Dubai Duty Free made a very big announcement in relation to its sponsorship of the Irish Derby. The company’s Executive Vice Chairman, Colm McLoughlin confirmed that the total prize money for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will increase to €1.5 million in 2016 following the decision of Dubai Duty Free to extend its sponsorship of Ireland’s most iconic race for a further two years until 2017. The agreement made between the world’s most successful airport retailer and the Curragh Racecourse also gives Dubai Duty Free the option to continue its sponsorship for a further three years thereafter, up to 2020. Should Dubai Duty Free extend their sponsorship until 2020 their commitment will result in a total prize fund of €7.5 million over the term of the sponsorship.
Breeda and Colm McLoughlin
Famous faces in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby VIP Pavilion included Oscar-nominated film maker Jim Sheridan, rugby heroes Ian Madigan and Robbie Henshaw, media personalities Anne Doyle and Mary Kennedy, fashionista and model agency boss Celia Holman Lee and retired champion jockey Lester Piggott. Lorraine O’Sullivan won the title of the Dubai Duty Free Most Stylish Lady. Lorraine, who is from Dooradoyle in Co. Limerick was wearing a beautiful dress by Philip Armstrong along The Arab Irish Journal | 13
Dubai Duty Free
Clockwise from Left: Sinead and Jihad El Sibai George and Carmel Horan, Brian Horan and Dean Tracey Tahir Fazal, Sara Fazal and Saba Tahir Irish Ambassador to the UAE HE Patrick Hennessy with Pauline and Orla Hennessy
with Chanel and Gucci accessories. Her hat was a handmade beauty making it all the more original, and she paired it with a Lulu Guinness clutch. Lorraine was chosen as the overall winner by a judging panel led by Breeda McLoughlin, wife of Colm McLoughlin, television presenter and media personality Amanda Byram, IMAGE Magazine’s Editor in Chief Melanie Morris and fashion editor of the Irish Independent, Bairbre Power. Bairbre was also the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Lifestyle Ambassador for the full weekend of the festival. Lorraine won the top prize of a holiday of a lifetime to Dubai for two courtesy of Dubai Duty Free comprising five glorious nights in Dubai Duty Free’s own, 5 star hotel, The Jumeirah 14 | The Arab Irish Journal
Creekside, return flights and a whopping €1,000 to spend at the multi award-winning Dubai Duty Free. The prize also included a spectacular statement piece of diamond jewellery from Boodles valued at €5,000 and a luxurious overnight stay at The Marker Hotel in Dublin. The full festival included several ancillary events which ran on and off the track including the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Golf Classic which was held on Thursday the 26th of June at the Palmer Ryder Cup course at The K Club and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Ball, also held at The K Club and the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Ball, also held at The K Club on the eve of the derby which was in aid of The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation.
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The Arab Irish Journal | 15
Dubai Duty Free
Dubai Duty Free Driving the Irish Open to new heights. Søren Kjeldsen ended his six-year wait for a fourth European Tour title after he emerged victorious from a three-way play-off at Royal County Down to claim the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation. The Dane birdied the first play-off hole, the par five 18th, to deny Austrian Bernd Wiesberger and Eddie Pepperell of England after all three players had finished the final round – played in demanding windy conditions – on two under par 282. Kjeldsen had begun the day two strokes ahead of the field but tentatively secured his place in the play-off after shooting a final round 76. But the 40 year old, who had not won since the 2009 16 | The Arab Irish Journal
Open de Andalucía de Golf, held his nerve when it counted on the 18th for a second time as he saw his birdie putt rattle around the cup before falling in. Pepperell had produced one of the rounds of the final day as he defied the windy conditions to shoot a bogey-free 69 – only four players carded under par rounds all day – to set the clubhouse mark. Wiesberger then joined the young Englishman with a final round 73, but they were left to wait on Kjeldsen who was a stroke ahead with two holes to play. Kjeldsen had bogeyed both during his third round and when he three putted the 17th, he was left to hold his breath as a par putt at the
Dubai Duty Free Colm McLoughlin and Sinead El Sibai with some of the players
Vicky and Des Smyth
18th only just dropped to ensure he was a part of the play-off at all. He recomposed himself superbly, however, to take immediate control on the first extra hole. A fine drive saw him reach the green with his second shot while Wiesberger and Pepperell took longer routes. Pepperell was unable to chip in to keep his hopes alive and when Wiesberger then failed with a 20 foot birdie putt from the back of the green, Kjeldsen was left to stroke home his
Colm and Breeda McLoughlin
winning putt – albeit after the ball rolled around the hole. Pepperell earned the considerable consolation of a place at St Andrews for the Open Championship in July alongside fourth placed Tyrrell Hatton of England, while the final place went to Kjeldsen himself, putting the seal on a fine week’s work. “I felt good before coming into the tournament”, Kjeldsen said after the win. “I The Arab Irish Journal | 17
Dubai Duty Free
DDF Irish Open winner with Colm McLoughlin.
From Left: George and Carmel Horan Colm McLoughlin with HE Anas Khalef Moroccan Ambassador, HE Saeed Mohd Al Shamsi UAE Amb, HE Ms. Soha Al Gendi Egyptian Amb and George Horan
18 | The Arab Irish Journal
played well the last two tournaments, but didn’t really have a chance of winning either of them. So to have the chance today was exciting; and nerve wracking at the same time, because I haven't played great for a long time, and I think you saw down the stretch that my confidence is maybe not where it was a few years ago. But today will certainly help.” “From a Foundation perspective, I think one of the biggest things this week has done is give it global exposure. The number of countries that have seen The Irish Open this week, it's been all over the world and it's given us incredible exposure to show what we are trying to achieve and what we've been able to do for the cancer funds for children, and for Daisy Lodge. Also the support this tournament's had from sponsors, fans, volunteers, and Royal County Down, it has
been incredible. It has exceeded expectations”, Roy Mcilroy said. Representing Dubai Duty Free at the awarding was its Executive Vice Chairman Colm McLoughlin who was accompanied by George Horan, President, Salah Tahlak, Senior Vice President-Corporate Communications and Sinead El Sibai, Vice President-Marketing. During the week, Dubai Duty Free entertained over 200 guests at the hospitality suite which included business partners from Dubai, Ireland and United Kingdom and officials from the European Tour.
Dubai Duty Free
WWW.MCGETTIGANS.COM
AWARD-WINNING FOOD, LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, SPORT ON SCREENS & GENUINE IRISH HOSPITALITY Arab Irish Journal | 19 DUBAI | ABU DHABI | FUJAIRAH | LETTERKENNY | LIMERICK | GALWAY | SINGAPORE |TheNEW YORK
H.E. Ambassador Mr. Khales and H.E. Mrs Khales with Guest at Morocco Day.
Morocco
Embassy of Kingdom of Morocco The Embassy of Morocco in Dublin held a reception on Thursday 30 July, 2015, in the National Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire. This day, 30 July, 2015 is to celebrate the occasion of the 16th anniversary of the accession of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to the throne of His glorious ancestors. The reception was attended by a large number of Irish politicians, members of the Irish Parliament, members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Ireland, as well as personalities from the academic, cultural and business spheres. 20 | The Arab-Irish Journal
Representatives of the three monotheistic religions in Ireland also took part in the reception which highlighted the spirit of the harmonious tradition of tolerance that have always characterised the coexistence of these religions in Morocco, under the wise leadership of our August Sovereign . Associations representing the Moroccan community in Ireland, also invited to the reception, expressed their unwavering attachment to the Alawite throne and their constant mobilization for the contribution to the development of our country and for the protection of its interests.�
Morocco
The Arab-Irish Journal | 21
Brendan Noonan
Irish born globetrotter, the aviation expert Brendan Noonan - Senior Vice President of Group Learning and Development at Emirates Group talks to Amanda Gavin About
Tell us about where you are originally from. I was born in Dublin and we lived in Dorset Street in Dublin above the Old Fire Station, we then moved to out to Cabra, and finally to Finglas. When I was 9, the family moved to Kilburn in London which had an amazing Irish community during the 70s and 80s.
Business
You are a top executive with Emirates Airline. Tell us about your role within the organisation and what drew you to make the move to Dubai. I currently look after the training and development needs of 65,000 staff worldwide for the Emirates Airline Group. I have worked with the Emirates Group for 23 years in different roles within the company and took over this role in 2010. It’s fairly hectic as we train 40,000 staff a year at our Dubai Aviation College. We also operate 5 regional learning centres across the globe in the USA, Australia, UK, Pakistan and India. I initially came to the Gulf with Gulf Air in the 1980s and was headhunted into a role at Emirates in 1992. It was a risk as Emirates had only been in operation for 7 years at the time, and Gulf Air was a much bigger airline. What attracted me 22 | The Arab-Irish Journal
to Emirates was its ambitions to become a major player in aviation, its can do attitude and a belief it could become one of the best airlines in the world, and I wanted to be part of that success. Readers of The Arab-Irish Journal will be familiar with the synergies between Arab and Irish cultures and values. How have the Irish adapted and contributed to the thriving business and corporate dynamic in the UAE and how have they made the UAE a home from home? The similarities between the Irish and Arabs are interesting: a religious foundation, strong family values and a love of horses and we are very hospitable with other people, which are very similar to Arab values. I personally think another reason we are
Brendan Noonan successful in the Arab world is that we treat people as equals and don’t have preconceptions of other cultures. Ireland has not colonised other countries and as a result we don’t look down on other people as some nationalities do. Ireland is starting to see positive signs of recovery after a protracted season of austerity. Should young professionals and executives still consider Dubai as a viable and dynamic economy to develop and nurture the skills that will serve them throughout their professional lives? Dubai is a great place to start a business or as a place to work in a major company. It’s a safe environment to live and work in and a great place to raise a family. The schools and medical facilities are world class and Dubai doesn’t suffer many of the social issues that other countries sometimes face. You can walk on the street day and night and not be concerned for your own personal safety. The Emiraties are friendly peaceful people and Dubai is very multicultural. You are heavily involved in promoting Irish business within the UAE. Tell us about the Irish Business Network, your role within it and how well it has served Irish business interests. The Irish Business Network is run by an excellent group of people whose main objective is to build Irish business connections within the UAE and to provide support and guidance for new arrivals. We have regular meetings for our members and new entrants get the opportunity to meet new business acquaintances and to showcase their business and to get helpful advice from the many members.
Emirates
Emirates has become a bellwether not only in terms of reach, service and the passenger experience but as an employer with over 150 nationalities working there. What makes them such an attractive company to work with? Emirates has to be one of the great business successes in Aviation to date. With over 65,000 staff and plans to continue growing it’s a great organisation to work for. Since I joined the company it has double in size every three years and future plans show that growth will continue. What keeps me here is the superb leadership of the company under the direction of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Tim Clark is the president of Emirates and has grown Emirates to be the best airline in the world today. He joined the company at its inception in 1985. However competition to get into Emirates is fierce, we get on average 120,000 - yes 120,000 applicants online per week. So you need to be good - very good to work for Emirates. We have many diverse jobs as you would expect with a multi-national global organisation as we are always looking for exceptional people. If you think you fit the bill, why not look at our online recruitment portal: http://www. emiratesgroupcareers.com/english/
Brendan with An Taoiseach Enda Kenny
Irish Senior managers in the company due to their reputation for hard work and capability. Emirates chose to launch not one but two daily services to and from Dublin. Tell us about the success of this route and what we can look forward to as the economic climate continues to improve. Ireland has been a great success for Emirates, and it was something that I was always looking forward to personally. It was great to travel on Emirates into Dublin at the launch of the service and to know that the Irish consumer would finally get the best in terms of products and services which Emirates is famous for and the success of Dublin route confirms that.
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Dubai couldn’t possibly be “all work and no play”. Tell us about the vibrant and extensive social scene that the Irish community have become such a part of. As a place to live you can’t get much better than Dubai, it’s tax free and the sun shines nearly every day. As my wife Evelyn who hails from Galway constantly reminds me, when we are sitting in the rain in Galway, that it’s one of the reason she loves it here – the sun! We have a vibrant community here for all nationalities and the Irish community is very active. We have the Dubai Celts (a very successful Gulf GAA story) and it tends to cater for the younger Irish people who work here in Dubai. We also have the Dubai Irish Society whose main focus is on Irish families and then the Irish Business network who look after business. So the Irish are well covered. We also have two catholic churches here. Dubai has a lot to offer from excellent beaches, top class hotels and resorts, excellent shopping malls and many different special interest groups including cycling, running, and many others to keep us all fit.
How do the Irish fit into Emirates’ corporate structure? Are there many of us here and what roles do they play? We have two Senior Vice presidents who are Irish, myself and Captain Henry Donohoe (who looks after safety) and in total we have over 600 staff in the company who are Irish and that number keeps growing. Many work as flight attendants and flight crew. In the history of Emirates, there have always been The Arab-Irish Journal | 23
Irish Village
The Irish Village - Dubai Celebrating 19 years of success! Since its opening in October 1996, The Irish Village has always been looked upon as a small piece of Ireland in the heart of Dubai. Designed in the form of a typical Irish village street, its authenticity comes from the use of Irish materials, such as Liscannor stone, and craftsmanship used in its construction, all of which have been imported from the Emerald Isle. Employing over 24 Irish staff and serving traditional Irish food, The Irish Village is part of Dubai Duty Free’s Leisure Division and has great support from Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and George Horan, President. In fact, The Irish village concept was the brainchild of Colm. and the street façade includes the Ballinasloe Post Office, a nod to Colm’s birthplace. To bring another touch of Irish authenticity, a life-size bronze sculpture of three traditional Irish musicians was installed in the center of The Village terrace. The sculpture, entitled “The Session” was commissioned by Irish artist Austin McQuinn and shipped to Dubai where it was unveiled by the then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, T.D. Over the years, The Irish Village outdoor area offers a spacious terrace overlooking the lake and lush gardens where patrons can enjoy the green settings on a family day out. We were honored when a new extension was opened by Ireland’s Taoiseach, Enda Kenny T.D. in 2014. The food at the Irish Village has been awarded “Best Pub Food” by Dubai residents in top media polls over the years, including What’s On, and Time Out magazines.. The Irish Village was voted as “Best Concert Venue” last year and has hosted a number of international and local artists as well as a long list of Irish musicians including Sir Bob Geldof, Sinead O’ Connor, Aslan, Mary Black, Finbar Fury, the Commitments, Brian Kennedy, the Saw Doctors, The Walls, Clannad, Sharon Shannon, the Nolan Sisters, as well as comedians Dara O’Briain, and Tommy Tiernan. Recently, Texas performed a sold out concert and was awarded ‘Concert of the Year’ by all major Publications. Over the years, The Irish Village has kick started the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Dubai and over 100 Irish dancers, with ages ranging from 5-18, have performed to packed crowds. The venue is a big part of the Dubai community and is featured in many tourist guides as one of the “Best Attractions in the Emirate” and was named “One of the world’s great meeting places” by Newsweek Magazine. 24 | The Arab Irish Journal
The Irish Village continues to play a big part in the Irish community and is a sponsor of both GAA / Celts and Dubai Irish Society whose AGM is always held at the village. In recent years, teams from Gaelic Football – Donegal and Galway and Tipperary Senior Hurlers have had events on our lawns. We also show the All Ireland Hurling Live along with GAA. The annual Christmas Tree Lighting attracts over 1,000 people and, last year, the Irish Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Patrick Hennessy, conducted the tree lighting ceremony. The Irish Village Shop was recently renovated and expanded and in addition to a wide range of Irish merchandise, now includes a range of Irish food products. The season ahead sees more great events including several International Artists. DATE
EVENT
October 22, 23 & 24
Octoberfest
October 31
Halloween Party
December 3, 4 & 5
Rugby 7’s
December 11
Murphy’s Legacy an “Irish Show on epic proportions”
Irish Village
Whether you decide to sit inside the traditional wooden pub or out on the terrace overlooking the garden and lake, let the music entertain you while sampling authentic meals served with a warm and friendly Irish smile - what better way of experiencing Ireland in Dubai!
Winner of over 18 awards for Best Pub Food, Best Live Music, Best Live Music Concert, Best Live Venue, Best Pub, Favourite Bar, Favourite Pub Grub, Best Gig Under 3,000 capacity, Concert of the year and Favourite Concert!
WINNER BEST LIVE VENUE
The Irish Village Dubai. Al Garhoud next to Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. P.O. Box 55400. Dubai U.A.E. Tel: +971 4 2824750 www.theirishvillage.com Visit us at The Arab Irish Journal | 25
ISABC
Amin Al Shanqiti and Joe Lynch with An Taoiseach Enda Kenny
A summit for Networking Joseph Lynch, Chairman of the Ireland Saudi Arabia Business Council helped to establish the first Embassy of Ireland in Saudi Arabia in 1976. He tells Lynne Nolan how the Council strengthens business ties and about plans for the Joint Business Council in Dublin in November. The remainder of this year is set to be extremely busy for the Ireland Saudi Arabia Business Council (ISABC), its chairman Joseph Lynch anticipates, with plans underway to hold a member networking event on 29 September. “We are always keen to hear from any other companies who are interested in doing business in Saudi Arabia. Through ISABC, we can work with them to build their profile in the Kingdom and to help them make the right business connections. 26 | The Arab-Irish Journal
We would also like to hear from any Saudi business people in Ireland as we can also help them connect with the right businesses here.� Dublin will play host to the next Joint Business Council will be held in Dublin on 6 November, he says, building on the work the Council has been doing since April. That month, the fifth Joint Business Council (JBC) of the Ireland Saudi Arabia Business Council and the Saudi Irish Business Council was held in Riyadh.
ISABC
Andrew Kearney with Joe Lynch and President and Vice-president of the Saudi National Industrial Cluster Development program
Attendees comprised a large delegation of ISABC members from the recruitment, energy, aviation, construction and project management, engineering, education and healthcare sectors, with presentations delivered by the likes of Ornua, Bord Bia; and one of the council’s newest member companies, daa International. On the Saudi side, presentations were made by two of the National Industrial Clusters Development Programme divisions – biotech and pharma, and by the Petrochemical Conversion Company. The JBC was followed by a networking session, at which Irish and Saudi business people gathered over lunch at the Council of Saudi Chambers. The lunch was in honour of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation,
Through initiatives by the Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority and other Saudi bodies, doing business in Saudi Arabia has become a more streamlined process and the ‘red-tape’ that many saw as a hindrance in previous years has been removed, or greatly reduced. The Arab-Irish Journal | 27
ISABC
Abdullah I. Al Mojel and Amin Al Shanqiti
Our joint Gulfbridge project to provide work experience for Saudi graduates in Irish companies is attracting the necessary high level Saudi support and we hope to launch it in autumn 2016. Richard Bruton TD, and also attended by members of the Enterprise Ireland trade mission, Lynch recalls. The Joint Business Council in November will feature guest speakers and presentations from both the Irish and Saudi sides, he says. “The Saudi delegation is particularly interested in SMEs from the Healthcare sector. We will have a networking event for our members and the Saudi delegation, as part of the overall programme of events,” Lynch comments. “We hope that a large Saudi delegation will attend. This year we are hosting the JBC later than usual as we wanted it to coincide with the Web Summit. Many of the Saudi delegation will use this opportunity to attend the Web Summit.” A former Ambassador of Ireland, Lynch held a number a number of postings in the Arab world. He helped to establish the first Embassy of Ireland 28 | The Arab-Irish Journal
in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in Jeddah, in 1976. “We [ISABC] work continuously to strengthen the ties between Irish and Saudi businesses in both countries,” he says. “We were privileged to visit for the first time as part of the April JBC Programme major Saudi institutions in the Eastern Province, including the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, the Asharqia Chamber’s branch in Jubail Industrial City, and Aramco.” Lynch was also delighted to be invited to meet in Riyadh with senior executives of the Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority (SAGIA) and the Public Transport Authority, “where we had discussions on their requirements and the opportunities and benefits for Irish companies in Saudi Arabia.” Following on from the April JBC, “we were delighted to host a visit by the President of the National Industrial Clusters Development Program (NICDP) Mr. Khalid al Salem who was accompanied by the Vice President of NICDP Biotech & Pharma, Eng. Nizar al Hariri. This visit included trips to the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT), the National Tyndall Institute and the Health Innovation Hub.”
ISABC
Joe Lynch ISABC Chairman
“Our joint Gulfbridge project to provide work experience for Saudi graduates in Irish companies is attracting the necessary high level Saudi support and we hope to launch it in autumn 2016,” he reveals. “We are also working on a number of other projects and opportunities which were raised at the JBC, in Riyadh and the Eastern Province.” The Ireland Saudi Arabia Business Council is always promoting the two countries as desirable business locations, Lynch comments. This depends largely on the opportunities, which arise in both countries (of which there are many) and on the requirements of its members in the ISABC and the Saudi Ireland Business Council. “Our Council has some members who are based full-time, or spend a large portion of their time in Saudi Arabia, and they are always on the lookout for opportunities that will suit our other members,” he explains. This is where the full benefits of membership of ISABC and its networking structure become apparent, he urges. “Likewise, we are always looking for opportunities in Ireland that may suit our Saudi colleagues.” Asked about the challenges the ISABC faces in promoting business relations and commercial activity between Ireland and Saudi Arabia, Lynch says one would be making the ISABC, Irish business and indeed Ireland, better known throughout the KSA, he adds. According to Lynch, a related challenge is that the Business Council needs to expand to cope
with the increasing and welcome work with Saudi business interests and institutions, and to continue to provide a professional service to all. “We are very grateful for the help and encouragement we receive from the Government, and particularly from Enterprise Ireland. Some seed funding is required to facilitate expansion and this would be much appreciated,” he suggests. Doing business in Saudi Arabia has become easier over the last few years, however, he believes. “Through initiatives by the Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority and other Saudi bodies, it [doing business in Saudi Arabia] has become a more streamlined process and the ‘red-tape’ that many saw as a hindrance in previous years has been removed, or greatly reduced.” “In fact, there are now many incentives and benefits for Irish companies to do business in Saudi Arabia, which were not there in previous years. There are also many opportunities arising as the country moves from an oil-dependent industry to developing other sectors such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, biotech and energy, to name a few.” Saudi Arabia is very interested in SME type businesses, he says, adding that “It is for Irish companies to take advantage of such improvements that the system may offer.” If you wish to become a member of the Ireland Saudi Arabia Business Council or to contact them please email info@isabc.org. You can follow ISABC on Twitter @ ISABC_IRL. The Arab-Irish Journal | 29
Arab-Irish Business Forum
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton T.D.
Brand Ireland’s Edge
The target of €6 billion in exports of goods and services from Ireland to the Arab markets by 2020 may be achieved well before then. For the inaugural Arab-Irish Business Forum in March this year, the Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce, Emirates Airline, Enterprise Ireland and Bord Bia joined forces to raise awareness about the importance of the Arab markets for Ireland. Shared objectives included providing insights based on the practical experiences of successful business people from the region, and encouraging more Irish companies to consider the Arab markets as part of their internationalisation plans. “There has been a notable increase in the number of Irish companies actively exploring the Middle East markets in 2015, and they will be encouraged to learn that merchandise exports to the Arab markets generally have grown by 36% in the year to end July 2015,” comments Joe Geoghegan, chairman of the Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce. Held at Dublin’s Royal Hospital Kilmainham, this was the first such Forum to take place in Ireland, and, according to Geoghegan “the feedback confirmed that it was very helpful and informative, especially to companies which are starting out on their journey of expansion into the Arab markets.” The value of Ireland’s exports to the region increased by 16% in 2014 to an estimated total in excess of €4bn. This makes the Arab region one of 30 | The Arab-Irish Journal
the largest export markets for Ireland outside of the EU and North America. All of the figures and trends point to a value of €6bn by 2020. This, in turn, would create an additional 6,000 jobs to support this extra business. But where to begin and where to focus? After all there are 21 countries to consider. Geoghegan responds: “The current pattern of our export success in the region shows that over 70% of our export business happens in the GCC markets. We also believe that this is the region where the best opportunities exist for the next five to 10 years at least.” With 50% of the world’s oil, 30% of the world’s gas, guaranteed large revenue inflows for decades to come, massive investments in physical/ industrial infrastructure, and a requirement to import much of the goods and services they need, the level of demand in the Arab markets will continue to grow as the population grows and affluence increases, Geoghegan mentions. ‘Brand Ireland’ is already well established in the region and this creates an openness and a very positive attitude towards doing business with new Irish suppliers. This positivity is due in no small measure to the
Arab-Irish Business Forum
Aidan Cotter CEO Bord Bia, Minister for Agriculture, Food and The Marine and Joe Geoghegan Chairman of AICC.
credibility and reputation built up over decades by people such as Colm Mc Loughlin and his team at Dubai Duty Free; the RCSI in Bahrain and in the region generally; the McGuckian brothers whose company Masstock started dairy farming in the Saudi desert over 30 years ago – and created a business which has grown to become the biggest food business in the region; ESB International who have been involved in the energy sector across the region for many decades; and also by senior Irish executives in major companies such as Arabtec Construction, the Jumeirah Group, Emirates Airline and many more. These, and a whole new generation of Irish professionals, more recently arrived in the Gulf, are organised through local Irish Business Networks which are enormously supportive allies, alongside the Governmental agencies Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and Tourism Ireland, and, of course, the Irish embassies, Geoghegan says. “They represent a formidable force to help Irish and Arab businesses to successfully pursue the many significant opportunities.” The UAE and Saudi Arabian embassies in Dublin also play a pivotal role in this endeavour as does the Ireland Saudi Arabia Business Council, Geoghegan mentions, while Enterprise Ireland is a key organisation at the heart of all this. Julie Sinnamon, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, delivered the address at the Forum, before introducing Richard Bruton TD, Minster of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, who opened the Forum. Companies were strongly advised to spend time
Enda Corneille “On the day of the Gulf Forum, through a combination of insightful panel discussions and real life case studies, delegates were treated to a unique introduction to this exciting region. However Emirates has seen the real success of the Gulf Forum in significantly increased business from both business passengers and cargo shippers to Dubai and beyond to the wider Gulf region since the event.” and resources doing their research thoroughly; to identify where the best initial opportunities may exist and to focus on one or two markets at the start, Geoghegan explains. “They were also warned that getting started will take time, that establishing trusting relationships are critical and may require several visits before business can begin. This calls for full commitment by the company, possibly including the location of a senior person in the market to demonstrate seriousness. Firms that are not willing or able to make this commitment at present should stay away until they are in a position to do so.” On the opportunities he feels offer most opportunities for Irish companies, Geoghegan highlights ICT, construction-related services and goods, education, healthcare, agri-food, tourism and general manufacturing. However, he says, any company with a competitive product or service can be successful, and in many of the Arab markets. For example an Irish company has supplied all of the luggage scanners to Dubai International airport; another is providing cash management services to banks The Arab-Irish Journal | 31
Arab-Irish Business Forum
Ahmad R. Younis CEO AICC
Mr. Ahmad R. Younis Secretary-General & CEO, AICC The Arab-Irish Forum proved to be one of the most successful business conferences organised by the Arab-Irish Chamber, Enterprise Ireland, Emirates Airline and Bord Bia. Each member of this team has its own role to play in supporting the effort to grow and develop the Arab-Irish trade and commerce, and we have always enjoyed a very enjoyable and successful working relationship. Over 400 people attended the forum - which boasted almost 25 panel speakers - to exchange ideas on the best way of carrying out business in the Arab states. Throughout the Arab world, there is a very positive view of Ireland and this is something that we aim to improve and build upon. In Arab culture, much emphasis is placed on personal relationships; we are very fortunate that the Arabs and the Irish tend to get on very well together, which is an excellent starting point. In 2014, the Arab Markets were valued at almost €4 billion for goods and services – a figure that is expected to grow to €6 billion by 2020 and will result in the creation of 6,000 jobs. As a result of the Economic Forum, businesses and investors have been able to to identify and take maximum advantage of the numerous emerging opportunities for cooperation between Ireland and the Gulf countries.
and retailers in Saudi Arabia, while another offers custom-made chilled food display cabinets to supermarkets in the UAE. “If you have a unique offering at a good price you can expect success.” Exports of manufactured goods from Ireland to the Arab markets increased by an impressive 16% in 2014 compared to the previous year, to reach a total 32 | The Arab-Irish Journal
Companies were strongly advised to spend time and resources doing their research thoroughly; to identify where the best initial opportunities may exist and to focus on one or two markets at the start. value of €1.945bn. The top five Arab markets for Ireland in 2014 were: Saudi Arabia (€761m), United Arab Emirates (€357m), Egypt (€167m), Kuwait (€91m) and Qatar (€68m). These five countries accounted for around 75% of Ireland’s merchandise exports to the Arab world in 2014. The main product categories, accounting for 90% of total manufactured exports, were chemicals, pharmaceuticals and related products (998m), agrifood products (420m) and machinery, electronic equipment, data processing equipment, transport and general industrial machinery (413m). Imports from the Arab countries grew by 37%
Arab-Irish Business Forum
Ramzi Salman former S.A to Minister of Industry Qatar, Tim Hegarty Consultant, William Fagan former Regulator ICT Qatar and Michael Looby CEO Byrne Looby.
in value in 2014 to a total of €682m. This growth arose from additional imports of oil from Libya and Algeria. Oil accounts for 85% of Ireland’s imports from the Arab world. These figures do not include trade in services which are estimated to be of equivalent value to those of manufactured goods. Services exports include computer software, financial services, transportation, professional and technical services, education and tourism. In total, Ireland’s exports of goods and services to the Arab countries in 2014 can be estimated at more than €4bn, making this one of the most important market areas for Ireland outside of Europe and North America. The Forum was privileged to have had an excellent panel of knowledgeable and experienced speakers from the region, and also representing Irish companies which have been successful in the region, he says. The line-up of speakers included Martinus Hendrikse, General Manager, Spinneys; Fergal McGarry, CEO, Consumer Foods International & Global Marketing Director, Ornua; and Enda Corneille, Country Manager Ireland, Emirates Airline, with panel sessions including Ireland – Gulf Trade, The Diplomatic View, led by Irish Ambassadors in the region. Speakers imparted practical and informed advice based on their own experiences which was of great value to the audience, while the Forum also benefited from the fact that some of the key
Michael Hussey Regional Director, Bord Bia, Middle East I attended the Arab-Irish Forum in Dublin in March 2015. I found it very informative for our food and exporters and potential exporters on the potential of the Middle Eastern markets. Irish food exports to the region have grown strongly in the last 4 years and we see great potential to grow strongly in the region over the coming years. The forum is also a great networking event for those doing business and those who are new to the market. We would be keen to participate in future for a and would encourage our food companies to attend also.
markets such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE were covered separately, thereby highlighting their unique challenges and opportunities. The population in the Middle East is expected to grow to 621 million by 2050 - 120m more than EU by then - delegates heard, and with Ireland’s export trade to the region expected to increase to €6 billion by 2020, that would support over 14,000 jobs in Irish exporting companies. Easy to visit and ship to, with good flight connections, there are more than 13,000 Irish nationals living and working in the Arab countries, and around the same number of Arabs living in Ireland, including thousands of students. Arabs have a positive view of Ireland; we seem to understand each other and to get on well, which is good for business, Geoghegan says. The Arab-Irish Journal | 33
Arab-Irish Business Forum According to Geoghegan, Ireland’s private sector should realise the potential and develop markets in a professional way. “The Government should continue to support the activities of exporters with high-level visits and suitable Governmentto-Government contacts and activities.” Third-level colleges should introduce business development programmes to educate people to do business in the region, he believes. Asked about future plans and whether the forum will take place again and in what format, Geoghegan says that as the inaugural Forum was a collaborative effort involving Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia, Emirates Airline and the Arab-Irish Chamber of Commerce, “discussion will begin
The fact that merchandise exports to the Arab markets have grown by 36% in the year to end June 2015 suggests that the target of €6 billion in exports of goods and services by 2020 may be achieved well before that date.
Sean Davis Regional Director - Middle East, North Africa, Enterprise Ireland. The inaugural Arab-Irish Business Forum held in March generated significant interest and attendance from Enterprise Ireland client companies. We were fortunate to have superb panellists and strong support from Minister Bruton and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation. The clear message conveyed was one of enormous export opportunity across multiple sectors in the Gulf states. shortly between us to consider another event in 2016 and what format it might take in light of what we learned this year. The feedback from the attendees conveyed strong support for another such event next year and we must take that into account as well.” “The next event will be designed to bring value to exporters already active in the region with a greater focus on specific issues and market developments which may affect their future strategies and plans in the region.”
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Arab-Irish Business Forum
Welcome to RcSI IReland’S laRgeSt medIcal School …but a lot more rCSI has been at the forefront of educating healthcare professionals since 1784. With a heritage in surgery, rCSI is an independent degree awarding body across the health sciences from medicine to Pharmacy and Physiotherapy. We are based in Dublin, a cosmopolitan modern european capital offering easy access to the rest of europe, consistently voted one of the world’s best cities to live, work and study in. rCSI is Ireland’s largest medical and healthcare institution, exclusively focused on health sciences. rCSI is a truly international school where students from over 60 different countries: find it easy to fit in; benefit from a global alumni network of over 20,000 and avail of international opportunities for electives and research assignments. Since our inception, our links with world class healthcare professionals and application of clinical practice has ensured patient care is at the centre of everything we do. our past achievements continue to inspire us today in our mission to educate, nurture and discover for the benefit of human health.
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Find out more at rcsi.ie RcSI DEVELOPING HEALTHCARE LEADERS WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WORLDWIDE The Arab-Irish Journal | 35
The Suez Canal
The New Suez Canal A new era of development and prosperity
On 6 August, 2015, President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, in the presence of more than 180 world leaders and high representatives, will open one of the most important international maritime projects since the first opening of the Suez Canal in November 1869. The opening of the new Suez canal marks not only a significant expansion and deepening of the Canal that will make it even more capable of serving the international trade between the East and the West, but more importantly it is a new chapter of ambitious development not only in the Canal region but in all of Egypt. The project, which was fully financed by the Egyptian People, is a comprehensive vision and plan for today and for the future to develop the whole area making it a global trade, industry and international maritime services centre. This will undoubtedly be positively reflected in the international trade.
Facts and Figures:
The project consists of 37 kilometres of new, parallel waterways and 35 kilometres of 36 | The Arab-Irish Journal
deepening and widening of the existing Canal. The 72-kilometre (45-mile) long expansion is projected to cut the waiting period for ships from 18 hours to 11 hours and to allow two-way passage. A maximum of 49 ships a day can pass through the canal at present. The new expansion could almost double this number by 2023. Although it was huge volume of work, the project was accomplished in less than a year for about $9 billion (7.9b Euro), entirely financed by investment certificates sold to Egyptians. Over 43 thousand workers from more than 80 companies have taken part in the drilling and construction of the new Suez Canal. The project will more than double revenues from Suez Canal tolls, a key income generator for Egypt, from the $5.3 billion projected for 2015 to $13.2 billion in 2023. Now, the Suez Canal is more capable of accommodating all kinds of ships, especially giant oil tankers. Reduced traffic time will also mean cost savings for ships.
The Suez Canal
The Importance of the project to Egypt and the World
The Egyptian people and Government see the New Suez Canal project not only as an achievement in the maritime and international trade field or just as an increase of the canal national revenues, the new project is actually seen as a new beginning in the development of the whole country and in the revival of its economy in the coming decades. Alongside the new waterway, a new 76,000 square kilometre industrial development corridor is being established. The Suez Canal Area Development Project (SCZone) is poised to support nearly one million new jobs and two million new residents, creating an integrated commercial centre with international reach. The SCZone includes the building or redevelopment of four major ports – East Port Said, Ain Sokhna Port, 10th Ramadan Dry Port and Ismailia Dry Port – all powered through new wind farms, gas turbines and wasteto-energy incineration plants. The result will be a new international logistics and manufacturing powerhouse.
The project also aims to develop the entire region surrounding the Suez Canal, turning the strategic waterway into a comprehensive global business centre which would provide maritime transport services including the refuelling, towing and rescue and repair of ships. The project will see the creation of industrial and logistical centres, as well centres for loading, unloading, packing and packaging all types of goods. The unique geographical location of the Canal will benefit not only the trade and maritime connection between East and West, it presents new and important opportunities for Egyptians and Investors from around the Globe. Egypt, who was the first state in history and the ‘Cradle of Human Civilisation’, still proves that she is able to offer a new and valuable contribution to the world economy. With this project, Egypt also adds to its many investment incentives and advantages as an economic partner to any country in the World. The Arab-Irish Journal | 37
RCSI
Professer Marie Carney with guests
Jordanian Nursing Council “Transforming Nursing Quality Care: Promise and Potential” Prof Marie Carney, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland presented a Key Note Address to the Jordanian Nursing Council (JNC) 5th International Nursing and Midwifery Conference, held in Amman on April 22/23. She spoke on “Advanced Nurse Practice: Role Dimensions, Responsibilities and Outcomes from an International Perspective” to the 500 national and international nurses, midwives, academics and leaders present. Dr. Muntaha Gharaibeh, Secretary General of the Jordanian Nursing Council and Professor of Maternal and Child Health in Jordan University of Science and Technology welcomed delegates. The Conference was opened by Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al-Hussein of Jordan, Patron of the JNC and World Health Organisation Regional Patron for nurses in the Middle Eastern Mediterranean Region. Her Royal Highness expressed her appreciation to the Faculty and to RCSI on being awarded the Honorary Fellowship from the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery in February 2015. The Minister of Health, HE Dr. Ali Hiasat was also present. Prof. Rowaida Al Maaitah, former Senator and former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, advisor for Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al Hussien and a member of the Jordanian Nursing 38 | The Arab-Irish Journal
Council (JNC) and Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Nursing, RCSI (2013) expressed her appreciation to RCSI and to the Faculty for their promotion of nursing research worldwide through the Annual Faculty International Research and Education Conference. Amongst the papers presented during the conference were “Innovative models of patient centred care (Ms. Oman Bashir Al Kouatly, Lebanon); “Reforming health policies and competencies” (Dr Benton, International Council of Nurses); “The Australian Perspective of high quality nursing care and excellence in patient outcomes” (Dr Bryant, Chief Nurse Australian Health Services) and “Nursing promise into the future: political leadership” (Prof Rowaida Al Maaitah, JNC). Prof Carney’s presentation was based upon the systematic review (1994-2015) that she undertook for the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, following the introduction of the new Nurses and Midwives Act (2012). She focused on identifying how advanced nurse practitioners may influence healthcare outcomes for patients and society in a positive manner with the safety of the public being their priority when delivering care. Her research demonstrated that care and interventions delivered by advanced practitioners enhances patient outcomes by creating a better standard of care.
RCSI
Fellowship Award was presented to HRH Princess Muna by Prof Marie Carney, Dean of Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, RCSI
RCSI Fellowship for HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein of Jordan Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al Hussein of Jordan, WHO Patron of Nursing and Midwifery in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the highest honour the Faculty can bestow. The Honorary Fellowship was awarded in recognition of her lifetime commitment and contributions to nursing which began with her founding of the Princess Muna College of Nursing in Jordan in 1962 and since then she has worked tirelessly for the profession. Reading HRH Princess Muna’s citation, Professor Edna Woolhead, Board Member & Former Dean, RCSI Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, commended HRH for a range of important contributions to nursing: ‘Princess Muna’s vision to regulate nursing and provide quality care for the public led to the creation of the Jordanian Nursing Council in 2002. The JNC has reformed nursing in the country and established strong ties with prominent world nursing and health institutions.”
“HRH’s commitments to the development of nursing are directed to the most disadvantaged groups, namely the elderly and mental health service users. Under her leadership, a multidisciplinary unit at the National Mental Health Centre was established with the aim of early intervention and effective treatment of mental disorders in primary health care. In addition HRH supports initiatives aimed at enhancing the wellbeing of the elderly while identifying gaps in local needs”, Professor Woodhead said. The conferring ceremony took place at the RCSI on 18 February, 2015 in advance of the RCSI 34th Annual International Nursing and Midwifery Research and Education Conference, on the theme ‘Advancing Nursing & Midwifery Practice: Linking National & International Perspectives’. HRH Princess Muna, mother of His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan, is keen to build closer ties between the nursing professions in Ireland and Jordan and is working to make this happen. The Arab-Irish Journal | 39
Jordan and Ireland sign Public Sector MOU
Front: Minister Brendan Howlin and Minister Khleef Alkhawaldeh Back: Joe Geoghegan, Honorary Consul of Jordan in Ireland; Mohammed Al-aqeel, Embassy of Jordan, London; Dr. Nicholas Marcoux, Institute of Public Administration
Ireland and Jordan to co-operate in Public Sector Development On 27 May, 2015 the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin T.D., signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Ministry of Public Sector Development of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan at a meeting with his Jordanian counterpart in Dublin. The agreement aims to foster the mutual exchange of information and views on Public Service Reform developments and initiatives in both countries. H.E. Minister Khleef Alkhawaldeh, the Jordanian Minister of Public Sector Development, had travelled to Dublin to meet with Minister Howlin and a range of senior officials. The MoU has been developed following Minister Howlin’s visit to Jordan in November 2014. The MoU provides for the exchange of knowledge, experience and best practice in a number of areas of Public Sector Reform. Minister Howlin welcomed the development stating that: “The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding will strengthen bilateral relations between Ireland and Jordan. It provides a solid framework for the development of mutually beneficial learning opportunities. The Government is supportive of Jordan’s efforts to progress reform of the Public Sector and I 40 | The Arab-Irish Journal
look forward to sharing Ireland’s expertise in this field.” Minister Alkhawaldeh said that when he first visited Dublin in June 2012 he had learned a lot about Ireland’s approach to repositioning the public sector to meet the serious challenges arising from the financial crisis. He said that he and the Jordanian government have been very impressed by the significant progress made by Ireland since then, and he is convinced that Ireland’s experiences will be of considerable benefit to Jordan which is currently facing serious challenges arising from the recent influx of refugees, climate change effects and the impact of political turmoil in the Middle East. A range of specific areas for co-operation were discussed during the visit and a follow-up programme of activities is now being developed. The Institute of Public Administration will co-ordinate the programme in partnership with the Jordanian Ministry of Public Sector Development. Joe Geoghegan, the Jordanian Honorary Consul in Ireland, said that Minister Khleef Alkhawaldeh and the Jordanian government, plus His Majesty King Abdullah, see many similarities between the challenges faced by Ireland and Jordan, and they also believe that we have much to learn from each other through collaboration in the future.
Jordan and Ireland sign Public Sector MOU
INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
INTERNATIONAL SERVICES The Institute of Public Administration (IPA), Dublin is the National Public Sector Management Development Agency in Ireland. Established in 1957, the Institute has an extensive track record of providing specialised advice to support the reform and development of public administration systems and public sector organisations internationally and facilitating the exchange of ideas and experiences through tailor-made programmes, seminars, workshops and study visits. The Institute is a recognised college of University College Dublin.
Our International Services focus on: ● The design and project management of flexible study visits to Ireland, for policy makers and public servants from a range of countries and organisations, to promote the values, standards and ethos that underpin the profession of public service; ● Building the capacity of public administration, civil service and local government in partner countries; ● Providing practical advice, training and education services in public sector reform, governance, leadership, financial and human resource management; ● Working in close cooperation with international consultancy houses on technical assistance programmes.
AN FORAS RIARACHÁIN
INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC A D M I N I S T R AT I O N
+353 1 240 3600
isu@ipa.ie
www.ipa.ie/International-Services
Institute of Public Administration 57-61 Lansdowne Road, Dublin 4, D04 TC62 Ireland The Arab-Irish Journal | 41
GRID Finance
Andrea Linehan
Get on the GRID GRID Finance is enabling businesses to access finance independent of their banks, while earning attractive, stable returns, as Andrea Linehan, Head of Sales of Marketing, explains.
42 | The Arab-Irish Journal
GRID Finance
Colette O’Sullivan and Kathtrina Furlong, founders of Harbour View Business Centre.
Located in Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin and opened in 2014, Harbour View Business Centre was once a car showroom and has since been renovated as home to local businesses using the centre for various services such as hot-spot desks, meetings and seminars. “We were looking for €7,330 to replace our boiler and lighting system. Within four working days we had been over pledged and got the money we needed. I strongly recommend that everyone should get on the Grid before going through the banking system. Raising money through Grid Finance was Less Hassle, Less Paperwork, Less Stress!”
By sidestepping the banks using GRID Finance’s process, businesses receive finance in a matter of days compared to up to three months for a traditional bank loan. The company was founded by Derek Butler and Sean O’Riordan, both of whom have significant experience in the financial sector, having worked with organisations such as PWC, KPMG, Goodbody Stockbrokers and EY. Financed by a group of committed private investors, including Kilcullen Kapital Partners and Enterprise Ireland, GRID Finance does not fall within the remit of the Central Bank of Ireland although it is anticipated that the peerto-peer finance sector will be regulated in the coming years. GRID Finance voluntarily follows the UK regulatory framework as it is anticipated that the Irish framework will be similar, explains Andrea Linehan, GRID Finance’s Head of Sales of Marketing. After completing her degree in Finance and Accounting back in 2004, Linehan moved to the Middle East with Aer Rianta International, before spending nine years in Oman, developing commercial and leisure brands for the Omani Government during which time she founded the
Irish Business Network Oman. A postgraduate student of the Chartered Institute of Marketers, she has a Professional Diploma from the Digital Marketing Institute and moved back to Ireland in 2013 to complete her MBA at Trinity College Dublin, before joining the GRID Finance senior management team the following year. Linehan refers to the first example of a business that has used GRID Finance successfully. Daniel Plewman is the owner of Happy Threads, a Dublin-based company that manufactures and wholesales hospital scrubs, exporting them to the UK and Australia. He needed a business loan of €10,000 to purchase a new embroidery machine. “When the project went live on the GRID, Daniel received offers up to the value of €11,055 from 18 different lenders. Our platform calculated the most competitive offers up to the value of €10,000 giving Daniel a weighted average interest rate of 5.74%.” Daniel received his €10,000 and began making monthly repayments, principal plus 5.74% interest to the GRID. Our team then distributed the repayments amongst his lenders on a proThe Arab-Irish Journal | 43
GRID Finance
Lender FAQs Who can lend?
What fees does GRID Finance charge?
Anyone can lend as long as you are at least 18 years of age.
It is free to join GRID Finance. We charge 15% on the interest you earn, no charge is made on the principal you invest.
Who am I lending to? This is completely up to you. Each business owner will upload their information and you can make the decision to lend based on that information.
How do I lodge funds into my account? You can lodge funds into your GRID Finance account by completing an online transfer from your bank account. It is essential to include your reference on the payment so there are no unnecessary delays in allocating the funds to your account. Once the funds arrive into the GRID Finance Client account they will be credited to your account within 24 hours.
Do you accept Credit and Debit cards? Yes. It is free to add funds to your GRID account by card, and unlike a bank transfer, your funds will be available to use immediately.
How do I withdraw funds from my account? It is easy to withdraw money from your account. All you have to do is click Withdraw Funds on your dashboard and you can leave the rest to us. It usually takes 3-5 days before the funds arrive into your nominated bank account depending on your bank.
How do I know my money is safe? The security of your funds is our primary concern. We have voluntarily adopted the client asset rules where your funds are held by AIB in a segregated bank account. Client funds are never pooled with GRID Finance’s funds and they will never be used to settle any of GRID Finance’s obligations. KPMG have been appointed to review our client asset controls and procedures on an ongoing basis.
Will the interest I receive on the loans I fund be taxed? If you are resident in Ireland, your returns will be taxed as investment income and it is the responsibility of each lender to complete the relevant filings with the Revenue Commissioners. Upon request we will provide the interest earned statement. We suggest that you obtain independent tax advice if you are unclear and/or a non-resident. Visit: www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/ investment-income-arising-state.html
What happens if a business misses a payment?
How will my money be repaid?
If a business misses a payment, we will follow up with the business owner to determine the reason for the delay. If a business misses three payments then they are deemed to be in default and we will hand the loan over to a debt collection agency to recover the funds on your behalf. Late payments will also be reported to credit reference agencies such as the Irish Credit Bureau and Experian.
Your money will be repaid monthly. Once the funds are received from the borrower we will allocate the funds to your GRID Finance account within 24 hours.
www.grid.finance andrea@grid.finance
What is the minimum and maximum that I can lend? The minimum that you can lend is €50 and the maximum that you can lend is 50% of the loan value being sought.
rata basis, Linehan explains. For instance, one lender had contributed €2,500 towards this loan at an interest rate of 7%. He received a quarter of Daniel’s monthly repayment at his 7% interest rate.
Irish expats in the Gulf
Irish people are one of our biggest and most successful exports but repatriation of income for investment purposes pales in comparison to other nationalities in the Gulf, Linehan believes. This is compounded by the fact that aside from property, there are limited investment opportunities for Irish expats to participate in. “That’s where GRID comes in. Our platform offers expats the opportunity to invest in Irish businesses. The investment is in the form of a business loan and the return is in the form of interest. In essence, it is cutting out the middle man which in Ireland is traditionally the bank,” she says. “Our team sources small and medium sized businesses that require debt finance. Each business goes through a rigorous credit review process before going live on the GRID. Lenders can browse the businesses and make offers, 44 | The Arab-Irish Journal
choosing how much they wish to lend and at what interest rate. It is akin to using eBay.” What makes this accessible for expats, Linehan says, is that it can be all done online. Lenders can credit their GRID account with a bank transfer or by debit and credit card. “They choose a business to lend to, the amount they wish to lend and the interest rate they want to charge. We look after the rest.” An electronic loan agreement is generated between the borrower and each individual lender. “We ensure you receive your repayments monthly and we will manage the retrieval of late or missed repayments when necessary.” Linehan talks through the simple process involved for businesses.
Three Steps:
1. Create an account: Use Facebook, Twitter or your email to quickly set up your lender profile. 2. Credit your account: Add funds to your lender account by credit card, debit card or bank transfer. 3. Lend to Businesses: Lend to businesses at the amount and interest rate that you choose.
GRID Finance
Derek. F Butler, CEO, GRID Finance and Katie Cantwell, owner of KC Peaches. Katie Cantwell, owner of KC Peaches - the first and only whole foods catering company in Dublin - raised â‚Ź55,000 on the GRID, which at the time was the largest loan of its kind in Ireland. She used this loan to expand her catering department.
Gary and Dan Kealy, owners of Fresh Start Foods, raised â‚Ź10,500 to launch a new juice bar.
The Arab-Irish Journal | 45
The Arab-Irish Journal News
Welcome to
Brown Thomas ,
The home of the world’s leading luxury brands... Alaïa • Alexander McQueen • Bottega Veneta • Brioni • Canali • Céline Chloé • Christian Dior • Dolce & Gabbana • Ermenegildo Zegna • Givenchy Gucci • Hermès • Louis Vuitton • Marc by Marc Jacobs • Michael Michael Kors Saint Laurent Paris • Stella McCartney • Tom Ford • Valentino • Victoria Beckham ... and the destination for beauty. Armani • Aveda • Bobbi Brown • Charlotte Tilbury • Crème de la Mer • Dior Estée Lauder • Jo Malone London • La Prairie • Laura Mercier • MAC • Nars Sisley • Tom Ford • Yves Saint Laurent
46 | The Arab-Irish Journal
The Arab-Irish Journal News
News AMG Consulting - Marketing & Public Relations Consultancy Firm AMG Consulting is a Dublin-and Dubai-based marketing and public relations firm. AMG specialises in the development of tailored strategies for clients both in Ireland and across the Middle East. The firm has seen exceptional growth across both jurisdictions over recent years and looks forward to the integration of new markets as Dubai gears up for Expo2020 when the city will host 25 million visitors, 70% of whom are expected to come from overseas. AMG is headed up by Ms. Amanda Gavin, a native of Dublin who relocated to Dubai in 2013. Having extensive experience in marketing and PR within the aviation and property sectors, Amanda was inspired to become self-employed and established AMG Consulting, expanding her reach into multiple industries. With success in marketing and public relations in Ireland during the economic downturn, the decision was made to look to Dubai as it, too was reeling from difficult times which made for enormous potential during its eventual recovery. This move brought new challenges as well as new demographics. Within days of arriving in Dubai, Amanda re-established her brand and joined the Irish Business Network, a networking group with extensive reach across every industrial sector in the UAE. The invaluable contacts within the IBN made for a less burdensome transition to the UAE and gave AMG their first Dubai-based clients – Exquisite Events, a company ran by a former colleague of Amanda’s. Working with Exquisite Events opened many doors as relationships in the Middle East are often established by a good referral and/or previous excellence demonstrated for friends or family. AMG now has numerous Emirati clients in addition to clients from France, India, Russia and across the MENA region. AMG’s reach spans all media formats including television, print, radio, online and event hosting. The demands on AMG have not deterred it from serving clients on the domestic front with several Irish companies taking advantage of the skillsets offered. While not all clients in Ireland would be looking to expand overseas, Amanda has been privileged to develop her client’s domestic and international marketing and public relations strategies across a broad spectrum of industry including retail, specialised floristry, events companies, beauty and cosmetics, medical clinics and online businesses. Amanda’s clients have been featured in several leading industry publications including The Irish Independent, The Sunday Business Post, Forbes Middle East, Gulf Business, HELLO!, OK!, Ahlan!, The Irish Wedding Diary and radio and television outlets such as Dubai Eye, Dubai One, Newstalk, RTE, TV3 and multiple online outlets. Regular travel between regions has allowed Amanda to keep a very close eye on market developments both domestically and overseas and facilitates her expanding client portfolio in Ireland. Being a woman in business, Amanda has held female entrepreneurship closely to her heart and has worked with several businesswomen in harnessing the strengths that women bring to business, securing them the right exposure and developing their brand and standing in the market. Dubai, in particular hosts several high profile women’s business and industry networking groups which serve not only to facilitate networking but serve as a forum for businesswomen from across the region to discuss and debate the issues affecting themselves as entrepreneurs and
their businesses as a whole. Amanda Gavin Amanda considers these outlets as invaluable for any woman in business in Dubai and can’t emphasise enough their welcoming and hospitable approach to new joiners. Looking to the future, what does AMG Consulting see as exciting new developments? At present, there has been an explosion in the number of Irish companies looking to expand their operations into the UAE and Irish entrepreneurs seeking to establish their presence in the region. Amanda also has confidence in the market, “I would expect that trend to continue as Dubai is experiencing something of a spurt in growth at present and the hosting of the 2020 Expo will mean that this will continue as new and exciting projects and concepts are commissioned”, she explains. “We are seeing companies from other jurisdictions like the Philippines and India get in touch with plans to establish or expand their presence in Dubai”. One other region is generating a lot of excitement across all market sectors is Iran. With recent positive political developments, Amanda believes that the Iranian economy is fertile ground for investment. With developments in the country’s energy sector, the lack of western consumer goods and the prolonged underinvestment in the country’s infrastructure, companies need to be establishing their brand’s presence in the region now, not later to take advantage of the expected upswing. Some of AMG’s clients are already making plans to enter Iran and as the anticipation builds that sanctions will be lifted, those who have not developed their PR and marketing programs might find themselves standing very much alone at the back of the line. Bringing a very personable and professional approach to all client’s requirements, Amanda Gavin of AMG Consulting has little doubt that getting a company’s story heard when there is so much noise out there is the cornerstone of the service she provides. And with more and more Irish businesses establishing themselves in the Middle East, it helps having the right person on the ground. Amanda is CEO of AMG Consulting, incorporated in the UAE and Ireland and specialises in marketing, public relations and brand development. Please see www.amgconsulting.ie or call +971-55-5561588 or +353-1-254-8424 Fran National. www.franational.com, web developers for AMG.
The Arab-Irish Journal | 47
The Arab-Irish Journal News
News Qatar Airways Selects Irish Company Arconics AeroDocs Document Management Software Irish airline software company Arconics signs ten-year, USD $6.7 million, deal with Qatar Airways. Arconics to deliver AeroDocs, the new paradigm in airline document management system, to Qatar. Arconics, one of the the world’s leading airline Document Management System (DMS) platform providers, today announces the conclusion of an enterprise-wide deal with Qatar Airways. Arconics AeroDocs helps major airlines more easily manage their aircraft manuals and operational documentation. This software enables customers to meet, and exceed, their regulatory compliance requirements. AeroDocs uses a bestin-class iPad document viewer, which is fully-integrated with a document distribution, synchronisation and tracking system, as well as an easy-to-use XML authoring module. AeroDocs manages manuals for both Boeing and Airbus aircraft, making it ideal for airlines with large, mixed fleets. XML (nextgen digital document format) functionality ensures that pilots get to use powerful features including advanced search and storage of annotations and highlights. In noting that AeroDocs software has been built in Ireland, Niall O’Sullivan, Arconics CEO, said: “We have been very successful at bringing world class programming talent to our team, as we use cutting edge mobile and satellite technology, and face the complex challenges that attract top engineers. By understanding our customers’ needs, from pilots to ground operations staff, we put the user experience at the heart of our design process and aim for innovation at every stage of product development. ” The ten-year deal was recently signed with Qatar Airways CEO, His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker, who said: “We need the highest levels of quality and consistency in our document management systems to meet our global safety and compliance goals. Arconics brings us best-in-class software, and a deep understanding of the challenges we face. This initiative will help us deliver timely, consistent documents to every computer and mobile device across the Qatar Airways Group with an end-to-end audit trail.” Arconics will deliver AeroDocs to all group companies including Qatar Airways, Qatar Cargo, Qatar Executive, and Qatar Amiri Flight. Mr Al Baker is also a member of the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). IATA is the trade association for the world’s airlines, representing some 260 airlines or 83% of total air traffic. IATA supports many areas of aviation activity and helps formulate industry policy on critical aviation issues, including regulatory compliance.
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In welcoming the announcement of the Qatar Airways contract, Fergal Murray, Chief Commercial Officer at Arconics said: “We’re very proud of our software, built from scratch in Ireland and designed around the needs of users. This Qatar Airways contract is a huge vote of confidence in AeroDocs and the skilled team behind it. It proves that our solution can comfortably manage the complex document management needs of a major and fast-growing airline, with a modern fleet of both Boeing and Airbus aircraft. “The position of Qatar Airways as the world’s favourite airline endorses AeroDocs which is, I believe, the world’s best airline document management system. There is substantial interest in AeroDocs from major airlines worldwide. We’re ready to help airlines of all sizes manage their documents more effectively.” AeroDocs is the new paradigm in airline document management, marking a technology shift in compliance, collaboration and usability. The AeroDocs platform delivers regulatory compliance with simple, Web-based, collaborative authoring of XML documents. Secure document storage, access control, audited distribution and smart sharing and reuse of data across the airline come easy with AeroDocs. The platform gives all users - airline operations, external partners and regulators - access to documents with fast search facilities and offline viewing capabilities. Airline administrators get real-time visibility and control of the distribution process, ensuring that all devices are updated and that all staff have access to the current document versions. Arconics integrates AeroDocs into existing airline systems to ensure regulatory compliance, minimise the operational overhead, and assure accuracy and consistency of information across all systems. The AeroDocs platform is delivered by Arconics, a software company with a focus on airlines’ needs, a culture of innovation and a methodical approach to solving our customers’ problems. With AeroDocs software now powering the documents of Qatar Airways, Arconics will continue to innovate. In continuing to improve its solutions in airline DMS (Document Management Systems), wireless IFE (In-Flight Entertainment) and EFB (Electronic Flight Bag), Arconics delivers on the promise of the connected aircraft platform, with all the efficiencies, cost savings and enhanced crew and passenger experiences that it can bring.
The Arab-Irish Journal News
President Higgins receives credentials from H.E. Ms. Soha Gendi, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt
H.E. Ms. Soha Gendi, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt, was accompanied by Mr. Ahmed Mostafa Mohamed, Minister Plenipotentiary and Deputy Head of Mission. Mr. Tom Hayes, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, represented the Government at the ceremony. The following were also present: Mr. Conor Ó Raghallaigh, Deputy Secretary-General to the President; Mr. Barrie Robinson, Political Director, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Mr. Joe Brennan, Ms. Mary Cusack
and Mr. Shane Stephens, Protocol, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Ambassador was escorted to and from Áras an Uachtaráin by an Escort of Honour consisting of a motorcycle detachment drawn from the 2nd Cavalry Squadron, Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin, under the command of Second Lieutenant Stephen Bunney. A Guard of Honour was provided at Áras an Uachtaráin by the 12th Infantry Battalion, Sarsfields Barracks, Limerick, under the command of Lieutenant Conor Kirwan. Captain Fergal Carroll conducted the Army No. 1 Band.
Emirates Receives Company Record Delivery of Four New Wide-body Aircraft in One Day Event marks the 150th Emirates Boeing 777 delivery milestone, and takes airline’s total A380 fleet to 66. Four aircraft delivery valued at $1.5 billion 3 September 2015: Emirates celebrated the company record arrival of four new aircraft in one day, affirming its commitment to flying a modern, efficient and comfortable fleet. The bumper delivery included two Boeing 777-300ERs, one Boeing 777 Freighter and one A380 aircraft. Emirates is already the world’s largest operator of the Boeing 777 and the A380. The A380 aircraft delivered this week brings the total number of this iconic double-decked aircraft in the Emirates fleet to 66. The additional three Boeing aircraft marks the 150th Emirates Boeing 777 delivery milestone, and takes the current Emirates 777 fleet size to 147. Emirates received its first Boeing 777 in 1996, and has since retired three older 777 aircraft from service. With a range of up to 17,446 kilometers or 9,420 nautical miles, Emirates’ Boeing 777s serve almost 100 destinations across six continents, enabling the airline to connect almost any two points on earth. Sir Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline said, “The Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 are two of the most advanced, efficient, and spacious commercial aircraft in the skies today. They are the mainstay of the Emirates fleet, giving us versatility in our route planning, and also the ability to offer our customers the latest features and comforts onboard.
“Our long-standing commitments to both aircraft programmes continue to support jobs and innovation across the aerospace manufacturing supply chain around the world, particularly in the USA and Europe. And we will continue to work closely with both manufacturers to raise the bar on operational efficiency and onboard product features.” The four new aircraft are valued at $1.5 billion and underwent preservice maintenance checks before being put into regular service. The maiden flights for the two Boeing 777-300ERs took passengers from Dubai to Kuwait and Bombay, while the first flight for the new A380 took off from Dubai to Dusseldorf. The Boeing 777 freighter was scheduled to fly directly from the Seattle area, where it was manufactured, to Hong Kong to pick up 103,000 kg of cargo. Emirates has received 14 new aircraft so far in 2015, which include nine A380’s, four Boeing 777-300ER’s and one Boeing 777 Freighter. During the same period, the airline retired eight aircraft, comprised of four A340500’s, two A330-300’s and one Boeing 777-200. Including the most recent deliveries, the total number of aircraft in the Emirates fleet stands at 238 with an average age of 6.5 years, representing one of the youngest fleets in the skies. The airline has 270 additional aircraft on order, worth a total of $129 billion at list prices. Its order book includes 46 Boeing 777-300ERs, 115 Boeing 777-9Xs, 35 Boeing 777-8Xs and 74 Airbus A380s.
The Arab-Irish Journal | 49
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The Arab-Irish Journal News
An Essential Ingredient In The Growth Of Food Manufacturing: Gulfood Manufacturing 2015 Biggest F&B processing exhibition in MEASA region highlights regional growth factors for industry Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Recognised as having some of the fastest emerging markets in the world, the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia (MEASA) region is also proving to be a hotspot for exponential growth in the F&B industry. As the largest and most influential platform for the food manufacturing, processing and packaging sectors, Gulfood Manufacturing 2015 will take place from 27 – 29 October at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The show facilitates exceptional trade opportunities between suppliers and manufacturers from around the world, looking to capitalise on the key growth factors presented in this dynamic and diverse region. The high reliance on food imports, in particular throughout the Middle East and parts of Africa, is driving development of the food processing industry. In countries such as Saudi Arabia – the largest food producer in the GCC – the number of food processing units has increased from 460 in 2002 to more than 735 in 2012, according to the 2015 Alpen Capital report, with overall investment in the segment growing at a CAGR rate of 11.9 percent to US$12.3 billion in 2012. Growth in the remaining GCC markets is equally robust for their respective sized markets. In South East Asia, the food processing industry is developing into a significant economic growth driver. While the industry in India is powered less by food imports and more by food exports, according to the country’s Ministry of External Affairs, the food processing industry accounts now for 32 percent of the country’s total food market,14 percent of its manufacturing GDP, 13 percent of India’s exports and six percent of total industrial investment. In South Africa, the food processing industry contributes a significant 14 percent to the country’s annual GDP and is its third largest manufacturing sector, while Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Algeria, Morocco and Egypt are home to the largest food manufacturing and agri-businesses on the African continent. Across the region, governments are implementing programmes to facilitate growth of the food manufacturing and processing industry. These range from provision of subsidies on certain food production equipment, to interest-free loans, and exemption of duty on the import of raw materials. Governments in Oman, the UAE, Qatar, India, Nigeria and South Africa are developing specialist industrial parks to support and promote investment and growth in the industry. Sourcing business improvement and growth solutions for food processing companies across the region has become simpler since the launch of Gulfood Manufacturing, which has reported exceptional demand for exhibition space from every sector of the industry.
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The Arab-Irish Journal delighted to Sponsor Farren and Grogan Racing Farren & Grogan racing was started in the year 2014, with a Suzuki sv 650 which had been raced on the Irish roads and at the iconic TT by Alan Conor. With Damien Horan in the saddle we got off to a great start to the season Dave Farren with Sean Leonard our new with two Top 10 finishes rider for 2016. at Kirkistown on Easter Monday and six days later 4th place at Cookstown the first road race of the season. For the 2015 season, our rider Damian Horan focused fully on the Manx GP riding his big 750. The season finally got under way at the Killalane races with are new rider Sean Leonard on board , who has just returned back from a great Manx GP. We are delighted to have The Arab-Irish Journal back as sponsors for the 2016 season. P.S.: Big thank you to Kedington Group, Forward Direct, Avion Design and Paul and Des Butler. And great news for Damian Horan who did get his dream this season of racing the Manx GP with a great 4th place finish in the newcomers a race.
The Arab-Irish Journal | 51
George Lee
Q&A with George Lee about his visit to Dubai You are here in Dubai filming an upcoming RTE documentary, what have your first impressions been of the UAE? I came to Dubai fresh from a two-week trip to Silicon Valley and San Francisco where I was filming a very similar documentary about the Irish who are successful abroad. So I thought it was going to be very difficult to impress me, particularly coming from a location like that. But I have to say that I have been quite blown away by what I have found here in Dubai. I understood before I came that Dubai is not entirely representative of all the UAE insofar as it has a reputation for being far more liberal and international in its outlook. But that didn’t quite prepare me for what I found. I have been very struck by the positivity of the place and also by the sense of optimism that people here have. The visual impression made by the city as one trundles from the airport is stunning. The glitz and glamour associated with some of the buildings will be hard enough to forget. But I think I’ll find it far harder to forget the attitude of the people that I come across. And it is those people and the stories they have told me that are responsible for impression I have of the city. The term that is ringing in my ears about Dubai after my two-week trip here is the expression “no doubt”. In fact, if I had to pick a business slogan for Dubai then that would be it. “No Doubt”. Because it seems to me that Dubai has no doubt. No doubt that “if you build it they will come”. No doubt that it can deliver world class levels of services. No doubt that it can match the rest of the 52 | The Arab-Irish Journal
world in aspirations for economic growth, wealth creation, and its ability to attract good people and businesses from abroad. And no doubt that with the tax-free incentives that are in place people will continue to work hard in Dubai. When you add all of that together it’s hardly surprisingly that I came across absolutely nobody during my visit who doubted that as an economic, social, cultural, and political oasis in the desert this place will continue to grow and grow at a very fast pace. Just to be clear, I am not saying that I, personally, have no doubts about any of these things. I am an economist after all, and I am Irish. And being Irish I know all about massive economic crashes. I know about the dangers of groupthink when it comes to economic decision making and aspirations. And like the rest of the Irish people I have paid - and will continue to pay - a very big price because so many people at home got seduced into a doctrine of economic cockiness in the relatively recent past. So I come fresh from a country that is riddled with economic doubt and is likely to remain so for many years to come. I am not going to be easily won over by mere assertions that nothing can go wrong with any economy now or at anytime in the future. Even here in Dubai, the nooks and crannies up and down and around Sheik Zayed Road are full of what can only be described as the “skid marks” caused by the last economic boom coming to a very sudden halt. I have never seen as many unfinished building carcasses in a single city in my life. So everyone here must know that things can go wrong.
George Lee RTE Presenter George Lee
The Arab-Irish Journal | 53
George Lee
Having said that, though, I can see plenty of reason for optimism that things will continue to go right for Dubai. The aspirations and ambitions for the place are writ large all over the city’s infrastructure. The new Metro system is incredibly impressive, and it’s mind-blowing to think that it was built over for a very short period of time. The iconic hotels and shopping malls and other massive buildings are equally impressive, as is the general cleanliness of the place. It is a great city, and from talking to the people here who I have met over the past two weeks it certainly seems to be a city that offers an unparalleled opportunity for a decent lifestyle, a very good social life, substantial take-home pay, and an ability to save on top of all of that. I didn’t come across a single person, not one, whether Irish or otherwise, who told me they wanted to go home. And that speaks volumes for the place. I think I asked every person I met how long they came to Dubai for. Everyone said they have stayed longer, or are planning to stay longer, then they originally came for. And there was a great sense to which they came across to me as if they where revealing a secret that this place, Dubai, is far better as a place to live in and to work in than many people outside might think. 54 | The Arab-Irish Journal
You have interviewed many well established Irish entrepreneurs and business owners in Dubai. Do you feel they have been afforded more opportunities here in the UAE than in Ireland? Yes, I have indeed interviewed and spoke with quite a few entrepreneurs and business owners here in Dubai. And I have been very impressed with the type of opportunities that they are pursued and the extent to which they been able to grow their businesses. It is a little difficul,t however, to make a direct comparison between the business opportunities afforded to entrepreneurs in a place like Dubai and Ireland. That’s because the businesses that thrive in Dubai are by their very nature a self-selected group of successful enterprises. Any businesses likely to fail have cleared out of Dubai a long time ago because of the rules about who can stay and who has to go. In addition Ireland’s corporate tax regime, along with its income tax and social insurance system enables the government to give plenty of incentives to entrepreneurs who wish to pursue business opportunities and grow their enterprises at home. There is also a plethora of agencies set up by the State in Ireland whose sole purpose is to help entrepreneurs to grow. So to try to make a direct comparison between the business regimes in Ireland and Dubai is a bit like comparing apples and oranges.
George Lee That said, however, there is no doubt that the business opportunities in Dubai are incredible. It is like a dream to imagine that one can set up a business in Dubai and there is so little interference in the day-to-day running of your operations by the government. Once you get over the issues of permits, licenses, permission fees, and set-up costs the absence of bureaucratic red tape and taxation must be the envy of the world. I am actually still a little in shock that it is possible to set up a small business without even needing to file accounts in Dubai - although I am sure most businesses will engage accountants for all the value-added that they bring. The lack of a corporate tax regime, and the lack of income tax, can make things very easy indeed once you’re up and running. And that lack of bureaucracy in itself is a huge boost to anybody who wishes to run a business. I was also very struck by the flexibility in and around wages. Of course, there are many people in Ireland and elsewhere who would disagree with the type of wage flexibility that is possible in Dubai where people can be paid according to where they come from. At the same time, however, for many people in business the ability to be so flexible with regard to wages is highly attractive. I think for me the most impressive aspect of the business environment was the sense I got that Dubai is a “can do “place. It struck me that the business philosophy was about “getting on with it”. That if you have a business idea then just to do it - there is nothing to stop you. And if you make profits you can keep them all of them! That is such a simple concept but it really is quite amazing to find a place where that is actually a reality. Sometimes business opportunities are all about your mindset - because you can run a business from anywhere really. But the mindset I think that I would have if I were running a business in Dubai would definitely be far more gung-ho then if I were running a business at home in Ireland. And on top of that, there is the entire MiddleEastern market that one can service on Dubai’s doorstep. That is an enormous market that has yet to be opened up for many of the products and services that we take for granted in the West. I came across Irish businesses in the technology space who are making huge strides in bringing technologies and services that have succeeded in the West to new customers in the Middle East and are making huge money out of that. So I would have to agree that there appears to be very substantial opportunities for business growth in Dubai and that it appears to be easier to pursue them and more profitable to do so then in Ireland.
What have been the highlights of your trip to the UAE? There have been so many highlights to my trip. There were the buildings obviously, which are extremely classy from the outside but also top class from the inside. There were the magnificent hotels and in particular the Burg Al Arab Hotel that we visited on more than one occasion and thoroughly enjoyed the splendour and the spectacle of it all. We took a trip on a yacht. We explored the shopping malls. We explored the souks, enjoyed the old town, travel (travelled) on what must be the cleanest Metro ever. We enjoyed great hospitality in the Bonnington Hotel and in the Irish pubs. We even walked in the desert. All of these where highlights. But the biggest highlight were the people we met. They were brilliant. They open up their lives and told us their stories. The let us into their homes and into their workplaces. They explained the mysteries of how Dubai actually works. And for that I am extremely grateful. They told us about how much money they earned. About the fact that they worked very long hours compared to at home. They explained that in many cases the amount of money they earned was not hugely more than they would get at home in Ireland but that they got to keep so much more of it and that’s what made all the difference. They explained the issues about the high cost of education and accommodation in Dubai. But they were open and honest about the kind of lifestyles that they have. They filled my head with pictures of what their lives must be like. And it is those pictures that I will remember far longer than the pictures in my head of the building that I drove past on the Sheikh Zayed Road. So the highlight for me was definitely the people I met. The decision to relocate family and businesses from Ireland to the UAE might have been easier given Ireland’s recent economic issues. What do you feel would encourage Irish expats to want to return to Ireland? The issue of going home was a question that I put to many of the people I met on my trip. They all made it clear that they would find it very difficult to give up the lifestyle available in Dubai to go home to Ireland. Some mentioned our cold and rainy weather. Others mentioned the drop in income and living standards they would suffer. So I think you would have to look a little deeper to find the reasons that someone would wish to go home. If I were living in Dubai, I might miss Irish culture and want to go home for that reason. I might also go home if I wanted to change the world, or influence economic and social policy, or get involved in politics, or write a book, or compose music, or play a greater role in society. The Arab-Irish Journal | 55
George Lee
I could be wrong but I cannot imagine myself doing any of those things in Dubai because of the way things work here. I might also get to the point where I feel that I had made enough money and be ready to go home. I might want to go home for several family related reasons. For instance, if I had elderly parents I could want to spend some time with them before it becomes too late. I could also imagine a scenario where one might go home to have children, or to send children to school or to University. So there are lots of reasons and issues that would encourage Irish expats to want return to Ireland. However, I would class (them) as pull factors things about Ireland and what you can do at home which are attractive. I don’t think there are very many push factors - things about Dubai that are bad enough to encourage you to want to leave. The lifestyle and the weather appear too good. There is a very strong Irish community spirit in Dubai. During your time here have you managed to attend any events or visit the Irish Village? The Irish community in Dubai that I met was indeed very strong. We stayed at the Bonnington Hotel which is a central location for all things Irish. We also paid a visit to Fibber McGee’s - the Irish 56 | The Arab-Irish Journal
Pub on the other side of town. We even managed to pay a visit to the Irish Village although that was relatively quiet at the time we were there. We also went to the stables where we met plenty of Irish jockeys and felt very much at home. I was very struck by the “craic” that the young Irish teachers and others were able to have in some of the Irish pubs at night time. In fact I was quite surprised at how much they could drink in a country where I thought stuff like that was not allowed. It was quite an education for me. And I left with a very strong sense that the Irish people in Dubai are very proud of the fact that they are the Irish people in Dubai. Dubai’s hospitality sector is undoubtedly among the finest in the world. Have you had the opportunity to experience some of the iconic buildings and what have your impressions been? Wow! That’s all I can say about the hospitality sector that I experienced in Dubai. The iconic buildings such as the Burg Al Arab Hotel and the Atlantis hotel and others were truly world-class. And the level of service was so high. Everywhere we went was impressive. And it was so incredible that an Irish man was at the head of the Jumeirah Hotel group and responsible for so much of what we saw and experienced. The one thing I didn’t get to see, however, was
George Lee
George Lee with Dubai Duty Free’s Colm McLouglin
the view from the Burg Kalifa building, the highest in the world. That was a disappointment but we just didn’t have time to fit it in. Anyway at least it gives me a very good reason to want to go back. Have you seen any similarities among the people you have interviewed for the upcoming documentary? Dubai has a very “Can Do” attitude, have you seen evidence of this during your stay here? There were a few similarities I would say about the people we did meet during my time in Dubai. I’m very conscious that they were all very different people and they all have very different stories to tell. But it seems to me that one thing they had in common was that they all wanted to “just get on with it” - to run their businesses, to get on with their work, to continue to enjoy their lifestyle, and to save the money they come to Dubai to make. There were no moaners. Overall, I think they all had a very positive outlook and were very much what influenced by the can-do attitude that Dubai gives off. The other thing that they all had in common is that they were making very much more money than they would be doing at home. Can we expect to see you back in Dubai any time soon?
I would love to be able to come back to Dubai sometime in the future. I feel I know the place a little bit now and I certainly know my way around relatively well after my two week stay. I’m also much more comfortable with the whole concept of the cultural challenges and contradictions one might grapple with about Dubai. I know there is so much more to see and to experience so it would be great to come back at some point. However, I can’t be sure when or if I will get the chance to do so. Fingers crossed!! 10. What are you plans for the coming months and have you any other exciting projects on the horizon? The biggest thing on my agenda over the coming months is going to be reporting on the big meeting of global leaders in Paris in December to hammer out a new global climate change treaty to replace the Kyoto protocol. That meeting is going to go on for a whole two weeks. The stakes are enormously high. The issue is absolutely critical to all of our futures. Whatever they decide will influence economic and political choices for many years to come. And it’s quite a challenge to get one’s head around all of that. In fact it will be very interesting to see whether or not the choices made and the decisions taken at that meeting will have any bearing on the way people live in Dubai in the decades to come. The Arab-Irish Journal | 57
Women In Business
Women In Business With Amanda Gavin Gulf Editor of The Arab-Irish Journal and CEO AMG Consulting.
Dr Jenna Burton How long have you lived in Dubai and what was the inspiration to move to the UAE? I have lived in Dubai around 2 years now. I visited the country when I was 18 and fell in love with it. The UAE has an air of freedom and opportunity like you don’t find anymore back at home. It’s slightly less red-tapped professionally and there are so many potential opportunities to explore within your career. Many friends may comment that Dubai has no culture but this is the exact opposite to my feelings. It’s is rich in diversity and i love learning about different backgrounds, religions and even their fashions. Ramadan for example is such an interesting experience and real Insight in to how other people live. I initially moved out here in 2010 but could not find the job in pharmaceuticals that I was looking for at the time. After some time back in the UK and Australia, I finally settled back here working within healthcare. It was my husband, James, that finally enticed me for a second time (he lived out here when we met in the UK) but it was the best decision of my life. Can’t help but think fate was working a little when it brought me back to the UAE. 58 | The Arab-Irish Journal
What differences have you encountered in Dubai as a doctor to that in Europe, have there been many challenges? Healthcare is entirely different here to European practise. From my side it is mainly patient expectation that differs. People expect and actually put pressure on you to prescribe medications that have no clinical efficacy. Antibiotics and vitamin injections would be he prime example. I repeatedly have to give my ‘antibiotics don’t work on viral illnesses and can cause resistance speech!’ It also lacks continuity here in Dubai. If I refer a patient out, I don’t always hear back from the doctor I’ve referred to. This isn’t great for either of us as doctors or for the patient involved. If someone has had surgery, I need to know exactly what to know if that need any follow up or long term assisting medications. At first, I trusted all referral pathways, now ive learnt to investigate and try and meet as many doctors that I am referring to as possible. Sadly many physicians are highly incentivised and this can affect their practise. Although it is a private structure, we need to help one another and remember that patients always come first. On the positive side, I love spending longer with patients
Women In Business than i would have the opportunity to back in Europe and it’s wonderful when you can get a test same day that you would be waiting anxiously for otherwise. If there is any doubt, it’s great to be able to just act on it. As physicians, this can lower you clinical ability after a while so you have to remember to keep up to date. You have changed your focus to the weight loss management and assisting people to obtain optimal health, can you tell us about this? Weight loss management is such a difficult topic with both patients and for ourselves personally. With regards to diets, I’ve never liked the word or process of sudden low calorific intake or drastic measures. I work a lot with patients who have eating disorders so diets to me = dangerous and can lead to unhelpful habits and behaviors. Healthy eating however allows for less rigidity and the focus is on feeding yourself well, caring for your body and maintaining something that can be adopted for the rest of your days. As a healthcare system, we are still advised to tell patients to use complex carbohydrates, starches and grains. Having read the most up to date research, this is a little out of date. Low carbohydrate, high vegetable fat diets appear to show much greater health benefits, reduction of digestion problems, greater weight loss, reduced cardiovascular risks and a reduction in the risk for diabetes. It is safe to say I am a convert. “You are what you eat”, do you agree with this statement? Do you think trying to re-educate people about food can maximise health and daily life? Absolutely. So many patients come in to me and ask what they should be eating. Nine times out of ten, the patient actually knows what they should be taking and just needs that confirmation. We all know natural, non-processed foods are going to be better for us than Mars bars and ready meals. Education is always going to be important to re-iterate this. I used to do medical checks in nurseries throughout Dubai and it was always very reassuring to see the little ones being fed apples, carrots and banana for snacks. We all used to line up for the ‘tuck shop’ and stuff ourselves with strawberry laces and sugary milk bottle jelly sweets. So times are changing. I have offered to go in to Hartland School from September actually to again, educate their children on health topics such as nutrition and digestion. Ive even made a children’s health jingle to help them remember what’s good and what’s bad. If we feed our children well now, they can avoid our previous mistakes and hopefully have the right building blocks for mental stimulation, physical growth and energy for extra-curricular activities. Living in Dubai it can be quite tempting to over indulge in brunches, barbecues and happy hours. What advice would you give people hoping to change their behavior towards food? Brunches are fun but medically a disaster. They encourage binge drinking and eating which is just a no-go from a physical and mental health point of view. They normalise extreme behaviours such as walking
around stuffed to the brim with alcohol oozing out your every pore. I assisted with a young girl who has hurled her way down a moving escalator a few weeks ago. She was cut from head to toe and completely inebriated. It’s almost acceptable in Dubai to get so drunk you lose your senses Dr Jenna Burton if labelled a ‘brunch victim.’ My advice is to use brunches as a treat. They should be a reward for having worked hard and eaten well. It’s difficult if your friends are keen on using brunches as their centre for social events. Try and encourage them to take part in beach activities, bike rides, evening meals as opposed to all day drinking sessions then schedule a brunch at the end of 2 months as a reward. I attend a great gym called ‘pride fitness’ and this totally changed my outlook on brunches and socialising in Dubai. At the gym, it’s 100% a social but you are working out and hard with one another. Trying to find a like minded social group like this can really help alter your perspective. What are your plans and goals for the coming years in Dubai? Firstly I’m on my own fitness challenge. I’m trying to reach the peak of my physical fitness both physically and mentally. Currently i am working with my trainer Simon Wanjiru Muhia who used to train the Kenyan Olympic team for around 1.5-2 hours a day. We kick box, swim, lift weights and take part in HIIT. I’m doing a blog ‘Anorexia to Arm Curl’ on facebook ‘Dr Jenna Burton.’ It’s hard for me actually, as I did previously suffer with an eating disorder myself, so sculpting a body and having to assess my problem areas without just ignoring them is a real challenge. I also have a good case of Achilles tendinitis at the moment and it’s hard to listen to the advise I would usually give patients and not just trying to power through. Professionally, I want to assist with change in the UAE healthcare structure. I am doing an MSC with Imperial College, London, in Health Policy in the hope that I can do just that. I do enjoy seeing patients but I see myself taking a more operational role going forward. I’ve witnessed a number of healthcare systems and I’m hoping that I can use this to benefit health in the UAE. Any opportunity I have to give my input on change for health in Dubai, I’ll pretty much take it! The Arab-Irish Journal | 59
Women In Business
Manal Al Sharhan What is/are your favourite fashion brands and why do you like it? My favorite fashion brands are Zac Posen, Ralph Lauren and Russo because of the simplicity and elegancy of the designs. The richness of their fabrics is incredible. They are pure luxury and timeless fashion. What is the one habit/practice or skill you’ve picked up because of the other? The only practice I have learned from others is to ignore negative comments and move on. As an entrepreneur, you will receive many comments that will hinder you to move in you path to success. Learn to take onboard the positive comments and leave the negativity behind. It is important to stay focused and surround yourself with like-minded people. You absorb the people you spend your time with so choose them wisely. What is the favorite aspect of your job as a fashion designer? I love to dream of a design then find the details to add to it. I then put a lot of thought into the kind fabric I wish to choose. Seeing the design created by my tailors is so exciting. The end result is always better then I could imagine. The tailors I work with are the very best and under stand luxury brands. I am so proud of the final look that it inspires me again to create the next collection. Who inspires you and why? From the Gulf always Shaikah Moza Al Misnad with her elegancy and conservativty ... Angelina Jolie is an other international person who always inspire me with her elegancy. I adore chic design and simple effortless beauty. All women can look stunning with the correct styling and great design. I feel it is important to have icons to inspire us as we can learn from them and adapt their style to suit ourselves. Working with my clients inspires me. I want them to look and feel wonderful whether that is stepping onto a red carpet or going to a business meeting. All women want to look beautiful and I enjoy making them feel that way. What gave you the idea to start your business? My Family and friends appreciation of my designs give me the confidence to start the business. I am also a business administration graduate and have more then 7 year’s experience in the government sector. I have gained invaluable experience in business development, which assisted me in start and grow the company. I have always loved fashion and it was my passion. For me it was an easy transition, I was doing what I enjoyed while building a brand. I knew when I started out as a fashion designer it would not be easy, however I was ready for the challenge. What challenges have you faced as an Entrepreneur? One of the main challenges I have faced was the unexpected expenses that always occur in the fashion business. The overheads can be expensive and you need to forecast as accurately as possible. Expenses in any business is difficult but for me this has been the main challenge. Trying to fund and promote the 60 | The Arab-Irish Journal
brand while staying on budget can be hard. I am competing with fashion houses with major marketing budgets and top high-end models. I do not let this phase me because I know my designs and the quality of the fabrics I use will set my garments apart from others In this market. What are your goals and plans for the furture for your brand? My goal is to make my brand an international name within a couple of years. I have had a lot of interest from Europe and other Emirates. I am working on my next collection and have some very stunning pieces ready for the collection. I will expand my brand slowly and aline with only the best retail outlets. Working with the right people is also important to me. I want to build relationships with the retailers and understand their market. I think it is extremely important for any business owner to have a plan in place and review it often. This keeps you focused and on track to success. How do you achieve work-life balance? Being a working mum can be difficult, however I have excellent support. Time management it so important. Planning your day and also your week will allow you to work more efficiently. It can be difficult not to get drawn into areas, which are best left for your staff to handle. I try to allocate my time to areas where I can be productive and drive the business forward. When I am finished work I do my best to switch off and spend time with my family and friends. It is so important to give yourself this time because you recharge and grow. Other wise you get exhausted and this is not productive in any way for you or your business. Play hard and work hard…
Women In Business
Clair Meyler Madigan RecruitME You have recently set up your own recruitment agency in Dubai. Had you worked in this sector before or was it a completely new challenge? I had worked in recruitment when I first arrived in Dubai seven years ago. After spending some time client side working for a multinational company I saw a niche in the market for a more professional recruitment service and decided that it was a good time to start my own business. What kind of recruitment do you specialise in? RecruitME specialise in Business Support roles specifically Administration, Human Resource and Finance positions for multinational companies. Being a recruitment expert, what advice would you give to jobseekers? Recruitment is all about first impressions, I would advise jobseekers to spend some time creating a concise, clear CV that has been properly formatted and spellchecked. Try to tailor your CV to each job that you apply to and give examples of responsibilities in your current role that match the job advertisement requirements. Similarly it seems like obvious advice but you would be surprised how many people don’t know that you should always arrive early to an interview, be prepared and wear a suit – even when meeting a recruiter. There are many challenges setting up a new business, how did you over come them and what are you top 3 tips to other business owners? With plenty of patience! Business set up took longer than I had planned for, Dubai’s love of paperwork often meant second and third trips to drop off a document that was not requested originally. My advice would be to carry triplicate colour copies of your business documents, your company stamp, passport and at least 6 passport photos everywhere you go. Other challenges that I encountered were getting started marketing the business and building my client base. The Irish Business Network has been very supportive with networking opportunities and advice, my recommendations to other business owners would be to start meeting people and talking about your business as soon as possible - the best leads come from referrals and word of mouth. Being an entrepreneur business owner can be more then a full time position. How do you keep your time organised to be as productive as possible? I plan my weeks using my outlook calendar synched from my desktop to phone and iPad so that I can add notes on the go. Everything goes in there from client meetings, candidate interviews, follow up phone call reminders to a set business development time, database search and candidate follow up. I try to strictly follow the times that I have set for these tasks to keep myself on track and enable a quick review on what I have achieved at the end of the week.
What do you enjoy most about working for yourself and would you recommend it to others looking to set up a new business? I really enjoy the flexibility in my day, I can choose to meet candidates after 6pm and work late into the evenings or make an early start and then finish early to get away for the weekend. Working for yourself is stressful, there’s no security blanket if you get sick or there is a market downturn but not having to check in with your boss at 9am every morning and deal with office politics makes it all worthwhile. What do you think are the key elements to running your own business? You need to be disciplined, patient, optimistic and, above all, be willing to persevere until you make it. Where do you see your business in 5 years time? In 5 years time we hope to have expanded considerably with more consultants on board and new offices opening in the region. We want to be the leading business support recruitment consultancy in the Middle East with a reputation for offering the most professional service for our candidates and clients. The Arab-Irish Journal | 61
George Boole
George Boole’s biographer Emeritus Professor Des MacHale launched UCC Library’s The Life and Legacy of George Boole.
The Genius of George Boole As George Boole Day approaches at University College Cork on November 2, the bicentenary of his birth, the Arab-Irish Journal highlights some of the projects celebrating the forefather of the information age. University College Cork is this year celebrating the life and legacy of its first Professor of Mathematics, George Boole, with an ambitious range of projects, including the redevelopment of 5 Grenville Place in Cork – where Boole lived when he wrote his seminar work An Investigation of the Laws of Thought – in partnership with Cork City Council. In July, renowned film producer and Ireland’s digital champion Lord David Puttnam opened Boolean Expressions: Contemporary art and mathematical data, a new exhibition investigating how artists have used logic and technology, at UCC’s Lewis Glucksman Gallery. Fiona Kearney, Director of the Lewis Glucksman Gallery, curated the exhibition in collaboration with the College of Science, Engineering and Food Science at UCC, with the displays looking at everything from how video gaming technology can be used for artistic purposes to big sculptures based on the CAPTCHA codes computers use to determine if we are human. A first-hand account of the meeting of George Boole and Charles Babbage in 1862, during which the two great men discuss ‘A Thinking Machine’ are the items on public display for the first time at a fascinating exhibition launched by Boole’s biographer, Emeritus Professor Des MacHale, at UCC Library the same month. 62 | The Arab-Irish Journal
The exhibition – free and open to the public until the end of this year - provides a fantastic context to life in Cork in the 1840s, and runs simultaneously with another in Boole’s hometown Lincoln in the UK, for which the University Library and Lincoln Cathedral have partnered with UCC. Self-taught mathematical genius Boole was born in Lincoln in 1815, his work forming the basis of computer science and electronic circuitry. Many of his descendants visited UCC in August during the George Boole Bicentenary Celebration weekend, while a delegation from Cork visited Lincoln in September. Dr Michael Murphy, President of University College Cork said: “Lincoln has been the birthplace of two of the greatest mathematical geniuses, Isaac Newton in the 17th century and George Boole in the 19th. In Lincoln, Boole’s prodigious talent was nurtured and in Cork, at Queen’s College, he was given the opportunity, the time, the space and the environment to crystalize his thoughts that shaped our modern human experience.” “UCC is delighted to share with the University of Lincoln and the city councils of Lincoln and Cork pride in Boole’s achievements and our joint commitment to promulgating and celebrating his genius.”
George Boole
Many of George Boole’s descendants visited UCC as part of UCC’s Boole Bicentenary Celebration.
Film shines light on global legacy
The huge impact of George Boole’s work on technology today is explored in a stunning new film commissioned by University College Cork, which is available for international festivals and screenings. Narrated by Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons and produced by multi award-winning Oxford Film and Television, The Genius of George Boole assembles academics and industry leaders from across the globe to explore the life and importance of one of the world’s greatest unsung heroes. The 58-minute film shines new light on the legacy of George Boole, recognised as the forefather of the information age. World-renowned film producer and Ireland’s digital champion, Lord David Puttnam, sets the scene for the film by posing the question: “Is George Boole important?” Puttnam continues: “I guess, no George Boole, no Google, no Amazon, no Intel…that makes him pretty important,” emphasising to viewers this unknown mathematician is indeed a key figure in our global age. Sitting in his office at Google, Professor Geoffrey Hinton, the world’s leading expert on Artificial Intelligence and Boole’s great-great-grandson, comments: “Anyone who knows how computers work knows about Boolean logic …that’s right down there at the basis of modern computing.” According to Intel vice president Rory McInerney: “At the core of the computer chip is essentially a switch, an on/off switch; in today’s chip this is on a silicon chip so you have a transistor.” As the film shows, the grand designer of this elegantly simple yet radical idea is George Boole. Another contributor, Boole’s biographer and UCC’s Emeritus Professor of Mathematics Des MacHale, offers fascinating insights into Boole’s life and Mathematics. Filmed in Ireland, the UK and the US, the documentary investigates Boole’s life and motivations, from his humble background as a cobbler’s son from Lincoln, England, born in 1815. Boole’s genius became apparent from a young
age. Without a university education and given his family background, finding a role within the formal structures of British society was challenging for the young Boole. The film looks back at how and why the newly-founded Queen’s College, Cork (now known as UCC) opened in 1849, provided him with a job as its first Professor of Mathematics and, in turn, the financial resources to support his family back in England. Importantly, the role in Cork gave Boole the freedom to pursue his mathematical research, while coping with witnessing the social inequalities in Cork after the Great Famine. “The Genius of George Boole set out to throw light on the remarkable achievements of one of the world’s unsung heroes. Dealing with the themes of genius and what motivates genius, the film looks at Boole’s legacy with special references to how Boole research has been applied in today’s world. The film also touches on the historic contexts of Ireland, Cork and UCC as well as England in the early nineteenth century,” comments Virginia Teehan, Project Leader, Boole Documentary, UCC. For the university, this film is important as it emphasises the long-term value of supporting creativity and research, which is what the university is about, Teehan adds. More at: GeorgeBoole.com/film/
UCC brings Boole2School Boole2School, a first of its kind, UCC-led education initiative aiming to see children aged 8 to 18 across the globe studying a Maths lessons based on the work of George Boole on November 2. Students will be introduced to logic using examples including computer games and puzzles. Teachers across the Middle East are invited to register for free to download the age-appropriate materials – from sample questions and lesson plans to puzzles - in advance. More at: GeorgeBoole.com/boole2school/
The Arab-Irish Journal | 63
Trade Stats
Exports to Arab markets up by 29% at end June 2015 Irish merchandise exports to the Arab countries surged by 29% to €2.2bn in the 12 months to end June 2015. This represented an overall increase of €491m. Imports from the Arab countries declined by €114m (18%) over the same period due mainly to a drop in the supply of petroleum products from Algeria to Ireland. These figures do not include the value of the trade in Services over this period, exports of which are estimated to be of at least equivalent value to those of physical goods. This would indicate that the total value of Irish exports to the Arab markets may rise to more than €4.5 billion in 2015. 66 | The Arab-Irish Journal
The biggest growth markets were: • Saudi Arabia - up by €274m (43%) • UAE - up by €83m (27%) • Egypt - up by €76m (52%) • Kuwait - up by €44m (68%) The biggest growth sectors were: • Medical/Pharmaceutical • Essential oils, flavourings etc • Agri/Food • Data processing equipment
- up by €202m (80%) - up by €194m (36%) - up by €57m (15%) - up by €57m (37%)
67,983
56,013
60,851
Kuwait
Lebanon
Libya
59,318
Qatar
17,661
Tunisia
Grand Total
Yemen
1,728,032
8,637
304,279
6,801
Syria
United Arab Emirates
14,340
230
Sudan
Somalia
643,876
54,984
Oman
Saudi Arabia
63,408
Morocco
1,364
65,774
Jordan
Mauritania
67,728
57
Djibouti
Iraq
35,078
Bahrain
149,649
50,001
Algeria
Egypt
€ 000
Country
165,119
1,504
21,029
2,472
427
1,037
27
35,854
2,308
2,257
6,326
562
8,710
3,440
4,844
7,884
11,899
41,412
6
3,816
9,305
Tonnes
Jul ‘13-Jun ‘14
Exports
2,287,947
8,462
411,922
20,044
8,934
15,377
1,155
918,891
75,597
58,444
69,620
1,139
40,612
67,564
108,177
67,060
70,372
245,111
528
32,334
66,605
€ 000
170,283
1,624
20,298
3,178
451
1,926
62
46,659
3,803
2,112
6,358
493
6,777
3,428
5,276
5,331
13,858
32,048
130
3,580
12,891
Tonnes
Jul ‘14-Jun ‘15
478,187
57
17,531
10,343
29
829
16
5,554
5,112
6,119
25,162
17
167,455
5,405
344
5,234
117
29,830
78
132
198,821
€ 000
702,915
4
4,514
8,862
2
422
3
2,783
3,792
4,285
41,566
2
262,324
693
163
11,167
7
49,018
8
32
313,268
Tonnes
Jul ‘13-Jun ‘14
Imports
513,783
3
33,137
9,258
5
2,153
11
12,561
6,879
5,732
18,789
19
314,831
537
100
1,255
36
23,635
110
542
84,189
€ 000
862,050
0
21,248
2,380
1
11,781
2
15,154
5,296
4,266
14,606
2
596,809
198
21
193
3
20,663
14
220
169,193
Tonnes
Jul ‘14-Jun ‘15
32
-2
35
13
31
7
402
43
27
6
10
-17
-33
21
59
2
4
64
824
-8
33
€ 000
3
8
-3
29
6
86
131
30
65
-6
1
-12
-22
0
9
-32
16
-23
2,141
-6
39
Tonnes
YoY % change
Exports
Arab-Irish trade figures to end June 2015
7
-95
89
-10
-82
160
-31
126
35
-6
-25
14
88
-90
-71
-76
-69
-21
40
310
-58
€ 000
23
-97
371
-73
-43
2,692
-41
444
40
0
-65
17
128
-71
-87
-98
-50
-58
82
582
-46
Tonnes
YoY % change
Imports
Trade Stats
The Arab-Irish Journal | 67
Bonnington Jumeirah Lakes Towers
Welcome to the Bonnington Jumeirah Lakes Towers - Dubai The luxurious 5 star Bonnington Hotel situated in the heart of Jumeirah Lakes Towers, prides itself on providing guests with unparalleled service and genuine hospitality. The beautifully designed hotel features 188 rooms and 20 suites, 272 deluxe serviced hotel apartments comprising 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units, 5 outstanding restaurants and bars and 6 fully equipped conference suites. Our guests are invited to choose from the varied selection of restaurants and bars available at the Bonnington throughout their stay. Experience the casual yet electric atmosphere of the award winning McGettigan’s Irish Pub, the sophistication and elegance of the Cavendish restaurant or enjoy a beverage at Healey’s Bar and Terrace, a stylish up-market wine bar. The hotel also offers Club rooms & suites, an attended, fully equipped business centre and conference rooms, all featuring a variety of facilities and services to make corporate life easy. We also provide our guests with complimentary shuttle to the malls and beach. 68 | The Arab Irish Journal
On the 11th floor - The Leisure Deck has an infinity pool, state of the art gym, luxury poolside bar and restaurant, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna as well as a ladies hairdressing salon and spectacular panoramic views of the Dubai skyline. The Bonnington Hotel boasts a wonderfully convenient location, where it is within walking distance of a host of luxury shopping facilities, restaurants, bars, numerous beaches and some of the world’s top golf courses. A mere fifteen minute drive from the new Dubai World Central Al Maktoum International Airport, thirty minutes from Dubai International airport, and fifty minutes from Abu Dhabi are making it the ideal location for tourists and business visitors alike. Stay at the Bonnington and enjoy luxurious surroundings, outstanding facilities and traditional Bonnington hospitality whilst experiencing one of the most exciting, impressive and rapidly growing cities in the world.
Bonnington Jumeirah Lakes Towers
The Arab Irish Journal | 69
Interview
Amanda Gavin meets with MedColl Founder and CEO Roz Martin You have worked in the pharmaceutical industry for many years. How did you get started in this industry and how has it benefited the success of your brand. Having formally studied Nutrition and Business, I entered the UK’s pharma industry as a Business Development Executive, essentially doing sales and marketing on the road as many people in the industry start off doing and then I worked my way up. A tough job, but I loved it and enjoyed the challenge of what is notoriously a cut throat industry. It was an amazing 13 years, with so much medical teaching and business training invested, along with the resilience one has to develop in order to thrive in such an industry; it is this I think that has helped me so much in building my own business and the MedColl brand. Not to mention an absolute and unwavering love of the products I develop. How have you found expanding your brand into the UAE as opposed to the Irish market? Very difficult, actually. It took us over three years to be approved and to access the UAE market with our category of products, which are classed as dietary food supplements with a cosmetic function. The regulatory landscape for supplements is somewhat different to that of Ireland’s European regulation, which is considered the toughest and most conservative. But thankfully we have all that behind us now and at this moment the focus is very much on supporting our strategic partners in Dubai in building the MedColl brand in the UAE and throughout the gulf. Tell us about your brand MedColl,. What are the benefits of using it? MedColl is a natural-based functional food supplement which has been independently researched by UCD’s Conway Institute in Ireland, the leading medical authority on collagen research. During my attendance at the A4M, The American Academy of Anti-Ageing Medicine Conference in Dubai in 2010, whereby I sat and watched a lecture on the concept of using potent, efficacious nutraceutical compounds to help combat the premature signs of ageing in skin which were being hailed as the intelligent and innovative approach. I then began research and development for the MedColl complex with some pharmacist colleagues. I then returned to Ireland with a plan to set up the company back home and to continue the research through UCD’s Conway Institute and to have a fully scientifically-backed, Irish-made health product intended for export into the UAE market. 70 | The Arab-Irish Journal
MedColl consumers are usually looking for a natural, safe and long lasting alternatives to some of the invasive injectable and surgical cosmetic procedures currently on the market, and can take the supplement daily as part of their diet. There are 3 proven benefits to taking MedColl: 1. MedColl encourages the body to make its own collagen throughout, as it does not contain collagen but rather the ingredients to stimulate the body; this is far more effective not to mention safer. 2. MedColl contains hyaluronic acid which simply increases hydration in the skin, so extremely beneficial for the appearance and long term health of skin. 3. MedColl reduces R.O.S. (Reactive Oxidative Species), so in essence it reduces the number of free radicals which result in premature ageing caused by exposure to pollutants, sun exposure, poor diet etc. How do you keep motivated? I love what I do! It really as simple as that, I can’t imagine doing anything else. The big motivator to keep going on the tougher days would be seeing the sales from Happy Repeat Customers, always a great indicator for me in the business and seeing the word “Order#” flash up on my inbox from Dubai. Being an entrepreneur is not an easy path. Given what you have learned and experienced to date would you change your path if you were starting over? In the early days, I was very much on my own and I wish I had have sought after like-minded business people, the positive supporters and stayed away from the naysayers and kept this very true piece of advice in mind that “ If I’m the smartest person in the room, then I’m in the wrong room”. Happily, I can now say that I am usually the least smart person in the rooms I occupy and the company I keep! The UAE and especially Dubai is an excellent market for beauty products, perfumes and beauty services. How have you managed to grow your brand among the thousands of brands the here. What has been the most challenging factor? We’ve been lucky in the sense that there is a huge demand for natural, safe, science-backed European, and very much Irish products within this segment of the personal care market. Irish products are known for their safe reputation and high quality. We are simply filling that gap in the market. The most challenging situation that we have to deal with is; we decided to pursue the correct regulatory practice for product placement within pharmacies, which were very
Interview
Roz Martin, MedColl Founder and CEO.
challenging times getting MedColl over the line but we find ourselves having to compete with products in the marketplace that may not meet regulatory requirements but are still sold freely. This is unfortunately the nature of the supplement business, however, I feel happier that we have done it properly as I still want us to be selling MedColl in the UAE 30 years from now. We’re in it for the long-haul!
What are your plans for MedColl? Will you be expanding further into the UAE market? Our next launch later this year and it is the full range of MedColl Derma Skin supplements, so that would be another female product, for women aged 50+ and due to demand here in Europe we now have a skin supplement that has been nutritionally formulated for men. The Arab-Irish Journal | 71
Arnotts
Introducing an Icon Arnotts is Ireland’s oldest and largest department store. We opened our decorative brass-clad doors in 1843 and have been greeting visitors from all over the world ever since. We’re proud of being a reliable family favourite for generations of Irish people too. Legend has it that Irish revolutionary leader Pádraig Pearse stopped off to settle his account on the day of the Easter Rising in 1916. Our iconic building now occupies over 300,000 sq. ft at our famous location on Henry St in Dublin. We are a totally unique department store featuring over 700 International brands and 100 Irish craft brands, lovingly displayed over seven luxurious floors.
The Arnotts Experience
Our mix of Irish, high street and designer brands is exhaustive. So, if you find yourself in need of refreshment, we have six cafés and restaurants to choose from, offering everything from a glass of wine or afternoon tea right through to a four-course feast. We are dedicated to providing you with an exciting shopping experience. With over 1,000 professional sales assistants, we have all the time in the world to help you pick out the perfect souvenir or gift. If you would like to pre-book a 72 | The Arab-Irish Journal
complimentary personal shopping appointment, our personal shopping team would be delighted to look after you in our private personal shopping suite. Whether it’s business or pleasure, you can rely on our expert stylists to help you out. Simply email personalshopping@arnotts.ie or call 01 804 5842. Our Beauty & Fragrance Hall and glorious Shoe Garden are veritable shrines to their products. We also have a gleaming Jewellery & Accessory Hall which offers a wide breadth of brands, to suit every taste.
Love Irish Design
In a country brimming with incredible talent, we have picked some of the best names in Irish art, fashion, jewellery and homewares. Whether your style is classic, contemporary or quirky, our Love Irish Design collection is sure to impress. Look out for the Love Irish Design logo featured on all products designed and crafted in Ireland.
You’re Welcome
10% OFF Privilege Card * Experience a warmer welcome at Arnotts. Get 10% off across all departments with our Privilege Card, which is available at the information desk.
Arnotts
Tax Free Refunds In-store *
Enjoy instant tax-free cash back in-store. For residents located outside of the EU, we are pleased to offer you up to 17% off. You can pick up a tax-back refund form at any till. Visit the information desk on the ground floor to receive an instant tax-free cash refund on any purchases made inside or outside of the store.
Free Shipping & Delivery
See something that you love but can’t carry it home? Leave it to us. Some exclusions will apply, just ask a member of staff for more details or buy online right now www.arnotts.ie.
Group Meet & Greet
Arrange to meet our store ambassador and we’ll give you an informal store history with plenty of amusing anecdotes. We’ll also run through the store layout. It’s a big place and we don’t want you to miss anything! Just call 01 805 0400 to book in advance. * Terms & Conditions 1. Some exclusions may apply. 2.Available to non-EU visitors only
ARNOTTS Contact: 12, Henry Street Dublin 1 +353 1 805 0400 www.arnotts.ie Twitter - @arnottsdublin Facebook arnottsdepartmentstore Instagram - @arnottsdublin
Opening Hours: Mon–Wed: 9.30am – 7.00pm Thurs: 9.30am – 9.00pm Fri: 9.30am – 8.00pm Sat: 9.00am – 7.00pm Sun: 11.00am – 7.00pm
The Arab-Irish Journal | 73
Brown Thomas
Brown Thomas Menswear services at Brown Thomas. Personal Shopping.
We offer an effortless, discreet and luxurious way to shop for just one item, or a whole wardrobe. Our Personal Shopping team, led by Ann Finn and Jeff Thompson, can help you find your own personal style, the perfect look for any event or can help you refresh your wardrobe. We listen carefully and advise accordingly. We can pre-select a rail of clothes in advance for you to browse and try on in the comfort of our luxury Personal Shopping suite. If you are under pressure for time, they will select and deliver whatever you need directly to your home, office or hotel, making shopping stress-free and enjoyable. Personal Shopping is a complimentary service.
Made to Measure.
The Brown Thomas Made to Measure by appointment service will help you create the perfect-fitting suit from one of our exquisite tailoring collections, in your choice of style and fabric, tailored to your look and lifestyle, by a master tailor. We also provide one-to-one consultations and offer this service for business and suits for special occasions.
Made to Order.
The Brown Thomas Made to Order service is available year round. Our instore team is trained to take measurements for Made to Order suits from brands including Canali, Zegna and Corneliani. We offer a wide choice of fabrics, buttons and linings and will fit your suit to your own particular requirements. A similar service applies to shirts from Smyth & Gibson and Eton. Once the suit is ready, it is pressed and packed, ready for collection or delivery.
Black-Tie Service.
Our unique occasionwear service will help you choose the ideal suit for that special event, from the suit and shirt to bow-tie, shoes and accessories. 74 | The Arab-Irish Journal
Size and Fit.
Not everyone is a standard fit. Our expert team in Brown Thomas will advise on size and fit from achieving the perfect suit fit to getting sleeve lengths and hem heights just right. We cater for all sizes from tailored fit to comfort fit and everything in between. We keep your measurements on file to make it easy every time.
Gift Shopping.
Our Personal Shopping team provides a gift selection service. We can select the perfect gift – large or small – from any area in Brown Thomas, gift-wrap it and arrange delivery. For more details of any of the service above and to make an appointment call 01 617 1161 or visit www.brownthomas.com
Personal Shopping at Brown Thomas
The Brown Thomas Personal Shopping Service is your walk-in wardrobe. Experience a luxurious, relaxing space that is exclusively yours, while our team of personal shoppers bring the store to you. Whatever your needs or your personal style, our dedicated personal shoppers have the fashion knowledge, style expertise and in particular, the time, to find you the perfect solution. We can also provide foreign language speakers, including Mandarin speakers, to facilitate your shopping if required. Whether you require a look for a special occasion, an entire wardrobe make-over or simply a gift for a loved one, Brown Thomas will tailor everything to your personal and individual needs. Please note that we also offer a full Taxfree Service which entitles visitors from outside the European Union to up to 17% back on all purchases throughout the store. To book your complimentary personal shopping appointment, please call: Menswear: +353 (0) 1 617 1161 Email: personalshopping@brownthomas.ie
Brown Thomas
Jeff Thompson, Personal Shopper, Menswear What’s the best thing about your job? Creating a signature style for my clients. I like getting to know each client and helping them with all aspects of their look including fragrances, skin care and even tips on the best restaurants and bars in town. What is your style philosophy? This quote by Henry Ward Beecher sums up my philosophy, “good clothes and manners do not make the man, but they greatly approve his appearance”. What’s inside your wardrobe? Lots of Burberry, as I love what Christopher Bailey has done with the brand. I also have some really great pieces from Belstaff and Tiger of Sweden. Who would you love to dress? David Gandy and David Beckham. What are the must-have items for a timeless wardrobe? The Burberry London trench is an essential in every gentleman’s wardrobe and if chosen correctly can last a life-time.
Personal Shopping at Brown Thomas
The Brown Thomas Personal Shopping Service is your walk-in wardrobe. Experience a luxurious, relaxing space that is exclusively yours, while our team of personal shoppers bring the store to you. Whatever your needs or your personal style, our dedicated personal shoppers have the fashion knowledge, style expertise and in particular, the time, to find you the perfect solution. We can also provide foreign language speakers, including Mandarin speakers, to facilitate your shopping if required.
Ann Finn, Head Of Personal Shopping, Menswear What’s the best thing about your job? I love the look on someone’s face when I have completed a personal shop, they look happy and confident. Better still, is when clients call me for more advice after a consultation, it means a job well done. What is your style philosophy? Great fit equals great style. What’s inside your wardrobe? I have a wardrobe of black and a vast collection of shoes, my favourite accessories. Who would you love to dress? Cillian Murphy. What are the must-have items for a timeless wardrobe? A beautiful grey or navy suit, a well cut navy jacket, a crisp white shirt, a pair of well-cut jeans and two pairs of beautifully crafted shoes.
Whether you require a look for a special occasion, an entire wardrobe make-over or simply a gift for a loved one, Brown Thomas will tailor everything to your personal and individual needs. Please note that we also offer a full Taxfree Service which entitles visitors from outside the European Union to up to 17% back on all purchases throughout the store. To book your complimentary personal shopping appointment, please call: Menswear: +353 (0) 1 617 1161 Email: personalshopping@brownthomas.ie The Arab-Irish Journal | 75
Abu Dhabi Paddy
How to in Abu Dhabi An event brought to you by Abu Dhabi Paddy.
76 | The Arab-Irish Journal
Each autumn, there is a high influx of skilled professionals, their families and spouses in the UAE capital from the US, UK, Ireland and every other corner of the globe. Thomas Dillon and Brian Cummins of EolasMedia.com hosted the annual AbuDhabiPaddy.com ‘How to in Abu Dhabi’ sessions in McGettigan’s AUH on Sunday August 30th and September 13th. Sometimes it is hard for new expats to familiarize themselves with Abu Dhabi because the city of Dubai is the first thing that people associate with the UAE prior to moving to the capital. Brian and Thomas receive daily queries regarding jobs, housing, healthcare, savings, car hire, setting up utilities and respecting local Emirati culture. The sessions are designed to assist new expats by providing a platform to the answer their everyday queries and issues we have all faced upon arrival to the Gulf. The United Arab Emirates entices more and more skilled
professionals with generous employment packages however many expats find it difficult to set up because of the lack of reliable information. Brian Cummins, a UAE resident since 2010, set up abudhabipaddy.com, a free informative website and social media brand, to provide Irish & UK residents and potential expats an engaging and informative platform. The site acts as a utility platform packed with useful information covering topics such as how to get your residency visa, register a sim card, how to get a car rental, a UAE driving license, know local customs or what are the dos and don’ts of Abu Dhabi life. Since its humble beginnings in 2013 abudhabipaddy.com has gone from strength to strength. And this year, on the back of the project’s digital success, Brian and Thomas decided to step from the virtual to physical and bring the website to life by hosting two free
Abu Dhabi Paddy
informative evenings to help new expats settle in their new home and meet others in the same position. The format of each session was very simple. Prior to Brian’s presentation, attendees had the opportunity to meet useful businesses, sports clubs, community groups and services set up McGettigan’s foyer and after to ask their individual questions in person. With over one hundred people having attended the sessions, attendees found each evening very helpful and a superb event to get meet businesses and new expats. One attendee Jane Browne left a comment via their Facebook page that she had a “Great night tonight! Really informative”
In addition to learning a few nuggets of local knowledge and meeting new expats, the sessions provided an opportunity to meet representatives from Irish businesses such as Eoin of Teach and Explore.com whose knowledge on teaching and recruitment is invaluable, and Carine of Harley Street Medical Centre who informed expats on the medical care available in the UAE capital and the Abu Dhabi Irish Society who had an opportunity to meet new members. For those that missed the How to in Abu Dhabi sessions but are interested in finding out more about the project and events, you can visit abudhabipaddy.com or contact the team at info@abudhabipaddy.com The Arab-Irish Journal | 77
The Emergency Logistics Team
Will Holden
Building a unique team As the Emergency Logistics Team sets out to deliver training across the Middle East, its director Will Holden discusses plans to build a team of professionals with a completely new service for conflict and disaster-affected areas. After progressing through the ranks in the logistics sector, Will Holden became the Senior Logistics Advisor on the Afghanistan disposal project for the UK Ministry of Defence. Over the last five years with the Kuwaiti company Agility Logistics, he became involved in a CSR project as a member of the Logistics Emergency Team with the World Food Programme, as a Public Private Partnership, and this, he says, “was how our Emergency Logistics Team project began.” Will Holden, Director of the Emergency Logistics Team (ELT) says it was his work with Agility Logistics that initiated his involvement in the logistics sector in the Middle East. 78 | The Arab-Irish Journal
“It was a fascinating time of huge growth in the Middle East and this has prepared me for the cultural differences that are there. Understanding these differences has and is crucial for the ELT to carry out our duties but we also understand how very different the Middle East countries are.” The ELT was set up in 2013, after Holden finished his role in Afghanistan, with its key objectives being to develop training courses in Humanitarian and Emergency Logistics, Emergency Logistics and Humanitarian Aid training packages, Disaster Logistics preparedness and planning, and pre-deployment training packages for individuals, NGO staff and private companies.
The Emergency Logistics Team The ELT has advertised the product through Industry Bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, which has a “great supporter of the project from day one.” After signing an MOU with the developmental training institute, the Kimmage Development Studies Centre in Dublin, the ELT delivered delivered its first course earlier this year. “Delivery of the Introduction to Humanitarian Logistics course through the Kimmage Development Studies Centre in April, May and June this year has brought us in direct contact with a range of individuals in the private sector who wish to work in the INGO world.” The MOU was key to the ELT’s development as it showed that there was a belief in the course that was developed and to the aims and objectives of the project, he comments. “This is just the start of what both Kimmage DSC and ELT are confident will be a longstanding partnership where we develop the humanitarian and emergency logistics courses and Kimmage, with over 40 years’ experience and knowledge in the overall humanitarian development sector, can help promote this relatively new field of study.” Examples of the topics discussed included Refugee Camp Logs Requirements: Kurdistan Case Study, IDPs Iraq/Syria 2014: Logistics of Disaster Planning and the Logistics of Health & Safety for Staff in Emergencies. “We received an independent evaluation result of 96% Good – Excellent with some great feedback, which we actively seek so we can constantly improve our product offering.” The ELT aims to build relationships with targeted companies in the ICT, medtech and pharma sectors for example, who wish to work in some the more interesting countries in the Middle East and as part of their “duty of care” to their employees they need to be prepared and that is where the ELT comes in, Holden explains. A proposal to set up an Emergency Logistics Team project in Iraq has been drafted, Holden reveals, and “we are willing to discuss opportunities to support this financially with all parties, private sector, individuals, Governments and INGOs. “But, in summary, the model we have developed will ensure that 95% of the work we do will be carried out by national staff who will be part of an overall ELT. They will receive constant updates with regards to ‘best practice’ and we believe that being part of a ‘team’ both in-country and internationally will help foster a sense of pride in the work we do, and the better we work the more people who benefit in the end.” This is a new way to deliver this service, he believes, especially in conflict and disaster-
The least companies can do for employees intending to travel to interesting countries is to ensure they are prepared, and that is where we come in. affected areas, and” we believe that this is the most important aspect of our work. The model as set up is relatively easy to mirror in any country and this is the beauty of this project.” The ELT is also at the proposal stage of signing an MOU (Memorandum Of Understanding) with an Iraqi national NGO, the Iraqi Institute for Development, with the aim of delivering Humanitarian and Emergency Logistics training directly to the refugees and IDPs, initially within the Kurdistan region of Iraq but with the plan to deliver same throughout Iraq as and when the situation allows. This has been brought to the attention of the Iraqi and Kurdish authorities as well as the UN. If successful with funding, “we will be able to start the process of building small ELT’s throughout the IDP and refugee camps in Kurdistan with the aim of these people then being able to travel throughout the rest of Iraq and set up ELT’s elsewhere.” “The key differentiator between what we aim to do and what is in place is that our team members will be part of an overall project which is intertwined and each person can support other teams even throughout Iraq, Holden explains. “This builds resilience within the response which is just not there right now.” Iraq will be its test case and Holden hopes that by proving the model “we can show that a partnership approach can work in extreme environments to the benefit of all.” Ideally, and over a period of time, the ELT in Iraq will become self-sustaining by a process of building their own training units and building the business as best suits their country. Asked about the operation in which the ELT procured and distributed water to hundreds of Internally Displaced People who were temporarily living within the grounds of St Joseph’s Church in Ainkawa, Erbil, Iraq in July 2014, Holden recalls how he had just returned to Iraq after a holiday back in Ireland and was shocked by the numbers of people who were just recently displaced due to the fighting in Mosul and Nineveh Governorate. “With the temperature reaching into the 50s during the midday sun, it was obvious that there were just not enough resources at all.” Holden met with members of the expatriate community and raised a sum of money, which The Arab-Irish Journal | 79
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The Emergency Logistics Team
Will Holden
We do not believe that we should be going into any country and dictating what should or should not happen, and that is why we are looking for partners who will work with us for many years to come. was matched by a local business, and “through our supply chain network we were able to negotiate a decent price for the water and for the delivery of this to the church. As with most of the ELT projects we are tasked with using our managerial skills to organise such projects as this, both big and small.” “The people who were living in the grounds of the church all got involved and helped offload the vehicle and move the bottled water to a more convenient spot. Many hands make light work, as my mother always says.” The Emergency Logistics Team understands that in order for post/present conflict countries to prosper, they need to trade, Holden comments. “In order for them to trade, professionals from developed countries need to travel to these places to carry out scoping exercises and surveys and to build business networks and avail of opportunities to trade. We can prepare these people in the areas of health, safety, security & ethics so that they are prepared, and their companies ensure full ‘duty of care’ for their employees.” A lot of companies will pay good money to train their staff how to sit at their desks, make sure their keyboards are ergonomic and that
offices are kept at ambient temperatures in order to get the best productivity from their staff, he says. In turn, “the least companies can do for employees intending to travel to interesting countries is to ensure they are prepared and that is where we come in.” Asked how the ELT funds the work it does, Holden explains there are three revenue streams: “We shall charge a fee for the delivery of our courses. Consultancies will be a key area of our business to assist businesses to have the optimum supply chains. Donors will also be petitioned in order to cover the cost of setting up ELT’s in developing and disaster affected countries.” “We are open to discussions with interested private investors from other countries who are interested in setting up an Emergency Logistics Team franchise in their country or region.” The main challenges the ELT faces revolves around ensuring that it has enough working capital to cover its day to day overheads, as with most new start-ups. “We are confident that as more people and businesses know and understand our work, this will ease and we can concentrate on the main job in hand, which is working with companies to develop bespoke training modules relevant to their specific needs.” “We have a core group of people who are involved in the operation, both here in Ireland but also in Iraq, Austria and elsewhere, but we are always open to building our professional network.” Passionate about its ability to develop and deliver both ‘normal’ and humanitarian emergency logistics and supply chain training, the ELT is “dedicated to building a unique team of ELT professionals throughout the Middle East who can help and support each other as and when logistics and supply chain issues arise.” Holden is currently working on the Turkish Syrian border supporting the Syrian refugees until mid-October, while learning basic Arabic to assist him doing business out here. Looking to the future, he says ELT is “in the business of developing and delivering training everywhere we can. We intend to set up in as many countries as possible on a franchise basis, as we believe that while we can share our training modules and our model for delivering them is unique, we also know that each country is different with differing cultures and ethnic backgrounds.” “We do not believe that we should be going into any country and dictating what should or should not happen and that is why we are looking for partners who will work with us for many years to come,” he adds. Contact Will Holden directly at will@emergencylogisticsteam.com. The Arab-Irish Journal | 81
Mount Falcon Estate
Mount Falcon Estate, Co. Mayo “Ahlan wa sahlan“ - Your Home from Home in The West ! Marhaba! It s been a very busy year here in the West of Ireland despite the terrible weather. However should we complain when the rest of world appears to have unprecedented heatwaves ? Mount Falcon Estate in County Mayo is experiencing our busiest year since we opened in 2006 and we will be celebrating our 10th birthday, operating in its current guise, next year. After the kids go back to school, the quieter Autumnal/Winter period gives a great opportunity to come and visit and experience some countryside pursuits. With the Wild Atlantic Salmon season continuing till the end of September we still have some availability for rods for both fly and bait fishing. A great way to bond with family, friends or business contacts. Come November, the shooting season commences with wild migratory Woodcock being the premier target. Anyone with a valid European shooting licences can avail of these packages providing we are given 3 months’ notice for the paperwork. These are semi walk up, semi flush days so a certain level of fitness is required however hunting dogs and their guides will do most of the hard work! 82 | The Arab Irish Journal
During the same period we will be reintroducing Hunts with our Birds of Prey. These days start with an on site rabbit hunt using ferrets to flush the rabbits and using Harris Hawks, under the ever watchful eye of our Falconer Jason, to hunt them down. Blink and you will miss it! Not for the light hearted but please bear in mind that The River Moy valley with its proliferation of Neolithic archaeological evidence ( Dolmens, Court and passage tombs ) prove that for over 5,000 years man has been using hawks to supply him with fresh meat. No bar codes on this type of protein ! After an exciting morning, the group will return to the hotel for a hot drink and lunch in front of roaring turf fires where Jason will regale you with stories of interest all connected with beloved Birds of Prey. Once fed and watered, the group will be brought out on a local bog and after flying one of our falcons to a height of approximately 800 feet; Chillie the Vishla pointer with her super sensitive nose begins the task of sniffing out the distinctive scent of the Snipe ( the smaller version of The Woodcock and a delicacy for the French and Italian palates ).
Mount Falcon Estate
Once Chillie freezes on “ a point “ and Jason is, more or less, sure of the presence of the prey he simultaneously instructs her to pounce (thus frightening the Snipe into flight) and signals to the falcon which dives at speeds up to 240 kms and hour , talons outstretched . The force of the impact is enough to stun the bird into a catatonic state and the coup de grace is offered once our Falcon has its prey on the ground. Panting heavily and mantling its prey while it recoups; the Falcon gladly swaps the Snipe (which he now would normally have to pluck and disembowel) with Jason for a “ready to eat“ meal instead. An adrenaline filled experience ! To a more gentle pursuit....... Alex , our Head Gardener is pulling his hair out with the weather this year and is struggling to supply our restaurant with the fruit and vegetables required for chef. The little sunshine means little growth...... however, having done the spade work (excuse the pun !) during the last two years The Kitchen Garden now offers groups and or individuals bespoke classes in Organic gardening, what to grow and when, wicker weaving and matching your expectations with growing limitations ( back garden, window box etc. ). Having recently been accepted as part of The Clew Bay Garden Trail, groups of budding or interested gardeners may start their tour here with us in Mount Falcon and proceed to view some of the other amazing gardens. Ideally located between Westport and Sligo, Mount Falcon is the perfect location to visit The Clew Bay Garden Trail. October has become the cancer awareness month and with the disease continuing to take hold amongst global populations, raising awareness and funds has never been more important.
Mount Falcons chosen charity “ Casting for Recovery UK & Ireland “ has its annual fundraiser at Mount Falcon on the 07th of Ocotber . In 1996 in America, they discovered that participating in the art of fly fishing is a very beneficial chest exercise for those whom are recovering from breast cancer. Casting for Recovery – UK and Ireland combines weekend fly fishing breaks with a strong social focus with support and counselling for those who are about to undergo or have under gone breast cancer surgery. Really, they are fun-packed week end s with the most inspiring group of people one could hope to meet. This years luncheon is being held on the 07th of October 2015 and all are welcome. We have just recently heard that Ireland may experience a late summer (Inshallah!) with September promised to be more settled. As the kids are back to school and the pressure taken off our self catering lodge availability we have introduced some discounted September / October Lodge rental offers. Let’s all hope for an late Irish heatwave! Salam! For more information on anything mentioned above or for 3 D tours; please see our website on www.mountfalcon.com or call Mount Falcon Estate directly.
The Arab Irish Journal | 83
Crowne Plaza
Crowne Plaza, Times Square, New York As increasing numbers of airlines announce flights from the Middle East to the US with transits in Dublin Airport, the Arab-Irish Journal will be highlighting the best hotels for business and leisure. Featured in this issue: Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan Crowne Plaza, Times Square, Manhattan is an upscale, modern hotel perfectly located in the heart of Times Square, situated directly on Broadway between 48th and 49th Streets. This full-service, newly renovated hotel is surrounded by Broadway theaters, steps from the TKTS discount theater ticket booth, world-famous restaurants, shopping, sightseeing and nightlife, and is walking distance to Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, Carnegie Hall and much more. The hotel features 795 oversized, newly renovated 84 | The Arab-Irish Journal
guestrooms (some with views of Times Square or the Hudson River!), a newly revitalized lobby with grand sense of arrival, full-service restaurant and bar (overlooking Times Square), a 20,000 square foot New York Sports Club plus 20,000 square feet of contemporary meeting space. For more information or to check rates and availability, visit the Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan’s website at www. cpmanhattantimessquare.com.
Crowne Plaza
The Arab-Irish Journal | 85
Standardbred Racing in Ireland
A very close finish at the festival 2014
Harness Racing Driving Forward Photo: Ironia-Art.com
Dublin, Ireland – There is a renewed interest in Standard bred (harness) racing throughout Ireland and the UK over the past few years and it has brought about major investors and sponsors into the industry. With Interest and visits from the Middle East will Standard Bred Racing take off in the Gulf. Prices for yearlings, broodmares and race horses have been soaring as more and more people are becoming involved with renewed passion for harness racing. The sport has been prevalent in both Ireland and the UK for nearly 200 years, but now is rapidly becoming popular again with a large social media following. Because of this new growth and interest in harness racing, the governing organisations in both Ireland and the UK have been working feverishly to improve their facilities, increase branding of their product, adding on attractive promotions and, perhaps most important of all, they have nearly been approved to join the Pari-Mutuel Union (PMU) and Le Trot. The PMU governs most of the major harness racing events in all of Europe. Le Trot in France has already taken major steps to allow those in Ireland to purchase French mares and stallions so their offspring will be eligible to race throughout Europe. Within three years or less, some of top stakes events in Europe could well see horses bred, raised and owned from Ireland in their big races. The PMU and Le Trot will also enable increased wagering opportunities on the special PMU races that would be held in Ireland and England. 86 | The Arab-Irish Journal
Part of this rise in harness racing interest and popularity has come about by two brothers in Ireland, James and Derek Delaney. In 2011 they tragically lost their younger brother, Vincent. Avid harness racing owners and breeders, James and Derek Delaney, who own and run Oakwood Stud in Ireland, wanted to do something special in their brother’s memory. They came up with a special two-year-old stakes race weekend and called it the Vincent Delaney Memorial. Little did they know how big this event would turn out to be! Within two years the race has become the richest in all of Ireland and the UK. Its title sponsor is Ladbroke’s, one of the world’s biggest wagering organization. Nominations have been increasing by 20% annually. And the Delaney brothers have not been shy in promoting the full weekend of racing with other stakes events for older horses and getting social media to assist in making it a world-wide recognised weekend of racing. The Delaney raised and donated the funds in 2014 to fly in worldly renowned Hall of Fame drivers Wally Hennessey from the USA and Anthony Butt from New Zealand. The brought in the world’s top harness racing announcer, Roger Huston, to call the races. They also convinced some of the major harness racing journalists from around the globe to come and cover the race weekend. And their tribute to their brother Vincent has exceeded
Standardbred Racing in Ireland
Left to right: Roger Huston Hall Of Fame announcer USA, Anthony Butt hall of fame driver New Zealand Derek Delaney chairman Vincent Delaney memorial, Wally Hennessy hall of fame driver USA and Canada
their expectations. The race weekend is 7-9 August, 2015 at Portmarnock Raceway in Dublin, Ireland. “It is a wonderful thing to see our lost brothers’ memorial have such an impact on harness racing in Ireland and the UK, said Derek Delaney. Record prices every year now for our yearlings, new stallions and broodmares being purchased. It’s all so good!” The Delaneys were also honored when the World Trotting Council held their annual meetings in Australia and announced that the Best News Article of the Year in 2014 was the story on the Delaney Memorial. “We have always had the passion for racing but now we have been able to “step it up”, Delaney said. “Racetracks are being refurbished and a new grass (turf) track will be opened in Cork. The fans are coming back to watch and wager, owners, trainers and drivers who mainly competed in harness racing as a hobby are now seeing and reaping the rewards and it is so great.” Delaney credits the members of the racing organizations in Ireland and the UK for working together and to keep the passion alive.
Thomas Bennett and David Reel both committee members and hall of fame driver Anthony Butt NZ
To learn more about harness racing in Ireland and the UK go to: www.irishharnessracing.com www.sirestakesireland.com www.vincentdelaneymemorial.com www.bhrc.org.uk www.portmarnockraceway.ie The Arab-Irish Journal | 87
Car Review
A trident enters the German Colosseum 2015 Maserati Quattroporte GTS
88 | The Arab Irish Journal
Peter Denton, Maserati’s Regional Manager for North Europe, is on his feet. “Maserati will grow from 36,500 cars 2014 to double that by 2018.” I look around the room of assembled hacks - was I hearing this right? “We’ll expand our sales network by 50% in three years with the Ghibli and forthcoming Levante SUV and Alfieri coupe.” In terms of brave, courageous statements it’s akin to climbing into a ring with Mike Tyson after suggesting he has a feminine lisp.” We’re in Belfast to hear Maserati’s plans to grow the small luxury Italian brand into a credible alternative to the big German rivals. True, fast growing markets like China are the target for volume and the E-segment Ghibli (where BMW 5 Series and Audi A6 roam) will drive European sales but it’s the flagship 2015 Quattroporte GTS with a V8 we’re here to test. Starting at £108,185 before options (expect nearer €190,000 in the Republic of Ireland) it’s powered by a turbocharged 3.8 V-8, 530 HP engine, with 0-100 km/h time of 4.7 seconds and
a shattering top speed of 307 km/h that’s assembled by parent company Ferrari in Maranello. Maserati claim 16.2 Urban MPG and 33.2 Extra Urban. CO2 emissions 274 g/km, if that’s actually a consideration here. So to the big elephant in the room. Can Maserati, even this all-new Quattroporte, plausibly cut it against the Mercedes S500 or Audi S8 as a limo for people that are more familiar with NetJets than Netflix? Originally launched in 1963, the Frua designed Quattroporte (four-door in Italian) was followed up with a revised Quattroporte in 1979. However, it wasn’t until 2003 that the current Quattroporte commenced its unbroken iteration of super luxury limos. Today’s 2015 model certainly has presence. From front and side views, its design is swooping and elegant, while the rear isn’t as recognisable as the vertical taillight lexicon of the 2003 car. But, ultimately, it’s an immensely pretty car. Getting inside throws up a question or two about
Car Review
quality. The driver’s door feels light and absent is the safe-door thud of a German rival. Yes, we’re being harsh but at £109,000 (in the UK), the Quattroporte will be bought by people that expect the very best in everything they encounter. Inside, the main instruments are the traditional non-electronically rendered variety with less buttons making familiarity with the car’s controls easier than say that of an S-class. Although, some buttons (whisper it) have been poached from Chrysler. We did like the seat comfort and the rear legroom was far better than the restricted short wheelbase Audi A8. One gripe we found was during a three-point turn. Instead of engaging reverse from drive on the sequential type gear lever, we found neutral several times leaving us red faced and stranded across a street on a busy Belfast suburb. The Mercedes S-class column shifter works far better in execution. On the move though, things cheer up immeasurably. Where the Germans provide a hermetically pressurised experience, the exuberant
Italian with a yowling, barking V8 and 650 Nm of torque suggests the Quattroporte is really a fiery four door supercar in disguise (it manages 307 km/h remember) instead of a cosseting luxury limo. Seated in the rear it never approaches the calming waft of a limo. Ride quality is fine but not as composed the Audi S8 manages and certainly a league behind the S-class; steering feel is very good but could be even sharper. Service intervals for the Quattroporte is 12,500 miles or two years and in the absence of a main dealer in the Republic of Ireland (going to press) Maserati say they’ll collect and deliver your car back from authorised servicing in Belfast. All in all, though, the 2015 Maserati Quattroporte GTS is an accomplished, four-door rocketship for the affluent owner that prefers to drive hard than be driven. A beautiful, enormously desirable supercar limo that’s, yes, eclipsed by the German rivals on quality but hits back with unhinged, joyous performance.
For: Beautiful looks. Yowling, howling Ferrari built engine. Against: Build quality. Steering feel. Summary: Just so pretty. A fiery Italian for drivers, not passengers.
The Arab Irish Journal | 89
Book Review
Killary Harbour
The Sun Shines Sometimes (Travel Memoirs in Ireland) Written by Salwa Elhamamsy and Translated by Laila Helmi.
Emmet O’Connor.
90 | The Arab Irish Journal
Salwa Elhamamsy is Egyptian Short Stories, Opinion Article, and Travel Literature writer. Elhamamsy has a deep concern about social and human issues. Her curious intellect and keen observation are clearly shown in her works. Elhamamsy somewhat reformist and traditionalist is trying to bring Egyptian contemporary literature to the forefront. Her first published work was a selection of short stories (Shackles of Dreams, 1993) which touches on opinions of issues in her homeland. She was an opinion article writer for several newspapers on Social and Political issues in Egypt and other Arab nations. Elhamamsy has been two decades away from Egypt and her travels has inspired her to write of places she has been too. She has now written about her stay in Ireland (The Sun Shines
Sometimes) incidentally it’s the first memoirs about Ireland by an Arab writer. This book, I feel, should appeal to the travel fan and the Irish people who have an interest in a non-nationals opinion of Ireland. Elhamamsy sees a lot of similarities between Egypt and Ireland and how it shows a very strong matriachal influence, its colonization and passion for democracy and certain landscapes. This book has a very honest and humble observation. It takes a very simple approach on everyday life, social and personal issues, yet has a way of making them profound, thoughtful and captivating. The author also has a great grasp of the Irish culture. Highly recommend and well worth a read. Emmet O’Connor.
Book Review
The Arab Irish Journal | 91
Useful Contacts
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92 | The Arab-Irish Journal
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Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce
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Federation of Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture
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Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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Somali Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture
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Federation of Yemeni Chambers of Commerce and Industry
E-mail: fucci@y.net.ye
The Arab-Irish Journal | 93
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Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt
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Embassy of Algeria, London
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Libyan Embassy, London
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Qatar Embassy, London
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Sudan Embassy, London
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Syrian Embassy, London
+44(0) 207 2459012 www.syrianembassy.co.uk
Yemen
Yemen Embassy, London
+1 212 421 6394 www.yemenembassy.org.uk
Enterprise Ireland Offices in the Middle East Country
Markets covered
Contact
UAE Enterprise Ireland Middle East/ North Africa (MENA) Office
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sudan, Pakistan, Yemen, Palestine and Kurdistan
4th Floor, Office 4b, Monarch Office Tower No 1, Sheikh Zayed Road PO Box 115425, Dubai +9714-329-8384 Contact: Sean Davis Email: Sean.Davis@enterprise-ireland.com www.enterprise-ireland.com
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain c/o Embassy of Ireland
Diplomatic Area PO Box 94349, Riyadh 11693 Tel: +966 1 488 1383 Contact: Ikram Ur Rehman Email: ikram.urrehman@enterprise-Ireland.com www.enterprise-ireland.com
94 | The Arab-Irish Journal
Useful Contacts
Irish Ministries and State agencies Irish Ministries and State agencies Chambers Ireland
www.chambers.ie
Department of Education and Skills
www.education.ie
Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
www.djei.ie
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
www.dfa.ie
Dept of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
www.dcenr.gov.ie
Dept of Transport, Tourism & Sport
www.transport.ie
Dept of Agriculture Fisheries & Food
www.agriculture.gov.ie
Dept of Health
www.dohc.ie
Enterprise Ireland
www.enterprise-ireland.com
Government of Ireland website
www.gov.ie
IDA Ireland
www.idaireland.com
Irish Business & Employers, Confederation
www.ibec.ie
Irish Exporters Association
www.irishexporters.ie
Irish Food Board
www.bordbia.ie
Radiological Protection Institute
www.rpii.ie
Irish Medicines Board
www.imb.ie
Companies Registration Office
www.cro.ie
eTenders
www.etenders.gov.ie
IFSC
www.ifsc.ie
NAMA
www.nama.ie
National Tourism Development Authority (Fรกilte Ireland)
www.failteireland.ie
Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service
www.inis.gov.ie
Bord Bia-Irish Food Board (Dubai) 4th Floor Office 4b, Monarch Tower Tower No. 1 Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates PO Box: 115425
The Arab-Irish Journal | 95
Dates for your Diary
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2015 Events Event Name
Event date
Description
Venue
Decofair
10-13 Nov 2015
The International Furniture & Interior Design Exhibition
Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Foodex Saudi
17-20 Nov 2015
The Entire Food & Beverage Marketplace in One Spectacular Event
Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
ISF Saudi
25-28 Nov 2015
Saudi Arabia’s First Sport & Fitness Show
Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Health and Beauty
25-28 Nov 2015
Saudi Arabia’s First International Health & Beauty Show
Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
MCE Mostra Convegno Expocomfort Saudi
30 Nov - 02 Dec 2015
Cooling, Water, Renewable Energy & Heating for Green Building
Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
EcoWASTE
18-21 Jan 2016
Waste Management for Sustainable Development
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
International Water Summit
18-21 Jan 2016
A Unique Global Platform for Promoting Water Sustainability
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
World Future Energy Summit
18-21 Jan 2016
The Annual World Future Energy Summit
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
AccessAbilities Expo
08-10 Feb 2016
Enabling Mobility - Integrating Communities
Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre (DICEC), Dubai, United Arab Emirates
ibtm arabia
09-11 Feb 2016
The Leading One-to-One Event for the Middle East’s MICE Industry
Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Emergency Response & Disaster Prevention
15-17 Mar 2016
Event for Emergency Vigilance, Disaster Prevention & Recovery
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Firefighting Middle East
15-17 Mar 2016
Fire & Emergency Middle East
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Art Source
ov 7 - 10
www.artsource.ie
RDS, Dublin
Selfbuild Ireland
Nov 8 - 10
Selfbuild Ireland
Millstreet, Cork
Toys 4 Big Boys
Nov 15 - 17
MediaTeam
Citywest, Dublin
The Afordable Art Show
Nov 23 - 24
Innovative Events
RDS, Dublin
Craft Fair - Cork
TBC
National Crafts Fair
www.cityhallcraftsfair.ie
Food & Wine Show
Nov 29 - Dec 1
Harmonia
RDS, Dublin
National Craft & Design Fair
Dec 4 - 8
National Crafts Fair
RDS, Dublin
IRELAND EVENTS
96 | The Arab-Irish Journal
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H.E. UAE Ambassador Al Shamsi with President Michael D. Higgins
H.E. UAE AMBASSADOR TO IRELAND THE ARAB-IRISH FORUM WOMEN IN BUSINESS MOTOR SECTION LATEST TRADE FIGURES BRENDAN NOONAN NEWS