Gulf Insider Issue 179 (January 2020) - Winners of the Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship 2019

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The multi-award winning Arabian Magazine

Winners

of the Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship Fourth Edition - 2019 January 2020 | ISSUE 179

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Gulf Financial Insider

Contents January 2020 Issue 179

17 48

20 26 28 31 34 40

4th Edition of Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship Transforming Corporate Responsibilities 26th World Islamic Banking Conference (WIBC) New Year at Elite Numbers that sell for Big Numbers Keypoint: New Year Resolutions

Car News & Reviews

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

44 48 56

BMW M850i Coupe: Beauty on Wheels Audi RS Q8 Mercedes- Benz “Vanchella Festival”

… and much, much more!

Knowledge is power

Publisher & Editor in Chief

- Nicholas C. Cooksey

Comment...

Editorial - Aswini Vijayakumar

A picture is worth a thousand words.

- Dhanraj S Layout Designs

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

Photography - Angelo Jose A

Editorial Contributors

- Sawsan Abu Omar - Hugh Haskell-Thomas - Nicholas Cortes - Bill Daly

Sales & Business Development

- Charlie Cooksey

Admin & Finance

- Nikesh Pola

Distribution - Mohammed Yousif - Aramex - Al Ayam

For advertising contact

For editorial contact

Charlie Cooksey +973 3652 0004 charlie@gulf-insider.com

Supriya Reginald +973 1700 4575 editorial@gulf-insider.com

Published by:

P.O. Box 26810, Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: +973 1700 4575 Fax: +973 1772 1722 Printed at Awal Press, Kingdom of Bahrain.

Registered with Ministry of Information approval no. TFI-431©. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. All Rights Reserved. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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The multi-award winning Arabian Magazine

The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

Winners

45,036 People Reached

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The region’s first biometric bank Interview with Mr. Ahmed Abdul Rahim, CEO DEcEmBEr 2019 | ISSUE 178

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of the Bahrain Award for entrepreneurship Fourth edition - 2019

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Events

Day & Night Gulf Executive Leaders’ Support Forum 2020

The 46th Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition

When: 14th – 15th January 2020 Where: The Gulf Hotel

When: 15th January 15th February 2020 Where: Bahrain National Museum & Bahrain National Theatre

Gulf Executive Leaders Support Forum (GLS Forum), in cooperation with Bahrain Secretary Association, brings together experts and specialist in the field of administration to exchange their expertise, experiences, views, and opinions in the latest and important topics about administrative technology, body language, etiquette and other areas.

For more information: gulfels.com

Smart SMB Summit & Awards Bahrain 2020 When: 29th January 2020 Where: The Gulf Hotel The Smart SMB Summit & Awards will focus on the transformation themes that are impacting the Business dynamics in the market, ranging from VAT implementation to digital transformation.

For more information: smartsmbsummit.com/Bahrain

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The 46th Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition, the first, biggest and longest-running platform for Bahraini artists to showcase and exhibit their creatives. This exhibition represents an opportunity to highlight different schools of thought, artists’ perceptions and ideological backgrounds.

For more information: culture.gov.bh

The Autumn Fair 2020 When: 23rd - 31st January 2020 Where: Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre The Autumn Fair is Bahrain’s largest and most popular consumer products show.

Discover and explore the huge variety of products on sale during this 9-day extravaganza.

For more information: theautumnfair.com

News Roundup

New Dubai Tower set to become world’s tallest hotel Ciel, The First Group’s project currently under development in Dubai Marina, will become the world’s tallest hotel when it opens by early 2023. The 82-level Ciel in Dubai Marina, will be four metres taller than the emirate’s current titleholder, the Gevora on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Ciel will reach a height of 360.4 metres and will house 1,209 luxury suites and serviced residences upon completion. It will feature a glass observation deck providing 360-degree vistas across Dubai Marina and the Arabian Gulf. The rooftop area will also house two of Ciel’s four world-class dining facilities.

Abu Dhabi overtakes Manama as best gcc city for expats to live & work

Dubai: Most attractive tourist destination in Middle East Dubai coninues to remain one of the most attractive tourism destinations in the Middle East and Africa, retaining its pole position in the region, according to global market research company Euromonitor International’s Top 100 City Destinations 2019 report.

The report shows Dubai racing ahead of New York City, Istanbul and Rome, with Dubai’s tourist arrivals for 2019 expected to surpass these cities, among many others. On the global front, Hong Kong is expected to retain its position as the world’s most visited city despite the ongoing political unrest.

Abu Dhabi ranked in the top 15 out of 82 expatriate cities in the world for the third year in a row, a survey from global network InterNations on the best destinations to live and work abroad.

The list was dominated by Asian cities, with Taipei in Taiwan leading the ranking for the second year in a row followed by Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and Singapore, according to the Expat Insider 2019 study published on Tuesday. Abu Dhabi came in 15th position on the list.

Among the GCC cities surveyed, Abu Dhabi held relatively steady from 14th last year. Manama dropped from third place (first in GCC) and came in 21st, Muscat 28th (from 10th) and Dubai 34th (from 28th). Although they did well in terms of ease of getting settled and safety, as well as the availability and affordability of housing, work-life balance was a weakness.

Barring Kuwait City, the GCC cities were among the top 25 worldwide for getting settled.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai came in second worldwide for the ease of living there without speaking the local language. Nearly 9 in 10 expatriates (87 percent) find this easy, compared to 47 percent globally. Almost three quarters (73 percent in Abu Dhabi and 71 percent in Dubai) said local residents are friendly towards foreign residents (versus 64 percent globally).

Kuwait City was ranked bottom of the list. Kuwait City is the world’s worst-rated city for leisure activities and for local climate and weather. More than three in five expats are dissatisfied with the local transportation. It also has the worstrated work-life balance worldwide, with 38 percent of expats rating this factor negatively. Over a third of expats say they are dissatisfied with their job in general, and two in five are unhappy with the local career opportunities.

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A moment from another time...

Bahrain International Airport in the 1960s

To view more immemorial images of Bahrain follow ‘The Old Bahrain’ The Old Bahrain @theoldbahrain 12

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Business Society

Christmas lunch hosted by BBBF at The Diplomat Radisson Blu

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12th Edition of Bahrain International Property Exhibition (BIPEX) held at The Bahrain International Exhibition and Conference Centre

News Roundup

Bahrain: Bank employees on trial for leaking client information The High Criminal Court has begun hearing the case of a public employee and four bank employees accused of forming a cell among them to reveal clients’ personal information. According to court files, the employees of the bank signed a contract with the public employee to provide them with personal information about the clients who approach the bank for loans. It’s said that they were paying him BD300 for his services.

While investigating the case, police officers found a list of the clients who applied for personal loans and the public employee provided their personal information to the bank’s employees, who include a woman and three men.

As per the court files, the woman was the one who proposed the idea of dealing with the public employee to her teammates who agreed on it. The public employee reportedly demanded to be paid BD10,000 at a later stage for leaking the personal information. The bank’s employees were charged with bribing a public employee while the latter was accused of violating his authorities.

100,000 Cruise ship visitors expected in Bahrain More than 7,000 passengers on board of two cruise ships MSC Bellisima and AIDAprima arrived in Bahrain, Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) has said.

Representatives of the BTEA prepared a set of activities for the visitors onboard the cruise ships, who were welcomed with sweets and Arabic coffee, and given a glimpse into the rich history of Bahrain and the hospitality of its people. BTEA works closely with a group of governmental entities and tour operators to enhance visitor experience and ensure a smooth journey to the Kingdom.

During their stay, visitors were introduced to famous tourist destinations in the Kingdom, including the Royal Camel Farm, Manama Souq, Al Fateh Grand Mosque, Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain Fort, Bahrain National Museum, Bu Maher Fort, Shaikh Ebrahim Center and the Old Houses of Muharraq.

Hosting the cruise ships comes as part of the BTEA’s long term strategy to further develop the Kingdom’s tourism sector under the slogan of ‘Ours. Yours.’ which contributes towards the Kingdom’s economy and the 2030 Economic Vision.

Bahrain: RERA dismisses proposal restricting foreign ownership A proposed law aimed at restricting foreign ownership of real estate in residential areas has been dismissed by the Real Estate Regulation Authority (RERA).

RERA has expressed its reservations about a proposed law which aims to restrict foreign ownership of real estate to tourist areas. The authority, in a note to the Shura Council, stated that such a law would adversely affect the real estate sector and the economy. “There has been a decline in real estate trading and existing economic conditions constitute one of the primary reasons,” a RERA official said.

According to RERA, the real estate market needs a push to improve its state. In 2019 there has been a drop in

revenue from 38 million Bahraini dinars to 22 million Bahraini dinars, which is a 42 per cent plummet.

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Luxury

Mudan watch with 15,858 diamonds

Coronet Swiss made jewelry timepieces from Lifestyle Fine Jewelry.

S

ince 1997, Lifestyle Fine Jewelry specializes in fine diamond jewelry and watches in the GCC. Lifestyle Fine Jewelry has seven outlets in Bahrain and is positioned to continue its expansion in Bahrain and the GCC. They have exclusive dealership in multiple brands including the Coronet Solitaire.

Coronet’s worldwide patented setting is what makes it a true original.

Coronet creates a modern classic watch collection designed to meet the tastes of discerning audiences worldwide.

Made in the true spirit of Swiss watchmaking, every Coronet watch is assembled, inspected and adjusted with close attention to embody elegance and precision.

The Mudan watch was awarded the Guinness World Record at Baselworld for Most Diamonds Set on a Watch. This is the 9th Guinness World Record for the jewelry brand CoronetÂŽ. It is set meticulously with 15,858(50.01 carats) 16

Gulf Insider January 2020

white and champagne diamonds in 18k gold and is valued at $500,000.

For full range of elegant diamond jewelry and branded watches, visit lifestylegcc.com

Luxury

The L’Heure du Diamant watch

The L.U.C Chrono One Flyback watch

The Chopard

Valentine’s collection

V

alentine’s Day offers the watchmaker-jeweller an opportunity to demonstrate the full extent of its creative genius and to be a partner to the most beautiful declarations.

Happy Hearts – Chopard’s Big Heart

- Chopard’s new short necklaces, diamond set bangle bracelets and a new time piece in gold and stainless steel.

du Diamant watches now appear with a case shaped like a vibrant heart in 18-carat rose or white gold, paired with a gold link bracelet or leather strap and a white mother-of-pearl dial.

L.U.C XPS Twist QF – the art of extravagance - The L.U.C XPS Twist QF timepiece is introduced with a slightly offset crown and off-centred small seconds display at 7 o’clock – a signature feature of the Twist series within the L.U.C. collection

Happy Diamonds Icons – talismanlike dancing diamonds - Whirling between two sapphire crystals, one or three dancing diamonds bring sparkling life to a new series of short necklaces in 18-carat white or rose gold, either polished or set with diamonds, completing the collection.

L.U.C Chrono One Flyback – the chic chronograph - The L.U.C Chrono One Flyback timepiece is imbued with the relaxed, contemporary and controlled elegance which is the unique signature of L.U.C. creations.

L’Heure du Diamant – the sheer

Haute Joaillerie – an anthem to

delight of precious hours - The L’Heure

rubies - Highlighting rubies through an imposing necklace composed of no less than 23 Mozambican rubies and diamonds set in ethical ‘Fairmined’ certified gold and a ring that the Maison’s Artistic Direction has chosen in order to showcase a beautiful 5-carat ruby.

Chopard also offers a collection of accessories fashioned from the finest materials by the best Artisans. Two red calf leather bags are now added to the Happy Hearts shoulder bag collection.

For men, Chopard reflects the world of gentlemen drivers through two Classic Racing straps in black braided leather.

For more information, follow Chopard on Facebook and Instagram or check out www.chopard.com

Gulf Insider January 2020

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News Roundup

Saudi: Citizen unemployment lowest in 3 years, expats also benefit Saudi Arabia’s citizen unemployment rate fell to the lowest in more than three years as the kingdom’s non-oil economy recovers. Joblessness slipped to 12 per cent in the third quarter from 12.3 per cent in the previous three months, according to data published by the official General Authority for Statistics.

The quarterly data showed improvements across the board, with more Saudis working in both the public and private sectors and unemployment dropping for men and women. Latest data shows the annual rate of job loss in the private sector is slowing, both for Saudis and foreigners. And although Saudi female unemployment remains over 30 per cent, that’s largely a reflection of more women seeking jobs as social restrictions loosen in the kingdom.

Saudi: “No intention to change expat fees” The Saudi government has no intention to change expatriates’ fees, said Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Minister of Finance, in an interview with Al-Arabiya.

Al-Jadaan said that Saudi Arabia has made resounding achievements in 2019, while expressing the hope of seeing more growth in 2020, noting that the government’s objective is very clear, and aims to enable the private sector, being a key partner to achieving Saudi Vision 2030. He further explained that the government would work on ensuring more financing opportunities for the small and medium enterprises.

On the taxes, AlJadaan confirmed that the government will not impose new taxes or fees before conducting an extensive study about their financial and socioeconomic impact, in addition to their impact on the as well as its impact on the Kingdom’s competitiveness.

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Gulf Insider January 2020

Hackers target WhatsApp users in Saudi Arabia WhatsApp users in Saudi Arabia have witnessed a rise in cases of hacking.

The problem begins when users receive messages from one of their contacts requesting a code to join a group or a copy of the ATM card to deposit an amount of money, without realizing that they are communicating directly with a hacker.

Once the hacker receives this code, he can easily use the victim’s device, send messages to his contact list and ask for money transfers. The only solution, he said, is to never interact with unknown users and never to respond to messages asking to follow some link or to enter any code.

Saudi banks, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority, all mobile phone operators and the Capital Market Authority regularly send warning messages to the public to avoid responding to such messages because they can carry programs that pull data from phones.

People are advised to ignore such messages and report the suspicious message to the unified number 330330 via SMS. He added that there had been a positive response from the public about the awareness campaigns. If users suspect their bank details have been hacked, they should call their bank to take the proper action such as canceling bank cards. Users should make sure that they never reveal their bank account password or card details.

News Roundup

Dubai Introduces New ‘Residency’ Visa in 40 Minutes Smart Dubai has launched UAE ‘Residency’ application services via its Dubai Now application and e-services platform. The app allows the emirate’s residents to conduct city transactions from the convenience of their smartphones.

The ‘Residency’ service facilitates the transactions and procedures required to issue residency visas. The process takes less than 40 minutes, saving time and effort for all applicants. Users need only 10 minutes to complete their application, which then takes 30 minutes to two working days to be approved.

Saudi: No More Separate Entrance Based on Gender Restaurants in Saudi Arabia will no longer need to maintain entrances segregated by sex, the authorities said last month, further eroding some of the world’s strictest social rules as sweeping reforms take hold. Unrelated men and women have for decades been barred from mixing in public places under strict social rules once enforced by hardline clerics and the religious police.

World Bank Predicts Growth for Bahrain The World Bank predicted in a report that Bahrain’s economy would grow at a moderate rate of 2% in 2019, and an average of 2.3% in 2020-2021.

The bank indicated that the nonoil sector will be the key factor of this growth, while the increase in industrial production and higher levels of infrastructure spending will be the driver of non-oil GDP growth. Bahrain’s exports of oil products in the first half of 2019 were BD 1.87 Billion.

Bahraini arrested for insulting Kuwaiti people A former TV presenter was recently arrested for insulting the people of Kuwait in a video he posted on social media networks. The Bahraini runs popular channels on YouTube and Instagram. In one of the episodes he posted recently, he described Kuwaitis as “uncivilized and beggars”. This angered many social media users in Kuwait.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry confirmed in a tweet that legal steps against an individual who had insulted a brotherly state on social media had been taken, without mentioning details about the man’s identity, the content he posted, or the country he insulted.

Bahrain Spends 100 Million BHD on Credit Cards Every Month Official data released by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) shows that the volume of spending via Bahraini credit cards hit BD 100.6 Million in the Kingdom.

Government services, in reference to public fees and other charges, topped spending on credit cards in October by BD 48 Million, just under half of the total spending via credit cards. The volume of spending on cards issued by foreign banks in shops in Bahrain were about BD 25.7 Million, and spending on cards for tourism and hotels were about BD 7.7 Million.

“Hug the Gulf Cup”- new scam in Bahrain It seems the fraudsters are becoming more creative. In one of the latest scams, they are taking advantage of the Kingdom’s recent soccer victory. Last month Bahrain stunned Saudi Arabia (1-0) to lift Arabian Gulf Cup. The new scam perpetrated by fraudsters starts with the claim that a 100BD fee would ensure a secret “Hug the Gulf Cup” experience. According to the scammers, the people can deposit BD100 to a certain bank account to reserve their right to hug the ‘Gulf Cup’.

SMS have been sent to people across the Kingdom advertising the fake offer. A phone number and a website link were also mentioned in the SMS. The phone number, when called, did not return an answer.

“Innovators” offered Saudi Citizenship Saudi Arabia has announced that it will grant citizenship to ‘innovators’ from all around the world. Saudi nationality will be granted to distinguished professionals of varying backgrounds, including those from medicine, technology, cultural and sports fields. The move is aimed at attracting professionals from around the world as the kingdom seeks to diversify its economy as part of its Vision 2030.

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Money & Business

4th Edition of Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship Celebrating Bahraini Entrepreneurs and Inspiring Innovation.

U

nder the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, the Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship concluded its 4th edition by honoring 8 Bahraini entrepreneurs.

Organized annually by the Labour Fund “Tamkeen”, this platform sheds light on Bahraini entrepreneurs and celebrates their achievements. The 8 winners came from the fields of medicine, architecture, technology,

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Gulf Insider January 2020

education, event management, and food production.

The Startup of the Year Award

The Micro-Enterprise of the Year Award

The Bahrain-based multi-disciplinary design startup was established by Abdulla bin Hindi, Rashed Al Araifi and Ahmed Al Mannai to provide creative schemes ranging from architectural, spatial and digital product-based outcomes. Shepherd Design Studio has previously won the 1st Place Best Pavilion in the Bahrain International Garden Show, 2019 and the 2nd place in the Bahrain Annual Fine Arts Exhibition, 2019.

Doctori Online Services Founded by Ahmed Al Awadhi and Ahmed Mahmood, Doctori Online Services is Bahrain’s first telemedicine platform designed to connect patients with doctors from across the world. The Bahraini micro-enterprise was initially established as a psychotherapy and counselling application, and it has soon grown to include several medical fields.

Shepherd Design Studio

Money & Business

The SME of the Year Award Lalabella Events and Flowers Founded by Nahla Al Mahmod who has previously received the Woman Achiever Award, LalaBella Events and Flowers is a one-stop-shop for memorable event experiences, bespoke floral arrangements, high quality chocolate saviors and seasonal giveaways.

has received the Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship under the SME of the Year category.

Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award Clever Play The winner of the 4th edition’s Female of the Year Award, Sh. Latifa Al Khalifa, is the founder of “Clever Play”; a Bahraini female-led startup that specializes in educating and equipping the next generations with relevant in-demand STEM and STEAM digital skills for future jobs. The EDTech startup has won multiple awards including the National Winner- Entrepreneurship World Cup- Global Entrepreneurship Congress.

Global Enterprise of the Year Award Villa Mamas

Organized annually by the Labour Fund “Tamkeen”, this platform sheds light on Bahraini entrepreneurs and celebrates their achievements.

The Enterprise of the Year with International Footprint Award Kalaam Telecom Launched in 2005 by Nezar Al Saie, Kalaam is Bahrain’s first alternative licensed telecommunications provider and the leading ICT managed solutions provider for business in Bahrain and the GCC region. The Bahrain-based international enterprise has previously won several award in its field including the Fastest Growing Telecom Award in 2018 and 2019 along with the International Finance Award and the Best Telecom Solution Provider, 2019.

Sustainability in Business Award All Food for Food Stuff Founded by Bahraini entrepreneur Mohammed Abdulaal, All Food for Food Stuff is a food production company that imports and distributes food items. In 2017, All Food for Food Stuff

The 4th edition has introduced an eighth category; the Global Enterprise of the Year Award which honors an established Bahraini global enterprise that reflects and interjects the Bahraini identity and culture into its products and services, and contributes to enhancing Bahrain’s regional and international entrepreneurial status through exporting globally competitive Bahrain-made products. This year, the Award was given out to Bahraini entrepreneur Roaya Saleh; the founder of Villa Mamas which is an authentic restaurant that serves Bahraini and Persian dishes in two main branches in Bahrain and London.

The Lifetime Achievement Award H.E. Farouk Yusuf AlMoayyed In recognition of his remarkable contribution to business over 39 years, H.E Farouk AlMoayyed was granted the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in the 4th edition of the Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship.

The 4th edition of the Award received more than 180 applications from Bahrain-based enterprises competing across 8 categories.

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Money & Business

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS of THE FOURTH EDITION - 2019 Gulf Insider meets the winners of Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship.

Doctori Tell us about the factors contributing to your achievement in the 4th Edition of Bahrain Award for entrepreneurship To be honest, the competition was tough. However, what made us stand out was the fact that our product intends to revolutionise the healthcare system in Bahrain.

Doctori Online Services is the first and only licensed telemedicine platform (by the National Health Regulatory Authority) that allows patients to speak to doctors via video consultations for non-urgent medical advice. The beauty of Doctori is that its vision is closely aligned with the vision of the Bahraini Ministry of Health; creating a digitalized healthcare system.

Why did you choose this particular business?

Ahmed Abdulhameed Alawadhi Doctori Online Services

Micro Enterprise of the Year

Because seeing doctors was a huge issue during our time studying in the United Kingdom. It was extremely difficult and expensive to see a doctor for students or patients in general to see doctors for non-urgent matters. If we solve this issue, we would solve a huge problem and eventually change the conventional habit of going to the hospital/clinic to see a doctor. Patients will be able to speak to doctors while laying on their couch, from the comfort of their homes.

Do you have any message for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Never wait for your product to be perfect to jump into a new market. Today, Doctori is only 5% of the real vision. If we wait for it to be 100% we might wait until the year 2025, or customers might not accept the 100% Doctori as its too overwhelming. Jump into the market, make mistakes, pivot from ideas that are not working and always remember to keep the vision alive and to keep having faith in Allah.

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Gulf Insider January 2020

Money & Business

Clever Play Education and Training How is the award related to your business?

Mohamed Abdulaal

All Food for Food Stuff Sustainaibility in Business Award

Clever Play aims, among other things, to bridge the skills and gender gap in STEM/STEAM academic and Shaikha Latifa Mohammed professional achievement. The award Al-Khalifa, Clever Play echoes a resonating message of support for the relevance, timeliness Female Entrepreneur of the Year and impact of our educational mission.

I hope little girls and the youth gain inspiration from knowing that the entrepreneurial journey is open to women as much as men.

What do you believe are the elements for success in your business?

All Food for Food Stuff What do you believe are the elements for success in your business?

We strongly believe that the success of our business is due to a clear strategic plan that was developed and is being improved continuously to cope up with market changes.

We also believe in excellent financial management, exceptional customer service, unmatched product quality, in-depth knowledge of the market, and our extraordinary team.

Why did you choose the particular business you are doing right now?

I selected the business of import and local distribution of food items because I have always had passion for food. I extensively researched the market and came to the understanding of market gaps, supply and demand, competitions, pricing structures, risks, distribution channels, and much more.

We care deeply both about the quality and constant upgrade of our services as well as the connectedness with which we nurture our relationship with those we serve. The underlying message is that education is organic and transformative and that real-life skill-building is a life-long endeavour, not a one-time engagement. That is why we involve the entire village, so to speak – parents, educators, cross-sectoral players so that learners can get on a pathway for STEAM learning in an ecosystem that supports continuing exploration based on one’s inclinations and natural talents.

Why did you choose this particular business?

I was particularly drawn to the widening gap between traditional methods in education and real-world skills requirements. As of 2017, only 20% of Bahrainis are pursuing degrees in STEM. Looking at overall student population in higher level education, 60% are girls; yet not even 10% of them are pursuing STEM fields. I saw the great need for action in this space. I would like to make a meaningful difference and impact by creating a pipeline of high-tech talents in Bahrain. We are working towards turning children from consumers of technology to creators and makers of technology by equipping and inspiring them with STEM and tech skills.

What makes your business different from the other similar businesses in the sector?

We are working to uniquely address the challenges at hand by practicing learning outside the book and training skills in view of college and career readiness. Since our beginnings in 2018, we have impacted over 13,000 learners. Our programs are gaining significant traction. Our current reach logged 62% increase from 2018. Our 2019 summer camps alone reached over 1,200 children in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

We have established 40+ partnerships with schools, NGOs, government entities and corporates inside and outside Bahrain. In addition, we are starting a social movement to build a STEAM learning ecosystem in Bahrain and beyond. We aim to organize collective action towards promoting STEM literacy and the maker culture, which includes leadership and entrepreneurship. Our value chain is deepening and expanding. We are mission-focused and socially driven.

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Money & Business

Kalaam Telecom How is the award related to your business?

Kalaam was born in Bahrain in 2005 and since its inception has grown both organically & inorganically through a clear vision, internationalization strategy with mergers and acquisitions. The reason for participation in the award Nezar Al Saie was that we sincerely believed Kalaam Telecom Bahrain B.S.C that we have a success story to share, of how a Bahraini company International Footprint of the Year started small in Bahrain and has now become a regional telecom service operator. Winning this award as the “Best Enterprise of the Year with International Footprint” acknowledges Kalaam’s effort and contribution towards driving the Kingdoms economic vision of 2030 to make Bahrain a regional ICT hub.

Nahla Almahmood LalaBella Events

SME of the Year

What factors contributed to your achievement in the 4th Edition of Bahrain Award for entrepreneurship?

A key driver is that Kalaam has been ambitious and has grown both organically and inorganically through acquisitions. Kalaam is the only telecom operator in the kingdom to undertake two acquisitions in Bahrain which is Lightspeed Telecommunications and NGNS and also undertake a regional acquisition in Kuwait – Tawasul Telecom making Kalaam a global operator with an international footprint.

With the acquisition of Tawasul, Kalaam has presence in over 12 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Europe and planning to enhance its footprint further in new countries in Africa, Middle East and Europe to cater to International businesses. We continue to develop more and more niche solutions and expand our ICT portfolio through exclusive channel partners to take our unique offerings regionally and globally.

What makes your business different from similar businesses in the sector?

The Niche we have created is as the only telecom operator, which is focused on the enterprise business while most of the other telecom operators are consumer focused. We differentiate based on our unique solutions rather than our pricing. We provide one-stop shop solutions which are industry based. We cater to the customers’ entire gamut of telecommunications, ICT, communication needs whether in Bahrain or outside, under one umbrella which has been our USP.

Do you have any message for aspiring entrepreneurs?

The only way to grow in such a competitive market is to be take calculated risks, invest in disruptive innovation and be persistent. Success doesn’t come too easy or quickly, it takes time, nurturing and pursuing that vision diligently.

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Gulf Insider January 2020

LalaBella Tell us about the factors contributing to your achievement in the 4th Edition of Bahrain Award for entrepreneurship?

LalaBella was born with a vision to become a trend setter and one of the leading events and flower companies in Bahrain which we achieved in a short period of time compared to our competitors, and our potential to go beyond the local market. Nonetheless, our technology driven plans which make our business plan unique in our sector. Our corporate social responsibility towards the community and the support we have given to other entrepreneurs and startups have given us the advantage to become a local company with international vision from community to the community.

What are the elements for success in your business?

I believe in the power of teamwork, and without the team who are behind

Money & Business

LalaBella we were not going to aim to the stars. We have faced many challenges to define our elements of success, and we still do, but the continuous research and development have given us a competitive advantage.

Do you have any message for aspiring entrepreneurs?

My motto has always been “when there is a will, there is a way”. No entrepreneur was handed his success on a golden platter. Entrepreneurs go through a roller coaster of extreme ups and downs with a-lot of determination and commitment to sustain their businesses and continue this rewarding journey. The beauty of this path, is that it has strengthened my driving force towards growing my business, continuously improving it, along with giving back to the community.

Abdulla Binhindi, Rashed AlAraifi, Ahmed AlMannai Shepherd Design Studio Co WLL Start-up of the Year

Shepherd Studios How is the award related to your business?

Our business is a multi-disciplinary design practice, which aims to provide creative schemes ranging from architectural, spatial, digital, and product based outcomes. The backbone of our practice is architectural design, while other experimental projects are prevalent. As a start up based in Bahrain, we plan to give back and add value to the human experience in all aspects. We believe everything we design in-turn designs and shapes us, our behaviour, and society as whole.

What factors contributed to your achievement in the 4th Edition of Bahrain Award for entrepreneurship?

Our diverse portfolio of work, as well as our philosophy to innovate are the driving factors behind our achievement in this year’s edition of the Bahrain Award

for Entrepreneurship. It was an entrepreneurial spirit which pushed us to innovate, proving our abilities to both the private and public sectors and showing various entities how our practice can add value. As such, we take pride in our current portfolio which has demonstrated our contribution to Bahrain’s urban fabric since our inception within a span of 2-3 yearswith the Dive Bahrain master plan by adding value to tourism and marine life, with the Manama souq masterplan in reviving cultural heritage, and with other projects from our practice.

Another factor which contributed to our achievement would be our philosophy of ‘constructive deconstruction’. An example of this can be displayed through ‘<mat’ a product designed by our studio which was launched at Saudi Design Week, one of MENA’s largest and successful design expos. <mat is Shepherd’s reinterpretation of the Islamic prayer mat, with an aim to add value to the existing prayer mat model by using 51% less material than typical mats. It

What do you believe are the elements for success in your business?

As individuals who create on a daily basis, innovation is a constant variable engraved in our operations. As such, we continuously encourage unorthodox ambition whilst simultaneously maintaining logical reasoning. A combination of team work, intelligence, optimism, enthusiasm, and creativity are the ingredients in which we work with.

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Money & Business

Transforming Corporate Responsibilities Gulf Insider speaks to Shaikh Abdulla Al Khalifa, Director of Communication at Zain Bahrain on Corporate Sustainability (CS) initiatives.

C

an you shed light on your vision for Zain as its Director of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations?

Our vision as a telecom provider is to focus and expand in three areas.

Firstly, its people. When we come up with a solution or a service, we look at it from the perspective of various stakeholders such as our shareholders, employees, end-users and various private and public institutions we work with, making sure that our services our socially and environmentally aligned with our overall CS goals.â&#x20AC;?

Zain Bahrain is essentially driven by

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Gulf Insider January 2020

Ultimately, the three things that Zain stands for is people, digital innovation and leveraging being part of Zain Group in launching new services and solutions.

the community we serve.

Secondly, we see ourselves as a highly innovative company. We see ourselves as an organization that thrives in disruption, as well as launching new solutions that others are yet to consider. The Zbot designed recently for Zain app is a perfect example as it can communicate both in Arabic and English.

Thirdly, we are capitalizing on Zain Group. We are part of a group with 50 million customers across 8 countries.

Zain Group is the leading provider in various technologies and they also do huge major deals with big companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Ericsson. In fact, Zain was the first

Money & Business

telecommunications company to work with Amazon Web Services, in hosting our applications in the AWS cloud, before any telco in the region. At the end of the day , we leverage this power so that we as Zain Bahrain can offer these services to our users.

Ultimately, the three things that Zain stands for is people, digital innovation and leveraging being part of Zain Group in launching new services and solutions.

Tell us about the Corporate Sustainability (CS) activities that Zain has recently launched, particularly the E-waste National Initiative.

Zain identified that as an operator it needs to give back to the community.

The environment was something that we wanted to focus on and rather than just doing the classical approach of recycling plastics, cans and paper, we

Kingdom launching such an initiative on a national scale since 2011, we have signed up a strategic agreement with the Crown Industries who basically deals with recycling. They are licensed by the Supreme Council for Environment to recycle electronic waste. We collect electrical devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs, displays and simply anything with a circuit board through e-waste drop box at the Zain Tower.

The Crown Industries collects these e-waste from Zain and ships it to a third party outside bahain where it is recycled ethically and responsibly.

Furthermore, the Crown Industries also provides official certificate and evidence, based on global standards, that they indeed have recycled it (through their partners) in the most environmentally conscious manner.

work with people in Zain while getting trained in latest technologies like AI and Big Data. Apart from that, we also have them participate in social activities like the e-waste campaign and other Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) initiatives we get involved in.

Zain is in fact a signatory of the SDG’s since 2016, which no other telco has committed to in Bahrain, and we issue an annual Sustainability Report which covers all the SDG initiatives we do across the entire Middle East region.

Our main aim is to contribute to the development of youth in the country.

We even have participants who have gone to become people in leading positions across the Kingdom. This initiative will make sure that the youth gains knowledge on the corporate level, the various trends and will also support them in their university studies.

We’ve also learned that you have a new STEAM Camp for young girls in Bahrain.

What’s significant about this?

thought we should look into all sorts of e-waste.

The main idea behind this initiative is to responsibly recycle electronic waste which would otherwise end up in landfills where they remain for hundreds of years.

As a part of the electronic waste campaign, we have invited 17 schools, both private and public, to be part of a national competition.

This competition will have three categories: Most e-Waste (Weight) Collected, Best Awareness Campaign, and Best Digital Solution for e-waste.

How is Zain recycling the massive amount of e-waste in Bahrain?

Being the first organization in the

We even have participants who have gone to become people in leading positions across the Kingdom.

Tell us more about the Zain Youth development program. What do you aim to achieve through this initiative?

With more than 1000 university students over the years, this program is not just another internship. It lets you

We noticed that in Bahrain, the representation of male and female is heavily imbalanced in the tech-field when compared to other sectors like the finance, customer services and marketing.

So that’s how we decided to do a program to educate girls in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Arts) education which will increase the level of STEAM skills in girls, and change the perception of the field early in their lives. The end result would be an increase of participation equally between girls and boys in the field. This would lead to girls going into engineering/tech fields in the university level and ultimately applying for jobs in the tech field.

We have collaborated with the Supreme Council for Women and Clever Play for this initiative. We will be sponsoring around 1000 girls for 4 months (10 hours for each) to do an after-school activity on STEAM education for free.

Our drive is to make sure that girls in the age of 8-16 gets exposed to STEAM education without any fees or any other barriers.

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Money & Business

Breakthrough Industry Insights Unfold as The 26th World Islamic Banking Conference kicks off on a high note!

The 26th World Islamic Banking Conference (WIBC)

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nder the patronage of HRH The Prime Minister of Bahrain, the 26th anniversary edition of The World Islamic Banking Conference (WIBC), the largest and longest-running gathering of Islamic banking and finance leaders in the world, saw over 1000 Industry leaders from various markets comprising the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe & America congregate from 2nd - 4th December in Bahrain - the host nation of WIBC for the past two decades.

Convened by Middle East Global Advisors - a leading financial intelligence platform facilitating the development of knowledge-based economies in the

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MENASEA markets and in strategic partnership with the Central Bank of Bahrain, the forum focused on “Mega Trends in Banking and Finance”.

Mazin Al-Nahedh, Group Chief Executive Officer, Kuwait Finance House, Winner of the Best Islamic Digital Bank said, “Banks are investing in their own technology, as well as collaborating with FinTechs, to gain new capabilities. Simultaneously, digital banks were noted to be emerging as a direct competitor to the large institutions, taking advantage of technology and low operating costs to potentially provide cheaper products than traditional banks while meeting growing consumer demand for digital

services. Competition between banks and new entrants may give way to direct collaboration across the Fintech ecosystem”.

WIBC Performance Awards were presented by Adnan Ahmed Yousif, President & Chief Executive, Al Baraka Banking Group, Chairman, Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB), to the top performing Islamic financial institutions based on their performance in the WIBC Leaderboard – a groundbreaking performance assessment tool aimed at enabling Islamic financial institutions to benchmark their performance against their peers.

Al Rajhi Bank bagged the Best Performing Bank Award for Global &

Money & Business

MENA regions, testament to its strong performance in the financial metrics of the WIBC Leaderboard.

Other winners at the 26th Annual WIBC Performance Awards included: • Best Performing Bank – Levant Jordan Islamic Bank • Best Islamic Bank for Sustainable Initiatives – Al Baraka Banking Group • Best CSR Islamic Banking Group Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank • Best Islamic Bank (Financial Performance) - Dubai Islamic Bank

Since its inception 26 years ago, WIBC has been a significant contributor to enhancing growth, excellence and innovation in the Global Islamic Finance and Banking industry. Time and again, the conference has proven to be an ideal launching pad for research and intelligence reports, arming Industry leaders with pragmatic insights to help shape their organization’s strategic planning activities.

Partners at The 26th WIBC included: Kuwait Finance House, Ithmaar Bank, Khaleeji Commercial Bank (KHCB), Bank ABC Islamic, Bahrain Islamic Bank

Over 1000 Global Leaders Converge for The 26th Annual Islamic Banking Conference (WIBC 2019) in Bahrain

WIBC has been a significant contributor to enhancing growth, excellence and innovation in the Global Islamic Finance and Banking industry.

• Best Islamic Bank (Financial Stability) - Kuwait Finance House • Best Islamic Digital Bank - Kuwait Finance House • Fastest Growing Islamic Fintech bank - Ithmaar Bank • Best Islamic Investment Bank – GFH Financial Group • Top Law Firm for M&A - MENA Baker McKenzie • Top Advisory Firm for M&A – MENA – J.P. Morgan • Top Consultancy Firm for M&A – MENA - PwC

(BisB), First Energy Bank, Al Baraka Banking Group, GFH Financial Group, AAOIFI, The Perth Mint, Moody’s Investors Service, Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD), Eiger Trading, DDCAP Group, Keypoint, FitchRatings, Tejoury, GPS, Sadad, Directorate of International Programmes, ANO, IMTF and Mazars. Supporting Partners: Bahrain Association of Banks & Arab Bankers Association, Official PR Partner: TRACCS. Gulf Insider was the Media Sponsor for the 26th WIBC.

Gulf Insider January 2020

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Business Society

Launch of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Royale Smart Cleanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Paint (Love you Super Mom) by Asian Paints Berger Bahrain at The Regency Intercontinental

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Launch of Viva Bahrain's new identity-stc Bahrain at The Ritz Carlton

People & Culture

New Year at Elite This coming year, Elite Hospitality promises a memorable time for you and your loved ones.

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efresh your weekend with an unforgettable family stay at Elite Resort & Spa Muharraq. Guests can enjoy special discounts on all our restaurants and room service menu with offers on facilities for the whole family, including free kids activities, seaside outdoor swimming pool, gym and sauna room.

The Friday Brunch at the La Brasserie restaurant will be a family treat for a great start to the New Year with a special rate of BD 12 net per person.

The lavish buffet offered at a 20 % discount will be from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm which is free for children up to 6 years old.

At Al Naseem pool side restaurant, guests can enjoy our Tarab nights

theme with live grills buffet, arraying a wide range of choices every Thursday & Friday from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm for prices starting from BD10.

Elite Seef Residence hotel located close to Seef Mall, offer spacious suites with one and two bed rooms, making it an ideal accommodation for short-term and long-term guests. Complimentary services are also available.

Our weekly entertainment at Al Waha pool side starts with the Tarab Nights every Wednesday and Thursday from 8 pm. A real authentic selection of Arabic food with wide range of mezze and fresh grills only at BD 10 net per person.

Every Friday night our live band at Al Waha plays till mid night and from 8 pm onwards a lavish buffet with a wide range of grills and Arabic food is offered

for a special price of BD 8.

Elite Grande hotel in the hub of Seef, near to Bahrain City Center shopping mall offers the Family Feast promotion with a wide selection of Arabic variety prepared by our Chefs. The Arabic set menu, good for 5-6 persons is for BD 19 net only!

H20 pool side restaurant offers ladies night every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from 6 pm till 12 am with free limited cocktails. Unlimited grills at only 8 BD net per person is also available every Thursday and Friday from 7 pm till 11 pm.

To view more on our hotels, please visit: www.elitegrouphotels.com

Gulf Insider January 2020

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News Roundup

Kuwait: Statistics shows decline of expats in public sector A recent government statistics show that the number of Kuwaitis holding Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Ph.D. certificates has increased to 4,633 between June 2018 and June 2019.

Sixty-six percent of the holders of Mastersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Degree in the Kuwaiti labor market are expatriates among which 1,812 of them have a Ph.D. The statistics also include surprising results concerning the number of illiterate citizens compared to the expatriates showing that the former is only 146 while the later is 90,000 including 1.2 million who can read and write although they hold no certificates.

The number of highly qualified Kuwaiti employees is 118,000 compared to 144,000 expatriates. However, the number of expatriates working in the public sector has declined by 4,086 and now reads 120,000. On the other hand, the number of Kuwaitis in the public sector increased by 12,511 for a total of 340,000. Concerning the private sector, the total number of expatriates is 1.613 million compared to 63,867 Kuwaitis.

Kuwait: More than 50% hike in private sector expats The private sector witnessed an increase in the number of expatriate employees by about 58,000 during the period from June 2018 to June 2019. In the wholesale and retail sector alone, the number of workers increased by 51.3 percent, which is about 29,597 new workers.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior stipulated that those who come to the country for the first time for residence purpose must obtain two criminal status reports for security clearance.

One of these reports should be obtained from their country of origin and accredited by the Embassy or Consulate of Kuwait in that country within three months before entering Kuwait. The second report should be obtained from the General Department for Criminal Evidence within three months.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) sent a circular to all government bodies last week, stating that Ministry of Interior affirmed that expatriates requiring an entry visa to work in the government sector must submit these two criminal status reports, adding that this process is aimed to prevent the entry of those who have a criminal record.

Kuwait: Salary limit of 5000 KD for employees in public sector Official sources from Parliamentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Budget and Final Account Committee affirmed the importance of determining a maximum limit for salaries in the public sector through either a strategic alternative or decisions by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Under the current political conditions concerning the formation of the new government, the committee would discuss its recommendations about the budget of the last fiscal year with the resigned government. These recommendations include salaries. They stressed that the maximum salary including the allowances for participating in committees and board of directors as well as privileges should not exceed KD 5,000 per month in order to avoid any big problem from occurring in the future and to narrow the

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gap between salaries.

If a maximum limit for salaries is enforced, it will not be implemented retroactively. It will be applicable only to the newly appointed employees.

Money & Business

Third GCC E-Payments and Online Banking Summit The future of payments and banking industry.

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astMed Ltd, announced the 3rd Annual E-Payments and Online Banking summit will be held under the patronage of Central Bank of Bahrain on 8-9 April 2020 in Manama, Bahrain.

E-Pay Summit which has been held annually since 2018 is the chosen meeting point for senior influencers

from the e-commerce, retail, banking, fintech & telecommunications ecosystem to share their latest strategies, challenges and new applications which are set to impact the digital banking landscape.

The 2020’s theme debates key supervisory issues and fosters the continuing cooperation required to

oversee the development of payments and banking technology. E-Pay will focus on consumer centric offerings and the impact these have on AI, cross-border payments, digital currencies, real-time analytics, digital identity and challenger banks.

The 2020 edition will include case studies, live interviews, roundtable and a technology driven exhibition over two days and is expected to attract more than 400 senior managers and professionals across the financial, retail, technology and telecommunication industries. The event’s speakers will include key policymakers, C-level banking industry executives, paytech experts and FinTech entrepreneurs.

For more information, please visit www.epaysummit.com/bh or follow #epaysummit

Final Countdown to VAT Tally Solutions outlines the journey of VAT in Bahrain

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ally Solutions, a leading business software provider, hosted an event ‘Final Countdown to VAT’ in Bahrain, featuring experts and speakers to reiterate what businesses need to do to prepare themselves for the new tax regime and highlight the importance of automated solutions in

VAT compliance especially in small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Business Head-Middle East, Tally Solutions- Mr. Vikas Panchal said, “Our recommendations have always been for businesses to employ a simple risk management approach to understand the likely operational impact of VAT as well as automate their respective

accounting and taxation processes for hassle-free business operations.”

The event also delved into the progress of the government’s implementation of the law in various stages and VAT’s impact on the country’s overall development. Tally’s efforts in Bahrain and the entire GCC have always been accelerated towards educating the businesses about VAT. They also air a VAT knowledge video series in the country to simplify the complex regulations.

Through ‘Final countdown to VAT’ the aim was to provide entrepreneurs an opportunity to talk to experts and clarify any that they may have around VAT.

For more information, visit tallysolutions.com/mena Gulf Insider January 2020

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Money & Business

Numbers That Sell for

Big Numbers

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he fourth public auction for vehicle numbers held at the Four Seasons Hotel last month released the new 64xxxx and 65xxxx series.

Organized by Mazad along with Arabian Auctions, the auction was a success with total revenue of BD 564,000. Twenty-five number plates were put up for auction under Gold, Platinum and Diamond categories. Gold and Platinum required a refundable deposit of BD 1000 while Diamond class required an open insurance cheque or credit card authorization for registration.

The event concluded with the highest bid of BD 76,000 for the number 655555. The number 600000,

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Gulf Insider January 2020

Saeed Abdul Ghafour Khouri from the UAE placed a bid of 52.2 million dirhams for the plate number ‘1’ in 2008 which continues to hold the world’s record for the highest bid.

sold for BD 360,000 holds the record for the highest bid in Bahrain. This number, however, adorns a Rolls Royce Phantom, sold fully-loaded for BD 225,000, a price lower than the number plate. In fact, people have begun spending more on number plates than on the car itself.

What is it that makes people spend hefty sums on these number plates?

Spending 33 million Dirhams on ‘5’, Dubai-based Indian businessman, Mr. Balwinder Sahani says that he is giving back to the city which has given him so much as he believes that the money will be spent on charity and improving the city’s infrastructure.

Saeed Abdul Ghafour Khouri from the UAE placed a bid of 52.2 million

Money & Business

The number 600000, sold for BD 360,000 holds the record for the highest bid in Bahrain.

dirhams for the plate number ‘1’ in 2008 which continues to hold the world’s record for the highest bid. The auction was organized by the Abu Dhabi Police Department to raise funds for the victims of car accidents.

Mazad, established in 2017, also serves a similar purpose and aims at facilitating market growth and optimizing revenue for the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Heavily prized vehicle numbers are considered as investments by those who buy them and to date investing in number plates seems to have yielded a good return. Abdullah Al Hamadi, a well-known buyer and bidder in the UAE, bought a number plate for 12 million Dirhams which was sold later for

28 Million Dirhams – an easy 14 Million Dirham profit!

There are even people who take loans to buy these car numbers at the auctions. Sometimes it’s the peer pressure of being a part of the ‘Rich League’ and show off social status.

There has been instances where the bidder was only able to pay the security deposit and not the entire amount of these highly expensive number plates.

According to Mazad CEO, Talal Aref Aloraif, Arabs have always had a fascination towards vehicle numbers, which for them are symbols of affluence. His opinion is backed by the success in the vehicle number auctions since its inception in 2017.

Gulf Insider January 2020

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News Roundup

Gulf Air will fly daily to Kuala Lumpur from July 2020

Bahrainisation: 300 expats to lose their jobs Around 300 jobs at various ministries and government entities currently enjoyed by expatriates will be handed over to Bahrainis, officials say. This means the authorities will not renew the contracts of expatriates in such positions lined up for Bahrainis, once the contract expires.

According to a Civil Service Bureau official, the transition will be made soon as Bahrainisation drive intensifies. Recent statistics say there are now 7206 foreign employees in the Kingdom, a decrease compared to 7582 employees present earlier. The move also follows a parliamentary proposal made to establish a one-year moratorium on hiring foreigners in the public sector.

The proposal by MP Adel Al-Asoumi calls for a renewable one-year ban on hiring expatriates to government jobs. He said the move aims at empowering Bahrainis and increasing the number of Bahraini employees in the public sector.

Earlier this year, members of parliament approved an urgent proposal that could result in complete Bahrainisation of government occupations within four years.

In his reply to the proposal, presented during parliament’s weekly session in March, Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Buainain stated that 85 percent of public sector jobs are already occupied by Bahrainis.

Gulf Air – Bahrain’s national carrier – has revealed a new addition to its 2020 network with a popular business and leisure destination: Kuala Lumpur, the largest city and the capital of Malaysia commencing from July 2020 with daily flights and operated by the airline’s flagship Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

Complimented by a new fleet, Gulf Air’s long haul routes are being exclusively served by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Gulf Air has started its fleet modernization program and has already received 7 new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and 5 new Airbus 320neo.

Bahrain: Imprisonment to be replaced with alternative punishments The Public Prosecution announced that 85 inmates in the reformation and rehabilitation centres in the Kingdom will get their imprisonment sentences replaced with alternative punishments. The move comes within the framework of the

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Kingdom’s Penal Code, which permits replacing imprisonment punishments with alternative punishments.

As reported earlier, Article 2 of the law mentions that the alternative punishments include community service, house arrest, confinement within a particular place, refraining from entering a particular place or places, undertaking to refrain from menacing or communicating with particular persons or entities, submitting to electronic surveillance, attending rehabilitation and training programs, and remedying the damage that resulted from the crime.

The law also mentions that the alternative punishments shall only be applicable to prisoners who have served half the term of the sanction or sanctions he/she was sentenced to, to be of good conduct, their release from prison shall not constitute a public security risk, and shall have paid all the financial liabilities handed down against them by a criminal court, unless it is impossible for them to pay it.

Money & Business

tax transparency comes to Bahrain

Jaideep Kharub and Ankita Manav- Almoayed Chambers, gives insights into the Economic Substance Law.

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n December 2018, the Central Bank of Bahrain (the “CBB”) and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism (the “MOICT”) issued economic substance directives/orders (the “Guidelines”) for respective entities that carries certain commercial activities in Bahrain. These Guidelines were laid to match with the international standards for tax transparency, fairness, compliance and information exchange and to give a tax compliant identity to Bahrain at the global stage.

On 1st July 2019, the transition period allowed for compliance with the Guidelines expired, therefore, now increased responsibility falls on the directors and management of respective entities to ensure compliance with the Guidelines.

Applicability Scope The Guidelines are applicable to certain existing and new entities, which are involved in carrying out any of the following activities in Bahrain (including but not limited to): banking

business; insurance business, fund administrators’, financing companies, investment business, distribution and service center activities, head office activities, holding company, leasing, shipping or intellectual property activities (the “Relevant Activities”).

Further, in order for the Guidelines to be applicable, an entity should derive its core income from such Relevant Activities. Therefore, if the business activity of any entity is one of the Relevant Activity, but such activity is not its core income generating activity (“the CIGAs”), then such entity may not fall within the umbrella of the Guidelines.

Compliance Requirements Applicable entities are required to demonstrate compliance with the Guidelines and some of the key requirements are: • All board members should be qualified, and knowledgeable.

• The board meetings are to be held in Bahrain (with certain physical presence) at adequate frequencies.

• All company records and minutes of meeting (including strategic

• • • • • •

decisions) are to be recorded and maintained in Bahrain.

Having adequate number of qualified resident employees.

Adequate level of expenditure to be incurred in Bahrain.

Access to adequate “physical assets”, or premises in Bahrain.

CIGAs should be undertaken in Bahrain.

Frame and adopt adequate policies for operation, compliance, corporate governance, and risk management.

Other requirements such as compliance with IFRS accounting principles, obtaining consent for certain actions from the regulator, notifying the regulator of certain activities and submitting report to the regulator.

It is advisable that the entities in Bahrain review their business activities and assess whether their entity falls under the scope of the Guidelines and undertake requisite steps to comply with the Guidelines. Non-compliance of the Guidelines may attract penalties of different nature.

Gulf Insider January 2020

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News Roundup

Bahrain: 15-year sentence for raping teenagers The High Criminal Court has slapped 15-year jail term on a 30-year-old Bahraini for raping two teenage sisters, one of whom aged only 13 years. The defendant is said to have blackmailed his victims using images portraying him having sex with one of them, aged 18 years. He allegedly fooled her that he was in deep love with her after knowing her through a social media platform.

On their first date they went shopping at a local shopping mall from where he took her to his house, where she was forced into having sex with him. “He deceived me and took me to his house and I begged him not to do it. He took me there against my will and forced me to have sex with him,” the 18-year old girl said. “He requested to have sex with me again and when I refused he forwarded my naked images, threatening to post them online. “He raped me many times, threatening again and again of posting those images,” she added.

The defendant’s brutality reached a different level when he managed to get the 13-year old girl’s mobile number and he blackmailed her too with her sister’s images, according to Prosecutors. He took her to his house and he raped her too. Both girls exorcised their fears and went to the police and filed a case against the defendant who was found out to be involved in many cases. As a result, the High Criminal Court hit him with heavy punishment.

Viva is now STC Saudi Telecom Company (STC) announced the launch of its new branding, according to a statement to the Saudi Stock Exchange website (Tadawul). Launching the new branding for the company and its subsidiaries come in line with the STC’s strategy for digital transformation and customer experience enrichment.

It is worth noting that the company has also changed its Arabic trading name on the Tadawul platform from Al Eitsalat to STC. The names of VIVA Kuwait and VIVA Bahrain have also been changed to “STC” under the new branding strategy. The new branding is expected to boost the value of STC as one of the most valuable brands in the Middle East, the statement noted.

Bahrain: Lawyer flees with client’s money The lawyer’s former client told in the complaint he filed that he had obtained a judgment of his entitlement in the amount of BD15000 after a financial claim in which he pleaded with the lawyer and obtained a ruling on his right to the said amount in addition to the legal benefits which brought the amount to about BD19,000.

When he said, he tried to reach the lawyer to find out the latest developments in the ruling, the lawyer did not respond to his calls, as he learned that he was outside the country. After many tries of trying to reach the lawyer, he added, he was forced to resort to a second lawyer to regain his right.

The lawyer claimed that he did not retain the amount for himself, but that the complainant himself was not present in the country, and that he allegedly failed to receive his money.

The Disciplinary Lawyers Appeal Board refused the lawyer’s allegations and accused him that he did not hand over the amount of money to the client despite knowing that there was another lawyer for the to follow up with.

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Gulf Insider January 2020

Money & Business

Ithmaar Bank:

The Fastest Growing Islamic Fintech Bank

I

thmaar Bank B.S.C. (closed), a Bahrain-based Islamic retail bank, was named Fastest Growing Islamic Fintech Bank at the World Islamic Banking Conference (WIBC) 2019.

The prestigious award was presented

by Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) Governor, Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, to Ithmaar Bank Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Abdul Rahim at a Gala Dinner hosted at the end of the first day of the WIBC. The WIBC, hosted in strategic partnership with the CBB, brings Islamic banking experts from across the world to Bahrain to discuss key issues and review the latest developments and share insight into current trends.

According to the WIBC organisers, the WIBC Performance Awards are the flagship awards for the event, and are granted to the top Islamic financial institutions based on their aggregate performance scores against multiple

The WIBC Award for being the Fastest Growing Islamic Fintech Bank highlights Ithmaar Bank’s commitment to staying ahead of the curve. measures on a global and regional level.

“The WIBC Award for being the Fastest Growing Islamic Fintech Bank highlights Ithmaar Bank’s commitment to staying ahead of the curve, and recognises the significance of our digital initiatives,” said Abdul Rahim, CEO of Ithmaar Bank.

Earlier this year, Ithmaar Bank was

also named “Best Bank for Personal Finance in Bahrain” by the World Union of Arab Bankers (WUAB) at a highprofile ceremony hosted in Beirut, Lebanon, and attended by senior bankers from across the Middle East.

Ithmaar Bank has also announced the launch of a customer-centric chat service on WhatsApp Business social media platform to help improve its customers’ banking experience.

In October, as part of its efforts to continuously improve its customers’ banking experience, Ithmaar Bank inaugurated a new branch in Muharraq offering better accessibility and parking facilities than Ithmaar Bank’s earlier branch in Muharraq. The new branch maintains Ithmaar Bank’s network of 16 branches and 42 ATM machines, one of the largest retail banking networks in Bahrain.

For more information, log on to www.ithmaarbank.com Gulf Insider January 2020

39

Finance

New Year Resolutionsâ&#x20AC;Ś

I

f, like me, you set New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Resolutions every year, do you set personal goals or do you set business goals as well? For me, business-oriented goals are at least as important as personal goals.

Of course, some personal goals - like eating better or doing more exercise - have a beneficial impact on work performance and some business resolutions - maintaining a better work-life balance or doing a daily digital detox - can positively impact personal relationships.

Here, then, in no particular order, are some of the New Year Resolutions I have set myself for 2020:

Stay tuned in - we live in a region 40

Gulf Insider January 2020

For me, businessoriented goals are at least as important as personal goals. which is as connected and which is changing as quickly as anywhere else in the world. There is hope of significant regional growth this year with trade tensions lessening and the oil price at last solidifying. But we have to have the necessary tools - and perhaps the most important of those tools is data. Only by staying connected are you going to have the information you need to

make the right decisions and build your competitive advantage.

Be positive - being optimistic almost

always has a positive impact on the people around you. Increased productivity can have an enormous effect on overall performance. In an office of over 100 professionals, a 10% performance boost is the equivalent of 10 additional employees!

Align your digital presence with your tactical objectives - While it may not

make sense to invest time and effort in every digital media, there are digital windows - such as websites, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram - where it is

Finance

critical to have a clearly thought-out strategy based on joined-up thinking.

Communicate more effectively - in

a multi-lingual marketplace, it can sometimes be difficult to get your message across. Misunderstandings - which can be due to either poor listening (see point 1) or the inability to clearly explain what you want done - impact morale and waste significant time and effort. Being an active listener is important - but so is being able to

- and proud of the work they are doing.

This means making an effort not just to celebrate achievements in the office and building closer teams - but also ensuring that our people have the time and energy to celebrate with their families.

Encourage teamwork - rather than

holding unproductive meetings that are bad for morale and add no value, how about exploring collaborative spaces that give teams the opportunity to work collectively? Encouraging teamwork perhaps by transforming a boardroom into a space that encourages teamwork and allows teams to work on projects in a meaningful way - is a fundamental way of empowering leaders throughout the organisation.

Innovate incrementally - innovation is not just about doing new things - it also means doing the same thing in new and more effective ways. While doing something in a certain way might be the best way of doing it, simply doing it that way because that is how it has always been done is rarely the answer. Encourage team to come up with alternative ways of getting things done - apart from anything else, involving teams increases productivity and morale.

Finally - a warning: apparently, most

Being optimistic almost always has a positive impact on the people around you. Increased productivity can have an enormous effect on overall performance.

engage your brain before you start talking and making sure that you are clear on what you want.

resolutions are dropped by the end of February. Check back then to see how many of these resolutions we have managed to keep at Keypoint.

Be tidy - it is not just a tidy desk that

is often the sign of a tidy mind. We all need to play a part in making the office environment as welcoming and and as professional as possible. Ensure plants are well fed and watered and kept as healthy as possible. Lighten office spaces by using flashes of colour wherever possible.

Maintain a healthy work-life balance - our clients are the lifeblood of our business. But our professionals are the brains and the heart! We want our professionals to be happy in their jobs

Wajdi Al Jallad is the managing director of Keypoint, a leading professional services business with offices in Bahrain, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

For more, please see keypoint.com or @keypointme. follow us on Gulf Insider January 2020

41

Business Society

Tally hosted the ‘Final Countdown to VAT’ gala dinner at The Gulf Hotel

Online edition at www.Bahrain-Confidential.com

205 The Best in Bahrain

Issue

BAHRAIN BD2 KSA SR20 KUWAIT KD2 OMAN RO2 QATAR QR20 UAE DHS20 Complimentary Copy

BAHRAIN BD2 KSA SR20 KUWAIT KD2 OMAN RO2 QATAR QR20 UAE DHS20

Complimentary Copy

You can now read our magazines virtually at

www.bahrain-confidential.com 42

Gulf Insider January 2020

The 26th Annual World Islamic Banking Conference held at The Gulf Hotel under the theme of “MEGA Trends in Banking & Finance”

Car News & Reviews

Audi RS Q8

BMW M850i Coupe

Vanchella Festival

Fancy Cars in Dubai

Car Bahrain

Beauty on Wheels Gulf Insider takes the latest BMW M850i Coupe xDrive for a spin.

T

his is one of the most beautiful cars on the road, especially with the top down.

Looking at this car it’s hard to imagine the driver and occupants inside not having fun and living life to the full.

The BMW M850i Coupe is a large sport coupe GT. It’s long, wide, with a low stance, super slim headlights and

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Gulf Insider January 2020

This is one of the most beautiful cars on the road, especially with the top down.

grill, and it’s classic in design – almost retro in design (in my opinion at least).

Climb inside and the interior is opulent and also has the wow factor, with use of the very finest quality materials used throughout. The gear handle is made of glass or crystal!

Driving the BMW M850i Coupe was a pleasure. I picked it up from Euro Motors and took it down to the Al Banda

Car Bahrain

Club. Comfortable leather sports seats griped me. The weather was perfect for open top driving so I simply pressed a button and as I was driving the roof retracted and folded itself away in 15 seconds – the roof can be activated while driving at up to 50kph.

The V8 engines growled and rumbled just like a V8 engine should. Driving modes are Comfort, Sport, and Sport +. Each mode changes the feel of the car. Most of the time I kept it in Comfort mode but tried the other modes

I simply pressed a button and as I was driving the roof retracted and folded itself away in 15 seconds – the roof can be activated while driving at up to 50kph.

of BMW - ‘xDrive’), and solidly grips the road at all times.

Its powerful 530 horsepower 4.4 liter twin turbo V8 engine, linked to an 8 speed steptronic transmission, can take it from zero to 100kph in just 3.9 seconds. It has a claimed top speed of 250kph. Due to road conditions I didn’t have the opportunity to get anywhere need that speed - the acceleration was so powerful that within a couple of seconds of pushing on the peddle I had to apply the brakes.

For your own test drive in Bahrain call Euro Motors on +973 17 750 750

BMW 8 Series Starting price: BD 44,500 briefly when the road conditions were appropriate and it was a ‘blast’!

The M850i is technically a four seater, but in reality it’s really a 2 seater, especially with the roof folded into the back.

Unlike many big sports coupes that can sometimes feel clumsy this car drives as well as it looks. It has a low center of gravity, is perfectly responsive, has All Wheel Drive (AWD as in the case

Alternative options: Aston Martin DB11 Starting Price BD 88,000 Bentley Continental GT Starting Price BD 110,000

Gulf Insider January 2020

45

Read our Reviews Online (Scan the QR Codes for the Review)

Ferrari 812 Superfast Price on Application

Ferrari GTC4 Lusso 2 Reviews

Price on Application

Volvo V40 Cross Country From BD 9,995 Motorcity, 17 736 222

Euro Motors, 17 734 734

Euro Motors, 17 734 734

Mercedes Benz A â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Class

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan 2020

Chevrolet Silverado

From BD 15,530

From BD 14,700

National Motor, 17 457 211

Price on Application

Al Haddad Motors,17 785 454

Al Haddad Motors 17 785 454

Ram 1500

Porsche 718 Cayman GTS

BMW 5 Series

From BD 16,800

From BD 31,787 Porsche Centre,17 459 911

From BD 19,995 EuroMotors, 17 750 750

Universo Ferrari Event in Italy

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Behbehani Brothers, 17 459 955

MG HS and RX8 2020 From BD 7,349 (HS), BD 8,925 (RX8)

Zayani Motors, 1770 3703 46

Gulf Insider January 2020

From BD 12,995 Behbehani Brothers,17 459 955

Car Bahrain

Bahrain Car News Bahrain: 22 percent increase in Jayyed fuel consumption Bahrain’s consumption of the “Jayyed” fuel increased by 22%, compared to a decrease of 21% in the consumption of “Mumtaz” fuel, according to statistics by the National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA).

Statistics compared between the years 2017 and 2018, also indicated that Bahrain markets consumed a total of 5.160 million barrels of “Jayyed” fuel in 2018, compared to 2 million barrels of “Mumtaz” fuel and 31,000 barrels of the “Super 98” fuel. Statistics also showed that the consumption of the “Super” fuel increased by 72%.

It is noteworthy that these numbers are after the recent increase in the price of fuel prices since the beginning of 2018. Officials have confirmed that there will be no more increase in two years (2019 and 2020). They said that the amendments made to the state budget draft law for the fiscal years 2019 and 2020 assured the stability of fuel prices.

Bahrain: Pending fines won’t affect Saudi vehicles The traffic violations by Saudi vehicles during their visit don’t require preventing them from leaving until payment is made, announced General Directorate of Traffic. It added that unpaid violations or previous violations will not prevent them from entering the country.

Head of the Media and Publishing Division at the General Directorate of Traffic explained that Saudi vehicles’ violations will be transferred to the Saudi Traffic to facilitate the payment process and follow up.

Bahrain: Stunt drivers and noisy car exhaust violators arrested A number of stunt drivers and noisy car exhaust violators were arrested and their vehicles were confiscated.

The drivers violated traffic safety rules by disrupting traffic by showing off, drifting, and producing noisy sounds from the vehicle’s exhaust. The directorate noted that these were considered traffic violations, especially in residential areas.

The directorate said that it is monitoring most areas in the country and these drivers were arrested after receiving several reports from families and residents stating that they are disturbed.

The directorate has earlier announced there will be zerotolerance for wrong practices, such as stunt driving and noisy car exhaust. It added that violators will face a vehicle confiscation for a month and other legal punishments.

The General Directorate of Traffic stressed that

punishments were allocated for any ill behaviors or violations that would disturb the safety, disrupt the traffic and infringement on the freedoms of citizens and residents such as stunt driving, drifting and noisy car exhaust.

Gulf Insider January 2020

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Car Bahrain

The RS Q8

It’s the Audi Q8 – On Steroids Charlie Cooksey heads to Tenerife, Canary Islands with Audi Middle East for the launch of a new monster SUV coupe.

A

bout a year and a half ago I flew down to Oman for the regional launch of the Q8 – the flagship of the Q range of Audi and only the second Q model to receive the RS badge. It was in Oman that we got to test the Q8 across narrow roads, highways, in the desert off road and climbing high up mountains (Jebal Akhdar). Fast

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Gulf Insider January 2020

forward to December 2019 and I find myself in Tenerife, Canary Islands with Audi Middle East for the international launch of the Audi RS Q8 - that’s a Q8 with all the trimmings… and some. It takes quite outrageously high standards and specifications for an Audi to come equipped ‘RS’ badge. It was well worth the wait.

The sporty SUV market is becoming

more and more in demand, certainly in our region, and many manufacturers are knocking out some sexy products to satisfy the demand. In this case with Audi for the RS Q8, I think they’ve gone beyond expectations when it comes to specifications, performance, style and interior. It was interesting to learn that Tenerife is the largest and highest of all the Canary Islands – a smooth

Car Bahrain

She’s a 10

Audi have nailed it when it comes to a hybrid between supercar performance with space and comfort of a family SUV.

marketing decision to launch Audi’s top model in the Q product line with RS performance… I see what they did there. Clever marketing aside, the location was on par for the car. I’d never been to a place that changes climate, terrain, scenery and roads as much as it does in Tenerife, every part has its beauty. The dark clouds and aggressive rocky terrain set the mood for the RS Q8.

I must admit – I’ve got a real soft spot for loud muscular sporty SUV’s. Hence, with my patience thin I stand tapping my foot and checking my watch during the briefing whilst I frequently gaze out the window to look at sparkling clean line-up of RS Q8’s ready to be pedal-tothe-metal’d.

Upon first look over the car, she’s nice on the eye. Audi have nailed it when it comes to a hybrid between supercar performance with space and comfort of a family SUV. I say this as I compare it to the Lamborghini Urus, as if the Urus is its cousin who has a slightly more aggressive attitude and the RS Q8 being just a tad calmer with a smaller price tag. Nevertheless – they’re very similar. The 23-inch wheels make a bold statement, though these are optional and 22-inch is standard. It’s 10mm wider than the normal Q8 with the RS-specific radiator grille in high gloss black and the gloss black RS honeycomb grille, the new Audi RS Q8 sports a full-ofconfidence and athletic face.

Over at the rear, as is typical for the RS models, the dual exhaust system features a bold and wide oval tailpipe on each side - the size of the exhausts are in good ratio to the size of the car.

The SUV coupe is available in a choice of nine colours. The exterior mirror housings come standard in black, with body colour, aluminium or carbon available as options. In combination with the styling packages black and carbon, the Audi rings and RS logos at the front and rear are optionally available in black.

She’s just as nice on the inside. The interior is a clean design that screams performance, with comfortable RS design seats that include a massage function and air conditioning which is great for our summers. Something I really love about the RS range is their

Gulf Insider January 2020

49

Car Bahrain

sporty RS branded steering wheels – they look and feel awesome.

between comfort, auto and the RS mode; the Audi RS Q8 is truly a car you can comfortably drive 365 days of the year that has the performance and specifications of a supercar for when you need it.

Having test driven both the standard Q8 and the RS Q8, whilst they are both the same model, they are quite literally different cars. With the RS Q8 being over double the price of the entry level Q8, it’s a question of how much you want the RS performance!

Under the bonnet There’s no messing around under the bonnet, Audi has delivered some eye-popping specifications for this large sporty SUV. The RS Q8 comes packed with a 4.0 liter biturbo V8 kicking out an incredible 600 horsepower and clears 0-100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds and to 200 km/h in 13.7 seconds, with a top speed of 305 km/h. Having plenty of time to drive the car and being on the island of Tenerife we had some awesome road to really test its ability.

I’d found a long straight strip of road to test the launch control next to a viewpoint where tourists were standing and taking photos of the clearly visible Mount Teide, there was a group of young lads who’s attention turned from Mount Teide to the roaring sound of the RS Q8 I had on the road whilst preparing the launch control. I’m sure it made for great Instagram stories, as the surrounding scenery resembled something perhaps from planet Mars.

I was so impressed with how well it gripped the road as I was battling and steering my way through the windy mountain-edge roads. It stuck like glue; it did not feel like an SUV. It wasn’t long until we’d elevated thousands of feet and with a drastic drop of the thermometer.

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Gulf Insider January 2020

For further information, please contact Audi Bahrain on +973 1745 9933.

The drive select feature really changes the character of the car like a crazy person with split personalities.

There are eight profiles: Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, Efficiency, Allroad, Offroad and the individually configurable RSspecific modes RS1 and RS2, with the RS modes getting activated directly from the steering wheel from the enticing ‘RS-MODE’ button.

The RS modes especially transform the performance and sound of the car whereby you can really hear the sound and crackles of the V8! After hundreds of kilometres of test driving and shifting

Audi RS Q8 Starting price: EUR 127,000 in Germany (Coming to our region in quarter 2)

Alternative options: Lamborghini Urus Starting Price BD 95,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Starting Price BD 40,000

Read our Reviews Online (Scan the QR Codes for the Review)

BMW X3 and X4 M

Porsche Macan

Hyundai Palisade

From BD 35,500 EuroMotors, 17 750 750

From BD 22,242 Porsche Centre, 17 459 911

From BD 19,000

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Porsche Cayenne

From BD 29,995

Porsche Center ,17 459 911

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Bentley Bentayga V8

From BD 17,995

Euro Motors, 17 750 750

From BD 12,799 Behbehani Brothers,17 459 955

Behbehani Brothers,17 459 955

Renault Duster

Audi Q8

Rolls-Royce Cullinan

From BD 5,875

From BD 32,490

From BD 170,000

From BD 35,000

Audi Bahrain, 17 459 933

First Motors, 17 121 121

From BD 32,954

Al Haddad Motors,17 785 454

Renault showroom,17 705 705

Audi Bahrain, 17 459 933

Price on Application

Euro Motors, 17 750 750 Gulf Insider January 2020

51

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Audiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new RS 6 Avant

Volvo S90

Hyundai Sonata

Price on Application

From BD 19,900 Motorcity, 17 736 222

From BD 8,600

BMW 3 Series

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BMW 7 Series

Audi Bahrain on 17 459 933

Panamera GTS

2 Reviews

First Motors, 17 121 121

From BD 44,500 EuroMotors, 17 750 750

Euro Motors, 17 750 750

2 Reviews From BD 43,702 Porsche Centre,17 459 911

Genesis G70

Nissan Maxima SR

Bentley Continental GT

From BD 15,540

From BD 12,000

Y.K. Almoayyed,17 732 732

Price on Application Behbehani Brothers, 17 459 800

AUDI A8

Volvo XC 40

Mercedes GLE 450

From BD 35,700

From BD 16,900 Motorcity, 17 736 222

From BD 31,995

From BD 17,995

First Motors,17 121 149

Audi Behebani, 17 459 933 52

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Al Haddad Motors,17 785 454

Car Bahrain

Ferrari 488 Even the most basic Ferrari 488 model will still set you back $250,000, and this one is going to be worth substantially more.

Fancy Car Spotting in Dubai Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG This Merc spotted in Dubai is no ordinary vehicle; it is a special edition Gullstream model which has been modified by top auto tuning company FAB Design.

Rolls-Royce Ghost While the striking green and gold combination may not be to everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s taste, there is no denying that this is a car that will turn heads.

Gulf Insider January 2020

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Read our Reviews Online (Scan the QR Codes for the Review)

Lamborghini Urus

Audi Q7

MINI Countryman Cooper S ALL4

From BD 95,000 Behbehani Brothers, 17 459 800

From BD 30,300 Audi Bahrain, 17 459 933

From BD 15,000 Euro Motors on 17750750

Camp Jeep

Volvo XC90

BMW X7

For info on Jeep models

Behbehani Brothers, 17 459 955

From BD 23,900 Motorcity, 17 736 222

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Dodge Challenger

Porsche 911

Ferrari 488 GTB

From BD 12,555 Behbehani Brothers,17 459 955

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BMW 8 Series

New Bentley Flying Spur 2020

Ferrari Portofino

Price on Application

From BD 95,000

From BD 44,500 EuroMotors, 17 750 750 54

Gulf Insider January 2020

Behbehani Brothers, 1745 9111

Euro Motors, 17 734 734

2 Reviews

Euro Motors,17 750 750

Car Bahrain - Read Our Reviews Online

NEW

NEW

NEW

BMW X3 and X4 M

Rolls Royce Cullinan

Lamborghini Huracan Evo

From BD 15,900 Motorcity, 17 736 222

From BD 170,000

From BD 89,000

Behbehani Brothers, 17 531 502

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Subaru WRX STI From BD 13,995

Motorcity, 17 736 222

Sedan SUV Sports Compact

Looking to buy a new car in Bahrain?

Enjoy 47+ recent test drives and car reviews just scanâ&#x20AC;Ś

Truck

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Car Bahrain

Mercedes-Benz “Vanchella Festival”

E

mirates Motor Company Commercial Vehicles (EMC CV) in partnership with MercedesBenz Vans MENA, launched the first ‘Vanchella Festival’ at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Hotel & Resort in Abu Dhabi.

The event was attended by VIP customers, senior stakeholders from around the region and members of the media.

Selection of the new vans were turned into innovative experience zones to provide guests a way to creatively interact with the vehicles.

Vehicles on display from EMC CV included the newly face lifted Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2020, with the EURO 6 eco-friendly engine and the new V-Class demonstrating the new driver assistance systems, front-end design, exterior colour choices and trim options.

Amongst the most popular were the units retrofitted with a wheelchair lift to cater to disabled passengers and various breathtaking 5-star customizations for shuttle Sprinters.

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Gulf Insider January 2020

Car Bahrain

were a very minor player (even within Mercedes-Benz). Trucks, buses and passenger cars were better known and the vans, not so much. Therefore, we made a commitment to set up a regional office.

As we grew over the last four years, we are extremely happy with the turnout of our efforts. We have now established a presence that we want to sustain. The festival is another step in this direction â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to make people aware of the possibilities we have with our products. That is also the focus going into 2020.

What industries have the most uptake of your vans?

Initially, the Sprinter mainly provided ambulance services with its safety

Our objective for the Vanchella Festival was to showcase the lineup of our vans.

Interview with Thomas Greipel, General Manager of Mercedes-Benz Vans MENA. Tell us more about the Vanchella Festival.

What has been the vision for this?

Our objective for the Vanchella Festival was to showcase the lineup of our vans. This vehicle type is not hugely known in the region if you compare it with Europe. With the launch of the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2020, we thought it is the right time to showcase the lineup to make people aware of its different applications.

In the festival, we conceptualized a fun and engaging atmosphere to show our vehicles in their full potential.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next for Mercedes-Benz Vans in the region?

features. Even in Bahrain, we have quite a number of ambulances running on Sprinters for all these good reasons.

Nevertheless, that is just one of the many applications as our products are solutions to various customer needs.

How important is the MBV to the Mercedes-Benz Cars business?

Very. We all try to find our growth potential and the Middle East was identified as a strong suit for vans.

Therefore, we invested into extending our product range and resources while establishing stronger relations with our general distributors.

The traditional values of MercedesBenz plus the innovation we are able to provide are very much appreciated â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which is why the success of MBV is not short-term but instead, longstanding.

When I took over the role as General Manager here in the MENA, we

Gulf Insider January 2020

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Car Bahrain

Photo of the Month

During a test drive, in early December 2019, of the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon on the beach area near Bahrain Bay. Got some cool car photos we can feature? Send them our way!

Editorial@gulf-insider.com

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carbahrainbh

Car Bahrain

SPIRIT OF BIG BANG 18K King Gold case set with diamonds.

Self-winding movement.