Gulf Insider - July 2021

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The multi-award winning Arabian Magazine

We are living in a digital era where modern technology has transformed our lives.

JULY 2021 | ISSUE 193

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Contents July 2021 Issue 193

14 26 Simply unparalleled online presence that connects region’s most inspired communities.

06 08 10 12 14 17 18 26

5 Things to Consider when Building your New Home How does AUBH Deliver Quality Education?

What we Leave Behind: Is Life Insurance Worth It? An Elite Summer Treat - Elite Hospitality Group E-Wallets in Bahrain What are the Pros and Cons of Digital Wallets?

Dangers of Credit Cards and How to Avoid them Car- Elevate your Drive - BMW X3

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Comment...

A picture is worth a thousand words.

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

Publisher & Editor in Chief

Nicholas C. Cooksey

Editorial

Angela Acosta Elyzabeth Ramirez

Editorial Contributors

Nicholas Cortes

Sales & Business Development

Charlie Cooksey

Layout Designs

Dhanraj S

Admin & Finance

Nikesh Pola

Photography

Angelo Jose A

Distribution Mohammed Yousif Aramex

Al Ayam

For advertising contact Charlie Cooksey +973 3652 0004 charlie@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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Bahrain BD2 | KSA SR20 | Kuwait KD1.75 | Oman RO2 | Qatar QR20 | UAE DHS20

The multi-award winning Arabian Magazine

The multi-award winning Arabian Magazine

E-wallets in Bahrain

JULY 2021 | ISSUE 193

Complimentary Copy

WWW.GULF-INSIDER.COM

Welcoming Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, the new Provost, American University of Bahrain

JUNE 2021 | ISSUE 192

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Stepping Towards Success

We are living in a digital era where modern technology has transformed our lives.

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Photo by: @dayanna_bh Bahrain BD2 | KSA SR20 | Kuwait KD1.75 | Oman RO2 | Qatar QR20 | UAE DHS20

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SPECIAL RAMADAN CAR EDITION APRIL 2021 | ISSUE 190

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5

People & Culture

5 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUILDING

YOUR NEW HOME IN BAHRAIN Al Bareh provides high-end, luxurious residential plots and investment opportunities.

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Gulf Insider July 2021

People & Culture

W

hen thinking of building a new home, our first thought would be what we want it to look like.

Then we think of where we want it to be built. We’d want to choose a location with easy access to amenities and community facilities as well as one with a great view.

In this article, we list 5 reasons why you should consider the Al Bareh plots for building your new home.

Are they freehold?

The Al Barehplots are available on a freehold basis for all nationalities and are ready for immediate investment.

Al Bareh’s inland plots range from approximately 360 sqm to 1,000 sqm

How big are the plots?

Al Bareh’s inland plots range from approximately 360 sqm to 1,000 sqm – which is just big enough for a house with a backyard as well as a garden and garage.

What residential facilities are available?

The Al Bareh project includes the basic needs services such as a mosque, park with children’s playground, as well as a service area containing retail shops.

Are they affordable and practical?

Al Bareh plot prices start from BD27-29 per sqm, with Zero Vat and infrastructure fees for 15m allowed height, an average floor area ratio of 1.2, and 360-1000sqm plot size range.

For more information, book a meeting with Diyar Virtual Property Advisor (https://analytics-eu.clickdimensions. com/cn/aorwz/VA) or call 80008880.

For international calls, call +973 7755 6606.

Where are the plots located?

The Al Bareh neighbourhood is located on the West end of the South Island of Diyar Al Muharraq. It is about 20 minutes away from Manama and 10 minutes away from the airport.

Gulf Insider July 2021

7

People & Culture

HOW DOES AUBH DELIVER

QUALITY EDUCATION?

R

ooted in the highest standards of academic conduct, the American University of Bahrain (AUBH) delivers quality education by dedicating their resources to developing students that are intellectually, socially, psychologically, and globally aware.

Below are more insights on how the University stands out in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

A Focus on Depth and Breadth The American University of Bahrain offers degree programs delivered by highly qualified educators and mentors with a unique collaborative approach focused on graduate outcomes and employment-readiness. The University’s

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Gulf Insider July 2021

quality of American-style education also mirrors that of the best universities in the United States.

The degree programs at AUBH are characterized by depth within the field of study and breadth achieved through general education programs. These programs expose students to new methods of thinking and help them become life-long learners.

A Student-Centred Approach The American University of Bahrain is unique for providing students exposure to courses and ideas outside their field of study. Not only will this make students more rounded as a graduate, but it’ll also give them a varied skillset which will put them at the forefront of their chosen fields. AUBH is training not

just specialists, but also knowledgeable global citizens.

The AUBH curricula is built by experts and specialists to equip students with the knowledge and soft skills to succeed in a tumultuous environment.

Furthermore, the University’s academic structure enables students to find their real passions and allows them to develop their abilities, leading to long successful careers in their chosen industry.

Eligibility to Apply for US Accreditation The American University of Bahrain (AUBH) became the first University in the Kingdom to achieve eligibility to proceed with an Application for Accreditation with the WASC Senior

People & Culture

The degree programs at AUBH are characterized by depth within the field of study and breadth achieved through general education programs.

College and University Commission (WSCUC) on June 3, 2021. This is one of the highest levels of quality assurance, and once awarded, AUBH would become the first and only higher education institution to be accredited by WSCUC in Kingdom.

AUBH is currently seeking accreditation with the Quality Assurance in Bahrain through the Bahrain Quality Assurance. In addition to that, they are in the process of getting listed on the National Quality framework and ultimately will ensure that their institution and all of their programs have met all of the expectations of BQA.

Partnership with California State University, Northridge

Growth and Expansion

The American University of Bahrain is in the process of forming an academic partnership with the California State University, Northridge (CSUN) which is part of the largest four-year public university system in the United States, the California State University system.

Local Collaborations AUBH knows the value of collaboration between higher education leaders and the local sector. Through local collaboration, AUBH is able to provide sessions, workshops and training opportunities that are dedicated to the continued growth and development of students both inside and outside of the classroom.

Subject to HEC approval, AUBH is introducing new programs including Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources, Bachelor of Business Administration in Digital Marketing & Social Media, and Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

They are also introducing their first graduate programs with the launch of the Master of Science in Engineering Management, Master of Arts in Multimedia Management, and Master of Business Administration.

Furthermore, AUBH is working with industry partners to secure business-sponsored scholarships to ensure that AUBH is accessible to more students.

Gulf Insider July 2021

9

Money & Business

WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND:

IS LIFE INSURANCE WORTH IT?

T

he principle of life insurance, albeit a bit morbid, is financial compensation for a deceased policyholder.

You are contributing to an insurance company to pay your beneficiary’s a lump sum once you die.

This is the only thing that a basic life insurance coverage provides. Its aim is to ensure your family/beneficiary is not left financially needy once you, as a provider, dies.

The basic life insurance plan is to leave the people you care about with financial support/safety. However, this is only beneficial once the policyholder dies. There are life insurance plans that also provide other avenues to use the 10

Gulf Insider July 2021

premiums that you have contributed, usually available once the policy “matures” or when you’ve contributed a certain amount already. These plans offer more comprehensive options to use the funds, like a way to finance a house, a marriage, a child’s education, and more. Some can even offer monthly pay-outs in the future, giving you an additional source of income during retirement.

The worth of an insurance plan is based on the premiums you pay and the policy you opt for. If only seen as a financial safety net for your loved ones once you die, then you will always have a return of investment especially once it reaches maturity. On the other

hand, if you opted for a plan that gives you options for flexibility, it can be considered an investment for your future. Comprehensive life insurance plans will be more of a savings account for sudden financial strains rather than a one-time lump sum.

Whether a life insurance policy is for you will be up to how much you can contribute to it and if it is a plan you can financially stick to. The amount you contribute reflects the sum your beneficiaries gain. There will always be a sense of relief if you have a back-up plan for your loved ones. But to some, guaranteeing the necessity of the now far outweighs the unpredictability of tomorrow.

People & Culture

AN ELITE SUMMER TREAT It’s good to be back with Elite Summer Escape at Elite Hospitality Group.

The summer treat this year offers special packages valid until the end of September 2021.

T

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

The program is implemented at all their hotels across the Kingdom.

Elite Seef Residence Hotel This summer, you and your family can explore the special offers at the Elite Seef Residence Hotel located at the center of the Kingdom’s main shopping area.

Their one and two-bedroom family suites are elegantly furnished in modern leather interiors. The suites include a fully equipped modular kitchen, lavish 12

Gulf Insider July 2021

bathrooms, a home theatre system with in-house TV channels, digital satellite television system and 24 hours personalized room service with special menus. The one-bedroom suite starts at BD 30 net per night and includes WiFi and a packed breakfast meal for two.

Elite Resort & SPA Hotel Overlook the sea while enjoying the exquisite experience at the Elite Resort & Spa which promises both an exciting and relaxing atmosphere.

This summer, the spacious onebedroom suite offer starts at BD 33 net per night, and includes free WiFi and a packed breakfast for two.

The elegant two-bedroom suite starting at BD 55 net is the perfect choice for a family of four to unwind.

The offer includes a personalized packed breakfast service.

Elite Grande Hotel The Elite Grand Hotel offers and promotions this summer are designed for a perfect summer escape.

The hotel offers a combination of luxury and city, nestled in the heart of the Seef area, close to the largest shopping complex on the island – Bahrain City Centre.

The two-bed room family suite is a perfect spot to unwind if you are looking

People & Culture

This summer, the spacious onebedroom suite offer starts at BD 33 net per night, and includes free WiFi and a packed breakfast for two.

for a relaxing atmosphere.

Each spacious suite is lavishly furnished with grand bathrooms, complete home theatre systems in each bedroom with DVD, and HDTV satellite channels, high-speed internet access, direct dialing facility and digital safedeposit lockers.

The two-bedroom suite starts at BD50 NET and includes a breakfast meal for four persons.

Guests can further benefit from the special offers at the hotel’s gym and pool, restaurant, lounge, and special room service rates.

Elite Hospitality Catering The excellent food and service Elite is known for is now delivered to your doorstep. Specializing in institutional catering in offices and factories, Elite Hospitality Catering is supplying to large corporates, banks, factories and ministries.

They also cater for events such as receptions, cocktail parties, BBQ’s, birthdays, anniversaries and graduation celebrations.

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

Gulf Insider July 2021

13

Money & Business

E-WALLETS IN BAHRAIN

W

e are living in a digital era where modern technology has transformed our lives by providing faster, easier, and more convenient resources.

Today, we will look into a recent trend

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Gulf Insider July 2021

in the GCC – the e-wallet and discuss the ones available in Bahrain.

What is an E-wallet?

An e-wallet or digital wallet is a type of electronic card used to make

transactions online through a software, electronic device, or any online service that enables electronic transactions.

Its utility is similar to that of a credit or debit card. It would need to be linked to your bank account in order to make payments.

Money & Business

BenefitPay BenefitPay is the National Electronic Wallet Payment System.

It is a method to streamline payments in Bahrain and allows consumers and merchants to transact without the use of cash or cards. Some of BenefitPay’s features include: • Adding credit/debit cards • Adding bank accounts • Peer-to-peer transfer • Scan-to-pay • Viewing merchants through map locator • Paying service bills with Fawateer • Transferring funds up to BD1,000 with Fawri+ • Making bulk payments up to BD15,000 with Fawri • Fuel payments with Sadeem • Viewing transaction history

We are living in a digital era where modern technology has transformed our lives by providing faster, easier, and more convenient resources.

bWallet bWallet is a digital mobile wallet app that enables quick, secure and easy payments through your smartphone. This service is Powered by Bahrain’s Telecommunications Company (BATELCO) and Arab Financial Services (AFS). Some of bWallet’s features include: • Sending/receiving money instantly • Paying for goods and services • Scan-to-pay • Adding cash through debit cards • Getting discounts at leading retailers • Making international money transfers • International top up • Viewing merchant list • Paying Batelco bills • Viewing transaction history

Gulf Insider July 2021

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Money & Business

stc pay stc pay is powered by stc and payment service provider, SADAD. Some of stc pay features include: • Adding money through your debit card (issued in Bahrain) or through SADAD Kiosks across Bahrain • Transfer money using NEC Remit • Get a virtual prepaid mastercard from NEC payments for online purchases • Send transfers to Bahrain phone number • Request money from other stc pay users using QR code • Withdraw cash without a card through any NBB ATM nationwide • Scan-to- pay at over 3,500 stc pay merchants across Bahrain • Buy stc prepaid top-up or pay stc postpaid bills • Pay Electricity & Water Authority (EWA) • OSN subscription payment • Donate to charities

Max Wallet

Apple Pay

CrediMax’s MaxWallet is a virtual wallet application that allows customers to pay for their purchases using their mobile device without presenting their physical credit cards. Some of MaxWallet’s features include:

Apple Pay is a mobile payment and digital wallet service by Apple Inc. that allows users to make payments in person, in iOS apps, and on the web using Safari. It is supported on the iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac. Some of Apple Pay features include:

• Simple user registration and biometric login • Easy way to store your credit/debit cards • Scan-to-pay • International transfer • Local and international shopping • Offers and discounts • View your transaction history details

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Gulf Insider July 2021

• • • • • •

Sending/receiving money Bank account transfer Touch ID authentication Web store transaction In-store payments Netflix subscription payment • In-app transactions • Face ID and fingerprint authentication

Money & Business

WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF

DIGITAL WALLETS?

I

n this digital age which we now live in, almost everything is accessible with a simple touch of a button. We have witnessed how technological innovations have transformed the way we live our everyday lives from how we stay in touch to how we pay for things.

These technological advancements have now brought us to a place where we don’t even need to carry around a physical wallet to make transactions with the introduction of digital wallets.

Let us look at the pros and cons of the digital wallet.

Pros: Convenience The digital wallet makes transferring money, shopping, and even paying for gas possible with a tap of a button – saving us a lot of time and hassle.

You can store your credit card, debit card, and loyalty card numbers and access them from your device when needed.

Transaction tracking Most digital services also have a record of your transaction history, making it easier to keep track of. This is helpful to remain on budget.

Less to carry With the digital wallet being easily accessible on your smart devices like your phone which you always have in hand, the need to carry around a wallet containing your cards and cash has become almost unnecessary.

Cons: Safety and privacy concerns

the risk of becoming a victim of digital hackers. This can result in the hackers gaining access to all your accounts as well as transaction history. The same risk applies if your phone goes missing and someone gains access to the lost phone.

Dependency on devices With the digital wallet being only available and accessible on your devices, you run the risk of having no access to the wallet if your battery dies or if you misplace your device.

Limited merchants Not all merchants have adopted to support digital wallets or payments, you will likely still need to carry around some cash or cards in order to make some transactions.

Owning a digital wallet comes with Gulf Insider July 2021

17

Money & Business

DANGERS OF CREDIT CARDS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

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Gulf Insider July 2021

Money & Business

C

redit cards are a helpful way to make purchases now which you can pay later. Sounds easy enough, right? Although owning a credit card comes with its benefits when used correctly and responsibly, it also comes with great risks if not managed properly.

If you are planning on applying for a credit card, here are a few important risk points to make note of and how to manage them.

Credit card debt Getting into credit card debt is the biggest risk you are taking if you are

Getting into credit card debt is the biggest risk you are taking if you are not careful in using your credit card.

not careful in using your credit card. It is very easy to borrow/spend more than you can return. The more you add to your balance which you do not pay off in full and on time, you will have to pay much more in interest. This will make it difficult to get out of credit card debt.

A way to avoid this is to be mindful of your spending and ensure that you pay your due amounts within the billing cycle.

Missing payments Another mistake people make with their credit cards is late or missed payments. As mentioned earlier, this comes with certain consequences.

Your payment history contributes to

your credit scores and missing this can negatively impact your credit.

One way to avoid this is by setting up automatic payments or a monthly reminder that your bill is almost due.

Acquiring heavy interest charges Credit card interest rates vary depending on the card, but they run high. Carrying your balance over to the next month or longer will result in paying a significant amount of interest.

Once again – to avoid paying large amounts of interest is to pay your credit card statement balance in full and on time, every time.

Using too much of your credit card limit

Your credit card utilization ratio refers to how much you’re using from your available credit card limit. If you have a high credit card utilization ratio, it can negatively affect your credit scores.

Limit your spending by being conscious of how much you spend and budgeting. In addition, pay off any credit card debt – this will help reduce your credit card utilization ratio.

In conclusion, you can minimize the impact of the dangers of credit cards by using them wisely and responsibly.

Ensure that your outstanding dues are paid in full and on time and avoid overspending.

Gulf Insider July 2021

19

Experts Reveal Life Secrets

week thinking about.

PART 17

HOW TO WIN IN BUSINESS AND LIFE Every month Gulf Insider publish 2 pages that reveal brilliant secrets for winning in business and life. The techniques are provided by top international experts and we will often summarize an entire book into a single page so you can learn the essence of their wisdom in minutes instead of hours.

Take the time to learn what we reveal each month and you will be rewarded a thousand times over!

13. Holding 60% of your assets in stocks and 40% in bonds isn’t perfect for everyone; but there’s a thousand worse strategies.

14. Respect the role luck plays.

15. Change your mind as often as the facts change.

16. Read last year’s market predictions and you’ll never again take this year’s predictions seriously.

17. Warren Buffett’s folksy talk misleads people into thinking what he’s accomplished is easy. It’s not.

18. Sleep on every investment decision for a week, then run it by a trusted friend before acting.

19. Two things you can do to make yourself a better investor are increase the amount of time you’re investing for and the humility you put into your ideas.

20. Live within your means.

31 SMART MONEY TIPS 99% of personal finance wisdom can be summarized in a single sentence:

21. You can probably afford not to be a great investor -- you probably can’t afford to be a bad one.

22. You learn more from your bad investments than your good ones.

23. Judge investors by the quality of their arguments, not the performance of their last trade.

24. Teach your kids about money before they’re old enough to earn their own.

25. Admit when you are wrong.

26. Assume the worst, hope for the best, accept reality.

1. Every five to seven years, people forget that recessions occur every five to seven years.

2. You’re twice as biased as you think you are (four times if you disagree with that statement).

3. Read more books and fewer articles.

4. Read more history and fewer forecasts.

5. Your circle of competence is probably 90% smaller than you think it is.

6. When in doubt, choose the investment with the lowest fee.

7. The more you learn about the economy, the more you realize you have 20

Gulf Insider July 2021

no idea what’s going on.

8. Start saving for your retirement before you finish college - you’ll feel silly when you start and like a genius when you finish.

27. The correlation between confidence and future regret is incredibly high.

28. Predictions, opinions, and forecasts should be discounted by the number of times the person making them is on TV each week.

9. The most powerful way to grow your money is learning to live with less, as you have complete control over it.

29. Things usually take longer to happen than you think they will, and then happen faster than you thought they could.

10. If you spend money on things, you will end up with the things and not the money

30. Most people’s biggest expense is interest, which comes≠ from living beyond your means.

11. Do not have opinions about things you don’t understand.

31. Reaching for yield to increase your income is often like sticking your hands in a fire to warm them up -- good in theory, disastrous in practice.

12. Don’t feel strongly about any investment you haven’t spent at least a

Experts Reveal Life Secrets

WHAT IS IT TAKE TO RICH?

By Fani Kelesidou

I

f you are a rationalist, chances are you are richer than your neighbor.

According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) — a psychometric questionnaire based on the famous psychologist Carl Jung’s typological theories — there are 16 possible personality types, divided into four categories: artisans, guardians, idealists, and rationalists.

An in-depth infographic I stumbled upon recently from the Career Assessment Site shows that of all of these personality types, a specific type of rationalists — the ENTJ — scores the highest average household income.

Idealists, on the other hand, and especially those who fit with the INFP description — in other words, are more affectionate, calm, and shy than others — are less likely to cash in on their traits.

So, next time you ask yourself why your neighbor drives a Lamborghini while you are stuck with an old Volvo, you’ll know the answer. Apparently, when it comes to your earning potential, your character makes all the difference.

How do ENTJs stay ahead of the game? - In general, rationalists are visionary people, but, at the same time, very practical. If they see a problem, they fix it. ENTJs in particular, are good with money, determinant to the point where they intimidate those around them, and they are always in the driver’s seat. They don’t settle for second best. They aim for the stars. To put it differently, ENTJs are the kind of people most likely to run the show. Not surprisingly, some of the big names in the business world suit this type, including Bill Gates and investing guru

Warren Buffett. The late Steve Jobs was also, according to experts, the epitome of ENTJ personalities.

ENTJs think ahead to the future and approach problems from several different angles. “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago,” Warren Buffett once observed. “Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks,” he told shareholders back in 1985 when discussing his worst ever investment, the textile mill that gave its name to his financial powerhouse, Berkshire Hathaway.

Moreover, ENTJ personalities don’t deal well with inefficiency and they loathe incompetence. They can be harsh and unforgiving when they realize that someone or something has failed to live up to their expectations. In the summer of 2008, Apple launched MobileMe, its first real stab at a cloud storage and delivery service. But it got off to a terrible start. It failed to impress users and proved to beone of Apple’s major missteps. Jobs was hopping mad at the MobileMe team. “You’ve tarnished Apple’s reputation,” he yelled at them, and he didn’t think twice before naming a new team leader.

Last but not least, people with this kind of personality can come across as arrogant. They have a very high self-esteem and do not hesitate to be honest and straightforward.

However,often their self-confidence turns into arrogance. In the early 2000s, Bill Gates was at loggerheads with Judge Thomas Jackson, who had announced that Microsoft was an illegal monopoly that had to be split into two. The judge told The New Yorker at the time: “I think he [Bill Gates] has a Napoleonic concept of himself and his company, an arrogance that derives from power and unalloyed success, with no leavening hard experience, no reverses.”

This article originally appeared at The Motley Fool. Copyright 2014. Follow The Motley Fool on Twitter.

Gulf Insider July 2021

21

People & Culture

IRAN This is an item I first wrote in 1998, which covers a two-week visit to Iran. I wrote it for the BBC’s Farsi service, but the BBC decided not to use it. Apparently the views expressed were at variance with the BBC’s Middle Eastern policy! - By Peter Davies

I

t was just after midnight as, in company with my fellow passengers, I finally stumbled into the bustling arrivals hall on Tehran airport, more than three hours after my flight from Delhi via Dubai had landed. The intervening time had been spent standing in a series of queues while a number of dishevelled hirsute men went through our baggage and other belongings minutely examining everything we had, presumably to ensure we were not bringing anything into their country that might in any way be considered improper, offensive, or undesirable. No sooner had we left one queue than we had to join another and yet another after that while different sets of plain-clothes ruffians rummaged through our things. After we had performed this particular ritual a sufficient number of times, the roughnecks who were detaining us must have decided that we didn’t have whatever it was they might have been looking for and allowed us to leave.

Although I was the only non-Iranian on the flight, I had not been treated any differently by the customs officials than had any of the other arrivals, although the same could not be said for passport control where I was removed from the queue by two more unkempt bruisers and escorted to the end of the line, clearly a discriminatory gesture.

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Gulf Insider July 2021

People & Culture

Indeed, Tehran appeared to be so devoid of any prominent landmarks that I had no idea how I would find my way around without getting lost.

It was another week before I saw Tehran in daylight. With its characterless, concrete buildings, some adorned with murals depicting the baleful visage of the late Ayatollah Khomeini or the more benign features of the current president Mohammed Khatami, I concluded that it had not been worth the wait. Indeed, Tehran appeared to be so devoid of any prominent landmarks that I had no idea how I would find my way around without getting lost, a misgiving I raised with my friends after the taxi

to my new-found friends, I found out what most things cost, generally a lot less than they did in Western Europe, and that while the accepted currency was the Rial, worth about 1500 to the US dollar at the time, there was also something called a Toman worth ten Rials. There did not appear to be any denomination of banknotes denoting the Toman and I quickly decided that its only reason for existence was to make certain I paid ten times the going rate for any commodity I might need.

By the time I’d returned to Tehran,

had dropped me at their ground floor apartment.

Ali, his wife Soraya and their two daughters had been staying at the same hotel as me in Esfahan and they had adopted me to ensure I did not fall foul of any xenophobic activities in which some of the local inhabitants were known to indulge, or to prevent me from committing some outrageous though innocent blunder that might have brought me into contact with the Komite, a particularly virulent strain of religious police whose apparent role in Iranian society was to find out how ordinary people managed to enjoy themselves in this austere theocracy and instantly put a stop to it. Thanks

after spending four days in Esfahan and three more in Shiraz, I’d formed the opinion that Iran was a country that evoked many questions but offered few answers in return. For example, while I waited in baggage reclaim for my suitcase, I noticed a number of passengers from Kish Island, a dutyfree resort in the Persian Gulf, removing articles from a carousel piled high with boxes containing the latest and most advanced Japanese technology and satellite equipment. Yet, in a country where communication with the outside world was actively discouraged by a Government, whose edicts were covertly policed by any number of sinister internal organisations, how

Gulf Insider July 2021

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People & Culture

could it be that people were openly unloading digital receivers and satellite dishes at a public airport without any apparent fear of detection or reprisal?

As I was being driven through the dusty streets of Tehran, I noticed bed linen hung out to air on every balcony, veranda or patio I passed, a futile gesture in this highly polluted environment but one in which everybody appeared to participate without exception. Ali revealed the answer to this particular conundrum when he showed me his garden and I noticed the edge of a huge satellite dish protruding from beneath the sheet festooning his balcony. He explained that everybody he knew had satellite dishes and as long as these remained concealed, nobody could report them to the authorities but anyone who neglected to hide their dishes could guarantee a visit from the Komite, whose heavy handed representatives had a well-earned reputation for physical abuse and malicious damage, not to mention arbitrary arrest and detention without trial.

In 1998 Iran was the fourth largest producer of crude oil in the world, possessing 9% of the global supply, yet, as Ali drove me through Tehran, there was little indication that any of the oil revenue had made it to street level.

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Gulf Insider July 2021

But where did all the oil money go?

There were many opinions about this, and I must have heard most of them at a party I went to with Ali’s family in a fashionable part of Tehran. The armed forces, overseas Islamic groups and alternative energy sources were popular theories, as were hi-tech weaponry, health care and scientific research, but the consensus view was that a high proportion of the oil revenues had been misappropriated by the ruling clerics and salted away in their Swiss bank accounts. Corruption was rife in Tehran in 1998 and no one was above suspicion.

There was much anger and frustration at the current political impasse. While the president and Parliament could initiate legislation, their power was strictly circumscribed by clerics and a

whole network of unelected bodies, the most prominent of which was the Council of Guardians, which could veto any law passed by Parliament. There was also the Expediency Council, set up by Khomeini to mediate disputes between Parliament and the Council of Guardians, but which invariably supported the latter and the Assembly of Experts, once compared to the Vatican’s College of Cardinals. In all it was a veritable Gordian Knot of checks and balances designed to suppress any proposal deemed to be counterrevolutionary or un-Islamic.

At the apex of this knot sits the all-powerful Supreme Leader, a senior cleric elected by the Assembly of Experts but accountable and subordinate to no one. It is the Supreme Leader who dictates domestic and foreign policy and has power to appoint and dismiss leaders of the judiciary, the state media networks and the Supreme Commander of the Revolutionary Guard.

The people I met during my time in Iran were heartily sick of theocratic oppression.

Leaving Iran proved to be just as difficult as entering the country. I had to queue for half an hour just to get into the airport terminal where I spent the rest of the morning either being searched or standing in a queue waiting to be searched.

School search made easy...

Car Bahrain

ELEVATE YOUR DRIVE Gulf Insider drives the BMW X3.

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Gulf Insider July 2021

Car Bahrain

The new BMW X3 is actually bigger than the original BMW X5.

T

he new BMW X3 might look pretty much identical to the previous model it replaces, but it’s packed with lots of improved technology that make it easier and more relaxing to drive. It’s also a lot sportier than the average SUV. It’s lighter, more efficient, and drives beautifully as you’d expect from a BMW. This roomy family car is quiet and comfortable thanks to its suspension that expertly irons out the bumps that can be found in many Bahrain roads.

There’s generous space in the front for both the driver and the passenger, and enough room in the back for three adults. There’s also lots of boot space.

The new BMW X3 is actually bigger than the original BMW X5. That said, I was surprised just how easy this car is to park in tight spaces thanks to excellent visibility and technology.

Interior design is stylish, with funky controls and choices of cool ambient lighting. The quality of materials used

by BMW for the interior are first class.

Almost every piece of trim on the dashboard and center console feels soft to the touch.

There’s a 248-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available, as are other power options including a hardcore performance version called the X3 M Competition that offers a massive 503 horsepower.

The Premium Package that I drove came with electric seat adjustment and a huge panoramic glass roof that made the already roomy cabin feel even more spacious.

For more information, call or WhatsApp Euro Motors at +973 17750750.

Gulf Insider July 2021

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Car Bahrain

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Photo by: @oman.photography

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Gulf Insider July 2021

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Car Bahrain

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