Gulf Insider - June 2019

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Contents June 2019 Issue 172

18 Travel

18 Cathay Pacific 20 Shangri-La 24 Atlantis

48 Facebook Followers

398,292 Simply unparalleled online presence that connects region’s most inspired communities.

People & Culture

31

G4s Annual Employee Awards

Money & Business

34 36

Careem

Car News & Reviews

46 48 50 54

Volvo S90

Cheese for MICE?

Mercedes GLE450 Dodge Challenger R/T Ferrari Portofino and 812

‌ and much, much more!

Knowledge is power

Comment...

Publisher & Editor in Chief

- Nicholas C. Cooksey

Editorial Contributors

- Sawsan Abu Omar - Ryan Ernst - Dhanyasree M - Hugh Haskell-Thomas - Nicholas Cortes - Bill Daly

Sales & Business Development

- Charlie Cooksey

- Dhanraj S Layout Designs Admin & Finance

A picture is worth a thousand words.

- Nikesh Pola

- Aneesh Mathew Photography Distribution Executive

- Mohammed Yousif

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

For Advertising Opportunities Call Charlie Cooksey

Dhanyasree M

M. +973 3652 0004

M. +973 3612 8111

charlie@gulf-insider.com

sales1@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.

The multi-award winning Arabian magazine

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Events

Day & Night The Dogfather Boutique Sale

Yinchuan Arts Theatre Ltd

Bahrain Summer Festival

When: 14th June 2019 Where: Bahrain Rugby Football Club

When: 20th June 2019 Where: Cultural Hall

Enjoy a fashion bargain galore and expect to find designer clothes, brica-brac and toys at The Dogfather’s Boutique Sale. All proceeds go to running the cost of the animal center, which cares for hundreds of homeless cats and dogs.

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, in collaboration with the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, presents an outstanding performance by Yinchuan Arts Theatre Limited, formerly known as Yinchuan Performing Arts Troupe, founded in 1958.

When: 27th June 2019 Where: Shaikh Salman bin Ahmed Al Fateh Fort (Riffa)

For more information: +973 3310 9507/322 6225

Faisal Al Ansari Accompanied

by Mohammed bin Faris Band When: 6th June 2019 Where: Cultural Hall In celebration of Eid Al-Fitr, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities presents a concert by Bahraini artist Faisal AlAnsari, accompanied by Mohammed bin Faris band in an exceptional musical evening. The concert, which is part of the Authority’s Eid celebrations, will take place at the Cultural Hall on the third day of Eid Al-Fitr.

For more information: culture.gov.bh 8

Gulf Insider June 2019

For more information: culture.gov.bh

Held under the slogan “Our Year of Celebrations”, the 11th edition of the Bahrain Summer Festival is returning with an exciting one-month long program! The annual festival will be filled with diverse performances along with artistic activities, educational and creative workshops.

For more information: culture.gov.bh

Training Today for a Safer Tomorrow

Agora Training Centre Bahrain, offers a vast variety of training programs approved Ministry of Labvour as well as International Accreditation bodies. The training is deliver by highly experienced instructors with at least 5 years experience.

www.agoratrainingservices.ae

Agora Training Center Confined Space Program Agora Training Program explains the hazards of working in a confined space and to assist employers in establishing and maintaining an effective confined space program. The course is both theoretical and practical.

At the end of the training candidates will be able to: l Familiar with various confined space entry standards l

Determine if confined spaces are permit required

l

Understand roles and responsibilities of key personnel

l

Understand the provision for rescue & emergency services

l

Aware of the use and limitations of confined space entry equipment

l

Identify hazards and controls related to confined space preparation and entry

Certification On completion of this course successful candidates will receive a Ministry of Labour approved Certificate on Confined Space Entry. There is no revalidation period for this type of training, however refresher training is recommended every 2 years.

For more informations contact: Agora Training Center Villa 270, Rd No 503, Muqabah, Kingdom of Bahrain, Tel: +973 3370 1547

News Roundup

Bahrain-based task force seizes 33,000 kg of narcotics 33,000 kg of illegal narcotics were seized by a Bahrain-based task force in recent months, it was announced. The drugs seized

by Canada-led Task Force (CTF) and the Royal Australian Navy were of a value of over US$41 million.

It was the second largest volume of illegal narcotics seized in CTF’s 150-year history. “The success we achieved was a team effort with our CMF coalition partners,” quotes CTF commander.

CTF 150 and coalition partners said they work to deter terrorist organizations from employing the high seas for smuggling narcotics, UN embargoed weapons and Somalian charcoal. Canada command of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) has handed over command to Pakistan Navy, after completing Canada’s fourth command of this multinational counter-terrorism task force.

Saudi approves special residency scheme for expats Saudi Arabia has approved a special residency scheme similar to green card systems applicable in other countries, aimed at attracting wealthy and highskilled expats, the Saudi Press agency reported.

The “Privileged Iqama” residency scheme allows expatriates to live and work in the Kingdom without the need of a local sponsor (Kafeel) for the first time.

Plans for the scheme were discussed and rubberstamped by the Shoura Council.

The new Privileged Iqama system offers benefits to highly skilled expatriates and owners of capital funds. It is different from the existing iqama system because residents would not require a Saudi sponsor or employer.

The new residency scheme — commonly referred to as the Saudi “green card” — was first mentioned

by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman nearly three years ago as part of the ambitious Vision 2030 plan to open up the kingdom and diversify its economy.

According to the law, the expats in Saudi holding such an Iqama will have family status and can obtain a visit visa for relatives, recruit domestic workers apart from owning properties, means of transport and such other advantages.

The law envisages that expatriates will have to make payment of a special fee determined by the Executive Regulations and that a center called the Center of Distinguished Iqama will be established for the purpose.

There will be two types of Iqamas – One for an unlimited period and the other for one-year validity with subject to renewal.

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Gulf Insider June 2019

Bahraini parent faces court after toddler seen sitting on window edge A Bahraini parent faces court proceedings after a picture showing a toddler sitting on a window edge went viral. In the picture, a toddler is seen dangerously sitting on the edge of the window panel while her sister is holding her from behind.

The incident was reported at one of the buildings in a government housing project in Al Lawzy area in Hamad town. Interior ministry confirmed in a tweet that legal procedures were taken against the Bahraini parent for child safety negligence.

Business Society

Credimax hosted their annual Ramadan Ghabga at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain's Grand Foyer

14

Gulf Insider June 2019

Al Areen Palace and Spa hosted the grand launch of their new Al Qasr Ramadan Tent

A sight to behold Eid Mubarak

For further information contact 1745 9933.

Audi Centre Bahrain 3580, Sh. Jaber highway, 604, Al Qarya Sitra, Kingdom of Bahrain *Terms and conditions apply.

News Roundup

Bahrain: Work set to start on Dulmunia’s Grand Canal Construction work on a 1.7km canal is set to start as part of the $1.6 billion Dilmunia Project, a mixed-use development built on a man-made island, off the coast of Muharraq in Bahrain.

Ithmaar Development Company (IDC), the development manager for Dilmunia, has announced the completion of the foundations and soil preparatory works for the Dilmunia Grand Canal and Marina, marking a significant milestone for the project.

Dilmunia will offer homes, hospitality and leisure, F&B strips and shopping districts on the 125-hectare man-made island.

The Dilmunia Grand Canal and Marina is a major element of the development and will feature public promenades, geysers, water fountains, water walls, water cascades, boardwalks and viewing decks.

With a total length of 1.7 km, and a width spanning 15-35 metres, it will have sea water pumped in around the mid-point of the canal with the water flowing via gravity in two opposing directions.

The canal will run through the entire stretch of Dilmunia in a semi-circular route, making it Bahrain’s largest man-made water body.

Bahrain: World’s largest underwater theme park to open soon Bahrain is gearing up to welcome the world’s largest underwater theme park as the attraction is set to unveil after Eid Al-Fitr 2019, according to a report by the Daily Tribune newspaper.

The attraction, which authorities claim will be the world’s largest underwater theme park and will include a submerged Boeing 747 as its centrepiece, will also eventually cover a total area of 100,000 square metres, according to a report in January by the state-run Bahrain News Agency.

The diver site will feature the 70-metre long 747, the largest aircraft ever to be submerged.

According to the BNA, the site is being designed as a dive experience.

Other features will include a submerged replica of a traditional Bahraini pearl merchant’s house, artificial coral reefs and other sculptures that have been placed underwater as a safe haven for coral growth and as a habitat for marine animals.

The eco-friendly project will become an international tourist attraction, given its large area, location and unique experience for diving enthusiasts.

The dive site will also provide researchers with rich information and data on marine ecology and biology and will be a major boost to the Kingdom’s eco-tourism sector.

Bahrain: Russian expat arrested for drug peddling The High Criminal Court sentenced an expat drug dealer to five years behind bars for peddling shabu drugs in Bahrain. The woman, a Russian national, was also fined BD3000 and was ordered to be deported after completing prison terms.

Police nabbed the suspect in a sting operation following a tip-off received from sources on her illicit activities. According to court files, the Russian expat was active in Juffair and Manama areas.

The Russian expat was found in possession of BD1750 and 600 Saudi riyals as well as 76 US dollars and a digital scale following a search operation conducted at her apartment.

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Gulf Insider June 2019

Cathay Pacific

Hong Kong

Oman

Dubai

Part 1

Travel – 4 Days in Hong Kong

Gulf Insider flew

Cathay Pacific

for a long weekend to Hong Kong

H

ong Kong is one of those special places that you should – if you can - visit at least once in your life.

It’s vibrant, colourful, often chaotic, and always intriguing.

We flew there for a long weekend last

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Gulf Insider June 2019

We landed back in Bahrain refreshed and ready for the day ahead

month on Cathay Pacific Business Class from Bahrain, which includes a brief stopover in Dubai. Total flight time from Bahrain including the stopover is ten hours, and flying Cathay gave us access to the Gulf Air lounge pre-flight.

Onboard the modern Boeing 777

Travel – 4 Days in Hong Kong Part 1

The Teahouse - The Pier at Hong Kong International

Cathay Pacific Business Class

A delicious meal served by Cathay’s legendary air crew, a Hollywood movie, then we reclined our seats into flatbeds for sleep

Dreamliner we enjoyed a delicious meal served by Cathay’s legendary air crew, watched one of the latest Hollywood movies, and later we reclined our seats into flatbeds, enabling us to sleep comfortably for a few hours.

We decided to give breakfast a miss, preferring an extra forty minutes sleep time before landing, but the Cathay crew ensured we had steaming fresh coffee and croissants before we landed for energy.

Hong Kong is five hours ahead of Bahrain (four hours ahead of Dubai), but thanks to Cathay Pacific’s flatbed, and the excitement of being in Hong Kong, we felt no jet lag.

Hong Kong’s international airport is one of the most impressive in the world. Entering is easy - queuing at immigration is kept to a minimum, and no need for visas or any entry payment; just show your passport and you’re in!

On the return leg, we spent a satisfying 90 minutes before the flight in Cathay Pacific Lounge enjoying noodles and champagne. This airline is not just highly regarded for the quality of service in the air, but also in their Business and First Class lounges.

The Pier is Cathay Pacific’s largest lounge in Hong Kong International Airport, with key features being: The Noodle Bar –serving fresh and made-to-order dishes, such as dan dan and wonton noodles The Teahouse – where a superior tea experience awaits. You’ll find seasonal and artisanal tea varieties, served by fine tea specialists The Sanctuary by Pure Yoga - the first dedicated yoga and meditation space at Hong Kong International Airport – and the perfect place to stretch, relax, and rejuvenate body and mind Having eaten so well, we declined the delicious food offerings and movie watching on our return flight, deciding instead to recline our seats into flatbeds and getting a good night’s sleep. It paid off because when we landed back in Bahrain just before 9 am we felt refreshed and ready for the day ahead.

For more info visit www.CathayPacific.com Gulf Insider June 2019

19

Part 2

Travel – 4 Days in Hong Kong

Gulf Insider recommends making The

Shangri-La

your Hong Kong ‘home-from-home’

Kowloon, Shangri-La

U

pon entering the Arrivals Hall at Hong Kong’s International Airport, a smartly dressed representative from Shangri-La was waiting to whisk us away in a Mercedes S-Class limo to our home from home for the next few days.

We were staying in two Shangri-La

20

Gulf Insider June 2019

We had privileged access to the exclusive Horizon Club lounge

properties for this adventure, the first on Hong Kong Island, and then Kowloon.

The drive to The Island Shangri-La from the airport took 30 minutes which we used to catch up with emails and social media thanks to in-car WiFi. We also spent much of the journey taking in the impressive views; mountains, fauna, bridges, industry, and as we approached

Travel – 4 Days in Hong Kong Part 2

our destination; seemingly endless skyscrappers.

On arrival at The Island Shangri-La, we were immediately taken to our room on the 54th floor without the need for a formal check-in. The property contains eight restaurants including two with Michelin stars, a business centre, and a 24-hour health club which offers all sorts of treatments including its signature Caviar Crystal Soothing! The club contains treatment rooms for women, couples, and men.

The Great Motherland of China scales 16 floors of the Island Shangri-La

It’s hard to take it all in at once. The best way to view it is by riding the glass walled elevator.

As for our room, the centerpiece was its floor to ceiling window looking across Victoria Harbour. We spent much time just sitting back and enjoying the ever changing view. The hotel thoughtfully provided a pair of binoculars in the room that further enhanced this experience.

The second hotel we stayed at was the Kowloon Shangri-La, the sister hotel

The Horizon Lounge, Island Shangri-La

Eight restaurants including two with Michelin stars We had membership of the Horizon Club which gave us privileged access to the exclusive Horizon Club lounge which in addition to amazing views served delicious and complimentary food and beverages from 6 am till midnight.

The centerpiece of this hotel is without doubt the largest artwork we had ever seen. The Great Motherland of China scales an entire internal wall of the hotel, standing over 16 stories.

to the Island Shangri-La. Both these properties are considered to be among the top luxury hotels in Asia.

Again, we had access to the Horizon Club lounge, and our room had the same floor to ceiling window with panoramic views across Victoria Harbour, but this time we were looking from the other side.

The Kowloon Shangri-La is within walking distance of the luxury boutiques on Canton Road, and the Temple Street Night Market. Both hotel rooms had umbrellas which was useful when we went for walks in the light rain.

For more info visit www.Shangri-La.com

Gulf Insider June 2019

21

Travel

Oman’s

amazing vacations

O

ne of the purest hospitality experiences I had last year didn’t come at a brand name luxury resort. It happened in the middle of the Empty Quarter, a vast, open stretch of desert that encompasses 250,000 square miles of southern Arabia.

I flew into Salalah, a region of the country known for its whimsical and uncharacteristic green season in the midst of a very scorching summer for the region. I hired a guide that was recommended and set of on a four hour trip into the desert. We stopped, picked up some provisions, gassed up the white Land Cruiser, and drove far and far into the desert, outside of cellular coverage.

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Gulf Insider June 2019

Oman, sometimes people are best rewarded by just getting in a car, doing some due diligence, and driving on the open road.

A friend told me about the idea of “thin spaces” where you feel closer to the heavens. The desert fits that experience. The acoustics were

incredible. In a world bombarded with the hectic sounds of cities around the world, this was a perfect, relaxing stillness.

After a dinner cooked over a simple fire made with foraged wood, I spent a frigid night, not entirely bothered given the sublime surroundings. The next morning was the most dramatic sunrise, and with it, the light and warmth returned slowly, rejuvenating my body.

My guide prepared a simple breakfast, a sort of Indian flatbread cooked with olive oil, with eggs and simple accouterment.

This experience in the desert was something that will be imprinted in my mind forever. The power of nature, the surreal quality of desolate places,

Travel

Turtle Season Begins in Oman

the warmth and hospitality of an Omani guide. I remarked that though most of the world is about “instagram experiences� and accumulating social capital, this was one of the most interesting, sincere and real travel experiences and something that stays in the mind and heart.

Oman is an incredibly geographically diverse, with incredible amounts of terrain: from beaches to wadis, to the incredible canyons and altitude of the green mountains, to the desert as mentioned above. In a short amount of time, in a car, you can experience all of this, including the green, misty hills of Salalah in late June to September in Monsoon season.

The country recently launched a new airport hub (a considerable improvement from its predecessor). The current

incarnation of tourism is undoubtedly sun worshipping Europeans visiting the beachside resorts of Muscat, notably the Six Senses and the Chedi. But more travelers are richly rewarded when they set farther afield by just renting a car or hiring local guides.

A few former British SAS soldiers set up an outfit that takes tourists far afield in the country for short two-day excursions, or something longer and customized if required. The Anantara and Allila in the Green Mountains offer beautiful, incredible vistas of the country’s version of the Grand Canyon.

But as with all safe, adventure spaces like Oman, sometimes people are best rewarded by just getting in a car, doing some due diligence, and driving on the open road.

June to September is the best time to watch turtles nesting in Oman. If you think it is too hot to travel in the summer, then head to Ras Al Jinz in Sur which is a short three hour drive from Muscat city. The temperature is cooler by 15 to 20 degrees and makes the perfect setting for spotting these marvelous reptiles.

The Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve in South Ash-Sharqiyah Governorate is popular for its green turtle habitat is significantly located within the region surrounded by the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Oman is the only place where visitors can closely witness the process of nesting sea turtles without disturbing their natural surroundings.

The best time to witness this natural phenomenon is either late at night or early morning with guided tours of up to 25 people in a group by the seashore.

There are turtle rangers at the beach and only once the turtles have begun laying their eggs- 200-300 or more at a time, tourists are allowed to walk towards them. It is an out of the ordinary activity to witness the mother turtle creating a pit, laying eggs as well as baby turtles running around at the seashore.

Oman is home to four different types of turtles: green, olive ridley, hawksbill and loggerhead.

Gulf Insider June 2019

23

Travel

Atlantis Dubai: A look inside Atlantis, The Palm, where the best suites cost US$40,000 a night

T

he best suites at Atlantis can cost US$40,000 per night and pan an entire arch of the resort’s iconic pink structure where you can make the most of 180 degree views of the Arabian Sea. A private lift leads to the suite’s grand lobby that features chandeliers and intricate art on the ceilings.

There are three spacious bedrooms

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Gulf Insider June 2019

A touch of celebrity is also evident with 23 dining establishments to choose from at Atlantis, The Palm

to choose from, accommodating up to six adults and three children. Two of the bedrooms each feature his and her bathrooms, and there’s even the added luxury of 18 karat gold soap. Other decadent features of the suite include a dining room seating 16, a powder room, a private library, and chefs and butlers at your beck and call.

A touch of celebrity is also evident with 23 dining establishments to choose

Travel

from at Atlantis, The Palm. Guests don’t even have to venture outside of the suite, with chefs delivering the gourmet meals to their table.

Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen is a favourite with resort’s guests, along with famed Italian chef Giorgio Locatelli’s, Ronda Locatelli, and Nobuyuki Matsuhisa’s, Nobu.

Then there is the luxurious underwater seafood restaurant, Ossiano.

The lobby has an18-metre sculpture, consisting of 3,000 hand-blown glass fragments. A grand staircase at the front of the resort makes for a talking point, while the Aquaventure Waterpark, covering 17 beachfront hectares, is a guaranteed winner with children and teens.

Gulf Insider June 2019

25

News Roundup

Bahrain: Northern governorate shuts down illegal Ramadan tents Northern Governorate launched a shutdown on illegal and unsafe Ramadan tents. Four tents, which didn’t have the necessary permits, were identified so far in the governorate according to Northern Municipality sources.

No permits were issued for commercial Ramadan tents this year, said the municipality warning: “Tents should not be put up without the consent of relevant parties.” A permit from the civil defense, municipal council, and other relevant parties are required to set up a tent.

“Illegal Ramadan tents pose significant fire risks without proper safety measures, “the Ministry of Interior warned.

Director of the Department of Administrative Affairs of the General Directorate of Civil Defense stressed the importance of taking precautionary measure citing the influx of people after evening prayers to these tents.

Bahrain: Mosques banned from using loudspeakers The Ministry issued a ban on loudspeakers in mosques during late night prayers throughout Ramadan. Loudspeakers should be used only for ‘azan’ or ‘iqama’ (the first and second calls to Islamic prayers), according to circular issued by the directorates to all mosques of the Sunni sect in the kingdom.

The circular which details administrative directives for operational systems of mosques during the holy month said: “Mosques are banned from using loudspeakers during late night prayers, aka Qiyam or Tahajjud and has limited its use only for the Azan and Iqama.”

For placing tents, the mosques are required to notify the directorate and adhere to the safety standards of Civil Defense Directorate. Mosques are also directed to hold periodic inspections at all installations to ensure the safety of worshippers.

Bahrain airport new terminal trial phase to commence post Eid Al Fitr The CEO of Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), Mr. Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah has officially announced that the experimental phase of the new terminal at the Bahrain International Airport will commence post Eid Al Fitr.

Mr. Al Binfalah noted that the completion rate of the project exceeded 80% and is due to be officially operational in the fourth last quarter of 2019.

The new passenger terminal is set to undergo an intensive assessment of readiness in order to measure the efficiency of operations before its official opening.

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Gulf Insider June 2019

People & Culture

Breakthrough in treatment of prostate cancer

P

rostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the second cause of cancer deaths amongst them.

The main problem with prostate cancer detection is that often there are no symptoms that are different from the benign prostate enlargement that affects many men as they grow older. Moreover the symptoms may present late after the tumor has spread outside the prostate.

Prostate cancers are not all equal. Some are very aggressive while others are not and may benefit from a wait and see approach before subjecting a patient to aggressive treatment. In the past there has been no way to easily differentiate between these different types, but a new method has been developed by The Institute of Cancer Research in London.

They discovered 17 extra genes that increase the chances of carriers to develop the disease. That makes a total 23 genes that can now be tested. Some of these genes carry up to a 10 fold increased risk for prostate cancer. Most about 3 fold increased risk. One was up to 70 fold.

The new test can be done by taking a blood sample or a saliva sample. So it is minimally invasive. And anyone can easily be tested.

If a man tests positive they can be closely monitored by their doctor for signs of developing prostate cancer.

Those that test negative will need just the normal routine screening tests without the extra close monitoring.

In those with existing cancer it will give the doctors an idea of the likely progression of the disease in patients and tailor their therapy accordingly.

I hope the tests that detect these newly discovered genes will soon be available in Bahrain in an affordable form for all men to be tested at their Family Doctor.

Dr Jalal Kamal Graduated from RCSI Ireland 1994. Completed specialty in Family Medicine 1999. Working as a Consultant Family Physician at Dr Abdulla Kamal Clinic since 2001.

Contacts: 17256704, 17241412, Jalal.kamal@drabdullakamalclinic.com

28

Gulf Insider June 2019

G4S Annual Employee Award Ceremony

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People & Culture

Desert Road New road in world’s largest contiguous desert in Saudi Arabia.

Rub al-Khali is one of the most desolate and dangerous desert areas in the world.

S

audis can now pass through the Rub al-Khali (Empty Quarter) desert, the largest contiguous sand desert in the world, on a road that links Saudi Arabia to Oman.

The road, which is surrounded by jutting sand dunes on either side, passes through the Shaybah Oil Field.

30

Gulf Insider June 2019

Rub al-Khali starts on the new road from the Haradh village, passes through the city of al-Batha, and continues towards the Shaybah Oil Field.

The road then moves towards the new Omani border post reaching a total of 700 kilometers.

A source from the Ministry of Transport said, “More than 130 cubic

meters of sand were cleared from the road, with the help of over 600 workers, huge equipment, and companies that are specialized in building roads in the middle of sand dunes.”

The Arabian Desert Rub al-Khali is one of the most desolate and dangerous desert areas in the world. It is also the largest contiguous desert that has remained mostly unexplored.

However, the desert-dwellers who live in Rub al-Khali have acted as guides to authorities, researchers, and travelers who want to pass through and explore the dangerous area.

Many travelers have journeyed across the Rub al-Kahli desert, and their trips were documented in some books by authors like the renowned British explorer Wilfred Thesiger.

St John Philby, also known as Sheikh Abdullah, also passed through the desert after getting the approval of King Abdul Aziz.

People & Culture

G4S Bahrain

Annual Employees Awards G4S Bahrain Recognises Outstanding Employees at Annual Awards.

G

4S, the leading global integrated security company in Bahrain, hosted its annual employee awards ceremony in Crowne Plaza Hotel, where more than 100 guests including partners, major clients and regional G4S leadership attended the event to celebrate the business’ success and to recognise the outstanding efforts of its employees.

31 appreciation certificates were presented to employees who performed above and beyond in the past year. A further nine special awards were awarded for Health and Safety, Operational Excellence and an Employee of the Year for each division of the Bahrain business. The Manned Security Services team was also awarded ‘Division of the Year’ for their outstanding performance and growth compared to the previous years.

“I would like to thank the hard work, dedication and contributions of our

employees. Without them, we would not have such a successful operation in Bahrain,” commented Sumaira Yasmin, Managing Director, G4S Bahrain.

“I would also like to thank all our customers for their continued support and for choosing G4S as their security partner of choice.”

About G4S G4S Bahrain was established in 1993 and currently employs over 600 employees. It holds multiple international standards certifications for Quality Management system (ISO 9001:2015), Occupational Health & Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS 18001:2007) and Environmental Management System (ISO 14001:2015); demonstrating the business’ ability to consistently provide quality products and services that meet customer regulatory requirements as well as ensure the health and safety of its employees. It provides top-of-the-line

integrated security solutions to both private and public sectors such as embassies, ministries, retail, banking, oil and gas, construction, aviation, major corporations amongst others. Their range of services includes manned security services; event security; emergency response; cash, valuables and ATM management; Cash360 Deposita machines; electronic security systems; and security consultancy services.

G4S specialises in the provision of security services and solutions to customers with a mission is to create material, sustainable value for its customers and shareholders by being the supply partner of choice. G4S is quoted on the London Stock Exchange and has a secondary stock exchange listing in Copenhagen. G4S is active in around 90 countries and has over 540,000 employees.

Call 1771 4409, 1771 0994 or visit www.g4s.com/en-bh Gulf Insider June 2019

31

News Roundup

Saudi judiciary to introduce alternative punishments The Saudi judiciary plans to introduce alternative punishments which include social work for prisoners convicted of minor crimes instead of making them serve prison time.

Convicts who are sentenced to alternative punishments will be made to wear electronic bracelets so that prison authorities can follow up their movements and know their whereabouts, said an official from the Saudi Judiciary Department.

The alternative punishment calls for applying electronic monitoring for prisoners who go out on parole to spend the Eid holidays with the families or to attend social functions such as weddings and funerals.

Those who are imprisoned for failing to honor financial commitments are the most worthy of alternative punishments, the chief said.

Saudi plans to relax ownership limits for foreign investors Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority (CMA) is considering relaxing a 49 per cent limit for foreign strategic investors in shares of listed companies due to increased demand. Foreigners currently own 5.5 per cent of Saudi equities but that could nearly double by the end of 2020, Mohammed El Kuwaiz said in an interview on the sidelines of a financial conference in Riyadh.

The kingdom has introduced a raft of reforms in recent years, winning endorsements from international index compilers MSCI and FTSE Russell, as it seeks to position its bourse as an international capital markets hub.

Local shares were incorporated into the FTSE emerging-market index in March and will join the MSCI emerging market benchmark later this year.

An upcoming sale of shares in shopping mall operator Arabian Centres Company, owned by Fawaz Alhokair Group, will be the first offering in the kingdom under Rule 144a, which allows the sale of securities primarily to qualified institutional buyers in the United States.

The Saudi stock market is the Middle East’s largest exchange and has seen an upsurge in foreign fund flows since the start of the year due to the inclusion in the emerging markets indexes.

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Gulf Insider June 2019

Manager fined Dh50,000 for violating uae visa rules A company manager was fined for Dh50,000 for letting his exemployee stay under his company’s sponsorship violating visa rules in UAE. The employee was working for another company. He was also fined Dh3,000 for helping the ex-employee violate his residency visa.

The Abu Dhabi Federal Supreme Court upheld a ruling by the Court of First Instance, which ordered the defendant to pay a total of Dh53,000 for both charges.

The Court of Appeal decided to amend the sentence imposed and ordered the accused to pay a Dh50,000 fine for his charges. The public prosecution appealed the rule before the Federal Supreme Court.

News Roundup

The future of railways in the GCC The GCC Railway will be a regional integrated interoperable railway catering to the transport needs of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Riyadh started its Metro project in 2014 and will feature six metro lines and 85 stations, spanning a total distance of 176km and expecting to serve 3.6 million passengers per day once it is fully operational in 2021.

In the UAE, Dubai Municipality long ago identified the need for a rail system to relieve growing motor traffic levels and support continuing urban development, based on studies which began in 1997. The city inaugurated its metro network in September 2009, fully operated by the RTA – becoming the first urban metro network to run in the Gulf’s Arab states.

Another huge project to be developed is the Saudi Landbridge Project, one of the biggest in the region with an estimated investment of $7bn and construction of more than 1,000km of new line between Jeddah and the Eastern region, with another 115km track between Dammam and Jubail. With the construction of the Jeddah-Riyadh rail link, the time taken for passenger transport will be six hours instead of the current 10 to 12 hours via bus.

The Etihad Rail project, which will be the first national freight and passenger railway network connecting the main emirates of the UAE, is expected to be a sustainable and efficient alternative for transportation of freight and passengers throughout urban and rural areas of the Emirates. The 1,200km railway project is estimated to cost Dhs40bn ($11bn).

The infrastructure will become a vital part of the $100bn GCC rail programme, connecting the UAE with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. And adopting international best practices will play an important role in railways’ sustainable development.

One of the biggest challenges faced is the technical complexity of constructing tunnels and viaducts in railway lines.

These break down into countless engineering tasks, including breaking through mountain ranges and circumventing difficult passes, the technology for which has evolved greatly over the years to help the ferrying by rail of passengers and freight – bringing subsequent social and economic benefits.

Saudi shop owners insist on cash payments for purchases Many shop owners in various parts of the Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia refuse to accept credit cards for payments and asked shoppers to pay in cash for their purchases, Makkah Daily reported.

The sources said the Ministry of Commerce and Investment has considered this to be a violation of the rules and regulations and said shop owners should not refuse to accept the credit cards especially when they place stickers at shop fronts or near cash desks announcing that they do accept payment by credit cards.

The ministry, however, said if the shops do not have such stickers they will be free to accept or refuse payment by both debit and credit cards.

The shop owners attributed their insistence on cash payment to the high percentage of commissions deducted by banks on credit card purchases. The shop owners said some times the cut made by the banks on credit card payments was more than the profit margin.

Mohammed Al-Otaibi, an investor in the mobile phones sector, said the drop in sales has compelled many shop owners to insist on cash payment because the reductions made by the banks on the value is very high. For a purchase of SR5,000, the bank reduces about SR32 leaving little room for making a profit.

Otaibi asked the concerned authorities to change this policy by reducing the percentage of commission deducted by the banks or fix a monthly fee for using the point of sale service.

Gulf Insider June 2019

33

Money & Business

Careem

Introduces Ride Packages

W

hether you are heading to meetings all over the city or doing your daily errands, taking more rides should save you money. Careem is always looking for ways to make getting around easier.

Careem introduces its latest offerings yet, Careem Packages and we have all that you need to know.

Plan your expenses

Careem ride packages

4. Choose the package of your choice

• Purchase is non-transferable and non-refundable

5. Pick your preferred payment method. And you’re done!

• A minimum of one ride will be deducted for cancelled bookings

The best way to save more on your day-to-day rides, a Rides package means all your rides are automatically discounted just like a promo code!

Best for shorter rides

Discounts on rides make it easier to plan your monthly expenses.

How to get a rides package?

1. Go to the main menu of the Careem app 2. Click on “Buy a Package” 3. Tap “Ride package”

How to use your rides package?

1. Open the Careem app

The more you ride, the more you save.

2. Add your pick up and drop off locations

No hassle

3. Tap on “Ride package is disabled for this ride” and enable it

All your rides will automatically get a discounted rate.

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Gulf Insider June 2019

*Terms & Conditions • Promo code cannot be applied to a ride package • Discount is automatically applied and works with existing payment methods • A ride package expires when all rides are consumed or when the expiry date is reached

• Package is valid for 14 days • Maximum discount of 2 BHD per ride • Once you purchase, make sure you enable ride package before booking a ride • Initial prices part of pilot launch, prices are subject to change

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Money & Business

Cheese for MICE?

A

s long-standing consultants of choice to the human capital functions of a wide range of private and public sector businesses in the Kingdom of Bahrain, we fully understand and support the efforts that the EDB and others have made to establish the kingdom as a compelling choice when it comes to meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE). Bahrain is blessed with excellent hotels and restaurants offering good service, a wide selection of cuisines and beverages, a variety of meeting rooms and convention centres, and a range of historical and tourism sites that have few competitors in the region.

At Keypoint, we take a holistic view of human capital solutions. In addition to executive recruitment, HC solutions include surveys (such as employee engagement and client satisfaction surveys); benchmarking (including

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Gulf Insider June 2019

Conferences with international speakers are an excellent opportunity to refresh attitudes and learn about international leading practice. compensation and benefits); HR audits and manuals; employment contracts, as well as pre-employment background and reference checks; skills gap and training needs analyses; performance improvement plans; succession planning; interview skills; psychometric

assessments; internships and graduate development programmes; recruitment handbooks; job descriptions and analyses; performance management review systems; KPI indicators; performance assessment for directors; and organisation and grading structures.

There are already numerous articles – not least in this edition of Gulf Insider – on the attractiveness of Bahrain as a MICE destination. Maybe it is worth thinking about why – beyond the economics of improving occupancy rates for the kingdom’s hotels and footfall for malls and the souq – MICE is actually good for Bahrain.

Why does MICE have a significant role to play in just about all of these areas? Because human capital is impacted in every way by MICE. Let’s look at just some of the reasons that MICE – as an abstract idea – adds value to us here in Bahrain. First, what is the most effective way of sharing knowledge and upgrading skills? Bahrain

Money & Business

is fortunate to have a workforce – both national and expatriate – that is generally young and talented. We do, however, sometimes work in a bit of a bubble, slightly removed from global leading practice. Conferences with international speakers are an excellent opportunity to refresh attitudes and learn about international leading

Conferences and events are a fantastic opportunity to network and to build business relationships.

practice, often at the same time as peers in other organisations. If there is sufficient interaction, global leading practice then becomes entrenched here as normal practice, helping to boost our national competitive advantage.

Secondly, MICE can be an extremely cost-effective way of incentivising employees. While there are many different ways of rewarding and recognising exceptional performance, they can generally be broadly categorised as either compensation or recognition incentives. Compensation incentives include pay rises, bonuses, profit sharing and stock options.

Recognition incentives can be as simple as thanking an employee for a job well done, announcing accomplishments in a public forum such as a company meeting, presenting employees with a certificate of achievement. Sending employees to a conference or an event is another way of recognising

exceptional performance – and rewards with that exceptional performance by (hopefully) giving them the tools they need to further improve and develop as a result of the leading practice they have been exposed to.

A third way Bahrain’s human capital benefits from MICE is that it gives high potential employees a very useful opportunity to raise their profile – and in a non-threatening environment.

Conferences and events are a fantastic opportunity to network and to build business relationships that – with due respect to social media – are very difficult to construct without face-toface connections. Those higher profiles of course work two ways – conferences can be a wonderful opportunity to target high-potential employees that you would like to recruit for your own organisation as well as for the competition to target your leaders in waiting! Meetings and even focus group discussions are also a wonderful opportunity to involve and empower non-traditional actors in the decisionmaking process.

I am sure that I am not alone in thinking that some of the exhibitions and conventions all over the world that I have attended over the 30 years I have worked in this industry have contributed massively to my career. The opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills has helped me to be better at what I do. The news earlier this week that the tender to build a new Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Sakhir – at a cost of BD79.1m – is an important sign of the importance that the government of Bahrain assigns to exhibitions and conventions. As Sakhir develops into a MICE destination in its own right, it is important to remember that MICE is not only an economic opportunity for the country.

MICE should also be a critical part of upgrading Bahrain’s human capital – perhaps the most important central theme of Bahrain’s Vision 2030.

Arpita Mhatre is a Director at Keypoint, a leading professional services firm with operations across the Middle East. Any opinions expressed in this article are her own.

Gulf Insider June 2019

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Business Society

Gulf Air hosted their Ramadan Ghabga at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain's Al Gazal Ballroom

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Gulf Insider June 2019

Payment International Enterprise (PIE) Annual Ghabga

News Roundup

Dubai police arrests expat beggar earning Dh100,000 per month

Bahrain: Doctor jailed as patient loses eyesight after medical error An ophthalmologist was sentenced to two months in jail after being convicted of committing a medical error that caused complete loss of vision to a female patient three years ago.

The doctor was found guilty of causing permanent disability to the victim and ordered him to pay BD50 to suspend the execution of the sentence. According to the statements, the victim was undergoing cataract surgery at the doctor’s centre.

“The son said the procedure was unusually lengthy and the doctor came out of the operation room informing them that some complications occurred and the patient needs to be taken to a retinal therapy specialist in Kuwait.”

Court files showed that the son rushed his mum to the said doctor, as she suffered severe bleeding in the eye.

In Kuwait, the victim and her son were informed that the doctor here had committed a serious medical error that completely damaged the patient’s retina and caused complete loss of vision in her eye.

The son informed the prosecutors that his mother underwent two urgent surgeries in Kuwait that cost over BD6,100 (KWD5,000).

The woman regained 20% of her vision after the second surgery. The son claimed that the defendant kicked him out of the centre when he demanded him to compensate for the cost of the surgeries.

The doctor, who was summoned after the son lodged a complaint against him, claimed during the interrogation that he had decided to perform the surgery after the same procedure was successfully done to the victim’s other eye, adding that he has been practicing ophthalmology in the Kingdom for around 40 years.

He told the interrogators that some complications occurred during the surgery because of “medical issues”.

The doctor also said he advised the patients’ relatives to take her to a specialist in Kuwait. The doctor added that he rejected the relatives’ demands of paying them the cost of the surgeries that were done in Kuwait.

A report issued by the Disciplinary Committee in the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) proved that the loss of vision was caused by a medical error committed by the doctor, who the authority said had violated medical norms in dealing with complications, which led to damaging the retina and causing her blindness.

The anti-begging campaign launched

by Dubai police revealed an expat beggar on visit visa, arrested in Dubai’s Al Quoz area earning whopping Dh100,000 in just a month.

“Most of the beggars come on visit visas and some are brought by tourist companies without proper background checks, “said, acting-director of police stations.

He added that if the beggar caught is found from a tourist company, the firm will be fined Dh2,000 and if it repeats the action, it will be blacklisted.

Talking about the newly-launched antibegging campaign, Brigadier Al Hashimi said that the drive is aimed at nabbing beggars and cracking down on begging during the holy month of Ramadan.

As part of the crackdown, security and civilian patrols will be carried out to combat begging, particularly in areas where beggars are concentrated, including markets, residential areas, Ramadan tents, places of worship and parking spots.

He added that apart from the expat beggar who was caught with Dh100,000, the police also recently arrested a woman who was begging, carrying a small child and a newborn baby.

He said that residents and people who are in dire need should contact charities and philanthropists who wouldn’t hesitate to help needy citizens holding resident visas.

Gulf Insider June 2019

39

Experts Reveal Life Secrets

Part 11

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!

Is Your Boss a Psychopath?

By Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

T

he debauchery-laden film by Martin Scorsese The Wolf of Wall Street is a prime example of financial corruption, excess, and corporate greed. Belfort’s story is also a tale of complete disregard for others, of careless spending, and of a raging drug and prostitute habit.

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Gulf Insider June 2019

His enormous success and affluence gave him the title “The Wolf of Wall Street.” But in 1994, the fairy tale ended, with Belfort being banned from the securities business for life, and being sent to jail for fraud and money laundering.

In cases like Belfort, it isn’t always easy to distinguish between corporate genius and psychopath. Frankly, it’s often a thin line that divides them. Some of these people rise to astonishing heights, but in the process they cause enormous damage. They can poison the workplace, putting the health of both their companies and staff at risk.

People who behave like this are what I call Seductive Operational Bullies (SOBs). Without going so far as to commit murder or arson, but unburdened by the pangs of conscience that moderate most people’s interactions with others, such people are “psychopaths lite.”

Outwardly normal, apparently successful and charming, their lack of empathy, shame, guilt, or remorse can have serious

interpersonal repercussions and destroy organizations. Their chameleon-like qualities mean they often reach top positions, especially in organizations that appreciate impression management, corporate gamesmanship, risk taking, domination, competitiveness, and assertiveness.

Seductive operational bullies are not blatantly violent or antisocial; their disturbing behavior is not so in your face. They can be hard to spot, due to their manipulative personalities; they are often “hidden in plain sight.” Indeed, many of the behaviors and qualities they exhibit, that indicate mental problems in other contexts, actually appear quite appropriate in senior executive positions.

Estimates vary, but perhaps 3.9 percent of corporate professionals could be described as having psychopathic tendencies, a figure considerably higher than is found in the general population.

Unfortunately, most people working for seductive operational bullies lack the knowledge and skills to effectively respond and deal with them. Either they don’t understand the cause of their problems, or they don’t know how to fight back. They are highly manipulative, discrediting others around them, deflecting the issue at hand when confronted. They will threaten and distort the facts. They are very talented at hiding their true motives, while making others look incompetent.

The only thing that counts for these people is to win. They prey on people’s emotional vulnerabilities.

So what can be done to prevent such people causing havoc? Ideally, organizations should fine-tune their recruitment procedures in order to avoid hiring them in the first place.

Scrutinize resumes for any anomalies and put the candidate through multiple interviews. Seductive operational bullies have a tendency to tell interviewers what they think they want to hear, and different interviewers can elicit different, sometimes contradictory, responses.

What if the psychopath is already on your staff? If you see talented people leaving a project or a company, that

Experts Reveal Life Secrets

IE: The Power of Intermittent Euphoria

S

low Living is the philosophy that encourages us to reclaim our time and consciously approach the way we live.

Slow living isn’t as much about pace as it is depth of experience – absorbing the full dimension of each moment and relationship. We notice more, feel more, and perhaps come to know ourselves more. We leave behind an existence led on autopilot.

IE. It likely makes you think of IF. That’s no mistake. Intermittent fasting, of course, is the occasional abstinence from food that allows the body to upregulate key metabolic and immunity related processes. It’s a kind of “reset” button for the body. The pattern parallels the likely conditions of our evolution. I think IE does something similar.

The famous psychologist Abraham Maslow called these moments “peak experiences.” Writer Diane Ackerman labels them “deep play.” Whatever the name, they’re experiences that take us beyond enjoyment, beyond flow into more formidable physical and emotional territory. In form, they can range dramatically (e.g. observing the

may be a sign. A red flag should also go up if there are glaring discrepancies between how direct reports and junior employees perceive an executive and how that executive’s peers or boss perceive him or her. Lower-level employees are often on the receiving end of a boss’s psychopathic behavior and usually spot a problem much sooner than senior management. It’s also important to encourage teamwork,

aurora borealis, climbing a taller and more challenging mountain, surfing an immense wave, spending time in a vastly different culture, creating music or art in an awe-inspiring landscape, witnessing a massive animal migration, volunteering in a natural disaster area, or scaling the side of a rocky cliff). In purpose, they challenge and move us in staggering ways. In effect, they change us. They reset us emotionally.

We go forward with a different vision of ourselves, our abilities, or the world around us.

Paul Pearsall, author of AWE: The Delights and Dangers of Our Eleventh Emotion, suggests awe has the power to enhance both our physical and mental health. Witnessing or pursuing something that brings us to the edge of our own experience can awaken us.

Pearsall explains that it “lifts us, not because it makes us feel good, but because it makes us feel.” Through risk or awe, IE is ultimately about experiencing life as the grand and precarious force it is.

From an evolutionary perspective, IE dovetails with the uncertain existence of our ancestors. They lived with threat the way few of us do today. Evolution rewarded a measure of risk-taking, which motivated everything from big game hunting to global migration. A transcendental sense of connection and awe would’ve bound people together in powerful ways. Grappling with or encountering a force larger than ourselves, we learn respect. We gain an educating, stabilizing, even comforting sense of humility.

Beside the physical exercise inherent to many IE activities, there’s the uniquely rewarding adrenaline as that’s something that psychopaths don’t feel comfortable with; they’ll look for the door. And take steps to develop a corporate culture in which junior employees are able to express concerns about their colleagues and superiors without fear of reprisal.

Finally, if you are so unfortunate as to have a psychopath as your boss, recognize that you are unlikely to be able to get him or her to change. The

rush to be had in so-called “extreme sports” as well as other activities that vigorously test more emotional and creative capacities. Yet, the draw is more than the adrenaline cascade. It’s often the discipline, the challenge to one’s self, the connection with nature and perhaps with others.

In studies conducted by researchers from Stanford and the University of Minnesota, subjects who experienced awe during the experiments showed more patience and less materialism.

They literally felt they possessed more time and were more motivated to help others with their time. Feelings of awe, the researchers suggest, enhance our experience of the present and even alters or slows our perception of time itself.

Then there’s the effects euphoric experiences can have on the big picture of our lives. IE has the power to psychologically fortify us. As research confirms, it builds our personal resilience. We create a reserve of joy, of rejuvenation, of perspective with which to bounce back from adversity. When we let it, IE can sensitize us to the wonders – both joyful and fearsome – in our daily existence. It can also inspire us to offer more energy, creativity, and novelty to our relationships. Having expanded our personal dimensions, we bring more vigor and vitality to life.

When we test ourselves, we connect with what is most essential in our humanity. As Diane Ackerman puts it, “Where there is no risk, the emotional terrain is flat and unyielding, and, despite all its dimensions, valleys, pinnacles, and detours, life will seem to have none of its magnificent geography, only a length.” best course is not to stick around but to cut your losses, and move on.

Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries is the Distinguished Professor of Leadership Development and Organizational Change at INSEAD in France, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi. His most recent book is The Hedgehog Effect: The Secrets of Building High Performance Teams (Wiley, 2011) Gulf Insider June 2019

41

People & Culture

Get Your

Hands Dirty!

Gulf Insider explores the mind of the artists behind the ‘Dirty Hands Crew’.

D

id you study art formally?

Tell us about your education and training.

Kojak: Some of us did but most of us didn’t. I, personally did not study art formally, I’m a self taught artist who grew up in an environment where hip hop, graffiti, and break dance were a big part of everyday life and I fell in love with it. I started practicing and sketching on paper until I developed my own style and then started painting on walls.

Tell us more about your collaboration, how did it come about?

Kojak: We all knew each other prior to becoming a crew, some of us were close friends even. I always wanted for us to team up and collaborate specially

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Gulf Insider June 2019

We always got splashes of paint on our hands, even when we thought it’s all gone! since we each have a unique style that matches perfectly with each others styles. I called them up and they all loved the idea and were so positive and excited of working together and its been a delight working as a crew since then.

Marylou: Our collaboration is about sharing, love and passion of art. We were initially friends and meet many

times saying we have to work together because were lucky to share the same passion.

Mustafa: We were all friends to begin with and I have admired their work and dedication to their craft. I was waiting for the chance to collaborate on a project together and true enough, there came a project that gave us the freedom to paint together.

Sarah: I always wanted to work with Mustafa – he told me to push my travel tickets to do this awesome thing, and I met these awesome people. This is my all time favorite collaboration so far.

Arnaud: We saw each other doing a project in a different part of the island.

From there, we really wanted to work together and the magic just happened!

People & Culture

Can you describe your artistic process?

How do you know when an artwork is finished?

Arnaud: An artwork is never finished!

It’s like a song – you can always improve or modify it. One day you’ll do it jazzy and the next day you want it to sound more hardcore; it’s the same with cuisine. I believe that perfection doesn’t exist!

Why ‘Dirty Hands Crew’? What’s the inspiration behind this?

Marylou: We initially joked about never having clean hands throughout the week! We always got splashes of paint on our hands, even when we thought it’s all gone! However, it came as a nice metaphor as each one of us being the five fingers of the hand, bound together!

Mustafa: It all depends on the project really. It’s different all the time. At times, it’s a very straight forward approach so I sketch, fill and detail.

Other times, it’s all about improvising and letting the artwork evolve as it pleases.

Which part of Bahrain is your favourite and why?

Kojak: I would have to say that Bahrain’s charm is in its people. I was so impressed with the amount of support and positive feedback we received from everyone here! People are so welcoming to new things and are very acceptant of other cultures, its amazes me.

Sarah: In my opinion, locations in Bahrain are not as important as its people. Honestly, it is the people you meet and have a connection with that is my favorite part of Bahrain.

Dirty Hands Crew is composed of five talented artists: Kojak, Marylou, Mustapha, Arnaud and Sarah. @dirty.hands.crew Gulf Insider June 2019

43

News Roundup

Kuwait inaugurates one of the world’s longest causeways.

Kuwait plans to introduce 5% tax on expat remittances Kuwait is in talks to introduce a 5% tax on expat remittances, according to several media reports.

A member of parliament (MP) has started collecting signatures in a bid to table a motion on the issue before the National Assembly, according to a report by the Kuwait Times.

The proposal is aiming to implement the 5% tax on expat remittances of over 500 Kuwait dinars ($1,640).

Kuwait’s Central Bank and Finance Ministry have opposed similar proposals in the past.

It was earlier reported that remittances sent home by expatriates in Kuwait rose 3.5% in the first quarter of 2018, to around $3.4 billion, according to figures from the Central Bank of Kuwait.

In 2017, total expat remittances from Kuwait fell 9.2% to 4.14 billion Kuwait Dinars ($13.69 billion), down from KD 4.56 billion ($15.08 billion) in 2016.

Kuwait has inaugurated one of the world’s longest causeways, linking the oil-rich Gulf state’s capital to an uninhabited border region set to become a major free trade hub. The 36-kilometre bridge connects Kuwait City to the northern desert area of Subbiya, where Kuwait aims to create the “Silk City” project linking the Gulf to central Asia and Europe.

The “Jaber” bridge, named after late ruler Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah, spans 36 kilometres, three-quarters of it over water.

It cuts the driving time between Kuwait City and Subbiya, close to both Iraq and Iran, from 90 minutes to less than half an hour. Investment in the Silk City project is expected to top $100 billion, and a 5,000-megawatt power plant has already been built in Subbiya.

The $3.6 billion causeway, designed by Paris-based engineering and consulting group Systra, took five years to build. The work was carried out by a consortium led by South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co. along with Kuwait’s Combined Group Contracting Co.

Kuwait bans recruitment of expat workers from 20 countries The Kuwaiti General Directorate of Residence Affairs recently announced a ban on the recruitment of domestic workers from five African countries which increase the list to 20 countries in total.

According to the local media sources, the Kuwaiti ministry of foreign affairs issued a circular mentioning the names of the 5 countries, which include Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Bhutan, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.

Additionally, the other 15 African countries are Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Togo, Senegal, Malawi, Chad, Sierra Leone, Niger, Tanzania, the Gambia, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Madagascar.

The circular also included five other African countries whose domestic workers faced a temporary ban, including Cameroon, the Congo, Burundi, Eritrea and Liberia.

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Gulf Insider June 2019

CAR News

& reviews

Volvo S90

Ferrari

Mercedes GLE 450

Dodge Challenger R/T

Car Bahrain

Volvo S90 Sweden’s alternative to the big German luxury car.

T

he Volvo S90 is a luxury car that’s attractive on the eye, both inside and out. It could be said that it’s the Swedish alternative to the big German

luxury car.

Though priced to compete with the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series, its length actually makes it more resemble the Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series in size and rear legroom, although the German cars offer bigger engine options.

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It’s not exactly a sporty car, but has more than enough go to get you anywhere you want in Bahrain.

It’s not exactly a sporty car, but has more than enough go to get you anywhere you want in Bahrain. Being a Volvo, a brand famous for safety, there’s a wide array of features built in to keep you and your passengers protected from all manners of possible accidents and collisions, and all sorts of cool driver assistance features.

There’s also loads of space. The seats are extremely comfortable, and all materials used in the cabin are top

Car Bahrain

Safety features include forward collision warning and mitigation, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist, oncoming lane mitigation, a drowsy driver warning system, and a traffic sign reader.

Optional extras include parking assist, surround-view camera system, upgraded headlights and a head-up display, massaging front seats, and ventilated seats.

Prices for the Volvo S90 start from BD 19,900

Being a Volvo, a brand famous for safety, there’s a wide array of features built in to keep you and your passengers protected.

class. What the S90 lacks in heart-racing performance, it makes up for in highclass cabin comfort.

There are two engine options available in Bahrain. T5 models offer a front wheel drive turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (250 horsepower, 258 pound-feet of torque) paired with eight-speed auto transmission. Allwheel drive is optional on T5 models.

The T6 is both supercharged and turbocharged (316 hp, 295 lb-ft) and comes with all-wheel drive.

Standard features include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, rear parking sensors, keyless entry and ignition, selectable drive modes, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, driver-seat memory functions, power-folding rear headrests, virtual instrument panel, 9-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 10-speaker audio system with satellite radio.

For more information or to book a test drive, visit Motorcity showrooms in Sitra or call 1773 6222 or visit www.motorcity.com.bh

Alternative options:

Audi A6 Starting Price: BD 26,480

BMW 5 Series Starting Price: : BD 18,995 Gulf Insider June 2019

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Car Bahrain

Mercedes GLE 450 Gulf Insider’s first impressions of Mercedes latest SUV

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icking up this Mercedes from the Al Hadad dealership on the morning of the test drive put me in a good mood –The GLE is a handsome looking vehicle, a big and spacious luxury SUV. I was curious to see if it would be a much fun to drive as it looked it would.

First impressions when sitting inside were also positive. The cabin is luxurious without trying. Everything is practical and of high quality - polished and elegant. All the buttons are solid and intuitive. Illumination lines in the cabin change colour if you wish. I experienced pink, purple, and blue (my favorite).

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Ideal family vehicle offers comfort, space, performance, and of course prestige.

The infotainment system comes with an optional full-color heads-up display, and a system called MBUX Interior Assistant is also enabled to act on your commands – just say “hey Mercedes” followed by your instructions.

Okay, so this didn’t exactly work out so great. When being initially shown the vehicle I said “hey Mercedes, change the cabin colour to blue” it could neither understand me nor the person from Al Hadad handing over the car. We both tried without success, causing us both to fall into fits of laughter. I tried it again later to play the radio but it still didn’t understand me, so I gave up. I know the system works but there was obviously something that needed ‘tweaking’ in the vehicle I had.

Driving was enjoyable. This is no sports car, but it has plenty of power with a smooth nine-speed transmission and a 3 liter 362-horsepower engine. It

Car Bahrain

enjoyed the GLE. It’s so much nicer sitting in a luxury SUV with high ground clearance than being in an average salon.

Not only the front seats, but also the second row of seats are electrically adjustable, and a third seat row is now available on request. The rear is thoughtfully designed to provide maximum spaciousness.

The impression I got from driving this Mercedes GLE is that it’s an ideal family vehicle. It offers comfort, space, performance, and being a Mercedes of course it offers plenty of prestige as well.

Starting price in Bahrain is BD31,995.

It also has a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds.

To arrange a test drive in Bahrain call Al Haddad Motors on +973 1778 5454

Alternative options:

will do zero-to-100 kph in a respectable 5.5 seconds. It also has a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, which for those with a boat they need to haul will be very useful.

The steering is precise and responsive. There are all sorts of driverassistance systems such as active braking, active lane chance assist, and blind-spot assist increase the level of active safety.

Even in Bahrain’s heavy traffic I

BMW X5 Starting Price: BD 28,995

Audi Q7 Starting Price: : BD 27,951 Gulf Insider June 2019

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Car Bahrain

American V8 Muscle Legend

Charlie Cooksey spends 3 days with the latest generation of an iconic American muscle car - Dodge Challenger R/T.

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his was my first experience of driving an American muscle car and from the moment I looked at it… then got in it… and then drove it, I realized that this is not a normal car. It’s special.

Muscle car is an American term for high-performance cars, usually rearwheel drive and fitted with a large and powerful V8 engine. They have a

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reputation for not being practical, but this is the most sensible Challenger to-date. Compared to its main rival, the Ford Mustang, it has far more room, including spacious rear seats, and there’s more space in the boot.

The Dodge Challenger comes in various options...

SXT - The entry SXT model is a 305hp 3.6 liter V6 all-wheel-drive.

GT - The GT uses the same engine but has wider wheels, upgraded brakes, a hood scoop, rear parking sensors, remote ignition, sport suspension and steering, sporty front seats, sport steering wheel with shift buttons, and performance-related in-car apps.

R/T - Or you can opt for the rearwheel-drive R/T with a 375-hp 5.7 liter which is the model I drove and

Car Bahrain

Muscle car is an American term for high-performance cars, usually rearwheel drive and fitted with a large and powerful V8 engine.

experienced over the 3 days. You further get upgraded brakes, a limited-slip differential, and active sport exhaust.

SRT - The SRT is a 485-hp 6.4 liter

V-8 monster with the most powerful engine in its class. It has launch control, a line lock for drag strip burnouts, Brembo performance brakes, higherperformance sport-tuned suspension, configurable driving modes, rear spoiler, and additional performance-related incar apps.

HELLCAT & DEMON - And if that’s STILL not enough power there’s the insane 6.2 liter supercharged 717hp, 650 lb-ft Hellcat and 840hp Demon (recently discontinued but still available) both more powerful than Supercars costing multiple times their price.

The R/T model I drove had loads of power, so I can only imagine what it feels like to drive the Hellcat or Demon.

Put this car into Sport Mode and it’s even more fun to drive – and the sound from the exhaust is monstrous in the nicest way possible. I liked the Challenger more every day I had it.

This car is a comfortable and it has big front seats. There’s an excellent 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – Uconnect is possibly my favorite in-car connectivity system in the industry right now, it’s so user friendly and easy to navigate. Rear visibility is not particularly good and its size can make it a bit tricky to maneuver in tight corners as I discovered when driving it in and out of the car park where I live. But the sound of the growling V8 vibrating within my underground car park was somehow deeply satisfying.

There’s also a long list of all sorts of options and extras available so you can customize your Challenger and make it unique in Bahrain.

Dodge Challenger starting prices: SXT - BD 12,555 R/T - BD 17,999

To arrange a test drive in Bahrain call the Behbehani Brothers Dodge Showroom +973 1745 9955

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Car Bahrain

New McLaren GT

debuts in the Kingdom of Bahrain

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cLaren Automotive, the British creator of luxury, high-performance sportscars and supercars, has revealed the new McLaren GT at an exclusive event held in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The new McLaren GT, a fourth model launched under the company’s Track25 business plan, challenges the conventions of the Grand Tourer category with a compelling blend of beautiful design, high-quality innovative materials, true supercar performance and McLaren driving dynamics and engagement.

Positioned alongside the established Sports, Super and Ultimate Series families, this is a new McLaren for a new audience and provides an alternative to existing products in an expanding market segment.

The new McLaren GT features a core carbon fibre structure that possesses exceptional strength and rigidity while enabling unparalleled driving dynamics

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and lightest-in-class kerbweight.

At as little as 1,530kg (DIN), the McLaren GT is more than 130kg lighter than its heaviest competitor and with 620PS from its 4.0-litre, twinturbocharged V8 engine, the power-toweight ratio is a remarkable 405PS-pertonne. Torque of 630Nm is produced between 5,500rpm and 6,500rpm, with more than 95% of this available from 3,000rpm to 7,250rpm. The new engine is mated to a 7-speed SSG transmission to deliver linear, seamless and relentless acceleration.

The bespoke MonoCell II-T carbon fibre monocoque also incorporates a carbon fibre rear upper structure, which allows the creation of a 420-litre luggage area below the front-hinged, full-length glazed tailgate. The tailgate has a softclose function as standard and can be optioned as electrically powered. The resulting storage capacity allows for a golf bag, as well as luggage to be carried with ease, while a further 150 litres of storage at the front means that

the new McLaren GT can accommodate a total of 570 litres.

Technology and modern craftsmanship share equal prominence in the car, with the finest highquality materials, complemented by the company’s most sophisticated infotainment system to date. It is among the fastest-operating in any car, and features real-time traffic information accessible through the seven-inch central touchscreen.

As it befits a Grand Tourer, ambient refinement was a priority for the new McLaren GT from the outset. Its 10-degree approach angle allows the car to cope with the most aggressive traffic calming measures and speedbumps. In combination with underbody clearance of 110mm (130mm) with vehicle lift, this ensures the vehicle is usable in all urban situations, not only it is competitive with all rivals, but in ‘lift’ mode it is the equal of mainstream sedans.

Car Bahrain

Motorcity Wins

Award from China’s Top Machinery Equipment Manufacturer

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otorcity, the exclusive distributor of a wide range of commercial and passenger vehicle brands in Bahrain, has received a dealer appreciation award from China’s top construction machinery & equipment manufacturer; Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co. Ltd. (XCMG).

The award was presented to Mr. Waleed Kanoo, Motorcity Chairman by officials from XCMG at the Capital Club in Manama in the presence of the Ambassador of Republic of China to Bahrain.

XCMG ranks number one in China and number six globally in the construction machinery industry, and ranked second place in the International Construction’s

Yellow table ‘2018 List of Global Top 10 Crane Manufacturers’.

Motorcity chairman Mr. Waleed Kanoo stated, “Motorcity has worked hard to establish itself as a leading commercial and passenger vehicle retailer .“ With an annual export value of over $1.6 billion, XCMG has successfully implemented its ambitious ‘Going Global’ strategy seeing its products sold by 300 global distributors in more than 170 countries and regions.

XCMG currently has 2,156 valid registered patents, including 164 patents of invention, and has developed more than 100 domestically manufactured products. Technological innovation has become XCMG’s key to unlocking global markets.

Al Haddad Motors

Wins Annual Mercedes-Benz Overseas Super League Performance for 2018 (Regional) • MBCME Most Reliable Monthly Forecast for 2018 (Regional) • MBCME Customer Services Conference Dealer Retail Standard Fulfilment award for 2018 (Regional) • MBCME Customer Services Conference Best Planning and Forecasting award for 2018 (Regional)

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l Haddad Motors won the second place in the Mercedes-Benz GD Awards 2018 for Sales and Customer Services Super League among 54 contenders, based on their performances throughout 2018.

The award was presented to Ms. Deema Al Haddad, Al Haddad Motors’ Deputy Chairman and Head of HR, and Mr. Warren Hudson, the Al Haddad

Motors General Manager.

Al Haddad Motors received the following awards received in 2018: • Mercedes-Benz Cars Overseas Region award for outstanding performance (International) • MBCME Best Pre-owned Sales Performance for 2018 (Regional) • MBCME Best Target Agreement Achievement for 2018 (Regional) • MBCME Best Corporate Sales

These awards are an indication of the Al Haddad Motors’ vision to maintaining their leading position in the automotive industry in the Kingdom of Bahrain as well as to becoming the benchmark Mercedes-Benz distributor in the region.

Despite the market going down by 28% year to date in 2019, Al Haddad Motors sales division were still able to increase their market share by 7.2% to 19.7% on the previous year.

For more information, call on +973 1778 5454 Gulf Insider June 2019

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Car Bahrain

A Tale of Two Extremes The Ferrari Portofino and 812 Superfast put through their paces across the UAE by Hugh Haskell-Thomas

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nce or twice a year, motoring journalists receive ‘that call’, totally unexpected, but ever wished for. It is Thursday morning, the phone rings “We would like to invite you to fly to Dubai next Tuesday to spend a day and 350km each with a Ferrari Portofino and a Ferrari 812 Superfast…..” before the phone call ends, the passport and licence have been sent, the calendar has been cleared, the flight selected and the adrenaline level has doubled! To have the opportunity to spend 48 hours with both ends of the current Ferrari line-up is exceptional and quite rare.

The first day delivers the Portofino.

This car is the long term money maker in the range, replacing the California and California T. As the entry level to their range it is designed to be many lucky people’s first Ferrari and deliver the company its largest selling model over the next 4-5 years. As I write this,

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The Portofino is powered by a 3.9-litre, twin-turbo V8 that produces 591 BHP @ 7,500 rpm and peak torque of 760 Nm @ 3,000-5,250 rpm the success is already assured, the order books are full for almost 2 years ahead; quite an achievement straight out of the blocks. The Portofino is powered by a 3.9-litre, twin-turbo V8 that produces 591 BHP @ 7,500 rpm and peak torque of 760 Nm @ 3,000-5,250 rpm. The engine is paired with a 7-speed

dual-clutch transmission and weighs in at 1650kg, around 5% less than the California.

Being delivered the car in central Dubai, I decide to head up into the hills of Hatta, down onto the coast of Kalba and back into town for the grind of the evening traffic, allowing the car to reveal its behavior in most aspects of day-to-day motoring. It excelled. As the summer has not reached its peak, the roof had to come down, which happens in 14 seconds after pushing the button, transforming both its looks and the smile on my face. After an hour pushing through traffic, it has the chance to reveal its heritage, 0 to 100kph arrives in 3.5 seconds with 200kph arriving 7 seconds later; it’s quick, exhilarating to drive and the noise from the exhaust belies the twin turbos that provide the propulsion.

It is certainly a step up from the California that it replaces, more aggressive and angular in its styling

Car Bahrain

and certainly sharper on the road. The electronics of the car, on or off, ensure that you don’t kill yourself, but for me, the only negative that I walked away with is that the steering feels a little ‘disconnected’ from the reality of what is happening underneath. However, it’s fun, it’s fast, it’s noisy and, with the 2+2 configuration and room for 3 flight cases, it’s practical; Great work from the Maranello team.

The second day delivers the other extreme, from the cheapest Ferrari in the range to the most expensive, the Ferrari 812 Superfast (around 60% more than the Portefino), in a beautiful Red and Gold trim. No turbos, no softtop, less weight, but more luggage space, four more cylinders and, most importantly, 200 more horsepower!

There can be only one place to go in UAE with a car like this, Jebel Jais mountain. 120 bends in 12km with a 2,000m climb, in a car with almost 800 brake horsepower, performance delivering 0-100kph in 2.8 seconds, 200kph in 7.9 and over 90 decibels of glorious soundtrack from the exhaust at almost 9,000rpm from 12 naturally aspirated cylinders; the stuff of dreams!

The editor asked me for 400 words on each car, on the Portefino, I could easily have written double that, on the 812 Superfast, it’s hard to get beyond two “Simply, Amazing”! The naturally aspirated engine is the most powerful of any production car ever built, delivering smiles and thrills all day long, whether in traffic or drifting the tail out on a mountain pass, it is perfection.

The antithesis of the Portefino, this car is raucous, brutal and sometimes

It’s not a car for the faint hearted, it just never stops pulling… and howling unnerving; it’s not a car for the faint hearted, it just never stops pulling… and howling [grin].

With most (not all) systems off, it tore up the road in the mountains!

With the 812 the Ferrari engineers have taken the outgoing F12 and produced, in this writers opinion, a better car, maybe even the best, noisiest, fastest and possibly, with all the restrictions clamping down on the motoring industry, the last (we hope not) of this segment of the car market. Now I’ve

started writing, I could go on…. but the red pen will be out, so we have to leave it there and wait for a track day (please Ferrari!) for the chance to write more.

The only thing I would change on this car, would be its name, Superfast… come on marketing team, how about 812 VEF, Veloce e Forte; Fast and Loud!

So, two days covering over 700km in these two stallions from the Maranello stable, provided two extremes of motoring, from a great city and touring car, to a continent crossing, racetrack demolishing GT; a privilege. Which would you choose? If it is the Portefino, get your order in quickly, as it’s already the fastest selling Ferrari, ever. My choice, I think you can guess!

For more information please contact Euromotors on +973 17 734 734.

Gulf Insider June 2019

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Business Society

Euro Motors Rolls-Royce hosted a media Suhoor at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay

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E.K. Kanoo hosted their Chery Family Day at Marassi Beach with games, live music and more

Car Bahrain

Rolls-Royce Unveils Wraith Eagle VIII Collection

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olls-Royce Motor Cars unveiled its latest Collection Car, Wraith Eagle VIII, on the shores of Lake Como at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. Created by the Bespoke Collective at the House of Rolls-Royce, a Collection of just 50 Wraith Eagle VIII motor cars will tell the epic tale of one of the most pivotal moments of the 20th century.

Captain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Brown braved uncharted skies to make the first non-stop transatlantic flight in June, 1919. Contemporaries of Sir Henry Royce, Alcock and Brown flew non-stop from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Clifden, Ireland in a modified First World War Vickers Vimy bomber aircraft.

The bi-plane was powered by twin 20.3 litre, 350 bhp, Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII

engines. Rolls-Royce marks the 100 year anniversary of this feat with a highly contemporary Collection that takes its name from the remarkable engine.

The exterior of the Wraith Eagle VIII Collection Car is evocative of Alcock and Brown’s compelling night time adventure. Swathed in Gunmetal with a Selby Grey upper two-tone, the colours are separated by a brass feature line, a hint at the detailing that lies within.

The black grille vanes draw immediate reference to the Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engine cowling on the Vickers Vimy aircraft, the wheels are part polished with a translucent shadow finish.

Within, the finely executed interior mirrors the exterior hue. Selby Grey and black leather are accented by brass, redolent of the brass sextant so integral to the success of the

transatlantic journey. Executed in a contemporary fashion, the material populates key areas throughout the cockpit of the Collection. Brass speaker covers depict the estimated flight distance of 1,880 miles and ‘RR’ monograms are embroidered in brass coloured thread onto headrests. A flash of brass complements the navigator door paniers, whilst the door of the driver includes a brass plaque with Churchill’s quote commending the duo’s remarkable achievements.

Perhaps the most alluring feature of the Collection is the extraordinary unique starlight headliner. 1,183 starlight fibres show the celestial arrangement at the time of the flight in 1919, the flight path and constellations are embroidered in brass thread, whilst the exact moment the pair left the cloud to navigate by the stars is indicated by a red fibre optic light. Clouds are embroidered and a plaque reading, “The celestial arrangement at the halfway point 00:17am June 15th 1919, 50” 07’ Latitude North – 31” Longitude West” shows the half-way point of the momentous journey.

Just 50 of these highly collectable motor cars will be created for discerning collectors at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex – a Centre of Global Luxury Manufacturing Excellence.

Gulf Insider June 2019

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Last Word

Leading Bahraini Merchant( in white robes) appraising pearl with a pearl expert in March 1911

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All new Careem Ride Packages are here Bahrain’s most convenient ride service just got more affordable! Buy a Ride Package and enjoy guaranteed savings on your rides!