Gulf Insider - June 2021

Bahrain BD2 | KSA SR20 | Kuwait KD1.75 | Oman RO2 | Qatar QR20 | UAE DHS20

The multi-award winning Arabian Magazine

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

JUNE 2021 | ISSUE 192

Complimentary Copy

Stepping Towards Success

WWW.GULF-INSIDER.COM

Social Media is changing business

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING CORPORATE BRANDING GRAPHICS AND WEB DESIGN CONTRACT PUBLISHING ARABIC TRANSLATION PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Most businesses in Bahrain lack advanced digital and social media marketing skills to expertly manage a successful digital strategy, so missing major opportunities they don’t even realize.

The good news is we can inexpensively create an effective digital strategy for your business, and manage it for you, for less than the salary of an employee - freeing you to run your business. We also build beautiful websites optimized to generate income for businesses, and provide online services including SEO, design, e-commerce, photography and video production.

For a FREE evaluation of your businesses digital marketing needs. call +973 36 188 100 | 1700 4575

Gulf Financial Insider

Contents June 2021 Issue 192

06 18 Simply unparalleled online presence that connects region’s most inspired communities.

06 12 14 16 18 20 22

Stepping towards Success - AUBH How To Study Smarter, Not Longer 5 Reasons Why Al Naseem is an Ideal Home Location An Elite Summer Escape - Elite Hospitality Group Car Reivew - Good Things Come in Small Packages Car Reivew - A Luxurious Piece Of Art Car Reivew - In with the New

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Publisher & Editor in Chief

Nicholas C. Cooksey

Comment...

Editorial

Angela Acosta Elyzabeth Ramirez

Editorial Contributors

Nicholas Cortes

Sales & Business Development

Charlie Cooksey

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Layout Designs

Dhanraj S

Admin & Finance

Nikesh Pola

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

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.

Bahrain BD2 | KSA SR20 | Kuwait KD1.75 | Oman RO2 | Qatar QR20 | UAE DHS20

Complimentary Copy

The multi-award winning Arabian Magazine

Here's last month's most 'Liked' #PhotooftheDay picture posted to our social media. Photo by:@asims_gallery

JUNE 2021 | ISSUE 192

WWW.GULF-INSIDER.COM

Bahrain Bd2 | KSA sr20 | Kuwait Kd1.75 | Oman ro2 | Qatar Qr20 | UAE dHs20

The multi-award winning Arabian Magazine

Complimentary Copy

Send us your own photo – it could be featured next!

MArch 2021 | ISSUE 189

www.Gulf-Insider.com

www.Gulf-InsIder.com

Inbox

Follow @Gulf Insider A few of our social media posts from last month. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page!

FANS

465,300 Highlighted Posts:

FOLLOWERS

Blue Tick Verified

18.5k

3,203

360

51,273

3,124

311

@GulfInsider

people reached

reactions, comments & shares

people reached

/GulfInsider

people reached

Follow us on

@GulfInsider

reactions, comments & shares

2,142

Highlighted Posts:

275,280

people reached

FOLLOWERS

Gulf Insider June 2021

5

People & Culture

STEPPING TOWARDS SUCCESS Gulf Insider talks to Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, the new Provost at the American University of Bahrain, on joining AUBH, achieving eligibility to seek U.S. regional accreditation, plans for the rest of the academic year, and vision for the years to come.

6

Gulf Insider June 2021

People & Culture

We have recently achieved the eligibility to proceed with an Application for Accreditation with the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

Y

ou joined AUBH after a 4-and-a-half-year tenure as CEO of Bahrain Polytechnic and 35-years experience in higher education. How will your expertise benefit AUBH? I am thrilled to join AUBH and the wide array of potentials I can see within the University. During my years of experience in higher education, I have worked with numerous practical institutions to better understand and analyze the need of the marketplace.

Being connected to the industry is crucial to support AUBH in developing a caliber of graduates with world-class education who possess the essential skillsets required to thrive in the practical environment. This will in turn drive the growth of the Kingdom’s economy.

Being familiar with the local market for more than 4 years has helped me build a network of people across different sectors. I have developed relations with employers looking for fresh graduates who hold a unique

value proposition. Employers now look for highly qualified graduates who are able to work independently as well as in a team, with critical thinking abilities and problem-solving skills, and an ability to thrive in a diverse cultural environment.

Bringing all of this together, alongside the wide potentials that I can see in the AUBH environment, I can highlight the unique proposition AUBH can offer that will in turn help seek significant growth in the coming years.

I know Bahrain very well from my time here, I get the lay of the land from the higher education standpoint and I can see the unique value proposition that it can offer to bring the worldclass American-style education both to Bahrain and the region. I have great hope and confidence that AUBH will grow significantly in student numbers in the years to come, and in the kinds of programs that we offer; again, to meet the needs of tomorrow’s marketplace.

We will see the awareness of the value of AUBH grow year over year with the success of our students and alternatively our graduates.

Gulf Insider June 2021

7

People & Culture

How are you leading AUBH in seeking U.S. regional accreditation?

We have recently achieved the eligibility to proceed with an Application for Accreditation with the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). 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 the Kingdom. The University would also be among two other universities (both based in the UAE) to be accredited in the MENA and GCC regions, and the sole ten Universities accredited

by WSCUC worldwide. U.S.-based universities accredited by the accreditor include Stanford University, University of California Berkeley, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and California State University, Northridge (CSUN).

Joining forces and working on the accreditation process, I recently appointed Dr. Wafa AlMansoori, AUBH Director of Institutional Research and Assessment, as AUBH’s Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) who will invest efforts in this thrilling journey.

8

Gulf Insider June 2021

The connection to the world of work, industry, and our employers is critical, and we work very hard to build and maintain that strong network to assure quality at that level as well.

Positioning Bahrain as a regional hub for quality higher education being a part of our goals, we couldn’t be prouder to see that this accreditation process is placing Bahrain’s Higher Education landscape on the map with U.S. Regional accreditors. We are honored to have been commended by the panel on our approach to student support and success and to the COVID-19

pandemic through our “culture of care” philosophy, and our well-developed learning outcomes as well as our strategic planning with the student as the center of those efforts.”

We are approaching U.S. regional accreditation from two standpoints; firstly, we are engaged and have achieved eligibility in seeking accreditation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). We have moved formally to seek that accreditation going through the appropriate required process.

Secondly, we are 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. So, what we are establishing through this academic partnership is the opportunity for students at AUBH to begin their University journey here in Bahrain with access to a pathway option to continue their education with CSUN, which has a large portfolio of programs.

The advantage is that students at AUBH will be able to remain here with their families and avoid what can be extensive costs of living abroad for 4 years, but also take advantage of experiencing university abroad once they are ready to travel. This also demonstrates the caliber of our programs and the global educational passport we are working on creating for our students, which is an important asset in today’s rapidly evolving economies.

As new Provost, how do you ensure consistent quality standards and uphold academic integrity at AUBH? We are proud to be a part of the Elm Fund, under the Mumtalakat Holding portfolio, the latter of which being international, tremendously successful companies, perceived as top employers. That in itself highlights the quality foundations the University has been established with.

In terms of quality, seeking the U.S. regional accreditation is part of that process, WASC accredits universities like Stanford, UCLA, and Berkeley - this

People & Culture

My goal is to have our University stand out and demonstrate that value.

is the kind of quality we are aiming towards. As mentioned earlier, we have achieved the eligibility to proceed with an Application for Accreditation with WSCUC, yet the accreditation process ahead is very rigorous, you have to demonstrate that you have the capacity and all of the processes in place, policies, and procedures to be able to ensure that the high quality is maintained.

We also want to meet the expectations of our local bodies and that includes adhering to the expectations of the Higher Education Council.

Within that context, we are seeking accreditation with the Quality Assurance in Bahrain through the Bahrain Quality Assurance (BQA). In addition, we are in the process of getting our institution listed on the National Quality framework and ultimately will ensure that all of our programs and our institution have met all of the expectations of BQA. The other really important aspect of quality is to stay connected to the environment and by that, I mean the environment into which our students will graduate and that’s through having strong connections and dialogues with employers. The connection to the world

of work, industry, and our employers is critical, and we work very hard to build and maintain that strong network to assure quality at that level as well.

Do you have any big plans that students and faculty can look forward to this year?

Indeed, we do! We are excited at the prospect of being able to offer new programs in our Colleges of Engineering, Business & Management, and Architecture & Design.

Subject to HEC approval, we are 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. We are also introducing our 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.

It is going to be a busy year for us, but we have plans to grow the institution from where we are today.

We have a magnificent facility with all the amenities of a truly American-style

Gulf Insider June 2021

9

People & Culture

education, we have the capacity for about 4,000 students, and we know the only way to get there is to be able to offer an array of programs that are going to be exciting for students and relevant to the needs of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the region.

As part of our culture, we are expanding our efforts and making sure that we have as many scholarships as possible ensuring that AUBH is accessible to more students. For that purpose, we are working with our industry partners to secure businesssponsored scholarships so that many more students will be able to come in a financially supported way to AUBH. This is of course in addition to concluding the agreement with CSUN and creating those wonderful pathways for current students as well as students for the years to come.

What is your academic vision for the overall development of AUBH in the next 5 years?

I think what is important and is tied to the Mission of the organization and its plan at its inception is the true delivery of an authentic American-style education. This consists of recognition 10

Gulf Insider June 2021

as I have already talked about by accrediting bodies in the U.S. It includes a holistic campus experience for our students, which unfortunately, was momentarily paused with the COVID-19 pandemic.

As COVID-19 concludes, we will be able to get back to that focus on being able to offer that holistic American-style experience which is high-quality education, amazing facilities and amenities in the form of our gym, student common areas, a world-class library as well as ensuring that we introduce into our curriculum opportunities for practical learning in the workplace. This is why it is important for us in this coming year to focus on working with our industry partners to establish more internships, so that every student who comes to AUBH has the opportunity to go through their academic program and also land in a workplace environment to understand what the world is going to look like when they graduate.

My vision over the next 5 years is to raise awareness of the value of an American-style education and that includes a well-rounded education that introduces a breadth of courses that creates a critical thinking graduate who

understands the world around them, can deal with issues of diversity, as well as focused education in various disciplinary areas in their specific disciplines. This is of great value since employers are looking for graduates that are thinkers, have hard skills, but also know how to connect those skills to the world. The graduates need to be creative problem-solvers, as well and that’s how the general education requirements and that holistic education brings that forward. All of this can be tremendously valuable for the Kingdom of Bahrain and its people when you have that kind of graduate who is driving forward the businesses and the industries of the future. My goal is to have our University stand out and demonstrate that value.

A lot of that will come in the course of the next 5 years when people start to see the results, and the results are our graduates. We are just about to take our third intake which is the junior year and then we will have our seniors. So, within 2 years within that 5 years horizon, the local community and employers will be able to get a taste of the value of AUBH and the value of American-style education.

School search made easy...

People & Culture

HOW TO STUDY SMARTER,

NOT LONGER

F

or many people, studying means pouring yourself into your textbooks and notes for hours and hours only to end up stressed, exhausted, and with not much progress made.

The first step to studying smarter is to figure out how you learn.

Everybody is different and one person’s method may not be as effective for another.

Here we have listed down some tips on how to study smarter – which can be more time efficient, more effective, and reduces stress.

Write it down

Use mnemonics

Writing something down by hand increases memory retention as well as understanding. The act of writing was found to have cognitive benefits because writing letters – as opposed to typing down letters – activates more regions in the brain, telling it to process the information more deeply. It prompts you to think about what you are writing down and therefore helps you retain information more effectively.

The use of mnemonics is a memory technique used to help retain and recall information easily by associating new information with rhymes or rhythms. This memory-enhancing strategy uses visual or auditory clues and helps your brain better encode and recall important information. One example is ROY G. BIV for the colours of the rainbow.

12

Gulf Insider June 2021

People & Culture

Avoid multi-tasking Contrary to popular belief, multitasking does not improve efficiency, rather, research indicate that it negatively affects your results.

Focus on one task or subject at a time and avoid distractions such as social media, responding to texts, cooking while studying, etc. This increases the amount of time needed to learn material and decreases the quality of the learning.

Quiz yourself or have others quiz you Testing yourself allows you to get a better understanding on what

information you have successfully retained and what you need to study more. Taking a quiz forces your brain to retrieve data and retrieval aids retention.

It also enhances long-term retention more effectively than spending the equivalent amount of time repeatedly reading the information.

Read it out loud Reading out loud and hearing yourself speak helps your brain store information as a long-term memory. The dual act of speaking and hearing makes a word or statement more distinct in long-term memory and hence has a beneficial impact on memory.

Take breaks Studies have found that including breaks to your study routine can improve your focus and attention thus helping you retain information more effectively. It is important that the activities done during said break allows you to return refreshed and focused – such as stretching, light exercise, running a quick errand. Avoid napping, huge meals, and junk foods as these things can hinder your ability to stay attentive and concentrate.

Gulf Insider June 2021

13

People & Culture

5 REASONS WHY AL NASEEM IS AN IDEAL HOME LOCATION Al Naseem offers residents an all-in-one living experience with a lifestyle of convenience and luxury.

T

here’s no place like home.

Over the past year, working from home has become the norm for many, making this statement even more true. The need for a larger, more comfortable living space has become a greater necessity as homes have now also become workstations. Today, we are listing 5 reasons why you should consider Al Naseem, Diyar Al Muharraq.

1. Location Al Naseem is within walking distance from a 100-berth marina, leisure club including a swimming pool, exclusive movie theatre, fitness centre, and a social hub. It is also within walking distance from the community mosque, parks, tennis and squash courts, as well as the marina promenade with several restaurants and shopping options.

14

Gulf Insider June 2021

People & Culture

2. Nature-inspired 3-storey luxury villas

Al Naseem is a luxurious waterfront oasis right in the heart of Diyar Al Muharraq delivering a vacation feel to its residents.

With a combination of modern architecture and contemporary art, the four villa types at Al Naseem have distinct colour schemes seen throughout the day: morning (Sabaah), afternoon (Duha), evening (Aseel), and night (Layl).

The amiable, warm colours of Sabaah El-Nasayem (384 sqm) is inspired by the rays of the sun that beam through the windows in the morning.

The colorful and vibrant Duha ElNasayem (379 sqm) scheme represents an energetic, lively, active lifestyle.

The warm, afternoon schemed Aseel El-Nasayem (342 sqm) is characterized by its modern mixture of wooden and fabric elements, giving off a calm, serene atmosphere.

The Layl El-Nasayem (305 sqm) embraces darker and more effervescent colours, embodying the tranquil night.

Al Naseem villas have direct access to the canal, bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, option for a swimming pool, private boat dock, outdoor terrace, service area and rooftop terrace, 2-car

garage, and an option to install a lift.

3. Waterfront views Al Naseem is a luxurious waterfront oasis right in the heart of Diyar Al Muharraq delivering a vacation feel to its residents with the breath-taking views overlooking the inner and outer canals which flow throughout the area.

4. Leisure club and cinema Residents can immerse themselves in an extensive, vibrant community with an urban living experience at the Al Naseem Leisure Club. Surrounded by world-class amenities and premium facilities, the leisure club serves as a social hub where residents can experience quality recreation and entertainment.

5. Retail and Marina Promenade The scenic Retail and Marina Promenade brings retail, dining, and recreation together for an ultimate living experience. Al Naseem’s promenade overlooks the Marina and offers convenience to residents.

Gulf Insider June 2021

15

People & Culture

AN ELITE SUMMER ESCAPE Elite Hospitality Group welcomes guests with a special summer treat this year offering 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

16

Gulf Insider June 2021

leather interiors. The suites include a fully equipped modular kitchen, lavish 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.

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 Resort & SPA Hotel

Elite Grande Hotel

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

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

The hotel offers a combination of

People & Culture

The excellent food and service Elite is known for is now delivered to your doorstep.

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 for a relaxing atmosphere.

Each spacious suite, starting at BD55 net, 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 safe-deposit lockers.

The two-bedroom suite starts includes a breakfast meal for four persons.

Guests can further benefit from their special offers at the hotel gym and pool.

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 June 2021

17

Car Bahrain

GOOD THINGS COME IN

SMALL PACKAGES Gulf Insider drives the new Peugeot 208.

18

Gulf Insider June 2021

Car Bahrain

T

The 208 is powered by a 1.2 litre turbo engine coupled with a 6-speed automatic transmission that makes 130 hp and 230 Nm of torque.

his may be the smallest car I’ve driven in Bahrain. It has a great and “youthful” design – inside and out.

It has a cool and luxurious interior for a small car, using premium materials and all the latest technology.

There’s keyless entry, automatic folding side-mirrors, wireless phone charging, 3-D digital driver display, various choices of ambient lighting, the latest evolution of its trademark PEUGEOT I-Cockpit® 3D… and lots more.

The front seats hug your sides and are comfy, and there’s a huge glass roof (which doesn’t open). There’s not much room for rear passengers – three large adults sitting in the back would be a tight squeeze.

It’s small size, parking cameras, and good all-round visibility makes the 208 particularly easy to park.

The 208 is powered by a 1.2 litre turbo engine coupled with a 6-speed automatic transmission that makes 130 hp and 230 Nm of torque.

There are 3 driving modes and while driving around Manama in ‘Sport’, I found the car responsive and nippy – fun even. The new 208 comes in two trim levels; the entry level ‘Active’, and the top-of-the-range ‘GT’.

Active • • • •

16” alloy wheels LED auto headlamps PEUGEOT i-Cockpit. Layout 7-inch touchscreen (featuring Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™) • Cruise control + speed limiter • Rear sensors + Rear camera

GT • • • • • • • •

17” Alloy wheels Full LED auto headlamps Digital Cluster 10-inch HD touchscreen (featuring Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™) Navigation system Front sensors Lane Keep Assist Automatic emergency braking

The 208 is available in Bahrain from BD 7,995.

For more information, contact Motorcity on 17500900, visit https://bhr.peugeot. com/ or the Motorcity showroom in Sitra.

Follow Peugeot on Facebook and Instagram at @peugeotbahrain.

Gulf Insider June 2021

19

Car Bahrain

A LUXURIOUS PIECE OF ART Charlie Cooksey interviews Cesar Habib, Regional Director of Rolls-Royce Middle East & Africa.

R

olls-Royce as a brand is known to be the pinnacle of luxury. What is “luxury”, and what defines a luxury car?

I believe that luxury is not just a product. Luxury is a journey and a lifestyle that somebody has to experience. Every Rolls-Royce is a piece of art; from the engineering to the smallest of details and what makes Rolls-Royce luxurious is the Bespoke capabilities and service level it entails.

When a customer starts a journey with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, he becomes a member of our family.

How do the demands of Middle East clients differ from other clients?

Our clients are global citizens. With that said, they know what the trends

20

Gulf Insider June 2021

are globally. They are open minded, they are passionate about luxury, and more importantly, they like to share.

Our customers may differ in demographics, but their mindset and what they regard as important are the same: they want luxury and service.

They want to be proud of what they own. In short — there’s not a big difference. They’re very, very, similar.

Are there any defining characteristics that makes Rolls-Royce unique?

No two Rolls-Royces are the same – they may look similar from the outside but ultimately, it’s down to what the customer wants, specifically customized to their tastes and imagination. We fulfill the dreams of all our customers, as long as they are compliant to the law and the law of physics.

Are there any customizations that stand out to you?

Before coming to the Middle East, I was the head of Bespoke so I did some fascinating cars which I have to say, I fell in love with. However, there is one that stands out.

During the Geneva International Motor Show in 2018, I was approached by a customer who lived in Europe but originated from this region. He told me, “Cesar, I want to produce a car that’s going to stay in my family forever.

I want to incorporate in that car the birthdays of all my family members”. He didn’t want these details to be obvious, therefore, we came up with the theme of “hide and seek”.

Simply putting the data in the car would be very easy – but that isn’t RollsRoyce. So, I challenged my designers

Car Bahrain

I would say that the biggest challenge is fulfilling our customer’s dreams.

At Rolls-Royce, we strive for perfection which in itself is a great challenge.

to come up with something creative and apt for the customer’s preferences.

We incorporated their story into the car from its interior to the aesthetics, and the result was mind-blowing. This car cannot be replicated.

This was the kind of personalization I was talking about. This is what makes Rolls-Royce luxurious.

Take us through an average day as Regional Director.

I try to be early in the office around 8:15. From there, my day stretches into the evening. I try to give as much time to my team as they need and we collaborate and brainstorm together as well as with our customers.

Being a regional director is about passion and hard work. If you’re not

passionate about the job and the brand, you will not make it.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

I would say that the biggest challenge is fulfilling our customer’s dreams. At Rolls-Royce, we strive for perfection which in itself is a great challenge. Do we have stress? Yes. We are all humans.

Is it always in my control? No. But the worst thing that one can do is try to hide it. Be proactive and maintain your relationship with your customer.

Over time, I’ve learned that as long as you are open, transparent, trustworthy, and appreciative to your customers – you can fix the even biggest stress that you might face.

Gulf Insider June 2021

21

Car Bahrain

IN WITH THE NEW Gulf Insider interviews Dr. Manfred Braeunl, Chief Executive Officer of Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE, on Porsche Q1 sales performance and 2021 plans.

W

hat would you say are the main reasons behind your strongest Q1 results in 5 years?

Our excellent Q1 performance can be attributed to a range of factors. With our recently introduced new models, such as the all-electric Taycan as well as the latest Panamera, we have further enhanced our attractive product offering — the backbone of any strong company.

Following the easing of strict pandemic-related measures, we have noticed that buyer confidence is returning to the premium luxury car 22

Gulf Insider June 2021

market. Many people have come out of this difficult time with the desire to fulfil a life-long dream and enjoy life here and now. With our more than 70 years’ experience of building exclusive and high-quality sports cars, owning a Porsche is the dream for many people.

In addition, our importers have worked diligently during the past months focusing on the introduction of new measures to attract buyers and showcasing our expanding model range. All these factors combined saw us recording the best first quarter order intake in six years and the largest quarterly order bank since 2015.

Can you give us a breakdown of the models which sold the most and across what markets?

Of the 2,064 new car deliveries to Porsche customers in the GCC, the Levant, Africa and India, our mid-range SUV, the Macan, accounted for 35% of sales, closely followed by the Cayenne.

This showcases the popularity for spacious yet sporty cars across the region.

However, our two-door sports cars remain very popular. We saw an increased demand for our iconic 911 by more than 20% which enjoyed its best first quarter result since 2014. This

Car Bahrain

The latest Panamera variant has also been well received with an order bank that was five times larger than the corresponding period last year.

growth coupled with the continuously popular 718 range means that every fourth Porsche sold in Q1 was a twodoor sports car.

The latest Panamera variant has also been well received with an order bank that was five times larger than the corresponding period last year.

Your first all-electric vehicle – the Taycan – debuted across the region last year.

How well has it been received so far?

Verified by a strong retail performance and even more considerable order intake, our first all-electric car, the Taycan, has been received extremely

well across the region.

We now plan on expanding the range to cater for a wider target group.

Just a few weeks ago, we introduced the rear-wheel drive Taycan, the entry model to our EV offering. Soon, we will be launching the Taycan Cross Turismo with an enlarged rear luggage compartment and even more spacious interior.

Looking to the future, how do you expect the motor industry to change over the next 20 years?

We will continue to see drastic changes in the automotive industry over Gulf Insider June 2021

23

Car Bahrain

2020 saw us face one of our most difficult periods to date and I would be lying if I said the Covid-19 pandemic wasn’t a huge test for us.

24

Gulf Insider June 2021

the next years; the transformation has just begun. The focus on sustainability through electrification will continue to grow exponentially and is something that every car manufacturer will be focusing their energy on.

By 2025, around 50% of all Porsche vehicles sold across the globe will be an electric or hybrid drive, with the share growing to 80% by 2030.

But this is not all. Porsche has set itself an ambitious goal: in 2030, the company aims to have a CO2-neutral balance sheet across the entire value chain. As an additional element on the road to decarbonisation, our company is investing 20 million Euros in a new eFuel pilot plant in Chile.

Currently, the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup is in cooperation with ExxonMobil, testing the first iteration of a renewable racing fuel to gain valuable experiences to find pathways toward potential future consumer adoption.

Exciting times lie ahead as we continue to expand Porsche’s electrified presence and launch further innovative

measures to reduce our CO2 footprint across all aspect of the business.

What has been the greatest challenge Porsche has faced in recent times and how did the company address it?

2020 saw us face one of our most difficult periods to date and I would be lying if I said the Covid-19 pandemic wasn’t a huge test for us. It made us rethink the way we live, work and interconnect with one another. We got through it by creating a flexible and innovative approach across all areas of business and finding ways to steer our importers out of lockdowns successfully.

We have successfully manifested a corporate culture where flexibility and innovation are expected, change is accepted and flexible working systems have become the norm.

This is the kind of pioneering thinking that keeps us excited about what we expect will be a rewarding 2021.