Gulf Insider March 2019

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Contents March 2019 Issue 169

12 Lifestyle

52 Facebook Followers

387,512 Simply unparalleled online presence that connects region’s most inspired communities.

12 The Hublot Geneva Days Roadshow

Money & Business 16 Tamkeen 22 Keypoint

People & Culture

28 30 34

Careem ArtBab Royal Golf Club

Car Bahrain

50 52 54

Ferrari

‌and much, much more!

BMW 7 Series Volvo

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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

- Nikesh Pola

- Aneesh Mathew Photography

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Distribution Executive

- Mohammed Yousif

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

For Advertising Opportunities Call Charlie Cooksey

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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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BUILDING ONE GLOBAL ECOSYSTEM Leading the MoveMent

edX Labs

Bahrain’s Finest innovation & technology taking on Silicon valley

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Celebrating bahrain’s national Day exclusive : interview with the ambassadors in The Kingdom of Bahrain

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BUSINESS

F LY E R T EMPLA

TE

Lifestyle

The Hublot

Geneva Days Roadshow Bahrain Hublotistas and press discover Hublot’s latest watch collections.

H

ublot brings its Geneva Days Roadshow to Bahrain for the fourth consecutive year, to present its first novelties for 2019 celebrating the “Art of Fusion” with innovative materials in various shapes and colors. David Tedeschi, Regional Director Hublot Latin America & Caribbean, Middle East & Africa, and Dr. Abdul Qassim Shirazi, Managing Director of Bahrain Jewellery Centre, presented the new collection to Hublotistas and press members, and introduced the new Classic Fusion Bahrain Edition, an exclusive Titanium watch featuring the Bahrain emblem on the top of the cover and different iconic forts inside the cover which shields the red dial.

“We are happy to be back in Bahrain to share our latest watches with members of the press and with our collectors whom we are confident appreciate our novelties. We are also proud to present the new Classic

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Gulf Insider March 2019

Fusion Bahrain Edition which celebrates Bahrain through its color and images,” said David Tedeschi.

The stars of the collection are the new Classic Fusion Orlinski pieces: the Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph Orlinski Red Magic, released in a limited edition of 200 pieces, is vibrant with Hublot’s patented red ceramic, in the color of life and passion, evoking Richard Orlinski’s first Born Wild Crocodile sculpture.

The new Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski carves out a creation that is as sculptural as it is free. Its wide, three-dimensional slanted case in sapphire, King Gold or black ceramic unveils structured mechanics, displaying modernity in all of its facets.

With the energizing, luminous and brilliant Spirit of Big Bang Yellow Sapphire, the brand takes a new step in its colorimetric quest, marking a world first by inviting the radiance of the sun into its sapphire watches. Limited to 100 pieces, the watch takes you a little

bit closer to the sun.

Hublot dares to be different again, by setting for the first time ever on a watch, a baguette-cut version of the world’s most unique precious stone, the Paraíba Tourmaline. This new line comes in two variations: the Big Bang Unico Paraíba 45mm and Big Bang Paraíba One-Click 39mm, in white gold or King Gold, inviting you to dive into limpid waters through their blue sunray dial, bezels set with 48 baguette-cut and hundreds of brilliant-cut Paraíba Tourmalines, and turquoise blue alligator leather straps.

The Geneva Days 2019 Novelties Roadshow’s travels to Kuwait next, and its last stop will be in Beirut. This year is a celebration of The Art of Fusion in materials, and promises more innovation and world-firsts.

For more information: Hublot Boutique Moda Mall +973 1752 0080

fine mechanical watchmaking, from japan.

Trimatic symbolizes three Seiko inventions that ensure the highest levels of reliability and durability in its mechanical watches.

Events

Day & Night ArtBAB 2019

Middle East Oil Show

Martin Garrix Live

When: 6th - 10th March 2019 Where: Bahrain International

When: 19th March 2019 Where: Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre

When: 28th - 10th March 2019 Where: Bahrain International Circuit

Exhibition & Convention Centre ArtBAB, is Bahrain’s foremost contemporary art fair with the mission to attract leading international galleries to the Kingdom, so powering the expansion of the art market whilst facilitating the development of local Bahraini artists. ArtBAB is the bridge between Bahrain and the world, and the narrative of each fair will reflect this.

For more information: +973 1750 3080

Formula 1 When: 28th - 10th March 2019 Where: Bahrain International Circuit With BIC’s 2018-’19 season now officially underway, all eyes are already looking ahead to the biggest and most highly anticipated racing and entertainment event on the calendar: the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2019.

For more information: bahraingp.com

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Gulf Insider March 2019

This event is the most established showcasing of oil and gas products and services in the Middle East, attracting NOCs, IOCs and major operating companies. MEOS privileged to receive support from all 6 GCC National Oil Companies.

For more information: +973 1755 0033

DJ and record producer Martin Garrix will be performing live on 29 March 2019 of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Martin Garrix has risen to global stardom in pop as well as electronic circles. Dance music’s freshest talent has headlined festivals around the globe, founded a label and mentored other artists and won the number 1 spot in DJ Mag’s Top 100 three times in a row.

For more information: bahraingp.com

Money & Business

Tamkeen

helping to achieve Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 Over 45,000 businesses have received support from Tamkeen since its establishment.

T

he Kingdom of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 aims to develop the island’s private sector growth to meet the constantly changing needs of local, regional, and international markets’.

With this aim, Bahrain’s government is launching numerous development initiatives to achieve its economic goals and to make the kingdom attractive to foreign investors, while at the same time supporting Bahraini enterprises including startups and SMEs. Established in 2006, the Labour Fund Tamkeen has played a significant role in the Economic Vision’s aim. To date, Tamkeen has supported more than 183,000 individuals and more than 51,000 businesses through more than 339 programs.

One of the vital strengths of Tamkeen’s work is its focus on creating a sustainable impact. Tamkeen uses

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Gulf Insider March 2019

many forms of communication to gather essential feedback on the impact of its actions while monitoring the different market indicators of future trends, which could potentially lead to the emergence of new economic sectors.

Diversifying the economy is one of the major national priorities, and Tamkeen is helping to meet the growing needs of new sectors in the country.

Tamkeen has undergone a noticeable evolution in the support extended to the private sector and its resulting impact on the national economy. Over the last few years, Tamkeen served more than 25% of the Bahrainis currently employed in the private sector as part of programs aimed at training and wage support and increment. In 2018 alone, the program’s wage support category witnessed a 207% increase in the support amount given through it compared to the previous year.

Support for the Wage Increase

category amount increased by 86% and served more than 4,400 Bahraini employees, an increase of 192% compared to the previous year.

The training support category, meanwhile, jumped by 121% in the support amount in 2018 compared to 2017. Start-ups comprised 62.4% of the total number of enterprises served under the same program since its launch as part of the larger flagship Enterprise Support Program in 2016.

Start-ups also comprised around 56% of the total enterprises served by enterprise business development offerings since 2014.

Several of Tamkeen’s initiatives are designed to foster enterprises at all stages of growth, from start-ups to established businesses. Tamkeen’s support, from this perspective, is extended through three main support categories: grants, financing and investment. These categories

Money & Business

One of the vital strengths of Tamkeen’s work is its focus on creating a sustainable impact.

address key factors related to the growth and expansion of businesses while improving their ability to meet sustainability requirements to ensure a robust infrastructure and foundation for their operations.

Grants and financing facilities help these enterprises develop their business, but also the advisory services provide essential soft-skill knowledge towards managing the enterprises’ goals and encourages a talented workforce.

Creating these partnerships

UN Headquarters in New York.

The annual global event has previously been hosted by countries including the US, UK, UAE, China, Italy, Brazil and Russia. The event successfully brings together thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, policymakers and start-ups from over 170 countries to identify new ways of helping founders start and scale of the key international and strategic events, for which Bahrain has won the bid to host in 2019. The announcement of the successful bid was made at UN

encourage creativity and innovation and assist with the emergence of new business sectors that can boost the country’s economy, further attracting businesses from around the world and creating further job opportunities.

Attracting investors is one of Tamkeen’s objectives in line with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, as such investment means new opportunities for the Bahraini market by providing increased economic opportunities for Bahraini businesses to expand.

To date, Bahrain has proven to provide a unique entrepreneurial ecosystem which is based on the non-oil sector, as part of the national effort to increase the non-oil sector’s contribution to the national economy. The Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) is one of the key international and strategic events, for which Bahrain has won the bid to host in 2019. The announcement of the successful bid was made at

Headquarters in New York.

Bahrain also participated in Pitch@ Palace for the first time in 2018, with Bahraini contestants being nominated to the GGC round of Pitch@Palace in Abu Dhabi, and winning the People’s Choice Award of the International held in London.

As part of its participation in the GCC round of the competition, Bahrain has been selected to host Pitch@Palace GCC 0.2 in 2019.

The Pitch@Palace is one of the world’s leading initiatives that celebrate the entrepreneurship sector. It is known to encourage start-ups and provide entrepreneurs with a platform to develop their budding enterprises, all within an integrated interactive program that enables participants to benefit from an extensive network of expertise and support from local and international specialists.

Gulf Insider March 2019

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Money & Business

Tamkeen

5th Edition of Mashroo3i Youth Business Awards The Labour Fund “Tamkeen” announced the winning teams of the fifth edition of Mashroo3i Youth Business Awards.

M

The exhibition included a number of innovative projects that revealed the potential of the Bahraini youth.

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Gulf Insider March 2019

ashroo3i Youth Business Awards provides participants 18-30 years old with a national platform that highlights their business ideas and helps guide, train and support young entrepreneurs to start their business venture.

The 30 teams pitched their business ideas for the last time to the panel of judges who determined the winning teams which included ‘Telp’ in first place, ‘Newton’s Apple Learning Center’ in second place, and ‘Doctoric’ in third place. The winners will receive a number of prizes including: cash awards, an international training opportunity related to their business field for the first place winning team, and a sponsored incubation facility for the duration of one year for all 3 place winners.

“I would like to express my pride and admiration for the creative business ideas I have witnessed by the youth during the public exhibition.

The exhibition included a number of innovative projects that revealed the potential of the Bahraini youth, as these projects are able to compete at a global level, not just regionally or locally” commented Dr. Ebrahim Janahi.

“This competition, which aims to spread the entrepreneurial culture among the youth, highlights our efforts to support young entrepreneurs by setting up such programs that contribute to showcasing their projects and innovation within different sectors,” he added.

Money & Business

The public participated in casting their votes to their favorite teams during the exhibition, while the teams were being evaluated by the judging panel which consisted of: Mr. Fareed Bader, Chairman and Managing Director of Bader Group, Ms. Dalal Al Qais, General Manager of Retail Banking at Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB), Mr. Trey Goede, Head of Portfolio Management for Aramco Entrepreneurship Ventures (Wa’ed), and Mr. Paul Lalley, Head of Product at Brinc Batelco IoT Hub. The category awards were presented

to the outstanding teams in certain aspects with the support of a number of private sector companies including: FinTech Bay E-Business Award, Zain’s Student Entrepreneur Award, BIsB Social Innovation Award, EO’s People Choice Award, Brinc’s Marketing, Sales & Promotion Award, Flat6Labs Innovation Award, CH9 Business Model Award, Alwane Charismatic Entrepreneur of The Year, The Startup Factory Business Plan of the Year Award and Pro Sky Active Use of Social Media Award.

I would like to express my pride and admiration for the creative business ideas I have witnessed by the youth during the public exhibition.

Gulf Insider March 2019

19

News Roundup

Bahrain: Expat brutally beaten up in gang attack

Bahrain announces new employment programme prioritizing locals Bahrain has announced a new national employment programme which has been mainly designed to make citizens the first choice of employment in both the private and public sectors.

Key initiatives within the National Employment Program include: • Launching an awareness campaign to encourage citizens to register in the National Employment Programme • Amending the unemployment insurance draft law (78/2006) in order to increase compensation fees • Increasing fees associated with the Parallel Bahrainisation System and the Flexible Work Permit • Redesigning Tamkeen’s Training and Wage Support Programme Jameel bin Mohammed Humaidan, The Minister of Labour and Social Development said the fees associated with the Parallel Bahrainisation System has been increased from BD300 to BD500 ($793 to $1,322), while the flexible work permit registration fees will be increased from BD200 to BD500, with a recurring monthly payment worth BD30.

In a major move, the compensation fees paid to dismissed Bahraini employees has been hiked to a maximum of BD1000 from BD500 previously. Also, the compensation period has been extended from 6 to 9 months.

For New graduates: Tamkeen encourages companies to hire Bahrainis through the Wage Support Program, which contributes to the salaries of Bahrainis over the first three years of employment: 70% in the first year; 50 per cent in the second year; and 30% in the third year. Tamkeen’s contribution reaches up to BD500 per month Experienced employees: Through the Wage Support Program, Tamkeen allocates BD250 or 25 per cent of the salary for experienced Bahraini employees in the private sector, said the BNA report.

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Gulf Insider March 2019

An Indian expatriate was brutally beaten up by a gang near Alba complex in Askar.

The attack victim is identified as Jithendra Sharma, underwent treatment at Salmaniya Medical Complex after suffering injuries.

Sources said Mr Sharma was attacked in an open space near his accommodation facility. “He was on his way to buy groceries at a nearby supermarket when the attack happened,” Sources told that fights among illegal liquor selling gangs are common in the area, adding that Mr Sharma must have been attacked by m

Bahrain’s budget deficit down by 35% in 2018 Bahrain’s budget deficit dropped 35% in 2018 compared to a year earlier, the finance minister announed. Bahrain’s finances have been hit hard by a slump in oil prices in 2014.

Bahrain released a 33-page fiscal plan last year after signing an agreement with its Gulf neighbours to fix its debtburdened finances and abolish its budget deficit by 2022.

Results indicated that the total deficit for the fiscal year 2018 amounted to BD 874 million, marking a decrease of BD 462 million compared to the 2017 deficit which reached BD 1,336 million. The deficit reduction was the outcome of initiatives to restructure the general budget, which began since 2015, by reducing the levels of recurrent expenditure.

Money & Business

W

hether or not your business has a taxable turnover above BD5m, VAT is now a fact of life for all businesses in Bahrain. Businesses that have already gone live from 1 January 2019 know that VAT impacts businesses in often unsuspected ways.

Are you a business with a taxable turnover below BD5m but above BD500,000? If you haven’t already voluntarily registered, you must do so by 20 June 2019 with your VAT registration date effective from 1 July 2019.

That suggests two straightforward themes for this month’s article: how much time will it take to get ready for VAT – and what does ‘getting ready’ involve? Leading practice suggests four steps to VAT implementation:

1. Identify VAT’s impact.

Getting ready for

VAT

Mubeen Khadir, Head of Tax, Keypoint Group details the impact of VAT on businesses in Bahrain.

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Gulf Insider March 2019

Your key decision makers – not just your head of finance - need to identify and agree the impact VAT will have on existing practices, systems and policies. Some organisations have tried to do this in-house. Others have taken the more practical step of appointing a VAT consultant who will typically send a questionnaire, ask for information, or conduct interviews to develop a clear understanding of your business. Having done that, the VAT consultant is in the right place at the right time to advise you on where, how, when and how much VAT will impact you.

2. Design a VAT solution.

Once impacts have been identified, your team needs to determine the processes, documents, systems and policies that must – or should - be amended to comply with the VAT process. Often, a combination of changes will be required to address a single impact. Sometimes there is more than one way of complying with a particular VAT rule. In these instances,

Money & Business

you need to weigh up potential options and make a decision that is both pragmatic and commercially sound.

If you have appointed a VAT adviser, the adviser can review proposed changes with you. Bear in mind that VAT is a new law and interpretation of the legislation is still evolving – such as the recent suggestion by the NBR that only the address included in a company’s CR can be used on a valid tax invoice. Awareness of the legislation

review role, guiding you and reviewing changes as they are implemented.

Most VAT advisers will offer technical training through a combination of formal seminars and informal discussions with relevant divisions throughout this phase. VAT implementation is a significant change management issue and most companies have found that education – through formal and informal knowledge transfer – is a critical part of a successful VAT implementation.

4. Comply with VAT legislation.

In theory, you should be VAT-ready after the implementation phase. However, your finance teams will face both practical and unforeseen challenges once VAT goes live and they are likely to need support when preparing their first VAT return. Most VAT advisers will review the first VAT return prepared by a business prior to submission to the tax authorities to identify areas needing rectification. A good VAT adviser will be able to recommend additional changes that may smooth the compliance process.

How long does this take?

No business has ever complained of having too much time to get ready for VAT. There are always unforeseen hurdles and issues that delay readiness.

Besides, there is no downside to being ready before VAT goes live. Businesses across the GCC have used any extra time to:

is good – awareness of changes to the legislation – or how the legislation is being interpreted and implemented – is even better!

3. Implement your VAT solution.

Once proposed changes have been decided and agreed, the process of implementing those changes begin.

In the implementation phase, if you decide to engage external support, your VAT adviser plays more of a support and

VAT consultant is in the right place at the right time to advise you on where, how, when and how much VAT will impact you.

• Proactively communicate with vendors, customers and other stakeholders outlining what your business will do about VAT and what you expect them to do. For example, vendors have to include customer details on their tax invoices. You could send them your official business name, VAT registration number and address so they can update their records in advance • Review pricing strategies • Operate upgraded systems in parallel with existing systems and processes to iron out bugs • Prepare mock VAT returns Our experience suggests that a business typically needs somewhere between two and eight months to get ready for VAT, depending on the complexity of your business and your IT systems and how VAT implementation is prioritised. For many businesses in Bahrain, VAT implementation is less than four months away. We are all aware of the penalties and sanctions in Bahrain’s VAT legislation – starting your VAT implementation now makes excellent commercial and reputational sense.

Gulf Insider March 2019

23

News Roundup

Bahrain ranked the healthiest country in Arab region

Bahrain: Expat student found dead and washed ashore A 22-year-old expatriate student was found dead and washed ashore on Bahrain Financial Harbour beach.

The deceased was identified as Prabha Subramaniyan, a student of the University of Bahrain and also an alumnus of Indian School Bahrain. Investigations have been launched to confirm suspected suicide.

Confirming the incident, the Interior Ministry said on its Twitter handle that it has launched a probe into the death. “A body of an Asian woman, 22, found in the sea in the Bahrain Bay area. An investigation has been launched to know the reason behind the death,” the ministry said.

Sources said Prabha’s father is a known businessman. “She is survived by her father, mother and an elder brother,” sources added.

Bahrain has been ranked first in the Arab region as the healthiest country. The Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index has also ranked the Kingdom of Bahrain 36th in the world, moving up by 4 positions, compared with 2017.

High rates of diabetes, obesity and a lack of focus on preventative medicine have been blamed after Gulf countries slumped in a global health ranking.

The Bloomberg Healthiest Countries Index showed no Arab nation in the top 35, despite the region’s significant wealth. Six of the top 10 nations were European, with Spain overtaking Italy as the world’s healthiest country.

The rankings, which are based on wide-ranging factors including life expectancy, obesity and mortality rates and physical activity levels, saw the UAE fall three places from its 2017 position, making it the 46th healthiest country out of 169.

Kuwait, meanwhile, fell by 22 places – the second-steepest drop recorded – to 78th. It tied with Saudi Arabia, which recorded a fall of six places compared to the 2017 table.

Studies have found that the Mediterranean diet, high in fruit, vegetables, fish and low in red meat, may help explain the high life expectancy in Spain and Italy.

Of the 30 unhealthiest nations on Earth, 27 were Sub-Saharan economies. Yemen, Afghanistan and Haiti were the others.

Bahrain: Expat arrested for sedating & robbing passengers Bahrain International Airport Police authorities arrested an Asian expat for sedating passengers in the transit hall and stealing their money.

According to a statement issued by the Bahrain National Airport Police Station, the accused, who visited the Kingdom for transit, drugged hot drinks, which he offered to the travellers at the airport.

An investigation was launched when passengers were seen in unconsciousness state. The suspect was identified and arrested with sleeping pills in his possession. Legal procedures have been taken.

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Gulf Insider March 2019

Business Society

Behbehani Bros launches the all new Ram 1500 at Jumeirah Royal Sarray

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Gulf Insider March 2019

The 5th edition of Mashroo3i Youth Business Awards Public Exhibition

News Roundup

Two young women save man’s life in Saudi Arabia Two Saudi female nurses rescued a young man after he began choking on his own tongue due to an injury from a traffic accident, local media reported.

According to reports, the off-duty nurses were luckily passing by the site of the accident and stopped to help the man until the ambulance arrived.

Mariam Al-Shammari, one of the two nurses who dealt with the case, saw the man lying in a semiconscious state with a number of people standing around him. She got out of the car immediately and proceeded toward the man. She found the man’s clothes had made a noose around his neck.

She said she asked for a knife from a young man who was standing beside her and immediately cut the noose. It was then that she discovered the man had swallowed his tongue with blood coming out of his mouth. Shammari said at this moment the other nurse, Wafa Al-Anzi, arrived at the scene and helped her to bring the man’s tongue back to its place.

Al-Anzi, who has been working as a nurse for six years and is studying her master’s degree in hospital management, said she saw people crowding around a man who was lying in the middle of the street.

She said while trying to put the tongue back in its correct place, the man bit her hand but she continued doing her job until he started breathing normally.

It is noteworthy that the man recording the video can be heard thanking the women for saving the man’s life. The injured man was shifted to Khalid Hospital, according to reports.

Expats can challenge employers if ‘falsely’ reported absent Expat workers in Saudi Arabia can now challenge their employers if they have been reported absent at work, local media reported.

An initiative launched by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development allows expat workers to challenge a false report marking them absent from work.

This initiative by the ministry is aimed at preventing the misuse of the service offered to employers to report their workers absent.

This also ensures that the report about a worker’s absence from work is accurate. This initiative aims at creating a healthy work environment in which all parties know their rights and duties.

Employers cannot avail of the ministry’s service to report employees absent from work if workers have filed a case against the employers.

The report about an employee’s absence from work will not be entertained if the worker’s iqama (residence permit) or work permit is expired. An employee can challenge his employer’s report marking him absent from work by a filing an objection plea at www.mlsd.gov.sa

Saudi women can now avail property loans Saudi women will be able to get property loans from the Real Estate Development Fund (REDF), following a decision from its board of directors.

The Real Estate Development Fund (REDF) is now offering Saudi women mortgages or property loans without requiring an original beneficiary, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.

REDF’s new regulations will allow Saudi women to borrow, even if they are not married or the sole provider in their homes.

The fund also approved transferring mortgages from one property to another and transferring mortgage applications between eligible beneficiaries.

Gulf Insider March 2019

27

People & Culture

Careem Facts Things You Didn’t Know About Careem.

Fact 1: They aren’t just in Dubai.

Although Careem started up in Dubai, you can now enjoy their services across 15 countries in the wider Middle East, so when you travel across the region, you can be sure of your favorite ridehailing app being ready at your service.

From Saudi Arabia to Egypt, even to Morocco, Careem has you covered from the minute you land at the airport till you land back in Bahrain. So no need to rent a car!

FACT 2: Careem rewards you every time you ride If you have an Air Miles or Shukran account, be sure to link it to your Careem profile so you can choose to earn reward points every time you take a trip. This benefit is offered across all cities Careem operates in, so you will earn points no matter where you are.

They are also partnered with Etisalat, so if this is your mobile provider then link your account and you can choose to earn Smiles points instead. To learn how to link your accounts, open up the Careem app and go into “Rewards” 28

Gulf Insider March 2019

under “Settings”. You will see partners there and your points as they rack up.

You can also use your points on any of these partners to convert to Careem credit.

Careem cares about our region FACT 3: Careem has a longstanding partnership with the United Nations You can opt to take a UNHCR car when you ride in Dubai and a donation of AED 3 will automatically be added to your fare. During Ramadan, Careem matched these donations. You can feel reassured that the money goes directly to help refugees across the region. You can also opt to convert your Careem rewards points towards donations in which you will be able to feed a child for a day or a week, help a refugee with cooking gas or help a refugee with essentials.

FACT 4: Careem has ventured into Iraq, Palestine, and Sudan Careem’s mission is to progress the

region, so they make sure no city is left uncovered and Careem has operations in places where other brands might be hesitant to tread. Wherever they go, they bring new job opportunities, technology to improve lives and where better to do this than in developing economies.

About Careem Careem is the leading technology platform in the greater Middle East.

A pioneer of the region’s ride-hailing economy, Careem is expanding services across its platform to include mass transportation, delivery and payments. Careem’s mission is to simplify and improve the lives of people and build a lasting institution that inspires. Established in July 2012, Careem operates in more than 120 cities across 15 countries and has created more than one million job opportunities in the region.

People & Culture

Art Bahrain Across Borders The remarkable progress over the years.

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ahrain’s foremost international art fair, Art Bahrain Across Borders aims to attract leading international galleries to the Kingdom. It focuses on powering the expansion of the art market while easing the development of local Bahraini artists. Over 70 Bahraini artists were benefitted from the program since its launch in 2016. The International artists program has travelled to various countries like United Kingdoms, Russia, India, France and Singapore. The sales of the Bahraini artists have consistently shown a 50 percent increase in volume annually.

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People & Culture

Various shows 2016 Bahrain Art Across Borders Venue: Victorian and Albert Museum, London Number of artists participated - 17 BE Bahrain Venue: Lancester House, London Number of artists participated - 18

cultural leaders coming from almost 20 countries to share a series of panel discussions and debates over the course of 3 days to foster greater sharing of knowledge and future collaborations in the global art market.

List of Galleries exhibiting at Artbab 2019 l Core Art and Design Gallery Athens, Greece l

Gallery Bruno Massa - Paris, France

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Trade Art Gallery - Milan, Italy

Cosmoscow Venue: Moscow Solo exhibition of Balqees Fakhro

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Sconi Art Gallery - UAE

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Fann A Porter - UAE

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Art Agency Ltd - Bulgaria

Bahrain Art Across Borders India Venue: New Delhi and Mumbai Number of artists participated - 18

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NK Gallery - Antwerp, Belgium

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Cosmic Art Gallery - Mumbai, India

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Quimera Galeria - Argentina

Bahrain Art Week London Venue: Saatchi Gallery, London Number of artists participated - 15

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IDEA4MI - Italy

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Seed Art Gallery - Delhi, India

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Art Lounge - Lisbon, Portugal

2018

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Tag Fine Art - London, UK

Legacies- India Art Fair Venue: New Delhi Number of artists participated - 5

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Baghdad Art Gallery and Bahrain Contemporary Art Soceity - Bahrain

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ZU_Cace gallery - UAE

Cosmoscow Venue: Moscow Number of artists participated - 4

Artists

2017

Bahrain Art Week Paris Venue: Grand Palais, Paris and Rabouan Mussioin Gallery Number of artists participated - 17 Bahrain Art Week Singapore Venue: Museum of Contemporary Arts, Singapore Number of artists participated - 18 Bahrain Art Week London Venue: Alon Zakaim Gallery, London Number of artists participated - 11 The ArtBab 2019 held from 7th to the 10th of March at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Center will feature the works and talks of multicultural contemporary artists and art influencers that show and express their methods through their forms of art. The Second Annual Unfold Art Exchange will have over 40

Halla bint Khalid, Balqees Fakhro and Dr Ahmed, Faika Al Hasan,Jamal Abdulrahim, Lulwa Al Khalifa, Lobna Ameen Maryam Nass, Nabeela AlKhayer, Dana Al Moaibed, Seema Baqi, Yulia Volkonskaya, Mariam Fakhro, Valentin Korzhov, Sahar Ahmadi, Taiba Faraj, Jonathan Parker and Salwa AlMoayyed.

BAB Pavillion Artists Abdulkarim Al Orrayed, Ahmed Al Asad, Ali Mubarak, Amani Al Hajeri, Aysha Al Moayyed, Dalia Ali, Duaa Jamal Alaamer, Ghalia Abduljawad, Hasan Al Sari, Ishaq Madan, Jaafar Alhaddad, Khalid Al Jabri, Latifa Alkhayat, Mashael Alsaie, Marwa Al Khalifa, Mayasa Sultan Al Sowaidi, Mohammed Al Mahdi, Mona Almoataz, Muhammed Alemadi, Nada Al Aradi, Neda Khalil Al Jahrami, Noor Alwan, Othman Khunji, Omar Alrashid, Reem Ali Acason, Reem Janahi, Sana Al borshaid, Sara Aradi and Somaya Abulghani.

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People & Culture

Why FinTech is still not usable for Small Business

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oney is a great thing as it brings wealth and wealth can brings power.

Power can bring more wealth and the control of minor powers is called monopoly.

Recently Bahrain’s FinTech started to get the grip. The result is New Digital Wallets, Credit Card Wallets, Mobile payment products. The added benefits in these products are so great. But companies and banks are throwing millions of dinars as offer and discount to tempt you use their products but not when you pay using cash. Why? Imagine a gentleman opens a store where he decided to sell products which are having fixed price. Say X. When he sees customers coming with cards and wallets, he don’t want to lose them. So, he decided to talk to banks or wallet companies to bring these FinTech modes of payments collection (credit card POS terminal or Smartphone POS) to his payment desk.

Well now he can’t sell his products for loss which is X, because above payment instruments come with “transaction charges”, so he decided to add this charges to product so consumer pays that. Now product price will be renewed as BD aX. For a high GDP growth country like Bahrain will hardly notice these minor charges added to the product, and you won’t see them affecting your life. But in reality every 10 places you used your card or wallets, you already paid 10 aX amount and it continues even when your kids pay.

“Money as a purpose of value exchange is still an unsolved puzzle using technology.”

Issues with printed currency bills: It can be faked, no identity behind and no added benefits (Like chargebacks in credit cards). But greatest advantage is what’s printed in the amount is the exact promise you paid to the shop. No third party commission).

CHARBEL HANNA Promoted to Deputy General Manager for the Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa

Cryptocurrency like Bitcoin (or anything in the market) is a very good initiative but it clearly failed to replace the paper currency bills we use in daily lives. Why? Because they are solving cross border value exchange. But not the local value exchange. They are trying to create new value (Like Oil and Gold) in the world using technology.

Charbel Hanna has been promoted to the post of Deputy General Manager for Bahrain’s legendary hotel, The Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa.

Technology should revolutionize, not benefit one party (Banks and Companies) and kill the economy. We are not even closer to the days that every business can accept FinTech payments.

Having joined the Gulf Hotel Bahrain from 2007 to 2012 and after pursuing several roles in different hotels, Charbel Hanna, re-joined the Gulf Hotel in January 2017 as Executive Assistant Manager in-charge of Food & Beverage.

As the future of web is going to be decentralized, the FinTech is also going to be decentralized. The core problems in this area is still unsolved, work on it for a better tomorrow.

Abdul Rashid, working in a Company, and having Fintech experience for 7 years, as a senior software Engineer. I work closely to the daily operations and finance. hi2rashid@gmail.com

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“His promotion to the post of Deputy General Manager, is well deserved and we wish him all the success” said Fares Yactine, General Manager, Gulf Hotel Bahrain Convention & Spa.

News Roundup

Bahrain: Non-oil exports reach nearly $6 billion last year Bahrain’s value of non-oil exports increased by 9 per cent as it reached BD2.286 billion ($6.06 billion) during 2018 versus BD2.093 billion ($5.55 billion) for the previous year.

The top 10 countries accounted for 66 per cent of the exported national origin value and 34 per cent for other countries, said the Foreign Trade Report of 2018 by the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA), which encompasses a balance of trade, imports, exports (national origin) and re-exports.

Saudi Arabia topped countries importing from Bahrain with BD535 million ($1.41 billion), UAE came second with BD258 million ($684.3 million), and Oman ranked third with BD233 million ($618 million).

Agglomerated iron ores and concentrates emerged as the top products exported in 2018 with BD372 million ($986.6 million); aluminium wires were positioned second with a value of BD280 million ($742.6 million); and unwrought aluminium alloys came in third place with BD190 million ($503.9 million).

Bahrain’s value of imports increased by 13 per cent as it reached BD5.593 billion ($14.83 billion) during 2018 versus BD4.942 billion ($13.11 billion) for the previous year, said a report.

The top 10 countries account for 65 per cent of the imports value and 35 per cent for other countries, According to the report, China was ranked as the top country that exports to Bahrain with BD706 million ($1.872 billion), UAE came second with BD492 million ($1.30 billion), whereas the US ranked third with BD451 million ($1.19 billion).

Aluminium oxide emerged as the top product imported to Bahrain with BD341 million ($904.5 million), while the non-agglomerated iron ores and concentrates was the second with BD278 million ($737.35 million). Four-wheel drive cars ranked third with BD202 million ($535.77 million) during 2018.

Meanwhile, the value of re-exports decreased by 2 per cent as it reached BD515 million ($1.36 billion) during 2018 versus BD525 million ($1.39 billion) for the previous year.

The top 10 countries account for 88 per cent of the re-exported value and 12 per cent for other countries. Saudi Arabia was ranked as the first country to reexport from Bahrain with BD183 million ($485.3 million), China ranked second with BD80 million ($212.1 billion), and UAE came third with BD72 million ($190.9 million).

Four-wheel drive cars emerged as the top products re-exported from Bahrain with BD89 million ($236.05 million), cigarettes containing tobacco came as second products with BD36 million ($95.48 million), and private cars came third with BD13 million ($34.4 million).

The trade balance, the difference between exports and imports, the value of the deficit of the trade balance reached BD2.793 billion ($7.40 billion) during 2018 versus BD2.324 billion ($6.16 billion) for the previous year with an increase of 20 per cent, it stated.

Shortage of skilled artisans hits gold sector after expat ban Saudi Arabia’s gold and jewellery sector have been hit hard by the lack of skilled Saudi nationals following the localisation of jobs in the industry, according to local media reports.

The kingdom banned the employment of expatriates in the sector in December 2017, warning shops that they will be fined SAR20,000 ($5,330) per expat worker.

It was estimated at the time that 35,000 expatriates were working in 6,000 gold and jewellery shops across the country.

However, a senior official said that the sector was affected because of the “rarity of qualified Saudi craftsmen”.

Jewellery making is generally an ‘inherited art’ and the children of Saudi goldsmiths do not have the “desire or patience to sit for eight hours or more to work on a piece of jewellery”, Abdul Ghani Al-Mahana, chairman of the gold committee in the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Arabic daily Al-Watan.

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People & Culture

The Uniqueness of

the Royal Golf Club Gulf Insider interviews Franco Botha, Director of the Golf Operations. new career, I would say for now my main focus would be to further enhance the experience Troon Golf provides to our Members and guests. Another hope would be to share as much of my knowledge with the rest of the team in order to help better their future career opportunities.

Are there any interesting projects in the pipeline?

I have no doubt there will be exciting projects emerging over the coming months. The team does a great job and I feel privileged to be welcomed into such a talented group of people.

How are you raising the club’s profile to non-golfers?

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hat do you believe makes the Royal Golf Club special?

Some might find this strange, but the ‘nodding donkeys’ dotted throughout the course certainly make the Royal Golf Club a truly unique experience.

No other course in the region has these Middle Eastern icons right on the property. Another aspect would the atmosphere in and around the club, created by the team we have and the loyal Members of the Royal Golf Club.

We are all one big family.

What do you hope to achieve in your role while at the club?

Although only a few days into my 34

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The Royal Golf Club is much more than just a golf club, beyond the green oasis the club has lots to offer within its iconic clubhouse with award winning restaurants.

Initiatives such as Family Open Days, tailor-made special events and the super popular Jazz Fest have been in place prior to me joining the team so I would not be able to take credit for these, however they are great for encouraging people of all ages and from all walks of life to join us, whether on the course or off.

Ultimately, what do you want the Royal Golf Club to be known for?

The Royal Golf Club is much more than just a golf club, beyond the green oasis the club has lots to offer within its iconic clubhouse with award winning restaurants, country club facilities and the amazing staff that make the club so welcoming. So, ultimately – I would like the club to be known for its exceptional hospitality and inclusiveness.

For more information, contact: +973 1775 1266

GOLF

TUITION

Individual Lesson Packages Prices start from BD150 for 5 lessons

Group Coaching Mens, Ladies & Junior 8x1 hour lesson = BD80

Custom Fitting

With major Golf brands Learn to play golf with one of our PGA Professionals. Golf lessons specifically designed to suit your ability.

All abilities welcome . +973 33120147 b.todd@theroyalgolfclub.com

Business Society

Bahrain Confidential Best Restaurant Awards held in the gardens of The Gulf Hotel

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BBBF lunch meeting with Dr. Simon Galpin at the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel

News Roundup

World’s fourth largest cinema enters gulf with Bahrain launch

Bahraini woman fined for ‘a fake kidnap’ complaint The jail sentence for the Bahraini woman, who attempted to trap her ex-boyfriend’s relatives in a kidnap case, was replaced with a fine of BD100.

The details of the case show that the defendant had several disagreements with her ex-boyfriend’s brother and his wife, who would frequently convince him to annul the relationship.

According to prosecutors, the defendant then decided to settle scores with exboyfriend’s family, primarily her ex-fiance’s brother, as she believed he was the main reason why the breakup happened.

She lodged a complaint with the police claiming that she was kidnapped by four masked men, who she allegedly took her to Buhair area in Riffa. The woman told the police that one of the men in a mask was her ex-boyfriend’s brother.

When asked if she was assaulted or harassed by any of the alleged kidnappers, the woman denied and told the police that she was released in Buhair area.

Further investigations proved that the woman lied in her statements as she wasn’t able to answer certain questions during the interrogation.

When cornered, she confessed that the accusation was false and that she made the story up to take revenge against her exboyfriend’s brother. The Public Prosecution then accused her of providing false information to the police to file a case.

She was subsequently referred to the Eighth Minor Court, where she was sentenced with one year of imprisonment.

The defendant appealed the verdict, which replaced her sentence with a fine.

The world’s fourth-largest cinema exhibitor, Cinépolis, which has operations in the Americas, the US, Europe and India, has finally made an entry into the GCC with its first multiplex launch in Bahrain.

The biggest cinema chain in Latin America, Cinépolis, which also operates theatres in the US, Spain and across India, has launched its new location at the Atrium Mall, Saar, Bahrain.

The newly launched Cinépolis multiplex features 13-screens, including Bahrain’s first-ever kids’ theatre and 4D experience, as well as two large-format screens, MacroXE with Dolby Atmos, object-based sound, and a range of seating options.

Bahrain: Burglar arrested after 113 burglaries The 44-year-old Bahrani is suspected of executing 113 burglaries where the stolen items amounted to BD 400,000 in a span of four years during which he targeted homes and flats.

Chief of Public Security Major-General Tariq Al Hassan said that after investigations and coordination with the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Forensic Science, the Capital Governorate Police Directorate had arrested the suspect. Legal action has been taken and the stolen items had been seized, including remittances worth BD27,000. The suspect has been referred to the Public Prosecutor.

Major-General Tariq Al Hassan said the identification of the suspect required extraordinary efforts, especially since he had committed the burglaries alone.

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News Roundup

Around 21% Bahraini citizens earn more than bd1,000 Take-home pay for 21% of the Bahraini workforce in the Kingdom’s public and private sector establishments are BD1,000, a new report has said.

The report by Social Insurance Organisation (SIO) also finds that the majority of the highest-paid Bahrainis are working in the private sector. As per the data, of the total 31,537 highest paid Bahrainis, 17,004 are working in private sector companies, while 14,533 are in government bodies.

Pay scale for 14,413 Bahrainis is in the BD800 to BD999 range, of which 4,833 are in the private sector and 9,580 in the public sector. Another 22,491 employees are in BD600 to BD799 salary class of which 8,625 are in the private sector and 13,866 in the public sector. The report also reveals that a total of 33,590 Bahrainis are paid between BD400 to BD599 a month, which includes 19,929 in the private sector and 13,661 in the public sector. 45,427 employees are earning less than BD400 a month, which is a total of 37pc of national employment in both sectors.

The report also points out that there are 3,015 Bahraini employees, both in private and public sectors, who are earning less than BD200. In total, there are 147,458 Bahrainis employed in both sectors out of which 88,293 are males, and 59,165 are females.

BD853 is the average wage.

Saudi: Mariah Carey’s concert attracts 10,000 spectators A crowd of 10,000 people showed up to Mariah Carey’s firstever live performance in Saudi Arabia, held outdoors as part of events planned for the ‘Saudi International’ tournament for professional golfers hosted by the King Abdullah Economic City in northern Jeddah.

Considered one of the world’s best-selling pop stars, Carey voiced her pleasure to perform before a crowd in Saudi Arabia.

Choosing 18 hot picks from her albums, the New York-born singer swept away an attending mixed gender audience.

The opening act, however, was booked for a talented and popular local Saudi DJ that goes by the stage name “Dash” and world-renowned Dutch DJ, Tiesto.

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World’s most famous robot Sophia visits Bahrain The world’s most famous robot Sophia visited Bahrain to attend the third Middle East and Africa FinTech Forum, held on 21 February 2019.

At the MEA FinTech Forum, Sophia talked about the future of AI and how it will affect financial services, Sophia is particularly well-placed to offer insight into the future of artificial intelligence, and she was joined at the Forum by her creator David Hanson, founder of Hanson Robotics.

Commenting on Sophia’s participation in the Forum, Sael Al Waary, Deputy Group CEO of Bank ABC and Chairman of AFS, said: “When I look to the future of financial services, I know that artificial intelligence and other forms of innovation are going to fundamentally change how we work and live.

Since her activation in 2016, Sophia has become an international celebrity. She has travelled the world and engaged in conversations about artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and the future of the relationship between humanity and robots.

Last year, she has received her first pair of working legs and learned to sing and play the piano.

She was the first robot to receive citizenship of a country (Saudi Arabia), and the first robot to receive an official appointment from the United Nations.

Sophia has been described as a “cultural icon” and has appeared on television programmes including 60 Minutes (US), Good Morning Britain (UK), and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (US), as well as in publications including The Guardian, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Elle. She has also appeared in music videos and a feature film.

News Roundup

MP calls for taxing expatriates in Kuwait MP Safa Al-Hashem claimed the government collects no charges from expatriates in the country.

Commenting on a response to her question by Finance Minister Nayef AlHajraf about value-added tax (VAT), Hashem wondered why VAT should be imposed on Kuwaitis when the government “collects nothing” from expatriates, who are three times the number of Kuwaiti citizens.

Hashem has earlier called to tax expats for the air they breathe in Kuwait and for walking on the streets.

Expatriates pay annual health insurance fees and an array of medical charges at public hospitals and clinics and are charged 250% more than Kuwaitis for electricity and water consumption. They are also charged for their work permit and residence renewals, in addition to several other charges. Expatriates are only slightly more than double the number of Kuwaitis and not three times more.

“Why do you want to impose VAT on Kuwaitis while we have a defect in the demographic structure, where expatriates are three times the number of Kuwaitis and the government does not charge them one fils,” she said during a National Assembly session.

Kuwait uncovers fake nationality of 308 people from one family

Kuwait has uncovered one of the most massive citizenship fraud in its history in which 308 individuals are implicated. According to a report in Kuwaiti daily Al Rai, a Kuwaiti man had married an Iraqi woman, but the couple had no children as the husband was infertile.

However, the wife who had four children from a previous marriage suggested to her Kuwaiti husband that he add them in the civil status documents as his own. The four children thus acquired the Kuwaiti citizenship and benefitted over decades from its advantages, mainly regarding education, health care, jobs and housing.

The four passed on their Kuwaiti citizenship to their children and subsequently to their grandchildren.

“The residency department received a tip about how an extended family obtained the citizenship fraudulently about one month ago and launched an investigation,” security sources told Al Rai. “Investigators were able to identify one of the four ‘children’, who was added to their mother’s husband and summoned him. He was in his 60s and said that his father and his three siblings had passed away.”

The investigators used the details he provided to piece together the information and to identify all those who benefited through him and his three brothers from Kuwaiti citizenship.

“The investigation eventually identified the 308 relatives who were not entitled to the Kuwaiti citizenship, but obtained by their fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfather through fraudulent means.”

The case was referred to the prosecution. Under the Kuwaiti law, the granted nationality is revoked if the applicant provided false information or presented fake certificates during the application process.

The revocation is ordered by the cabinet based on a request from the interior minister.

Kuwait has been engaged for years in a massive operation to unearth cases of forgery and false information that enabled several foreigners, with the complicity of Kuwaitis, to acquire the Kuwaiti citizenship.

In a typical case, a Kuwaiti man is given money to forge documents and claim that the beneficiary is his own son. Once the document is accepted by the authorities, the beneficiary is able to obtain a birth certificate and subsequently a Kuwaiti citizenship certificate, a national identity card and a passport that allowed him to benefit from the generous social, economic and political advantages granted by the state to Kuwaiti citizens.

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News Roundup

Saudi: Around 500 entertainment companies established last year Saudi Arabia has seen approximately 500 entertainment-related companies establish themselves in the kingdom over the last year, according to Khaled Tash, the deputy governor for marketing and communication of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA).

Additionally, Tash said that he believes a significant number of tourism-related companies will establish themselves in Saudi Arabia in the near future.

As evidence of Saudi Arabia’s potentially lucrative tourism sector, Tash pointed to the eight week Winter Festival held in the kingdom’s Al Ula governorate, the site of Nabatean tombs carved into a rock.

Tash also said that the Saudi government and private companies see potentially lucrative opportunities in improving services for the millions of people that go on Hajj and Umrah trips to the kingdom each year.

Oman plans foreign investment law with 100% ownership The sultanate’s government is planning to bring a new Foreign Capital Investment Law, which may allow foreign companies or individuals to increase their ownership in local companies up to 100 per cent, according to a senior industry official.

“Under the proposed new law, which is not released yet, among other things the key change will be the removal of the restriction on foreign ownership of companies in Oman. We already have a law to cover the sector but that has some restrictions,” Ahmed Amor al Esry, managing partner at EY Oman told Muscat Daily.

Once the new law is enforced, some foreign companies may be allowed having 100 per cent ownership, he said, adding that going forward, the government is also likely to remove other major restrictions including requirements of having own properties, or minimum capital requirements.

“In order to safeguard small and medium enterprises, some restrictions would still be there, but to a large extent, the new law will be quiet lenient on allowing foreigners to own companies in the sultanate,” Esry said.

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At the Future Investment Initiative summit held in Riyadh in October, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah signed an agreement with Germany-based SAP to develop cloud technology to help cater to pilgrims.

In mid-2018, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Indonesia announced the launch of the “Makkah Road Initiative”, a pre-clearance system that will help facilitate the journey of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

Tash added that, for the first time in Saudi Arabia’s history, government departments have been mandated to “find ways to engage investors.”

Saudi Arabia launches its 16th satellite into space The Kingdom has launched its 16th satellite into space: The Saudi Geostationary Satellite 1 (SGS-1). It will provide telecommunications capabilities, stronger internet connectivity, TV and secure communications in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.

The satellite was launched by the Guiana Space Centre, which is located in French Guiana because it is near the equator; it has a small population, and it is not prone to natural disasters.

News Roundup

Gulf Air alerts over fake promotion on WhatsApp

Bahrain: Man cheats woman on instagram for BD30,000 The Lower Criminal Court has sentenced a 34-year-old Bahraini man to one year in jail for duping a woman for BD30,000.

According to court details, the man was arrested and put on trial at the Lower Criminal Court after his sister discovered that he has been cheating many women and launched a complaint with local police.

Public Prosecutors said that the man opened an Instagram account and started introducing himself as a prospective groom to many women.

“He would tell that he was a police officer in plain clothes to impress them. And taking advantage of his fake designation, he deceived rich ladies wanting to get married.

“The defendant successfully convinced a woman that he would marry her and asked her money to buy a car.

“She gave him BD30,000 to buy a car. He later pretended that his mother was sick, asking for more cash under the pretext that she required treatment.”

“I started doubting his integrity as he was delaying marriage plan.

Then I asked his sister who told me that he was already married.

“She told me that he was using the same tactic to cheat many other women. I filed a case against him with the help of his sister who expressed her readiness to testify against him,” the victim, who lost BD30,000, told prosecutors.

However, he was offered BD100 bail, pending the ultimate outcome of his appeal.

People in Bahrain have been warned of a scam going around on social media networks that promise to give away free airline tickets.

Scammers are sending out links to users online, enticing them to participate in an airlines survey and get free tickets in return.

“Hey! Gulf Air Airline giving free tickets to 900 people to celebrate its 25 years.

Get your free tickets at htpp:// www. gulfair.com-free.online/,” the fake message reads. The link leads to potentially dangerous content. Gulf Air urged residents not to click on the link and share it with their friends.

Gulf Air tweeted a message: “Stay Alert!

This is a fake promotion being circulated on social media. Please follow our official verified Gulf Air channels for our latest offers.” Gulf Air’s official website is https://www.gulfair. com/. But that spam has “htpp://” only without ‘s’.

Saudi: Egyptian caught while smuggling drugs on a Jet-Ski Saudi Border Guards have arrested an Egyptian while attempting to smuggle 31,000 Captagon pills into Saudi Arabia on a jet-ski Officers found more than 31,000 Captagon pills on the jet-ski when they intercepted it off the coast of Tabuk.

The jet-ski laden with the amphetamines was being driven by an Egyptian national, who was arrested, SPA reported. It was unclear when the haul was seized.

Meanwhile, Border Guards thwarted an attempt to smuggle more than 300kg of cannabis into the Kingdom. Two Yemeni nationals were caught trying to bring the drugs into Najran province on Friday.

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News Roundup

Region’s highest salary hikes for Saudi professionals this year Professionals working in Saudi Arabia will receive the highest salary increases in the Middle East in 2019, according to a study from global recruitment firm Robert Walters.

Salaries in the Middle East will increase by 1% on average, the company’s Middle East Salary Survey 2019 found, while Saudi Arabia will see stronger salary growth at 2 per cent on average across all fields.

UAE salaries will increase by 0.8 per cent on average.

“In 2019, demand will increase in the Middle East for government sector related roles – notably IT, legal, finance, banking and HR. Meanwhile, demand for legal professionals is expected to remain steady across the Gulf,” said Jason Grundy, managing director of Robert Walters Middle East.

The Middle East experienced a positive year with a significant increase in hiring across the region compared to previous years, the report read. Many local and international financial services firms expanded their teams, with growth in hiring highest in Kuwait City, Riyadh and Dubai.

Jobs in the UAE were up 38 per cent year-on-year and jobs in Saudi Arabia were up 111 per cent year-on-year, according to the Robert Walters Middle East Job Index cited in the report, which is now in its 20th edition.

New banking standards in the UAE, such as the IFRS 16 standard that came into effect on January 1, are expected to increase the number of technical finance roles in the first half of 2019.

In Bahrain, the implementation of VAT at the beginning of this year is expected to increase the number of tax manager roles.

UAE: Debts worth dh361 million waived off for 3,310 emiratis The Debt Settlement Fund announced that Dh361 million loan of 3,310 UAE nationals have been waived off in cooperation with 13 banks.

Jaber Mohammed Ghanem Al Suwaidi, General-Director of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Supreme Committee of the Debt Settlement Fund, said that this gesture is part of the UAE’s wise leadership keenness to ensure decent life for all Emiratis and highest possible level of social stability.

For their part, the senior officials of the banks stated that the move aims at reducing the living burden of UAE nationals.

Filipina expat executed for murder in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has executed a female domestic helper from the Philippines found guilty of murder, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed.

The 39-year-old domestic worker was sentenced to death by the Saudi Supreme Judicial Council and executed on 29th of January, the department said, citing information from its envoy in the Middle East country where more than 1 million Filipinos work.

“The department regrets that it was not able to save the life of the Filipina,” it said. Legal assistance was provided during her trial, it said.

The Philippine embassy provided her with a lawyer to assist her in all stages of her trial, sent representatives to visit her, and provided her family in the Philippines with regular updates about her case. The department is withholding other details upon the request of the relatives of the deceased.

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News Roundup

Iran-backed terrorist group threatens attacks in Bahrain

Bahrain ranks high among best countries for expats – BBC Arabic Bahrain ranks high on a list of best countries in the world for expats, a report by BBC Arabic said.

While lauding Bahrain’s work environment, BBC Arabic website, which is among the oldest in the world, highlighted the Kingdom’s ranking, in a recent global report, as the second best destination for expatriate workers, after Germany, leading many key destinations including Singapore and Hong Kong.

The Expat Explorer survey, conducted by “HSBC Expat”, the external banking arm of the HSBC Group, examined the way more than 22,000 expats around the world feel about their lives overseas, regarding their experiences, economics and family life.

Expats in the Kingdom were asked about their views regarding work/life balance, job security, career progression, wage growth, among others and 60 per cent of the respondents said that the work culture in Bahrain is better than that their home countries.

The BBC asserted that banking is the second most important sector after oil in Bahrain, noting that the kingdom is a leader in the Islamic-Sharia-compliant Islamic financing.

The report featured success stories of expatriates living in Bahrain, who affirmed that it was the best place for living and working.

BBC Arabic said that wages, as well as housing, education travel allowances and low cost of living (compared to other GCC states), stimulate qualified expatriate workers to come to Bahrain.

One of the main Iranian proxy groups, Saraya al Ashtar, has threatened to target American and British intelligence operations in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The threat, the group’s first-ever-video statement, promises more attacks on the island denouncing “American and British intelligence plots” against the group. However, no specific details were given for this allegation.

The group was added to a list of designated terrorist organisations by the US government noting it is “yet another in a long line of Iranian sponsored terrorists who kill on behalf of a corrupt regime.”

As reported by the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, Saraya al Ashtar, also known as the Al Ashtar Brigades, is one of Iran’s main proxy forces in Bahrain. Several of its leaders are based in Iran, including US-designated terrorists Qassim Abdullah Ali Ahmed and Hasan Yusuf.

The group, which claimed responsibility for over 20 attacks in Bahrain, were also added to a designated terror list by Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt in 2017.

In Jan. 2016, a cell linked to a militant group was arrested by Bahraini authorities. According to officials, the two-person cell was planning to execute “a series of dangerous bombings” in Bahrain.

Saraya Al-Ashtar, according to the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, has not claimed any attacks since 2017. This, the report said, is meant to show that the group, despite Bahraini security operations against it, is still alive.

“And while Saraya al-Ashtar has yet to claim any attacks on American or British personnel or institutions in Bahrain since its inception in 2013, the video reaffirms that it, and Iran, see these countries as legitimate targets,” the report added.

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Business Society

The launch of all new BMW 3 series at their showroom in Sitra

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CAR News

& reviews

BMW 7 Series

Volvo V40 Cross Country

Ferrari World

Bahrain Car Market

Car Bahrain

BAHRAIN CAR MARKET REVIEW 2019

Is it a good time to buy a car in Bahrain?

In this March 2019 issue of Gulf Insider we publish a special feature reviewing the current state of Bahrain’s car market.

We contacted Bahrain’s leading car dealers and got their feedback.

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Car Bahrain

How has the economy, and the recent introduction of VAT, effected sales?

The first month was slow from a sales perspective and that was primarily due to customer perception of costs being high due to the introduction of VAT. However, we are offering “VAT on us” deals so that customers continue to get competitive prices

JEEP / DODGE - BEHBEHANI No doubt the VAT introduction this year had impacted the automotive market, nevertheless from February onward we seem to be back on track with our sales numbers

We expect 2019 to be another challenging year with the economic slowdown continuing. VAT also has a negative effect on sales.

extended warranty without forgetting the attractive trade-in offers.

NISSAN BAHRAIN

We have E-Class Starting from BD 19,999, VAT off on all range models, GLE Coue with VAT off, 5 Years Warranty and 5 Years’ Service Packs

What are the best car deals you are currently offering?

MERCEDES – AL HADAD

Our range of brand new 2019 models all benefit from excellent peace of mind packages, which include 5 years free servicing, 5 years free maintenance, 5 years GCC roadside assistance and an industry leading 5 years Manufacturer Warranty program.

What are your most exciting new models launches for 2019?

AUDI BAHRAIN

BMW / MINI - EUROMOTORS Since the country has implemented VAT we are giving customer the opportunity to buy at the same prices as last year so we basically pay the VAT for them.

MERCEDES – AL HADAD

BMW / MINI – EUROMOTORS

We have great deals on the Jeep Range starting from 7,999/- and Dodge Range from 11,999/-, inclusive of VAT

JEEP / DODGE - BEHBEHANI We have offers on every car in our showroom with service packages,

The all-new Q8 is poised to be a major success, along with the A6 sedan, A7 Sportback and the newly introduced Audi A8.

We are already taking pre-orders for the soon to be introduced Audi e-tron, the first Premium Luxury all electric SUV in the Middle East.

Pre-orders and bookings are also being taken on the all-new Audi Q3 SUV as well as the highly anticipated Audi A6

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Car Bahrain

sedan which will soon be available in a very fuel efficient 4cylinder variant.

The Audi Sport range is ever increasing with the RS product range, which are all scheduled to be released during 2019. In short, we have something for everyone this year.

AUDI BAHRAIN We launched the all new Jeep Compass and Jeep Wrangler last year and customers can look forward to the launch of the Ram 1500 this year.

The new Ram 1500 promises to be the most sophisticated truck experience ever.

For those looking for a family vehicle with great features, we now have the Chrysler Pacifica minivan. We also have the new Jeep Renegade for those looking for a value-for-money SUV. –

JEEP / DODGE - BEHBEHANI

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Gulf Insider March 2019

This year BMW & MINI are raining us with New Models - almost every model is brand new. On the BMW side: BMW 3 Series, BMW X7, BMW 8 series, BMW X3, BMW X4, BMW X5, BMW X6, BMW 4 Series, BMW Z4 and the M-Power side we also have BMW M5, BMW M8, BMW X3 M, BMW X4 M this is beside the M4 CS and the M2 Competition Package that are relatively new.

On the MINI side: MINI Hatch, MINI 5 door Hatch, MINI Countryman, MINI Clubman and MINI John Cooper Works!

BMW / MINI – EUROMOTORS We expect to have 4 new model launches in 2019, including new models of the Altima and Maxima, and mid-life improvements for the Micra.

NISSAN BAHRAIN

What are the pros and cons of buying new versus a low mileage, full serviced pre-owned model?

New gives more choice in terms of color and specification options with zero mileage. However, the ‘Audi Approved Plus’ certified pre-owned range offers very attractive prices. All certified pre-owned Audi’s undergo a stringent 300 point check to ensure they comply to Audi’s strict guidelines. This allows consumers to enjoy a nearly new Audi at very affordable prices.

AUDI BAHRAIN A new car is a new car and does not come with any baggage associated with it. A condition of a pre-owned vehicle is dependent on how the previous owner cared for it. If it has been serviced at the

Car Bahrain

headline price which, when everything is considered, isn’t always the great deal it at first seems.

NISSAN BAHRAIN

What advice can you give about financing deals being offered?

Euro Motors is well known in the Automotive Sector as a company that maintain best relationships with banks and financial institutions, so we can offer the best rates to our customers when it comes to financing a car, whether it be a single car purchase or a fleet of cars. authorised service centre at the right intervals, it should be fine. It is always prudent to ask the authorised dealer for the service history of the vehicle one intends to buy. This will give you an idea of the services carried out, accident repairs if any etc.

JEEP / DODGE – BEHBEHANI At Euro Motors we assess customers’ needs and buying motives to personalize the right deal for them.

We are consultants rather than sales people. In Used Cars we have the BMW Premium Selection Program that insure a quality used BMW Vehicle with a minimum of 12 months manufacturer’s warranty, inspected at 360° and passed

our sophisticated QC system to insure high quality and maximum transparency of a vehicle service history.

On the other hand when choosing a brand new car customers can go for maximum peace of mind that can include everything except filling up petrol in a car.

BMW / MINI – EUROMOTORS

BMW / MINI – EUROMOTORS

Behbehani Brothers W.l.l.

Tel. +973 1745 9955

Find out what the price includes as it can be hard to compare like for like.

We are introducing Nissan Smart Deals in which we guarantee the quality of every used vehicle sold. Nissan often includes a whole lot of extras in the price while other dealerships may not do this, preferring to focus on a low

For more informarion Call: Audi Centre Bahrain Tel: +973 1745 9933

Euro Motors Tel. +973 1775 0750 Al Haddad Motors Tel. +973 1778 5454 Y.K. Al-Moayyed & Sons Nissan – Sitra Tel. +973 1773 2732

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Car Bahrain

Into the

Ferrari World Gulf Insider meets Giorgio Turri, General Manager of Ferrari Middle East, at the opening round of the Bahrain Challenge 2019 European Series held at Bahrain’s BIC.

W

hat brings you to Bahrain?

We are here for the Ferrari Racing Days and for the opening race of the 2019 Ferrari Challenge season. Starting back in 1993, the Ferrari Challenge is our one-make series dedicated to Gentlemen Drivers, encompassing three official championships in the United States, Asia-Pacific and Europe.

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On this special occasion in Bahrain the Challenge comes to the region with the XX Programs and the activities of Formula 1 Clienti, it is certainly a unique opportunity to engage with our discerning clientele.

How many of your clients take advantage of this opportunity?

We have more than 120 clients from all over the world taking part in the Ferrari Challenge. They love the idea

of racing their own Ferrari on some of the world’s best racetracks through the Challenge. All of them compete with objective being to win, but the events also represent an amazing opportunity for them to meet like-minded people to share their passion for Ferrari and racing.

How will you benchmark the success of the challenge?

We can benchmark it by the number

Car Bahrain

of cars entering each round during the season and that’s been constantly over the past year as we constantly beat the records. The attention and excitement for the Ferrari Challenge is rising and we have more and more clients from the Middle East willing to enter the championships.

Why did you choose Bahrain as the location for the opening round of the championship?

Finally, what input does Ferrari put into Ferrari owners clubs?

The Ferrari Owners Clubs plays a key role in how our customers get to experience the Brand, but they are totally independent from us. The FOCs are driven by the passion of our clients and the fact they enjoy their gatherings with friends who share this passion for our cars. They are people

There are several reasons behind choosing Bahrain, as it is in a strategic location in-between Europe and Asia Pacific which is perfect for the season opening round, but more importantly we wanted to bring the Challenge closer to our clients in the Middle East who are very passionate and are also keen to be involved. The Middle East is home to many passionate clients and collectors, they join these event with

their own cars and to test drive new models, it is always a pleasure to meet them at the racetrack.

Do you have any other plans coming up for Bahrain?

We have several activities and surprises that are coming together in the next few months in Bahrain. We are also planning to invite Bahraini clients to events taking place across the region.

Bahrain is very important to us because it is rich with collectors and people who are passionate for Ferrari.

who are enjoying the Ferrari Lifestyle.

We are always happy to support them in whichever way we can, but we do not interfere in their plans which are designed by Ferrari owners for Ferrari owners.

About Ferrari Challenge Europe The famous one-make championship with a legacy dating back to 1993, places dream cars and very special customers on the most beautiful racetracks in the world, featuring to date over 1000 drivers globally, as well as many memorable races and thrilling performances.

The Ferrari Challenge is divided into three continental series: Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. The European 2019 season commenced at Bahrain International Circuit, before heading to Valencia, Spielberg, Le Mans, Nßrburgring, Imola and the Finali Mondiali in Mugello. This highly competitive racing series is sanctioned by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and features four categories suited for different levels of driving, including Trofeo Pirelli, Trofeo Pirelli Am, Coppa Shell and Coppa Shell Am. The series features the most powerful car in the history of one-make racing series, the 488 Challenge. The car is tailored for an incredible track experience thanks to 670 hp generated by the V8 3.9-liter engine derived from the 488 GTB, winner of the International engine of the Year Award in 2016. Compared to the production 488 GTB engine, the Challenge’s powertrain, in its architecture is exactly the road car engine but features specific engine mapping, optimised for racing performance, and shorter gear ratios providing up to an 11.6% increase in acceleration out of turns compared to its predecessor, the naturally-aspirated 458 Challenge EVO.

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Car Bahrain

BMW 7 Series Review Gulf Insider drives the newest version of BMW’s iconic big luxury saloon.

T

he new BMW 7-Series is a full-size luxury car. It benefits from the most advanced technology available as well as BMW’s most powerful (and efficient) engines, and an improved eight speed transmission. It is one of the highest-rated cars tested by independent bodies.

This car looks expensive form the outside, and parked outside Arabian Magazines offices it looked like a VVIP was visiting us.

It also looks expensive from the inside. The interior is filled with beautiful

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Gulf Insider March 2019

wood, leather, metals, and soothing ambient light in a choice of six colours.

How about this for attention to detail many of the buttons are covered with a thin layer of galvanized metal that makes them cool to the touch.

The front and rear seats are big and grand. The rear seats have masses of leg room, even without the optional Luxury Rear Seat Package that offers even more leg room plus heated and cooled seats, in-seat massagers, and a tablet to control in-car entertainment functions.

BMW’s iDrive system is a bit

complicated to learn if you want to get the most from it. For example, when equipped with Active Comfort systems, the 7 Series can use cameras and GPS information to “read” the road ahead to select the right gear and adjust the suspension for maximum comfort.

This car offers semi-autonomous driving as well as advanced parking features such as a surround-view camera system.

There’s a hands-free phone system, wireless charging, and rear-seat entertainment with full-HD touch screens.

Car Bahrain

The most popular selling 740i version is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter engine that produces 320 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque.

Standard specification includes the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant – an intelligent, digital helper who responds to the prompt “Hey BMW”.

This technology learns routines, habits and preferences to help the driver get the best out of the in-car functionality such as the seat cooling or the places they navigate to.

Drivers can also give the Personal Assistant a name for even greater individuality and personality. Saying “Hey BMW, I’m hot” will prompt the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant to cool the temperature inside the car.

The 7-Series comes with lots of safety equipment including front side, rear, and knee airbags, dual-stage airbags, active head restraints, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitors, night-vision cameras, and parking assistants.

The most popular selling 740i version is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter

3.6 seconds thanks to both its immense engine power and ultra lightweight construction that utilizes carbon fiberreinforced plastics, high-strength steel, and aluminum. Despite its huge power, the ride is composed and super smooth at all times.

A large touchscreen keyfob can air condition the car before you get into it – something especially useful for drivers in Bahrain!

To arrange your own test drive in Bahrain contact BMW EuroMotors on +973 1775 0750.

engine that produces 320 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque.

The 750i offers a 4.4-liter turbo V-8 engine, offering 445 hp.

The 760i has a turbocharged 6.6-liter V-12, pumping out 601 hp and 590 lb-ft.

It can go zero to 100 kph in a blistering

l

2019 model

l

Low mileage

l

Starting from BD 31,995

Gulf Insider March 2019

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Car Bahrain

Weekend hatchback fun with Volvo Charlie Cooksey test drives the Volvo V40 Cross Country for a weekend.

F

or many years Volvo was a brand that didn’t excite me much and it was only until recently, the last couple of years, that the Volvo brand has really grown on me and become a product I admire. I was lucky to have been invited by Volvo and flown over to Milan in Italy to check out their new state-of-the-art Design Studio and the launch of the XC40. It was on this trip that I learnt the quality of the engineering and safety of the product, and by spending some time and talking

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Gulf Insider March 2019

to the Volvo experts – I learned how incredible the brand is. And of course, driving the XC40 through the beautiful Italian countryside is also compelling!

Motorcity, the Volvo Bahrain dealership, recently invited us for a local test-drive for the Volvo V40 Cross Country and they were generous enough to let me have it for a long weekend, that way you can see how the car works with your lifestyle. I’m a fan of a hatchback, so was keen to see how this compares with the other premium hatchbacks in the market. The V40 Cross

Country shares much with its sibling the V40, but with the added styling and rugged looks of an all-roader.

First impressions were good when I saw it sparkling clean outside the showroom – it’s got a unique, sleek design and looks like a slightly stretched hatchback, it certainly looks ‘Volvo’.

The 5 door premium hatchback offers a comfortable and spacious cabin… I’m 6ft 2 so should if it’s spacious for me it’s usually spacious for most! The V40 is designed around you as the driver – everything works smoothly including

Car Bahrain

The V40 Cross Country shares much with its sibling the V40, but with the added styling and rugged looks of an all-roader.

the connectivity, distance cruise control, fuel-saving stop/start which is hardly noticeable and a huge amount of impressive safety features.

Two other factors that are important to me with any car is acceleration and sound system – those two boxes are well and truly ticked with a smile. I was so impressed at how this car takes off, especially when it’s slipped into sport mode. An example, on the Friday morning (when roads are empty) I was out with a friend who drives a Grand Cherokee SRT which packs a 6.4L engine with 475 horsepower, I was able to put up a good fight with him and at times he was trying to keep up with me.

I did find the visibility to be difficult at times when trying to check blind spot, reversing etc however this didn’t turn out to be a huge issue since the safety features were so incredibly responsive and reverse camera was crystal clear.

Overall, we loved the car and it’s great for the roads of Bahrain. Easy to park, excellent space for a hatch back, quick, stylish and fun to drive. When comparing it to the competitor premium hatchbacks – the value for money is exceptional.

For more information or to book a test drive, visit Motorcity showrooms in Sitra or call 17736222 or visit www.motorcity.com.bh Gulf Insider March 2019

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Bahrain Car Market News One-stop crossing procedure for King Fahad causeway to include expats “Implementation of the one-point procedure system between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain is in its final stages, and it will include all, expatriates, residents and citizens”, declared Director of Passports at the King Fahad Causeway in Saudi Arabia’s part of the causeway, Col. Duwaihi bin Wabdan Al-Sahli.

Under the one-stop concept, drivers will go through only one post for routine border crossing procedures that include passport control, car clearance and customs.

Currently, drivers have to go through the Bahraini and Saudi crossings, which often results in heavy traffic congestion. The new measure is expected to facilitate the rising figures of cross-border trade and movement of visitors between the two countries. It will also cover foreigners residing in both countries.

The much-anticipated one-stop border crossing post has been often cited in recent years amid growing hopes for its prompt implementation.

Al Sahli told Al Ayam daily that the inexorably increasing number of passengers using the causeway that reached 25.7 million last year was a major challenge for the passport authorities.

An average of 100,000 people used the causeway daily during the school holidays this month, he said. Bahrain reacted by allowing Saudis to come into the country after only one border stop on the Saudi side to ease congestion.

The number of cabins to process travel documents for drivers reaching Saudi Arabia is to be increased from the current 22 to 38, Al Sahli said.

Around 600 Saudi nationals, including 90 women, are employed by Saudi Arabia on the causeway. The number of women is expected to be increased to 160.

King Fahad Causeway, Bahrain’s only terrestrial link with another country, was officially inaugurated on November 26, 1986. It has become one of the busiest links in the Arab world, necessitating drastic improvements to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.

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Flashing green traffic signals introduced Bahrain is introducing flashing green signals at some of the country’s major intersections as part of its efforts to boost the safety of motorists and prevent accidents, said a BNA report.

Trials are being conducted on selected traffic signals, by adding flashing green before the end of green signals on main roads.

“The proposed system will involve adding a flashing green light for 3 seconds at the end of the actual green light and before the start of Amber light and Red light,” explained Roads Planning and Design Director at the Ministry of Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Kadhim Abdul Latif.

“This is mainly to give additional warning to drivers to slow down and safely stop before the light turn to Red. This small, but vital move, is expected to enhance the safety and minimize accidents, he added.

On a trial basis, the system has been set up at two intersections of Al Fateh Highway/ Sheikh Daij Avenue at Capital Governorate and Wali Al Ahed Highway/BDF Hospital at Southern Governorate revealed Latif.

The performance of this modification will be monitored and evaluated over a period of time and if found to be of benefit, will be incorporated on other traffic signals installation within the kingdom, he added.

Last Word

Gulf Hotel, 1969 Bahrain’s newly opened Gulf Hotel in 1969. This was Bahrain’s first land reclamation project and all the sea in the photo has since been concreted over to create modern Juffair.

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