Gulf Insider Issue 175 (September 2019) - Bahrain: Utility Bills Taking a Toll on Everyone

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Utility Bills Taking a Toll on Everyone September 2019 | ISSUE 175

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Contents September 2019 Issue 175

22 42

18 22 26 28 30 37

Bahrain: Utility Bills Taking a Toll on Everyone Saudi Expects to Become Top 5 Tourism Destination Iranian Woman Jailed for Taking Off Hijab Dubai Police Issue Photo Warning Keypoint: Bank Roberies in a Digital Age Bahrain: Rent Decline in Residential & Office Property

Car News & Reviews

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

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Knowledge is power

Publisher & Editor in Chief

- Nicholas C. Cooksey

Comment...

Editorial - Supriya Reginald

A picture is worth a thousand words.

- Dhanraj S Layout Designs

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Editorial Contributors

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

Sales & Business Development

- Charlie Cooksey

Admin & Finance

- Nikesh Pola

Distribution - Mohammed Yousif - Aramex - Skynet - Jashanmal

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

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

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

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

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the multi-award winning Arabian magazine

The multi-award winning Arabian Magazine

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Utility Bills Taking a Toll on Everyone

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SEptEmBEr 2019 | ISSUE 175

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AUGUST 2019 | ISSUE 174

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Events

Day & Night Gulf Industry Fair 2019 When: 24th – 26th September 2019 Where: Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre Gulf Industry Fair is the premier industrial event of the Gulf region, aimed at demonstrating the enormous growth and potential of the Middle East. The fair offers exhibitors excellent opportunities to promote their products and services, discover new markets as well as to open up new business fields.

SmartSec Cyber Security & Blockchain Conference

Bahrain Infection Prevention & Control Conference

When: 3rd and 5th September 2019 Where: Gulf Convention Centre, Bahrain

When: 19th -21st September 2019 Where: Wyndham Grand Manama

SmartSec Conference & Exhibition is a 2-day event that focuses on Cybersecurity and Blockchain.

SmartSec provides attendees with a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the latest trends, innovation, and solutions featured by the international Cybersecurity and Blockchain community.

For more information visit: www.smartsecme.com

Amazon Web Services Summit Bahrain (AWS Summit Bahrain) When: 15th September 2019 Where: Gulf Hotel Bahrain The Amazon Web Services Summit Bahrain will be bringing technologists together to connect, collaborate, and learn about AWS and it will provide the attendees with the opportunity to learn how the cloud is accelerating innovation for businesses of all sizes, and connect with colleagues and peers, see what digital transformation looks like, and discover how cloud-based skills empower the workforce of today and tomorrow.

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The event will highlight ground rules for the program which will focus on all recent update information and knowledge on infection prevention and control to be presented by highly professional speakers providing an exceptional experience to all delegates for sharing knowledge and raise their learning skills.

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A moment from another time...

Marking the main entrance of the Manama Souq, the iconic Bab Al Bahrain during the 1940s.

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News Roundup

‘’Bahrain nearing waste crisis’’- says MP

Bahrain: Airport entrance road project 81% complete The inspection by works ministry has revealed that the project of revamping Bahrain International Airport entrance is completed by 81% with Phase 1 noting 96% completion.

The project is expected to be inaugurated in the last quarter of the current year, to coincide with the inauguration of the new airport.

The ministry is being instructed to consider the aesthetic nature of the project by planting trees on both sides to and from the airport.

The Kingdom of Bahrain is fast heading towards a “waste crisis” in the coming months if necessary precautions are not taken, a lawmaker has warned.

MP Ahmed Al Ansari stated that authorities have not been allocating enough funds to address the emerging “waste crisis”.

The recently distributed government housing units add complexity to the clean-up efforts and therefore would need a higher cleaning budget which was not considered when the budget for the cleaning program was set a few years ago.

Bahrain: Personal data protection law implemented Bahrain integrate women-only police patrols In an effort to enhance the roles and responsibilities of Bahraini women in the Police Department, the General Traffic Directorate has incorporated Policewomen in patrols across the Kingdom.

The first batch of Bahraini policewomen has begun conducting traffic patrols across Bahrain after undergoing training for more than a year.

The women-only patrols deal with road accidents having passed an intensive course in attending to traffic accidents and procedures followed with various types of accidents.

The course has also trained them on how to deal with the parties in the accident, ensure the smooth flow of traffic and procedures in cooperation with the concerned and competent authorities.

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Gulf Insider September 2019

Bahrain’s Law No. (30) Of 2018 promulgating the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) came into force as of 1st August 2019.

This means that companies with a place of business in the Kingdom who process personal data and companies who process data using means available in the Kingdom need to start complying with the PDPL. Violations can result in imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year and/or a fine of not less than BD1,000 ($2.365) and not exceeding BD20,000. As these are criminal matters, the public prosecutor can take action in the absence of the Authority.

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News Roundup

Two-month ban on kingfish fishing, selling announced

Saudi: Smugglers caught with sr3.093 million at Madinah Airport Four passengers were caught attempting to smuggle SR3.093 million out of Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.

The passengers, who hid the money in their luggage, were intending to travel to four different destinations, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Ahmad Al-Ghamdi, director of customs at the airport, said that the first attempt consisted of SR948,300 hidden in the passenger’s clothes. He added that another attempt used the same strategy, and customs found SR679,000 in his clothes.

In the third attempt, the smuggler tried to conceal SR415,500 in metal cans hidden in his luggage. The fourth passenger attempted to hide SR1.050 million in a pair of trousers in his luggage.

Al-Ghamdi added that the smugglers could not prove the legitimacy of the money, which reinforced the possibility of it being related to money laundering.

Saudi Customs said that the Anti-Money Laundering Law requires all passengers carrying cash or precious metals that exceed the value of SR60,000 to complete a declaration form. Failing to do so would be considered an explicit breach of the law.

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Gulf Insider September 2019

A seasonal two-month ban on fishing kingfish has been announced between August 15 and October 15 where fishermen are not allowed to catch or sell kingfish (locally known as chan’ad).

The ban aims to increase the kingdom’s kingfish stocks, regulate fishing and avoid exhausting and depleting fisheries to achieve balance within marine life, Agriculture and Marine Resources Affairs said, stressing that all necessary measures will be taken to implement the ban.

It emphasized that violators of Decree-Law 20/2002 on the regulation of fishing, exploitation and protection of marine wealth will be held accountable, calling on fishermen to cooperate with the competent directorate to implement the ban and preserve marine wealth.

The ban is also in line with the resolution taken by the Agricultural Cooperation at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) during its 23rd meeting held in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia: No more travel restrictions for Saudi women Saudi Arabia has begun allowing adult women to travel without permission and to exercise more control over family matters, Saudi Press Agency reported. The rules were announced in a royal decree of sweeping reforms last month. It means adult women can travel freely and exercise more control over family matters.

The decree said every Saudi citizen had the right to obtain a passport and limits the need for a guardian’s approval to minors only. The Kingdom has steadily removed some restrictions in recent years, including ending a ban on women driving last year. The regulatory changes stipulated that a Saudi passport should be issued to any citizen who applies for it and that any person above the age of 21 does not need permission to travel.

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Current Affairs

Bahrain: Utility Bills Taking A Toll On Everyone MPs call for the government and EWA to reconsider utility hike.

H

igh utility bills are reported to be weighing down on residents, expats and businesses as many claim they are unable to cope with the rising costs.

Speaking to Gulf Insider, MP Ahmed Al Ansari said that “It is worthless to live in a place where your entire salary is going towards expenses. As a Bahraini, even I struggle to pay my bills. The rise has affected both Bahrainis and expats alike,” According to a Gulf Daily News front page headline last month, the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) received a

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Gulf Insider September 2019

“This is our home and we are thinking about moving because of the rising costs”. record 195,000 calls in the past four months, sparked due to increased utility bills.

Utility bills are the highest during the summer due to the increased use of air conditioners and water, making it a

struggle for many Bahrainis and expats alike.

EWA recently announced readjusted bills for the summer, exclusive to Bahraini citizens, for the months of June, July, and August.

According to the readjusted bill, Bahrainis will be charged according to last year’s issued amount, given that the amount is lower compared to bills issued in 2019 for the same period.

Following the announcement, a number of expats who had been hoping for similar relief expressed dismay on social media platforms for being excluded.

Current Affairs

Recent statistics by the General Organisation for Social Insurance (GOSI) revealed that 73% of the expat population earns less than 200 Bahraini Dinars per month, while the average salary of Bahraini workers in the public and private sectors is 532 Bahraini Dinars per month.

Expenses are soaring while there is no increase in salaries and this is making the situation worse.

“Expenses are soaring while there is no increase in salaries and this is making the situation worse. We feel sorry for the expats, many of them are sending their families back home and moving into shared accommodation because they are struggling to meet rising expenses” said Mr. Ansari.

Bahraini citizens qualify for a subsidised rate of 3 fils per unit, but if they exceed 3,000 units in a month the rate increases to 9 fils and then 16 fils if it goes over 5,000 units.

On the other hand, expatriates are charged 29 fils for all units, a massive 866% more than Bahraini citizens.

Prior to the phased increase which began in 2016, both expats and Bahrainis alike paid 3 fils per unit.

“There is a ripple effect due to this, a Bahraini businessman who owns multiple properties in the country told me that he currently has 72 flats vacant

for the first time which is causing a lot of difficulties for him. Many of his tenants have left because of rising expenses,” said Mr. Ansari.

Bahraini resident Mrs. Layla Ebrahim from Gudaibiya told Gulf Insider “My children grew up playing and bonding with the expat children in the neighborhood, an experience my grandchildren may not have as the rising expenses have driven many expat families out of the area. This is our home and we are thinking about moving because of the rising costs” Another long term expat told Gulf Insider that years ago he had invested in a five bedroom property in Riffa Views and that the current electricity charges now made living in the house unaffordable for him and his family.

He said he feels trapped because the depressed real estate market means he’s unable to sell and move elsewhere.

The kingdom’s private sector is also struggling as utility costs for businesses have almost doubled. In 2016, the tariff for businesses was 16 fils for the first 5,000 units, 22 fils for 5001 – 250,000 units, 23 fils for 250,001 -500,000 units and 29 fils for 500,000 units and above.

Now businesses are charged 16fils for the first 5,000 units and 29 fils per unit if they exceed 5,000 units.

“Across the country, we can see an increase in ‘For Rent’ signs as many commercial and residential properties remain vacant. It is unreasonable to pay utility costs that almost amount to the rent. I live in Riffa, which is home to a number of popular commercial streets and more than 45 shops have closed because of utility bills and other expenses,” said Mr.Ansari.

“We approached EWA, who told us that they will provide a solution to this issue but nothing has happened yet.

The MPs in Bahrain are trying their best to fix this and hopefully there will be a change soon,” he added.

Khalid Mohamed Yusuf Najibi, First Vice Chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce (BCCI), told Gulf Insider that they have received complaints regarding high utility costs which prompted them to conduct a study regarding challenges faced by small and medium enterprises (SME), which make

Gulf Insider September 2019

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Current Affairs

​​​​​​​​​​​​​ lectricity​ Consumption Tariff 2019 E

Ahmed Al Ansari, MP

Khalid Mohamed Yusuf Najibi, First Vice Chairman,BCCI

up 95% of businesses in the Kingdom.

Mr Najibi said; “The study revealed the biggest challenges faced by SMEs are not limited to the utility price increase but also include rising governmental fees, difficulty of accessing consultancy and financing,

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Gulf Insider September 2019

The kingdom’s private sector is also struggling as utility costs for businesses have almost doubled. and challenges in labour hiring,” Mr Najibi added that the BCCI continues to address the issue and their recommendations have been accepted and are in different phases of implementation.

One recommendation that was

implemented earlier this year involved the allocation of BD21 million to enable ministries to pay money owed to companies– and small and medium enterprises.

Ministries were instructed to fasttrack the payment of pending invoices and pending financial obligations to companies, especially small and medium ones.

High utility bills have resulted in a few unforeseen circumstances such as reported in the local Arabic newspaper, Albilad. Apparently instances of food poisoning have been caused due to some cold store owners having started to switch off their refrigerators during closing hours in a bid to reduce their monthly utility bills, resulting in the rotting of some products, especially dairy products, which are sold to consumers.

News Roundup

Bahrain: Water garden project nearing completion

Bahrain: Expat arrested for selling alcohol in cold store

One of Bahrain’s foremost entertainment parks, Water Garden, has completed 30% of phase two of the renovation plan.

The project consists of rehabilitating the historic park, preserving all the trees and the lake and creating a new design that will provide space for children of different ages. The development process includes building a walkway and shaded areas for families, providing green spaces, allocation of investment space, parking spaces and service buildings.

It has been divided into two phases. The BD 300,000 first phase one of the projects was completed a year ago as per schedule.

The second phase work of the Bahrain water garden project is expected to continue throughout the year and may only get over by next year, according to the ministry.

An expat took advantage of his cold store to sell liquor bottles and was arrested by the police following a secret operation. According to prosecutors, the expat would hide liquor bottles in the cold store and would sell them to a group of selected customers.

A quick search revealed 52 bottles as well as different currency bills worth BD18. During the interrogation, the arrested expat confessed to selling alcohol to other expats in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The Public Prosecution charged the expat with selling liquors without permission and sentenced to three months in jail followed by deportation.

American University of Bahrain set to open in september The first purpose-built, American-style university is set to open in Bahrain in September located in Riffa and has been designed to cater for up to 4,000 students.

AUBH, which will feature dedicated Colleges of Engineering, Architecture & Design, and Business & Management, will be operated by the Bahrain-based Elm Education platform, in which Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, the country’s sovereign wealth fund, has invested.

Establishment of the American University of Bahrain supports the kingdom in its quest to achieve academic excellence, and to advance its status as the educational role model for the Arab region said the president of AUBH. Elm has also entered into a joint venture with a prominent operator of American curriculum K12 schools, to co-own and operate an American curriculum school in Bahrain.

Gulf Insider September 2019

21

People & Culture

Saudi Arabia

expects to become a top five global tourism destination by 2030

S

audi Arabia has been saying since 2016 that it is moving away from its dependence on oil production. Led by the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, the government has been working to diversify and improve Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy.

Last month, news was announced about the kingdom’s attempts on becoming a tourist destination.

The overall Saudi economic diversification is led by a program called

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Gulf Insider September 2019

How is Saudi Arabia going to create $100 billion+ of tourism spending by 2030?

Vision 2030, which aims to create new industry and new jobs in the kingdom. In the spring of 2016, Prince Mohammed said, “I think by 2020, if

oil stops we can survive.” With four months to go until 2020, the national oil company, Aramco, is still the main contributor to the Saudi economy and the government’s budget.

Aramco accounted for 63% of the government’s revenue two years ago, but according to KPMG, the oil industry was projected to contribute 68% of the revenue in 2019. The government has instituted new non-oil taxes, like a value added tax, but non-oil GDP has not improved.

People & Culture

Now the government is touting its plans for a new tourism industry with an announcement alongside the CEO of Six Flags and an exclusive for CNBC. The kingdom released a grand vision.

Six Flags will be the centerpiece—for now—of a planned entertainment center outside of Riyadh to be called Qiddiya.

Six Flags is the first large tenant announced for Qiddiya, though the idea behind Qiddiya, including elaborate renderings, has been public for months.

At other megaprojects, the kingdom intends to attract resorts and hotels, though this has not yet materialized.

According to CNBC, Saudi Arabia

The kingdom currently does not offer a tourist visa

expects to become a top five global tourism destination. It is looking for tourism to contribute 10% of GDP (likely well in excess of $100 billion) by 2030.

And yet the kingdom currently does not offer a tourist visa at all. Almost all of the tourism is for Muslim religious pilgrimages.

The government told CNBC that it will begin issuing tourism visas next month, but they were originally scheduled for April 2018 with several delays since.

It might be useful to compare some of these goals, for example, to the US state of Florida’s tourism industry.

Florida has a population about the same

size as Saudi Arabia in less than a tenth of the geographic area. It has much better weather. Much of Saudi Arabia is prohibitively hot in the summer months, with average high temperatures of about 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Florida is part of the U.S. and thus an easy destination for over 300 million Americans. Florida also allows alcohol, has gambling casinos, allows men and women to dress and interact freely, and allows churches, synagogues and general freedom of religion. Florida also protects free expression, civil rights and due process, and has Miami, Key West, Disney World, Universal Studios, world famous golf courses, college bowl games, professional sports and a booming cruise industry. And yet, in 2017, total tourism spending in Florida was only $88.6 billion.

So the big question is, how is Saudi Arabia going to create more than $100 billion of tourism spending by 2030, when it is starting basically at nothing?

All Six Flags parks combined only saw $1.5 billion in revenue in 2018, according to its annual report.

CNBC reports that Saudi Arabia is also counting on “eco-tourism,” because, as Amr AlMadani, the CEO of Al-Ula, a UNESCO site, said, “trends show that people travel now for intimate interaction with nature, low-key and lowdensity.” But low-key and low-density tourist sites don’t bring in the big money. Petra, the more famous ancient attraction to which Saudi Arabia’s best heritage sites are compared, only attracted a disappointing 400,000 visitors in 2014.

Saudi Arabia is planning resorts on the Red Sea coast, but much is left unexplained such as what companies may build there, will alcohol will be served, will women be allowed to wear what they choose, will unmarried men and women be able to socialize freely, will nightclubs serve men and women together, and will religious freedom will be permitted.

2020 is almost here, and oil is as important to Saudi Arabia’s fiscal solvency as ever. If this tourism plan is indicative of overall progress for Vision 2030, then there is much still to be achieved.

Gulf Insider September 2019

23

Managing Safely Every manager needs an understanding of their safety and health responsibilities

At IOSH we know that the best way to achieve safety and health training success is to get people fully involved, having fun and learning by doing. We want to get delegates really thinking about what they’re learning – and having the confidence and enthusiasm to put it into practice when they’re back at work – so that everyone notices the difference.

Managing Safely is unlike any other course. You’ll find a practical programme, full of step-by-step guidance, and a sharp business focus.

But you’ll also find that the highly innovative format and content engages and inspires your staff – critical to getting safety and health embedded across the whole organisation.

Who is Managing Safely for?

Managing Safely is designed for managers and supervisors in any sector, and any organisation worldwide. They won’t suddenly become safety experts – but they’ll get up-to-speed on the practical actions they need to take, and gain the knowledge and tools to tackle the safety and health issues they’re responsible for. Importantly, Managing Safely makes a powerful case for safety and health being an integral part of day-to-day management and business.

What does the business get?

- Peace of mind from training that’s designed and quality-controlled by the Chartered body for safety and health professionals, IOSH - Flexibility – the programme can be delivered flexibly so that it suits your business

- Efficient and effective learning –

health, safety and environmental basics are covered in a single programme - Globally-recognised, respected and certificated training for your managers and supervisors Memorable and thought-provoking facts and case studies from across the globe help drive the points home over the whole course. Each module is backed by crystal-clear examples and recognisable scenarios, and summaries reinforce the key learning points.

Managing Safely covers…

Assessing risks Controlling risks Understanding responsibilities Understanding hazards Investigating incidents Measuring performance

-

Successful delegates are awarded an IOSH Managing Safely certificate.

What results can I expect?

- Greater productivity, from fewer

hours lost due to sickness and accidents - Improved company-wide safety awareness culture and appreciation of safety measures - Active staff involvement to improve the workplace - Enhanced reputation within your supply chain Managing Safely is delivered

by IOSH’s network of approved training providers.

Need help or want to know more? www.iosh.co.uk/managingsafely Email courses@iosh.co.uk A one-day Managing Safely Refresher course is available to delegates who have already completed the full Managing Safely course.

These courses are approved by Ministry of Labor and supported by Tamkeen

Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, The Grange, Highfield Drive, Wigston, Leicestershire LE18 1NN, UK.

COM4010-2/270117/PDF

Working Safely Everyone at work needs to understand the importance of safety and health

At IOSH we know that we need to really inspire our training delegates to get them engaged with safety and health. And if the learning is enjoyable and stimulating, we stand a better chance of getting across vital safety and health messages.

Working Safely is a completely different approach to safety and health training.

It’s a high-impact programme designed to be fun and get people fully involved.

The first-class, jargon-free content is based on what people need to know in practice, and not off-putting legal language.

Who is Working Safely for?

Working Safely is for people at any level, in any sector worldwide, who need a grounding in the essentials of safety and health. It gives everyone at work an understanding of why they must ‘work safely’ – and does it in an enjoyable way.

What does the business get?

- Peace of mind from training that’s designed and quality-controlled

by IOSH – the Chartered body for safety and health professionals - Minimal disruption to working days and shifts – the programme is delivered in just one day, including the assessment

- Efficient and effective learning –

health, safety and environmental basics are covered in a single, self-contained session - Globally-recognised, respected and certificated training for its staff - Memorable and thought-provoking facts and case studies from around the world, to help reinforce learning throughout the course. Each module is backed by scenarios from genuine work situations. The course includes interactive games and quizzes, helping delegates to learn in a refreshingly informal way.

What results can I expect?

- Greater productivity, from fewer

hours lost due to sickness and accidents - Improved company-wide safety awareness culture and appreciation of safety measures - Active staff involvement to improve the workplace - Enhanced reputation within the supply chain Working Safely is delivered by IOSH’s network of approved training providers.

Working Safely covers…

- An outline of occupational safety and health - Defining hazard and risk - Identifying common hazards - Improving safety performance

Need help or want to know more? www.iosh.co.uk/workingsafely Email courses@iosh.co.uk

Successful delegates are awarded an IOSH Working Safely certificate and/or passport card.

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

www.agoratrainingservices.ae Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, The Grange, Highfield Drive, Wigston, Leicestershire LE18 1NN, UK.

COM4010-1/270117/PDF

People & Culture

Iranian woman jailed for 15 years for taking off her hijab

Saba Kord Afshari, 20, sentenced to 24 years in jail for participating in protests in Iran, including 15 years for removing her hijab.

A

n Iranian women’s rights activist has been jailed for a total of 24 years including a 15-year term for ‘spreading prostitution by taking off her hijab’.

Saba Kord Afshari, 20, was handed the sentence by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court after being found guilty of removing her headscarf as well as ‘spreading propaganda against the state’ and ‘assembly and collusion’.

Afshari and her mother, Raheleh Ahmadi, had been prominent members of the White Wednesdays protest group, which spoke out against the compulsory hijab.

The pair routinely posted videos of themselves walking around the streets of Tehran without their headscarves to encourage other women to flout the law.

She was first arrested in the Iranian capital in August last year and jailed for a year, according to Iran Human Rights Monitor.

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Gulf Insider September 2019

Human rights groups say Afshari’s mother Raheleh Ahmadi (right), who also took part in the protests, was also arrested in an attempt to force her to make a confession, which she refused.

Afshari was released in February but continued to protest against human rights abuses by the Iranian regime, which saw her re-arrested in June.

She eventually ended up in the women’s wing of Evin Prison, in Tehran, where human rights groups say she was pressured into making video confessions of her crimes.

Despite her mother also being arrested, Afshari refused to record the videos.

On August 19 she was brought for trial, and on August 27 her lawyer says he was informed of the new sentence.

The punishment was increased by half because of ‘numerous charges and previous records’, Iran Human Rights Monitor said.

Three other female rights activists - Shima Babaii, Mojgan Lali, and Shaghayegh Mahaki - were also jailed for a total of 18 years. The trio were given six years each for ‘association and collusion against national security’ and ‘propaganda against the state’.

Iranian women warned they face prison if they post photos of themselves without a hijab.

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ranians sending images to a US-based activist over an antiheadscarf campaign could now face up to 10 years in prison, it has emerged.

Masih Alinejad founded the ‘White Wednesdays’ campaign in Iran to encourage women to post photographs of themselves without headscarves online as a way of opposing the compulsory hijab.

The semi-official Fars news agency has quoted the head of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Mousa

People & Culture

The Islamic headscarf is mandatory in public for all women in Iran. Those who violate the rule are usually sentenced to two months in prison or less, and fined around $25.

Ghazanfarabadi, as saying that ‘those who film themselves or others while removing the hijab and send photos to this woman ... will be sentenced to between one and 10 years in prison.’

The Islamic headscarf is mandatory in public for all women in Iran. Those who violate the rule are usually sentenced to two months in prison or less, and fined around $25. Lately, a few daring women in Iran’s capital have been taking off their mandatory headscarves in public, risking arrest and drawing the ire of hardliners.

The simple act of walking has become a display of defiance for one young Iranian woman who often moves in Tehran’s streets without a hijab. With every step, she risks harassment or even arrest by Iran’s morality police, whose job is to enforce the strict dress code imposed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The hijab debate has further polarised Iranians at a time when the country is buckling under unprecedented US sanctions imposed since the Trump administration pulled out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers last year.

It is unclear to what extent the government can enforce hijab compliance amid an economic malaise, including a currency collapse and rising housing prices. There is anecdotal evidence that more women are pushing

back against the dress code, trying to redefine red lines as they test the response of the ruling Shiite Muslim clergy and their security agencies.

The struggle against compulsory headscarves first made headlines in December 2017 when a woman climbed on a utility box in Tehran’s Revolution Street, waving her hijab on a stick. More than three dozen protesters have been detained since, including nine who are currently in detention, said Alinejad.

Despite attempts to silence protesters, public debate has intensified, amplified by social media.

Last month, a widely watched online video showed a security agent grab an unveiled teenage girl and violently push her into the back of a police car, prompting widespread criticism.

President Hassan Rouhani and Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have supported a softer attitude towards women who do not comply with the official dress code. However, hardliners opposed to such easing have become more influential as the nuclear deal is faltering. They have called for harsh punishment, even lashes, arguing that allowing women to show their hair leads to moral decay and the disintegration of families.

The judiciary recently urged Iranians to inform on women without hijabs by sending photos and videos to designated social media accounts.

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People & Culture

Dubai Police

issue photo warning Dubai residents warned they risk hefty fines or jail time for taking photos of others.

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ubai Police posted a message on Twitter last month stating; “filming or taking photos of others without their consent is punishable by law”.

It was not the first time police issued this warning to the public.

In 2015, the force announced it was stepping up beach patrols to help maintain the safety of residents and tourists in the city. Among some of the steps taken to deter people from taking sly pictures without a person’s consent included the deployment of plain clothes officers on public beaches, as well as the addition of more security cameras on site.

Last year, 289 people were arrested for taking photos of women on the

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The laws pertaining to the privacy of an individual are taken very seriously in the UAE. beach without consent, according to Dubai Police statistics.

The laws pertaining to the privacy of an individual are taken very seriously in the UAE. While this latest warning from Dubai Police hones in on “beachgoers”, Article 378 of the UAE Penal Code (Federal Law 3 of 1987) and Article 21 of the UAE Cyber Crime Law (Federal Law No. 5 of 2012) refers to any photo or

video taken that may breach the privacy of individuals.

Those who break the law can face hefty financial penalties. In some cases — depending on how a picture and/or video is used — jail time or deportation can be handed down too.

This year, a person was arrested in Dubai after uploading a video that quickly went viral across the UAE. The incident showed a hotel worker on the bonnet of a moving car. Although the person behind the camera was not directly involved in the incident, they were arrested for breaching the law by uploading the video to a social media platform.

People have even faced prosecution for uploading to social media photos of cars that were selfishly parked.

News Roundup

Bahrain receives season’s first cruise ship

Bahrain to welcome new cleanliness law

A cruise ship carrying almost 2300 passengers docked at Khalifa bin Salman Port were cleared off the entry procedures smoothly, stated the Customs Affairs.

Karnika, India’s first premier cruise ship arrived from Dubai carrying 1,710 passengers and 562 crew members. Hosting the cruise ships comes as part of the BTEA’s long term strategy to further develop the Kingdom’s tourism sector which contributes towards the Kingdom’s economy and the 2030 Economic Vision.

A new cleanliness law is set to be finalized

by September 2019 according to the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry.

An awareness campaign to educate citizens and residents of the new law will be launched as part of implementing the new law in Bahrain.

In May of this year, Law 10/2019 was issued regarding cleanliness imposing a fine of up to BD300 for violating norms related to public cleanliness. Littering, urinating or spitting are some of the violations that will be heavily penalized under the new law. The law imposes higher fines of up to BD1, 000 for transporting garbage or dangerous substances without a license.

Bahrain: Largest public school project completed The works ministry has completed the largest public school project in Jau and handed it over to the Ministry of Education.

Works Affairs said that the school is the largest public school in the kingdom in terms of capacity, cost and facilities.

The school consists of four academic buildings that accommodate 1440 primary, intermediate and secondary students and includes 48 classrooms.

Costing BD 10,847,560, the mega project was implemented within the GCC Development Project, supported by the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) and built by the Bahraini-Saudi Arabian consortium of Al Moayed and Nasma Contracting.

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Business

Bank Robberies In A Digital Age

From phishing to counterfeit cheques, there are a number of crimes that should concern information security executives, says Srikant Ranganathan, Senior Director.

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espite the vast sums that the finance sector spends on advanced security systems and innovations, financial crime continues to trouble many. From phishing to counterfeit cheques, there are a number of crimes that should concern information security executives, not least digital bank robberies - robberies carried out on banks using computers, rather than the explosives and drills of classic Hollywood heists. Either way, criminals make off with a lot of money that have no right to.

1. Survey and prepare:

2. Penetrate internal networks

Attacks start with an attempt to gather as much information about the target as possible. Since the use of external resources can be detected by security systems, criminals exploit passive methods to obtain information, for example, identifying domain names and addresses belonging to the bank.

There is a lot of other information around that we might not necessarily recognize as useful to a digital bank robber:

After doing the ground work, attackers go on the offensive. They phish, exploit network vulnerabilities and use thirdparty resources to infect networks – all in the hope of accessing the target’s local area network (LAN).

How do digital robberies work?

• Names, email addresses, telephone numbers and positions of employees

Typically, intruders choose their targets based on their technical expertise, available tools and knowledge of internal banking processes.

The methodology is relatively straightforward:

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• Information about network perimeter systems and software

• Partners and contractors, as well as their systems and employees • Business processes

3. Attack and gain a foothold in the network Once criminals have gained access to the bank’s intranet, they need to obtain local administrator privileges to continue their attack. Success relies on insufficient system protection against internal attackers. Common vulnerabilities include: • Use of outdated software • Failure to install security updates • Configuration errors (including excessive user and software privileges, as well as setting local

Business

administrator passwords through group policies) • Use of dictionary passwords by privileged users • Absence of two-factor authentication for access to critical systems

Ten most common vulnerabilities on the network (percentage of banks)

where the target banking systems are and find the most convenient ways to access them. Criminals examine users’ workstations in search of files indicating that a particular workstation has worked with bank applications.

Specialised software is usually used to store passwords for critical systems on corporate networks. An intruder with local administrator privileges can copy the memory dump, extract passwords to access application or encrypted databases, and obtain clear text passwords to critical bank applications, including core banking systems, SWIFT and ATM management workstations.

Theft methods include: • Transferring funds to fictitious accounts through interbank payment systems • Transferring funds to cryptocurrency wallets • Controlling bank cards and accounts • Controlling ATMs

5. Conceal traces

Common vulnerabilities in bank network security mechanisms include: • Vulnerabilities in web applications • Insufficient network security • Server configuration flaws • Deficiencies in user account and password management

Once a criminal has user privileges in a local host, they can intercept credentials transmitted through the network, extract credentials from the operating system’s memory, exert brute force and exploit LAN vulnerabilities. He (or she) can access group policies and extract credentials, giving full access to LAN hosts. Working carefully and without arousing suspicion, the criminal will attempt to extract more credentials from the operating system’s memory, connect to other network hosts and extract more credentials – and establish full access to the domain controller.

4. Compromise banking systems and steal funds After gaining a foothold in the network, criminals need to understand

To impede investigations, criminals try to conceal their traces. Although many attackers use RAM-resident malware, signs of their presence still remain: entries in event logs, changes in registries, and other hooks. Some intruders prefer to take a less surgical approach, erasing boot records and hard disk partition tables on network hosts and disabling them entirely.

Financial crime continues to pose a major threat to the region’s financial services industry. While the industry remains committed to tackling all of its many different forms, eradicating the threat - including digital bank robberies requires the combined efforts of not just the banks themselves but also industry bodies, regulators and professional services companies like Keypoint. Our seasoned team of industries experts have the expertise and skills sets organisations need to fight against a range of cyber-crimes, including digital bank robberies.

For more details on Keypoint’s services, please visit keypoint.com

Gulf Insider September 2019

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Money & Business

Arab Bank One of the largest global Arab banking networks with over 600 branches spanning five continents.

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stablished in 1930, Arab Bank headquartered in Amman, Jordan has one of the largest global Arab banking networks with over 600 branches spanning five continents.

Arab Bank’s extensive network covers key financial markets and centers such as London, Dubai, Singapore, Geneva, Paris, Frankfurt, Sydney and Bahrain.

Across its global network, the bank provides a wide range of financial solutions through its main business lines which entail Consumer Banking, Corporate and Institutional Banking and Treasury, serving individuals, corporations and other financial institutions. As one of the leading banks in the MENA region, Arab Bank plays an integral role in financing vital infrastructure projects and strategic industries throughout the region.

In the first half of 2019, Arab Bank Group reported net income after tax of USD 453.2 million. Total assets amounted to USD 48.3billion and owners’ equity reached USD 8.7 billion.

Arab Bank received several international awards and recognitions from reputable international parties, most notably the award for Best Bank

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Gulf Insider September 2019

Arab Bank plays an integral role in financing vital infrastructure projects and strategic industries throughout the region. in the Middle East 2019 from Global Finance magazine - New York (for four consecutive years) and the Middle East’s Best Bank 2019 from Euromoney magazine - London.

The list of awards Arab Bank received during 2019 and 2018 also included Best Bank in Jordan from Global Finance, Euromoney, Asiamoney and EMEA Finance magazines and Bank of the Year from The Banker magazine. Arab Bank also received several awards from Global Finance magazine including: Best Trade Finance Provider in the

Middle East, Jordan and Morocco, Best Foreign Exchange Provider in Jordan, Best Private Bank in Jordan, and Best Treasury and Cash Management Provider in Jordan, Morocco and Bahrain, Lebanon and Qatar. The bank was also awarded Best Trade Finance Bank in Jordan from Global Trade Review magazine and Palestine’s Best Bank from Euromoney magazine.

Furthermore, the bank was awarded Best Bank for SMEs in the Middle East from Euromoney, Best FX Services in the Middle East, Best Transactional Bank for Financial Institutions in the Middle East and Best Trade Finance Services in the Middle East from EMEA Finance, as well as Best Digital Bank in the Middle East from Union of Arab Banks and Best Bank for Banking Services Quality in the Middle East from World Union of Arab Bankers.

The bank was also awarded 20 global awards from Global Finance in recognition of its consumer and corporate digital banking services across the Middle East during 2019 and 2018.

For more information, please visit: www.arabbank.com

News Roundup

Saudi employers fined for delayed salary payments The Ministry of Labor and Social Development will levy a fine of SR 3,000 per staff member on any private establishment for delayed salary payments to its employees.

The ministry sources revealed a fine of SR10,000 for each employee in case end of service benefits (ESB) is delayed by a maximum period of two weeks.

The ministry warned that heavy fines will be applied on establishments which employ workers without written and documented work contract if they make their staff work for more than eight hours a day or refuse to give them their weekly off days or annual vacations or delay salary payments.

According to Article 90 of the Labor Law, the payment of the workers’ wages shall be in Saudi Arabia’s official currency.

According to Article 90 of the Labor Law, the wages shall be paid during working hours and at the workplace or, with the consent of the worker, through accredited banks in the Kingdom.

Abu Dhabi: Oil demand to rise According to industry forecasts, global oil demand will increase by at least 10 million barrels per day by 2040, while natural gas demand is set to grow by 40 percent and petrochemicals by 60 percent.

Oil, gas and petrochemical projects valued at more than $859 billion (BD 323,855,885,000.apx) are either underway or planned in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.

Of these, $283 billion worth of projects is being implemented as the region gets ready to meet the forecast increases in demand for energy over the next two decades.

Dubai: Property price crash The UAE has witnessed a crash in property prices and a steep fall in rent leading to the two powerhouses, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, both suffering a huge overhang of empty residential properties.

Last quarter, the house prices in Dubai reached the lowest level in a decade, as per the data revealed by the UAE based property firm, Cavendish Maxwell. The average single-family home price reduced by 24% and settled at AED 1.82 million (US$495,500).

This drastic decline was not seen over the last decade even during a global recession and regional economic meltdowns.

Dubai’s property market has been one of the world’s most volatile. Dubai saw one of the world’s worst housing crashes from Q3 2008 to Q3 2011 with house prices plunging by 53%.

House prices in Dubai are expected to remain subdued this year, mainly due to huge supply.

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Hospitality

Summery September Elite summer packages will continue for the month of September by offering all guest memorable moments.

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elebrate a vibrant September with your family and friends and explore the real Elite hospitality from every member of our friendly team. This September Elite Hospitality Group of hotels will offer guest a splendid time to refresh you till the rest of the summer.

Our Elite hotels offer various choices for all guests, real home feel with a variety of suite type rooms of one and two and three bed room suites fully furnished with a modern touch with sea and city views.

Guests can select any of our hotels Elite Resort & Spa, Elite Grande Hotel and Elite Seef Residence & Hotel stay for the month of September and avail the special rates with more including a 10% discount on food and beverages, access to VIP facilities and more.

Elite Resort & Spa Muharraq showcases Al Naseem pool side which will offer live music, range of khaleeji and Arabic songs, Grill Buffet, sheisha, selection of house beverages, mocktails and cocktails at special rate of BD 12 net per person.

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This September Elite Hospitality Group of hotels will offer guest a splendid time to refresh you till the rest of the summer.

International cuisines with our Friday brunch at Elite Resort & SPA children will have a great time with activities by the pool side featuring a variety of fun games face painting and entertained with upbeat songs throughout the afternoon.

Friday brunch packages from 12:30 PM to 4 PM are priced at BD 20 Net inclusive of house beverages and selected drinks, BD 12 Net inclusive of selected nonalcoholic beverages and BD 6 Net for kids.

Elite Seef Residence & Hotel will be entertaining guest with the most

famous Tarab & Arabic Grills Nights starting from 7pm to 12 Midnight Live Arabic Entertainment at BD 10 Net. Our “AL WAHA Pool Level” will offer happy hour all day with special rates on various beverages at BD 2 net on wards on daily basis from 11am till Midnight.

Elite Grande Hotel is the perfect destination for families and business guest will offer a business lunch with set menu at BD 5.5 Net. The Elite Grande Hotel Thursday and Friday Family packaged Lunch buffet offers guests with cooking favorite pasta or top their own choice of pizza at very special price of BD 18 Net for a family of four persons at the Julio’s All Day Dining Restaurant.

Elite Grande Hotel evening’s promises a relaxing time at Zodiac bar lounge with panoramic view to the city, while Pool side H20 will have amazing DJs to celebrate a pool party night with live cooking and fresh grills at BD 14.500 Net with unlimited soft drinks inclusive.

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

News Roundup

Dubai: Robots replace humans at world’s first Ali Café The UAE’s ambition to be a global leader in AI technology has been enhanced further with the announcement that the country is set to open the world’s first AI-themed café.

It may sound like something out of a science fiction movie, but RoboCafe, in Dubai Festival City, is almost ready to swing into operation, with three robots waiting to get started.

Customers visiting this futuristic food and beverage outlet will pace their order through a tablet at the entrance. Then it’s over to the robots, which are fashioned like functioning arms.

Using the very latest technology and AI they will be able to take the order, produce the drinks or dishes and serve them.

Yasmin El Enazi, customer happiness manager at Robocafe, said: “The whole cafe will be fully autonomous. Customers can place their order through a tablet at the entrance, and leave it to the robot arms to serve your brew. In addition to serving coffee, they’re touted to perform musical and light shows too.”

The café will have a capacity to serve 60 people, while it is understood the menu will consist of a range of beverages, such as tea and coffee, as well as a selection of snacks.

Kuwait: Expats banned from fish auctions Expatriates in Kuwait have been banned from participating in fish auctions unless they are permitted by the relevant authorities.

According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the objective of the decision is to prevent ‘manipulation of fish prices’ after receiving numerous complaints that expatriates allegedly raise the price of fish in a bid to make more profits.

The new circular will regulate the market “to guarantee the stability of prices and regulate the auction process,” as well as ensure supervision to “prevent manipulation’’.

Saudi: Instant labor visa service launched The Ministry of Labor and Social Development announced the launch of instant labor visa service through its Qiwa electronic portal. This will enable those private sector firms, which achieved a higher percentage of Saudization and full compliance of the ministry’s regulations, to obtain visa instantly without going through the long recruitment process that takes normally around eight months.

There are several prerequisites for private companies and establishments to enjoy this privilege and that includes career advertising and fulfilling other requirements related to the size of the firm and the volume of contracts.

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News Roundup

Oman: Biggest lifestyle destination to open by March 2021 Majid Al Futtaim, a leading shopping mall and leisure pioneer across the region, said that construction of Mall of Oman, its fifth and biggest lifestyle destination in Oman, is on track, having completed two major infrastructure milestones.

Mall of Oman, Majid Al Futtaim’s fifth and biggest lifestyle destination in the sultanate, is on track after the completion of two major infrastructure milestones.

Set to open by March 2021, the Mall of Oman confirmed delivery of new roads and flyovers, connecting the mall to the Muscat Expressway, and the completion of the Muscat Electricity Distribution Company (MEDC) Primary Substation.

Considered to be the biggest project of its kind in the sultanate, Mall of Oman will have 145,000 sq m of retail space, dining outlets and a range of lifestyle experiences.

The mall will also include Oman’s largest VOX Cinemas, a Magic Planet family entertainment centre, a 12,200

sq m Carrefour Hypermarket and the largest indoor snow park in the sultanate.

The development of Mall of Oman is expected to contribute to the sultanate’s Vision 2040 on economic diversification by creating job opportunities and raising the living standard of its citizens and residents.

To ease access to the mall, an extensive roads upgrade to interchange number 6 on the Muscat Expressway has been completed, along with four new bridges and an underpass serving the mall. The new access will add to the convenience of visiting the mall as it will directly lead to the 5,200 dedicated parking bays. More than a kilometre of the 12-metre-high retaining walls are now in place, as well as the initial road directional signage for Mall of Oman.

Bahrain wins West Asian Football Championship Bahrain: 73% of expats earn less than BD 200 A report by General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) has revealed that that 73% of the insured expats do not exceed a monthly salary of 200 dinars.

The number of insured non-Bahrainis up to the first half of 2019 reached 481,393 expats workers, the vast majority of them are males by up to 442,049, while the number of expats insured females is 39,344 workers.

The number of insured expats decreased compared to last year, as the number of insured expats was 397,366. The report showed that 19,026 of the insured expats exceed a monthly salary of 1,000 dinars, making 4% of the total insured expats.

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Bahrain won the 2019 West Asian Football Federation Championship (WAFF) after defeating Iraq 1-0 in the final.

Bahrain’s Essa Ali scored in minute 38 to help his country’s team win this tournament for the first time in its history. The Bahraini team reached the final of the tournament after leading Group B with seven points from a win over Jordan and another against Kuwait and a draw with Saudi Arabia.

Money

Bahrain:

28% of residential property and 22% of offices vacant Average monthly residential rent drops more than 10% in a year.

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n increasing number of residential developments are reducing the average monthly rent in Bahrain.

According to a just published report, the vacancy rate in Bahrain’s residential market stands at around 28%.

The average current value for a residential apartment amounts to BD 4.60/sq.m/month, more than a 10% drop compared to the same period last year.

The statistics were published by Kuwait-based KAMCO Investment Company KSC (KAMCO), a subsidiary of United Gulf Bank which specialises in asset management and financial services in Kuwait and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Bahrain Real Estate Investment Company (Edamah), one of the Kingdom’s leading property developers revealed that the vacancy rate in the Southern Governorate is more in comparison to the other Governorates.

The Southern Governorate is the largest in terms of area among the four

The average current value for a residential apartment amounts 10% drop compared to the same period last year.

Governorates and consists of Jaww, Askar, Awali, Riffa and Zallaq.

Earlier this year, PropertyFinder, an online real estate platform, ranked West Riffa, Riffa Al Sharqi, and North Riffa as the most affordable residential areas for apartments.

North Riffa, Diyar Al Muharraq and West Riffa were ranked the most affordable areas for villa rentals while Seef District and Manama remain the highest priced for office rentals.

With the vacancy rate for office real

estate crossing 22%, landlords continue to remain under pressure to find tenants to occupy vacant office spaces despite monthly rents continuing to decline.

The geopolitical situation has also contributed to the decline in residential and office rentals.

“The geopolitical situation has considerably led to tenants renegotiating their lease terms and potential investors to put a hold on their expansion plans until further notice,” says Mr. Raed Hatem, Edamah’s Head of Asset Management.

“The leasing market trend is declining across all asset classes, with some areas of Bahrain being noticeably affected more than others. Currently, it is a buyers market, where transactions are seen at the buyer’s price,” added Mr. Hatem.

According to the Bahrain eGovernment official website, there are currently ten major real estate development projects for a number of residential as well as office properties across the country.

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Experts Reveal Life Secrets

Part 14

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

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

How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done Gulf Insider’s 5 top ‘killer apps’ to take control of your work day.

1. To-do lists are evil. Schedule everything - To-do lists by themselves

are useless. They’re just the first step.

You have to assign them time on your schedule. It makes you be realistic about what you can get done. It allows you to do tasks when it’s efficient.

Until it’s on your calendar and assigned an hour, it’s just a list of wishful thinking. Scheduling forces you to confront the reality of how much

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time you actually have and how long things will take. Now that you look at the whole picture you’re able to get something productive out of every free hour you have in your workday. You not only squeeze more work in but you’re able to put work into places where you can do it best.

Experts agree that if you don’t consider how long things take, you’re setting yourself up for failure. You need to have a plan, otherwise you’ll waste

time. Assigning work to times reduces the urge to procrastinate. You are no longer deciding whether or not to work during a given period; the decision is already made.”

Research shows that it’s even a good idea to schedule what you do with your free time. It increases quality of life.

2. Assume you’re going home at 5:30 - Work will fill the space it’s given.

Give it 24/7 and guess what happens?

You need boundaries if you want work/ life balance. But this also helps you work better because it forces you to be efficient.

By setting a deadline of 5:30 and then scheduling tasks you can get control over that hurricane of duties.

Fix your ideal schedule, then work backwards to make everything fit — ruthlessly culling obligations, turning people down, becoming hard to reach, and shedding marginally useful tasks along the way. Make that fixed schedule a reality and it forces any number of really smart and useful inthe-moment productivity decisions.

3. Make a plan for the entire week - You’ll never get ahead of the

game by only looking at today. Lay out a plan for the week. Try to come up with the best thing to do with each day. Maybe you think it’s enough to run down the week’s duties in your head.

Nope. Studies show writing things down makes you more likely to follow through. A good idea is to write it in an email and send it to yourself.

Research shows you spend your time more wisely when you follow a plan. Preliminary analysis from CEOs in India found that a firm’s sales increased as the CEO worked more hours. But more intriguingly, the correlation between CEO time use and output was driven entirely by hours spent in planned activities. Planning doesn’t have to mean that the hours are spent in meetings, though meetings with employees were correlated with higher sales; it’s just that CEO time is a limited and valuable resource, and planning how it should be allocated increases the chances that it’s spent in productive ways.

Experts Reveal Life Secrets

4. Do very few things, but be awesome at them - You need to

do fewer things. Everything is not essential. You say “yes” to more than you need to. Ask “What’s creating real value in my life?” And then eliminate as much of the rest as you can. You’re judged on what you do best so if you want to have as much success as possible you’re always better off doing fewer things but doing those things better. People say yes to too much. Say no to most things. Be ruthless about avoiding or purging tasks if you realize they’re not providing much value. Little annoying tasks drain the life out of you.

So do less. And be amazing at those things.

5. Less shallow work, focus on the deep stuff - All work is not created

equal. We deal with two fundamentally different types of work, Shallow and Deep: Shallow work is little stuff like email, meetings, moving information around. Things that are not really using your talents. Deep work pushes your current abilities to their limits.

It produces high value results and improves your skills. And what’s the problem? Most of us are “drowning in the shallows.”

People who are the most busy often are getting a lot less done of significance than the people who are able to stop by 5PM every day. That’s because the whole reason they need to work at night and on the weekends is because their work life has become full of just shallows. They’re responding to messages, moving information around and being a human network router.

These things are very time consuming and very low value.

Nobody became CEO because they responded to more email or went to more meetings. Shallow work stops you from getting fired — but deep work is what gets you promoted. Give yourself big blocks of uninterrupted time to make things of value.

Work is really just craftsmanship. It’s just that what you’re crafting results and not carved wood, and the more you think about it like a craftsman, the happier and more satisfied you’ll be, not to mention more successful.

3 Lies You Tell Yourself That Kill Your Productivity

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ne of the trickiest things about trying to be more productive is how much we deceive ourselves.

Productivity lies can be sly, making you feel better in the moment as you fall behind, letting priorities slip. It’s better to work smarter than work harder — and part of working smarter is to be more truthful about why you choose to do, or not do. Here’s how to face the truth when you catch yourself claiming these three common productivity lies.

1. I’m going to catch up later - The

game of catch up usually never ends.

It’s the old procrastination rationalization: “I’ll do it later!” you tell yourself, as you imagine this paragon of productivity who looks like you, zipping through a hundred complex tasks in one weekend.

That person doesn’t exist. Borrowing time from the future is like having bad credit. It’s much harder than you-in-thepast figured it will be to pay it all off because you’re likely to continue your existing pattern of behavior.

Focus on what’s important. That means setting and sticking to priorities by deliberately scheduling or allotting time to work on them, and trying your best to be at peace at letting many things go.

2. I just don’t have any time - When there never seems to be enough time, you’re left with the feeling that you’re constantly behind. We feel too busy, then we start feeling stressed and

guilty, which disrupts our motivation and productivity, and then sink deeper into feeling like there’s never enough time.

Research has shown that one of the basic keys to understanding time management is managing your sense of control. When you perceive more control over how you spend your time, it boosts happiness, because you don’t feel like you’re at the mercy of, often competing, demands. The simple act of scheduling your tasks and goals on a calendar, as you would a business meeting, will increase your sense of control. Making appointments for non-work, me-time type activities is incredibly powerful, because these are the important priorities that tend to get pushed off — whether it’s making time for family and friends, or reading more books.

3. I’m productive because I’ve been so busy - There are a million ways to

fill your day. Sometimes busyness can feel satisfyingly productive but it actually doesn’t have much depth, while draining you of energy. This requires a hard look at what you mean by being productive.

Take a pause at the end of the day to reflect on what you got done, rather than focusing on the many things you have left to do. Examine whether you’ve spent the day wisely. A routine of self-reflection will prompt reevaluation, boost learning, help you plan and prioritize, and gain insight into how you can work better. Do less overall, but do more of what matters.

Gulf Insider September 2019

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News Roundup

Bahrain: Stealing spree ends as police nab gang members A gang of elusive shop thieves, who allegedly carried out stealing spree at many shops, were finally nabbed by police.

The gang members are accused of carrying out thefts at automobile spare part shops.

One shop owner alone reported a theft worth over BD2, 000. The gang members allegedly stole spare parts as well as cash from the shop.

Investigations revealed that the gang was involved in 10 similar thefts in the Naim area.

CCTV footage from a shop adjoining the place, where the theft took place was examined and officers concluded that a man with his face covered, exiting from a white sedan was the prime suspect. The suspects were identified and called to the police station. When confronted with evidence, they initially refused to admit they were involved but they confessed to the crime when they were shown all the CCTV footage and other evidence.

It emerged later that the suspects had been involved in a series of similar thefts and in carrying out the latest theft; they had stolen the minibus from the Naim area. In all, the gang admitted having carried out 10 thefts in the area.

The investigation head confirmed the police were making all efforts to control such incidents and bring the culprits to justice.

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Gulf Insider September 2019

Bahrain: Firm control on driving instructors demanded Hoorat Aali residents have submitted a number of letters and complaints to officials about training driving trainees in their residential neighborhoods.

The area of Hoorat Aali is very close to the driving school located in Aali.

Residents pointed out that they reached an extent where they prevent their children from going outside the hous fearing they will be harmed. They added that the issue of training driving trainees in their residential neighborhoods cause huge traffic congestion in addition to the kindergartens, schools and other public facilities in the area.

Bahrain: 941,000 use public transport per month Recent statistics reveal that the number of passengers using public transportation since 2015 July reached 47,360,648 million, at a monthly rate of 941,749 passengers. The information was published by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT). Based on a study of Bahrain’s transportation needs, the MTT revamped the bus service in April 2015, with a full upgrade of the network to increase users and coverage.

Car News & Reviews

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan 2020

Mini Countryman S

Audi RS6

London Supercars

Car Bahrain

Big

Mini

Gulf Insider experiences the biggest MINI ever!

Nicholas Cooksey, the author of this article is the publisher of Arabian Magazines, Gulf Insider Media, and a jury member with the Middle East Car of the Year Awards (MECOTY).

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wrapped steering wheel, 40/20/40-split rear seats, ambient lighting, Bluetooth, 6.5-inch display screen, and a sixspeaker audio system with a USB port.

There are also lots of optional extras available to choose from that will allow an owner to customize their own Countryman in all manner of ways.

Final verdict - it is a sporty, fun alternative to other crossovers in its class, and the classic MINI design helps it stand out from the crowd. It comes loaded with lots of features and all the materials used are of high quality. In fact, the interior is one of the nicest in its class.

T

he MINI Countryman Cooper S ALL4 is a compact crossover and the largest model in Mini’s lineup. We drove the MINI Countryman Cooper S ALL4, which is the sporty edition of the standard Countryman with various upgrades including a bigger engine and more power (and there’s also an even more powerful John Cooper Works edition available).

Under the hood there is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (189 hp, 207 lb-ft) with an eightspeed auto transmission. This gives it all the power needed to effortlessly zip around the roads of Bahrain.

The car feels fun to drive and is more entertaining than most other compact crossovers. It has good suspension - its stiffness enables the bulky Countryman to corner like it’s a hot hatch. The ride is comfortable and the cabin is fairly quiet

To arrange your own test drive in Bahrain call Euro Motors on 17750750

Fun and more entertaining than most other compact crossovers… and it corners like a ‘hot hatch’. and feels spacious compared to other MINI versions.

Buyers get a lot of features with the MINI Countryman Cooper S ALL4 including 18 inch wheels, summer performance run-flat tires, front sport seats, automatic headlights, foglights, automatic wipers, roof rails, panoramic sunroof, rearview camera, rear parking sensors, push-button ignition, leather-

MINI Countryman Cooper S ALL4

Prices start from BD 15,000

Alternative options: BMW X1 Starting Price: BD 15,000

Mercedes GLC Starting Price: BD 21, 390

Gulf Insider September 2019

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

Porsche Panamera GTS The Panamera just got even better

Ferrari GTC4 Lusso 2 Reviews

Driving this car makes a statement to everyone else on the road that you are not a normal traffic user

2 Reviews

Ferrari 812 Superfast

Ferrari’s FF replacement From Price on Application

Euro Motors, 17 734 734

From Price on Application

From BD 43,702 Porsche Centre,17 459 911

BMW 3 Series

Audi Q8

Rolls-Royce Cullinan

The elegance of a 4 door luxury coupe with the versatility of an SUV

The first ever SUV produced by Rolls Royce

The ultimate luxury compact From BD 17,995

Euro Motors, 17 750 750

2 Reviews

Euro Motors, 17 734 734

From BD 32,490

Audi Bahrain, 17 459 933

Mercedes Benz A – Class

Bentley Continental GT

The new high tech entry level compact from Mercedes

Looks rich, proud, and powerful – but with beauty

From BD 15,530

From Price on Application Behbehani Brothers, 17 459 800

Al Haddad Motors,17 785 454 44

Gulf Insider September 2019

From BD 170,000

Euro Motors, 17 750 750

Lamborghini Urus Lamborghini’s first ever SUV unveiled in Bahrain From BD 95,000 Behbehani Brothers, 17 459 800

Car Bahrain

600 horsepower MONSTER Audi’s new RS 6 Avant – the world’s most practical street legal race car!

L

ast month Gulf Insider was invited to Munich for a sneak preview of Audi’s soon to be launched range of high performance cars carrying the S and RS badges.

Audi Sport is celebrating 25 years of their high performance division and is launching six new models before the end of 2019. Motor manufacturers normally take years to release six cars, but Audi’s doing it over just a few months.

These are the company’s high performance models.

“S” models come with quattro four-wheel drive as standard, high performance engines, extra powerful brakes, stiffer suspension, special body styling, and carbon fibre interior trims.

“RS”, which stands for RennSport German for Racing Sport, offers even more performance. Any Audi carrying the RS badge is a genuine supercar.

Any Audi carrying the RS badge is a genuine supercar.

They are effectively street legal race cars.

Before being allowed to see the cars we were instructed to sign a document stating that we would not publish information or photos until we

Nicholas Cooksey, the author of this article is the publisher of Arabian Magazines, Gulf Insider Media, and a jury member with the Middle East Car of the Year Awards (MECOTY).

Gulf Insider September 2019

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Car Bahrain

The latest RS 6 has an outrageously powerful 600 horsepower 4.0 TFSI twin-turbo V8 bolstered by a 48V mild-hybrid system.

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Gulf Insider September 2019

were informed their news embargo had been lifted. We were not allowed to photograph the cars and the team at Audi Sport insisted on putting stickers on the lenses of our phones just in case we forgot this!

Only after this were we taken to a warehouse and shown each of the soon to be launched beauties. Well, we’ve just been informed that the news embargo on the new RS 6 has been lifted.

We didn’t have the opportunity to drive any of the new models, but some years back we drove the RS 6 in an earlier generation on the roads of Bahrain and it was awe-inspiring - the fastest station wagon in the world!

The latest RS 6 has an outrageously

powerful 600 horsepower 4.0 TFSI twin-turbo V8 bolstered by a 48V mild hybrid system. 441kW and 800Nm is chanelled via an eight-speed ‘Tiptronic’ auto transmission with torque converter and quattro all-wheel drive. Peak torque is available between 2100 and 4500rpm.

Audi claims this car will go from zero to 100km/h in just 3.8 seconds. Top speed is 305km/h.

The 21-inch alloy wheels have a 10-spoke star design, with larger 22-inch wheels available as an option – and these huge wheels come with huge RS ceramic brakes. Buyers can specify their RS 6 with a matte aluminium, black, or carbon styling packages, with lots of further customisation options available.

The RS 6 provides 565 liters of cargo space with the seats up, and 1,680 litres of space with the rear seats folded flat, making this car the world’s most practical street racer ever!

As soon as it arrives in Bahrain, we hope to take it for a test drive and will share with you our comments.

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

Price in Bahrain yet to be confirmed.

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

Chevrolet Silverado

Volvo S90

Volvo XC 40

We go to the UAE to review this Big Boy’s Toy in the desert

Sweden’s alternative to big German luxury cars

How does this Swedish compact SUV compare to rivals from Germany and Japan?

From Price on Application

From BD 19,900 Motorcity, 17 736 222

Dodge Challenger

Hyundai Sonata

Porsche 911

3 days driving the latest generation of an iconic American muscle car

We go to Korea to drive the latest offerings from Hyundai

Dodge Challenger SXT BD 12,555 Behbehani Brothers,17 459 955

Our reviewer finally drives his dream car – on Germany’s unrestricted autobahns!

Did it live up to his dream?

First Motors, 17 121 121

From BD 49,146 Porsche Centre,17 459 911

Mercedes GLE 450

Hyundai Palisade

BMW X3 and X4 M

Why driving this big luxury SUV put us in a good mood

Hyundai’s big ‘Flagship’ From BD 19,000

We go to America to experience 2 highly powered luxury SUVs

National Motor, 17 457 211

From BD 31,995

Al Haddad Motors,17 785 454

From BD 8,600

First Motors, 17 121 121

From BD 16,900 Motorcity, 17 736 222

X3M Competition from BD 35,500 X4M Competition from BD 36,500 EuroMotors, 17 750 750 Gulf Insider September 2019

47

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

Camp Jeep

Volvo XC90

BMW X7

Two-day event attracts people who love Jeep, off-roading and adventure

The SUV offering so many different seating configurations

Luxury in every nook and cranny

For information on Jeep models

From BD 23,900 Motorcity, 17 736 222

Behbehani Brothers, 17 459 955

From BD 40,000 EuroMotors,17 750 750

Looking to buy a new car?

Audi Q7 The new Q7 has just had a major facelift From BD 30,300 Audi Bahrain, 17 459 933

Follow us carbahrainbh Car Bahrain @BahrainCar

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Gulf Insider September 2019

Enjoy our 40+ test drives and car reviews just scan‌

Car Bahrain

London’s Supercar Season 2019

Gulfies parade their expensive motors, but can they match Russian model’s crystal-covered Lamborghini?

L

ondon’s most exclusive streets are now a showcase for the world’s top supercars each summer. Residents have complained in recent years about the huge noise created by millionaires driving them around the area, many of whom are from the Middle East.

The most valuable car we spotted on the streets of Knightsbridge during August was a rare 417 kph Bugatti Cheyron worth an eye-watering

$3.5million – one of only 500 made by the French manufacturer.

There were Lamborghinis aplenty, including the Swarovski crystalencrusted model owned by Russian model Daria Radionova, which took 700 man hours over two months to apply two million of the crystals.

The 26-year-old, who studied business management in London and has over 150,000 followers on Instagram, now customises fur and leather products for wealthy clients. She has previously had

a Lamborghini Huracan and Mercedes CLS adapted in similar fashion.

With the personalized registration plate - DAR 11A, the Aventador owned

by Miss Radionova is one of just 600 Superveloce versions made of the V12 model.

The council has handed out 148 fines of up to £1,000 to noisy motorists over the past four years, but this has not deterred the wealthy owners and London’s supercar season continues.

Gulf Insider September 2019

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Car Bahrain

A $200,000 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

A Mercedes G500 parked outside Prada and Giorgio Armani 50

Gulf Insider September 2019

Car Bahrain

The most valuable car we spotted on the streets of Knightsbridge was this 417 kph Bugatti Cheyron

Lamborghini Urus from Abu Dhabi

Range Rover from Qatar Gulf Insider September 2019

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Car Bahrain

A crystal-encrusted ÂŁ270,000 Lamborghini Aventador in Knightsbridge, owned by Russian model Daria Radionova

A Lamborghini Aventador Superveloce Jota supercar owned by Jassim Bin Nasser Al-Thani costing at least $450,000 52

Gulf Insider September 2019

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

Ram 1500 When you think of pick-up trucks you don’t usually think of luxury. Enter the Ram 1500

Volvo V40 Cross Country This rival to the Golf GTI was so good we bought one – can’t say better than that!

Porsche Macan The second generation of Porsche’s biggest selling car From BD 22,242 Porsche Centre, 17 459 911

From BD 16,800

Behbehani Brothers, 17 459 955

From BD 9,995 Motorcity, 17 736 222

Ferrari 488 GTB

BMW 7 Series

BMW 8 Series

We spend a thrilling day driving this pre-owned Ferrari

BMW’s iconic big luxury saloon reviewed

BMW takes luxury and comfort to the highest possible level

From Price on Application

Euro Motors, 17 734 734

Audi e-tron Very quick, extraordinarily quite, and 490 lb-ft of torque From BD 35,000

Audi Bahrain, 17 459 933

From BD 44,500 EuroMotors, 17 750 750

Mercedes AMG GLE 43 Mercedes new 385 hp mid-size SUV From BD 29,995

Al Haddad Motors,17 785 454

From BD 44,500 EuroMotors, 17 750 750

Nissan Maxima SR This 3.5 liter V6 offers 300 hp, making it Nissan’s ‘sporty’ saloon From BD 12,000

Y.K. Almoayyed,17 732 732

Gulf Insider September 2019

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Car Bahrain

Not a hatch!

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan 2020 The ‘small Merc’ just got bigger, with added boot.

M

ercedes have just introduced a sedan version to their A-Class, which is the company’s smaller compact car now in its fourth generation. They also say that it’s the world’s most aerodynamically efficient passenger car.

So how does the new sedan version compare with the familiar hatchback?

Well, it’s considerably longer and a bit taller than its hatchback version. It has

Mercedes has made the boot on this sedan as big as possible. a 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine, same as the hatch, with up to 120kW (at 5500rpm) and 250Nm (at 1620rpm).

I found the ride comfortable with precise steering. Acceleration was decent considering its small engine. It’s front wheel drive with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission.

The interior was quite with very little road noise. It felt solid and well made, like I was driving a bigger luxury car.

Despite its smaller size it also felt safe - the A-Class was awarded a maximum five ANCAP safety stars.

There’s 17-inch alloy wheels, dual

Nicholas Cooksey, the author of this article is the publisher of Arabian Magazines, Gulf Insider Media, and a jury member with the Middle East Car of the Year Awards (MECOTY).

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large opening at the back to allow the loading of bulky items. Aware of this, Mercedes has made the boot on this sedan as big as possible. Also, the rear seats fold down to allow even more storage capability.

So if you decide on buying an A-Class you need to test drive both the hatchback and sedan for ride and storage ability, and then decide which you like best.

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

A-Class sedan 2020 Prices start from BD 14,700

If you decide on buying an A-Class you need to test drive both the hatchback and sedan.

Alternative options:

exhaust, ‘MBUX’ widescreen cockpit display (two 7-inch digital screens), auto LED headlights and DRLs, keyless start, auto-dimming rearview mirror, multifunction sports steering wheel, rainsensing wipers, ‘Active Parking Assist’, a nine-speaker 225W sound system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The great benefit of a hatch is its

BMW 1 Series Starting Price: Price on application

Audi A3 Starting Price: BD 12,990

Gulf Insider September 2019

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

Porsche Cayenne

BMW X2 M Sport

Jeep Wrangler

At the Cayenne back at the top of the competitive luxury SUV market?

BMW’s newest and most compact luxury SUV

Does this Jeep offer the most fun off-roading on the market today?

From BD 17,995

From BD 32,954

Euro Motors, 17 750 750

From BD 12,799 Behbehani Brothers,17 459 955

Subaru WRX STI

AUDI A8

Renault Duster

This 300 hp 2.5 liter turbocharged engine racer is a monster

A couple of days experiencing Audi’s top of the range luxury saloon

We visit Jordan’s desert to discover the off road capabilities of this reasonably priced SUV

From BD 35,700

From BD 5,875

Porsche Center ,17 459 911

Audi Behebani, 17 459 933

Genesis G70

Ferrari Portofino

Why this compact luxury saloon from Korea’s new luxury marque is set to take on all competition

Ferrari’s new 591 hp entry level model

From BD 15,540

First Motors,17 121 149 56

Gulf Insider September 2019

From BD 95,000

Euro Motors,17 750 750

Renault showroom,17 705 705

Bentley Bentayga V8 2 Reviews

From BD 13,995

Motorcity, 17 736 222

It signaled the arrival of the Super Luxury SUV to the world.

From Price on Application Behbehani Brothers,17 459 955

Car Bahrain

Photo of the Month

The new Porsche 911 (992) parked nearby the Tree of Life.

Photo taken by Spencer Wadama Got some cool car photos we can feature? Send them our way!

Editorial@gulf-insider.com

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Gulf Insider September 2019