Under the patronage of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Qatar Today hosted its first awards ceremony for business excellence at the Hilton, Doha, on June 16, 2015. During the ceremony, which was organized by Oryx Media, Al Meera Consumer Goods Company was selected among the top 10 performing companies among the 43 businesses listed on the Qatar Exchange.

Qatar Today’s Awards for Business Excellence are given to the top performing companies in recognition of their achievements, encouraging more local companies to take part in the development of the Qatari economy. These awards are in line with what the magazine has been doing over the past nine years; selecting the top ten companies on the Qatar Exchange and publishing them in the annual “Top Ten Companies” list.

Commenting on this occasion, Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Qahtani, Deputy CEO of Al Meera Consumer Goods Company, said:  “We are very pleased to be among the top ten companies listed on the stock exchange in terms of performance, according to Qatar Today, because this event not only awards the companies on their achievements, but also sheds light on the evolution of the corporate culture in Qatar.” He pointed out that Al Meera’s adaptability, innovation and vision enabled it to overcome many challenges and increase its market value, as well as generate substantial returns for its shareholders.

Dr Al-Qahtani also added: “The Qatar National Vision 2030 is at the heart of Al Meera’s expansion plan, and this is clearly indicated by the company’s continuous expansion since its inception to make shopping more convenient and enjoyable for consumers, by offering a wide range of products that meet their needs.” He stressed that the company’s expansion plan is in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 to develop all areas of the nation, while maintaining its competitive pricing, which is suitable for all segments of society.

Qatar Today’s Awards for Business Excellence involves two categories: one which evaluates companies according to their financial performance, and another that awards companies who achieved excellence in business and the economy, and aligns their objectives with the Qatar National Vision 2030.

 Starbucks partners (employees) and customers have celebrated Starbucks’ fourth annual Global Month of Service by running environmental workshops at the Al Khour Academy.More than 120 students were shown how to care for plants and how to treat the environment. In all, the 172 Starbucks partners and customers spent a total of 752 hours engaging with the students and replanting the academy’s garden.

The Global Month of Service is part of Starbucks’ company-wide commitment to help create flourishing neighborhoods wherever it does business. Held every April, the initiative invites partners and customers to roll up their sleeves and participate in community service projects that help create positive and sustainable change. The Al Khour Academy initiative was one of the many projects carried out across the region, reinforcing Starbucks’ commitment to making its local communities stronger.

Commenting on the Global Month of Service activities, Regional Communications and CSR Manager for Starbucks MENA, Rana Shaheen, said: “For the fourth consecutive year, Starbucks partners set out to give back to the community and make a real difference in the lives of people who need it the most. It is an inspiring and rewarding month that we look forward to developing in the years to come. By teaching youth about the importance of the environment and how to care for plants, and directly demonstrate the act of planting life in the academy’s surroundings, we are helping to instil a sense of responsibility in our next generation.”

This year’s Global Month of Service saw more than 882 Starbucks partners, 244 customers and 30 local suppliers volunteer a total of 7,764 hours to participate in community service initiatives across 10 different markets: Kuwait, Qatar, KSA, UAE, Oman, Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan and Bahrain.

Global Month of Service activities vary from city to city. Visit http://mena.starbucks.com/en/mainsection/responsibility to see how you can get involved with Starbucks in strengthening your community.

Qatalum successfully concluded its 2nd Quarter Contractor HSE Forum which included topics such as heat stress, Ramadan, canteen for contractors and road safety. Although informative, the take home to all participants is that sound HSE practices within Qatalum is critical and driven by each individual taking a leading intuitive.

Ramada Encore Doha, a four-star hotel situated in the heart of Doha, has been honored for achieving the Highest Standards and Quality of Services in The Hotel Quality Rating System at the third edition of the Annual Hotel Awards by Qatar Tourism Authority. The award honours the hotel’s excellent standards and high quality services following a mystery audit carried out by an independent third party on behalf of the Qatar Tourism Authority.

Ramada Encore Doha was one of the top ten highest-scoring hotels to receive the award. “We are thrilled to receive this prestigious award, which rewards our continued efforts to ensure Ramada Encore Doha remains one of Doha’s leading destination hotels," said Ayman Lotfy (pictured), the hotel’s cluster general manager. "We endeavor to continuously offer an excellent experience to all of our guests, and this honor shows that our hard work is translated into a positive customer experience.”

Ramada Encore Doha is the perfect location for both business and leisure travel, just 13 kilometers from Hamad International Airport and minutes away from various cultural and historical attractions and commercial areas.

Ramada Encore Doha is offering a “Ramadan Nostalgia” promotion exclusively at the Hub Restaurant during the Holy Month of Ramadan. Experience a culinary innovation on our sought-after Ramadan delights this Ramadan – Old time favourites take on a contemporary twist and it’s simply NOSTALGIC.

A special traditional buffet menu with a lavish feast of salads, hot and cold Mezzeh, and a wide selections of Arabic sweets at a promotional price of QR 170 per person inclusive of water and Ramadan drinks. A special group offer of QR 80 per person with a minimum of 20 persons is also being offered during the month. Reserve 10-days before and after the start of Ramadan for a special promotional price of QR99 per person. Come and savor an exquisite Iftar dining at the Hub with a distinctive Ramadan ambience.

All the management and team members at Ramada Encore Doha look forward to welcome guests during this Holy month, and wishes you and your family a Ramadan Kareem. For more information or to book, visit www.ramadaencoredoha.com or contact (+974) 4444 3444. Ramada Encore Doha is the perfect location for both business and leisure, just 13- kilometers from Hamad International Airport and minutes away from various cultural and historical attractions and commercial areas.

As it is the time for indelible summer retreats, traditions and togetherness in the region, Qatar offers the ideal friends and family destination with exciting cultural escapes, spectacular summer shopping, delightful culinary offerings and unique recreational activities.

This summer The Ritz-Carlton, Doha shares the excitement with sensational celebrations. Soaring 115 metres above Qatar’s sea and desert landscape, The Ritz-Carlton, Doha is an ‎impressive symbol of the nation’s emergence as a destination for travelers to The Middle ‎East. The 374-room, five star resort fuses contemporary styling with classic Arabic and ‎European design.‎ Quilted velvet and silk wall coverings, furnishings of eclectic elegance, ‎and finely appointed suites ‎put the accent on luxury. ‎

Friends and family planning to explore Doha can enjoy a long weekend away at The Ritz-Carlton, Doha with the new Suite dreams package. Priced at QR 1,810 per room per night for Junior suite and QR 1,980 for an Executive suite, the Suites Dream Package is ideal for friends, families or couples, offering guests buffet breakfast and 24h internet access, 50% savings in all food and beverage outlets for the second person, daily complimentary ice cream for children, complimentary shuttle bus to Lagoon mall and the Pearl.‎ To further enhance the experience, the package also offers‎ 20% savings on Iftar and Sohour buffet dinner inclusive of Ramadan juices only and  20% savings on selected Spa treatments.

“As the summer nourishes t its height, we welcome guests to explore Doha and recharge at our elegant island resort,” said Zee Bassila, Cluster Director of Sales and Marketing at The Ritz-Carlton, Doha. “In addition to the city’s great offerings, our hotel has a diverse range of activities to suit the needs of our guests, and our Ladies and Gentleman are always dedicated to ensure a memorable stay with us” added Mr. Bassila.

The offer is valid throughout September 15, 2015. Its subject to availability and cannot be used in ‎conjunction with any other offer or promotion. For guests who prefer a weekend of gastronomic experience, during the holy month of Ramadan Al Wosail ballroom offers a palatable variety of lavish buffet spreads, crisply mezze and salads of crumbled Lebanese cheese balls, onion, olive oil ‎and parsley ‎are only few of the various choices of salads which will be spread out at the foyer area ‎and the traditional Qatari cuisine like shrimp jarish and Machboos will illuminate the ‎buffet feasts.

An assortment of traditional Arabic cuisine, augmented by a selection of international delights will be also available at the Gazebos. In keeping with ‎the Arabic ‎tradition, two Shawarma stations will offer mouthwatering ‎contemporary ‎dishes that ‎combine a selection of meats with a wide range of ‎accompaniments. ‎For guests who prefer to stay active, the spa also features a range of health and fitness facilities including an Olympic-sized indoor pool, an exclusive indoor tennis court and squash courts, a modern gymnasium with superb views of the marina, an aerobics studio and a yoga room.

With unsurpassed options to suit the needs of all guests and sweeping views of the city and sparkling blue waters of the Arabian Gulf, The Ritz-Carlton, Doha is an inspired destination in the heart of the city. 

Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels (SWBH), the exclusive collection of five-star, luxury designer hotels, has launched its Ramadan offers to welcome guests and visitors for the Holy Month at the heart of historic Souq Waqif area. Both Iftar and Souhour meals are included for families and individuals with four SWBH restaurants featuring rich menus, delicious culinary options and an open buffet of traditional Ramadan sweets and drinks.

“The Holy Month of Ramadan is the most vibrant time of the year in Qatar, when families spend most of their time together in a unique atmosphere here at Souq Waqif. This is what inspires SWBH to become the perfect place for families and friends to have quality time together and enjoy the 5-star hospitality services the collection has to offer. The hotels’ Iftar and Souhour meals have been carefully and luxuriously designed to cater to every taste in line with SWBH’s tradition of providing the best hospitality in an exceptional atmosphere,” said Taleb Al Henzab, General Manager at Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels.

Al Terrace Restaurant at Al Mirqab offers a majestic menu of traditional Arabic dishes to be enjoyed either out in the open air or indoors decorated for the occasion. A wide variety of Arabic and Lebanese dishes  awaits guests at the Iftar Buffet from 6:00 – 8:00pm and at Souhour from 9:00pm – 2:00am, indoor, outdoor and on the terrace. Meanwhile, Argan Restaurant at Al Jasra greets guests with vivid colours and an exuberant menu of delectable, traditional Moroccan dishes prepared by the most renowned chefs from Morocco. Running from 6:00 – 8:00pm, the Iftar features soups, Tajines, appetisers, sweets and tea with the Souhour menu available from 8:00pm – 2:00am.

In addition, Al Shurfa Arabic Lounge offers Souhour meals from 7:00pm – 2:00am on its outdoor terrace with sweeping views of Doha skyline on top of Al Jomrok Boutique Hotel.  The menu serves a wide variety of international dishes and appetisers for its guests. Furthermore, guests can savour delightful grilled choices in Al Matbakh Rooftop Grill at Arumaila for Souhour from 8:00pm – 2:00am. The menu features tender steaks, fresh lobsters prepared in the open kitchen on a stone fireplace, charcoal, or in the Tandoor oven in a wonderful setting.

To unwind and invigorate both body and mind during Ramadan, Elements Spa at Al Jasra offers exclusive massage and therapy sessions using the best materials and products in the world to provide an unforgettable experience through various curative techniques that include massage, facial therapies and body peeling and wrapping. 

Brother International (Gulf) FZE, a leading manufacturer in home sewing machines, has revealed the availability of its new Entrepreneur Pro PR1000e embroidery machine unit in Qatar. The new 10-needle home embroidery unit raises the bar in embroidery for hobbyists and crafters--with a particular focus on home-based entrepreneurs as the new machine produces professionally designed logos, monograms and more on a wide range of items. The new product is available at MRP QAR 42,999 at all Jumbo Electronics outlets in Qatar.

According to BROTHER INTERNATIONAL (GULF) FZE senior executives, the new Entrepreneur Pro PR1000e utilizes a 10-needle system that successfully results in key advantages like wider range of colors, extra-large embroidery area and a positioning sensor. The unit was designed with a sleek compact body, which makes it fit perfectly into small workshops and can be easily carried around for use at different events. The PR1000e is also equipped with a scanner that allows users to scan in the item on which you want to embroider, resulting in the accurate and precise positioning of the design itself. The embroidery area of the PR1000e is a large 360 x 200mm, and can embroider designs up to 360 x 360mm by using the Jumbo Frame feature. Meanwhile, the unit's Wide Cap Frame feature can embroider 360mm x up to 60mm high on caps. 

“We are pleased to announce the Qatar launch of the new Entrepreneur PRO PR1000e, a highly engaging 10-needle embroidery machine that you can use to start up your own small embroidery business,” said SoichiMurakami, Managing Director, BROTHER INTERNATIONAL (GULF) FZE. “This ground breaking new machine comes with a built-in camera that can be very useful for easy and accurate placing of your designs. You can use the machine across any embroidery requirement--school sports, favourite pastimes, interior design, items for pets, corporate identity apparel, weddings, graduations, new babies, and family reunions--This is a truly engaging machine that lets your creativity flow!”

Other key features offered by the new machine include an advanced natural lighting system; flexible threading system; 28 built-in fonts; LED thread indicator; forward & reverse stitch work; table attachment and pre-set embroidery frames. The company has also revealed that the unit comes with the PE-Design 10 Embroidery software, which provides users with an advanced user interface, more stitch and pattern variation choices and the ability to link your machine to up-to four other embroidery units. 

Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA), which operates under the auspices of the Qatar Financial Center (QFC), has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Dirassat Company for Research and Consulting in Islamic Banking, the leading provider of Islamic banking services and products in Qatar. According to this MoU, QFBA will provide a full range of education and training programs in Islamic finance systems, Islamic banking, leadership skills and business management to a new generation of professionals and experts.

The MoU, endorsed by QFBA CEO Dr. Abdulaziz Al Horr (pictured) and Dr. Mohammed Ghiyath Sheikhah from Dirassat Company, confirmed that QFBA will provide world-class training and educational services to Derasat Company for developing human capital in the Islamic banking industry. The MoU affirmed the importance of cooperation and coordination between the two parties to implement the agreed training and educational programs to achieve true benefits for both businesses and also the industry as a whole.

QFBA CEO Dr. Abdulaziz Al Horr said; “We are fully aware that sustainable development and the furtherance of the finance and business environment constitute a vital and on-going task which depends heavily on developing the skilled human resource capable of translating our visions and dreams into reality. Thanks to QFBA’s qualified and trained staff and the support of the QFC and various agencies in the country, we are sparing no effort in providing the best training services aiming to nurture and develop the talents of Qatari citizens and foreign residents in Qatar.

QFBA Chairman, Sheikh Fahad, commented; “This MoU is only the beginning of longstanding partnership that will pave the way for both parties to work together in developing future education plans and training in a way that contributes to Qatar’s 2030 vision, which seeks to build a knowledge-based economy, in line with His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani directives on making Doha a center for Islamic banking in the region.”

Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah Al-Thani Chairman of Dirassat said; “Today’s MOU signifies a step change for the financial industry not just here in Qatar but the region. With the solid foundations of this significant partnership I am confident we can engage a new generation of trained and skilled professionals with which to staff our growing banking and business sectors as we move towards a future built on knowledge and education.”

Dr Mohammed Ghayath Shaikha from Dirassat Company reiterated that a vision is nothing without the qualified and skilled professionals necessary to make it happen and good employee management to allow them to succeed. Therefore, Dirassat is always looking to sign progressive MoUs with cutting-edge international organizations and consulting firms to provide the best training courses for the development of existing workforces, upgrading their competencies, implementing the company's goals and supporting Islamic banking growth.

The QFBA offers a full range of year-round courses, available in areas such as banking, insurance, finance, Islamic finance, capital markets and asset management, compliance and anti-money laundering, business & management, as well as training for soft skills and foundation skills. In addition, QFBA’s experienced training staff are already working with many large organizations, including brands in both the B2B and B2C arenas in Qatar that have active financial training mandates for their staff.

Islamic banking is one of the most prominent services for Dirassat Company, which specializes in Islamic economics and provides banking services in line with Islamic law. Dirassat Company is currently working on enhancing Islamic banking services and solutions to improve the quality of what they offer to their customers in leading public and private institutions in Qatar.

Shangri-La Hotel, Doha, Qatar’s first Asian luxury brand hotel and Bu Saif Apiaries, the leading national honey producer and apiary company, have signed an agreement of cooperation under which Bu Saif Apiaries will set up five beehives on the hotel roof to let Shangri-La Hotel, Doha provide its guests with 100 per cent natural Qatari honey.

“Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts have always been synonymous with world-class Asian hospitality, winning the brand numerous international awards over the years to reaffirm its prominent position in the hospitality and hotel sector. The luxury brand is now seeking to provide the highest-quality services in Doha in line with its worldwide reputation,” said Coen Masselink, General Manager at Shangri-La Hotel, Doha. “Thanks to the beehives we are going to set up on the hotel’s rooftop, we will be able to provide natural honey to our guests and visitors, all of which supports our global initiative ‘Rooted In Nature’, through which we strive to incorporate more natural components and local ingredients and to showcase the best of each destination and support local trade.” Masselink said.

“The agreement we signed today illustrates the top-quality honey of our national apiaries, through which we provide a world-class product that reflects the spirit of both Qatari and Asian hospitality traditions,” said Khalid Al Suwaidi, founder of Bu Saif Apiaries. “As per the agreement, five apiaries will be set up on the hotel’s roof top after meeting all safety requirements so Shangri-La Hotel Doha’s guests and visitors can enjoy first-rate natural honey.” added Al Suwaidi.

Shangri-La Hotel, Doha, is the Asian luxury brand’s fifth hotel in the Middle East, with the remaining four located in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman. Through its Doha property, the Shangri-La group seeks to offer the highest international hospitality standards with accommodation capacity amounting to 272 guestrooms and suites as well as 42 serviced apartments on over 50 floors in the West Bay area, Doha’s vibrant heart. Moreover, the hotel directly connects to Doha City Mall, Qatar’s largest shopping destination.

Offering spacious, elegantly furnished rooms, seven dining and entertainment outlets an, a business centre and the magnificent Shangri La Ballroom, Shangri-La Hotel, Doha also features Shangri La’s renowned CHI, The Spa.

Marketing experts from Twitter, Yahoo!, the Body Shop, eBay, Cambridge University and Virgin Media have been confirmed to present at the second edition of the Marketing Kingdom Middle East, scheduled to take place from 18-19 October 2015 at the W Hotel in Doha.

“After last year’s phenomenal success, our aim with the 2015 edition of the Marketing Kingdom Middle East is to help regional companies maximize the impact of their social media activities and move from fragmented social structure to holistic approach. Personalized marketing is also a major topic at this year’s event. Even though it’s easier than ever to provide relevant marketing materials to different audiences, most marketers simply aren’t doing it”, says Kosta Petrov, Managing Director at P World, the company organizing the Marketing Kingdom Middle East 2.

Qatar’s biggest marketing event kicks off with a presentation on creating successful marketing campaigns on Twitter. During the two day event, regional marketers will also be able to hear presentations on Engaging The Emotional Shopper To Drive Sales by Sam Thomson, Brand And Value Director at The Body Shop, What Millennials Want - Content Marketing Best Practices by Hussein Freijeh, Managing Director at Yahoo!, Social Media And The Customer Journey: How To Put The Customer At The Center Of Your Social Strategy by Paul Fabretti, Global Head Of Social Media at Microsoft, One Not Everyone - Achieving Personalised Marketing At Scale by Kristian Lorenzon, Head Of Social media at O2 and Creating An Effective Social Media Narrative: Uncovering The True Power Of Storytelling by Amanda Hall, Chief Creative Officer at A+E Networks.

The Marketing Kingdom is the world’s fastest growing marketing event with annual shows in 10 different countries including Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Azerbaijan. The event is organized by P World with the support of Bayt as the event’s Strategic Career Partner. The Marketing Kingdom Middle East 2 is also supported by qatarisbooming.com and Eye of Riyadh. 

For more information on the event and pricing please visit www.thepworld.com

Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels (SWBH) celebrated Garangao night for the third year running, the age-old annual Qatari tradition on the 14^th night of Ramadan. Sheer delight was on the faces of children and guests who attended the event at Al Jasra Boutique Hotel, where SWBH held a festive evening to celebrate this important part of their Qatari heritage in the Holy Month of Ramadan.Copious gifts were given away.

“Garangao is a traditional national festivity held annually in mid-Ramadan. Exclusive to the Arabian Gulf, this event brings a unique occasion to the area for people of all ages to anticipate every year, as it allows them to participate and keep their customs and traditions alive. Garangao celebrations are passed down through generations as part of Qatar’s popular heritage that contributes to strengthening moral and social relationships between neighbours and family members, inspiring feelings of warmth and friendship. Despite tremendous urban development, Garangao night is still a wonderful tradition to be celebrated every year,” said Taleb Al Henzab, General Manager at Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels.

“We are very keen to share Garangao celebrations with children and guests for the joy it brings to them and we are delighted that every year more kids show up at our hotels to be part of the Garangao night festivities, encouraging us to provide an unforgettable family experience,” added AlHenzab.

The eventful Garangao night at SWBH included clown shows and entertainment activities, as well as face painting, henna patterns and gift giveaways. Welcomed by SWBH employees, a large number of children poured in wearing their traditional clothes, happily smiling.

The Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) in cooperation with Al-Faisal International for Investment, Al Sawari Group, and Aqua organized a private seminar entitled, ‘Achieving Value in the UK Real Estate Market’, led by Jersey and Qatar based offshore practitioners and tax planners, UK legal experts and estate agents. The seminar took place at the QBA headquarters at the Marriott Marquis Hotel.

The seminar was attended by private entities, local companies, and businessmen interested in the UK real estate market. The Qatari Businessmen Association opened the seminar by welcoming the attendees and noted that this seminar is in line with QBA’s vision to serve the business community by providing leading and unique services. The seminar was introduced by QBA as part of a series of specialized seminars to highlight the latest business trends in the markets that are of interest to the Qatari business community.

Joanne Luce, Managing Director of Aqua Group, based in Qatar, Jersey and Malta, and Peter Burnside, senior tax counsel at BDO UK led the first panel discussion revealing how tax planning can add value by interpreting the latest tax changes from a practical perspective. Aqua’s presentation "Tax Efficient Investment into UK Real Estate" compared the tax liabilities of basic investment structures in the UK with more favorable investments via Jersey companies. The optimum solution presented was a tax exempt real estate structure through Jersey private wealth trusts and UK unit trusts. 

The tax exempt structure was said to be relevant for both commercial and residential rental property as secure succession options. The presentation concluded by presenting the ideal private residential property solution for families using private trusts in Jersey limited partnerships. The following panel discussions were led by Matthew Khalil of Kahlil & Kane on ‘How to achieve strong returns and value from residential and development opportunities’ and by Nick Clayson of Norton Rose on ‘The Legal view on what structures work and how to retain value’.

Joanne Luce, Managing Director of Aqua Group, said: “According to recent reports, confidence has returned to real estate markets in Europe and London is still a firm favorite with investors. This is why we felt this seminar was particularly relevant, offering advice on potential investments in this field. The session is aimed at Qatari audiences to ensure they are familiar with the latest tax implications associated with UK real estate investment and receive the best advice they need for secure succession. We believe such seminars are of interest to local families and family-led businesses who are investing abroad so they receive the tax planning advice they may need.”

Aqua Group was created in Jersey to provide family-led businesses with a unique and very personal service offering families tax–efficient offshore solutions before it became the first off-shore Trust Company to achieve License Status in the State of Qatar. Aqua GCC was set up to help existing clients in the region and drive in value to the families Aqua serves either through improving their return on investment or by adding value to help family businesses grow and develop. Aqua’s offices in Malta and Jersey give it access to offshore and onshore structuring.

Joanne Luce continued: “Aqua offices offer Qatari investors what they need to achieve. Malta is a gateway into Europe and Africa allowing Aqua to structure commercial solutions that add value through structuring at the Family Trust level to protect against punitive Real Estate taxes. We are strong in this area and have very effective networks with other key and trusted advisers to build optimum commercial services. Jersey is more traditional with a fantastic jurisdiction for Estate planning, through investment in the UK and the bespoke creation of Fund platforms - so by having offices in both locations we can achieve what international families may need.”

Under the patronage of His Excellency Engineer Ahmad Bin Amer Al-Hemaidi, Qatar’s Minister of Environment, the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC), Qatar’s Ministry of Environment, the GCC Standardisation Organization (GSO) and GULFMET are organising the First Gulf Metrology Forum in Doha, Qatar on the 14^th and 15^th of December, 2015.

In preparation for the Forum, the preliminary meeting was held at GOIC’s headquarters in Doha. The meeting was attended by His Excellency Dr. Ali Hamed Al-Mulla, Assistant Secretary General for Industrial Projects Sector at GOIC leading a team of GOIC experts, His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Bin Saif Al-Kuwari, Assistant Undersecretary for Laboratories and Standardisation leading the team of the Ministry of Environment formed by Mr. Salah Salem Al-Rumaihi, Director of the Central Laboratories Department, Dr. Yasser Abdulfattah Abdulaziz, expert and consultant in the field of calibration of metrology laboratories, Mr. Ahmed Burhan Al-Hashemi, Head of the Building and Roads Materials Department at the Central Laboratories Department, Mrs. Naima Hussein Al-Doql from the Central Laboratories Department and Mr. Walid Al-Yafei from the Public Relations Department. The meeting was also attended by GSO’s team represented by Engineer Omar Kanakrieh, Metrology Director and Mr. Abdulilah Qarnas Al-Qarnas, metrology researcher.

During this meeting, GOIC explained its vision for this Forum: GOIC experts said that the Organization, through industrial researches, has endeavoured to highlight the role of metrology in guaranteeing GCC industrial development. Furthermore, by carrying out industrial surveys, GOIC has realised the necessity of bridging the industrial metrology gap through spreading industrial awareness in this regard.

Participants stressed the importance of metrology, for it is relevant to all aspects of life and has become a key pillar of manufacturing in developing countries and a main part of the industrial development cycle. They explained that successful applications of science and technology require good monitoring of standards and criteria used in various fields. Quantitative measurements have indeed become necessary within industrial authorities and commercial businesses.

Moreover, participants agreed that in order to boost instrumentation broadly and guarantee quality of products and raw materials, countries decided to establish specialised metrology and calibration centres for all products, and this sector needs qualification and resources to be capable of fully offering required services. They stressed the necessity of relying on modern equipment and technologies in most industrial operations. It is necessary to monitor machines, operations and equipment that are part of the processes and to study the market size to elaborate industrial forecasts in various fields.

One of the main objectives of this Forum is to exchange ideas about the best means to raise general awareness and industrial awareness in particular, to comply with industrial standards. It also aims at offering an assessment of the requirements of Gulf industries and institutions in the area of metrology, and examining means of increasing national capacities in the field of industrial standards. In addition to that, ideas are to be exchanged on how to attract new metrology activities and areas, international best practices to reinforce metrology infrastructure as part of quality development in member states, the role of national metrology institutes and laboratories, the experiences of member states in supporting metrology activities and local laboratories, means to cooperate with international laboratories, and finally putting together applicable recommendations by the participants to support metrology activities in GCC countries.

In fact, the organisation of this Forum was based on global reports of companies operating in the area of metrology services. These reports revealed a projected increase of the demand on metrology services in the near future in various sector, particularly automotive, electronics, energy and other sectors. The recovery of the global economy will also have impacts on the Gulf, resulting in an investment increase in various fields like energy and industry and their accompanying services.

GCC countries are endeavouring to build a growing industrial base with close ties with global economies. GCC countries are looking forward to reaching the next stage of the development process during which resources are allocated to develop the industrial base. The foundation of this development will be petrochemical industries and SMEs, and it is an efficient strategy to deal with the change in international economic situations and to preserve sustainable industrial development.

Thus, international industrial standards have become a main element of an efficient global trade. Furthermore, building and developing a local technology base require adapting with global technological progress. In order to become advanced countries, high-quality products are needed in accordance with international standards, in addition to instrumentation to match the products with the criteria. Therefore, the foundation of a national and modern standardisation system is the main pillar to shift to an industrially advanced society. It is necessary to keep up with fast growth in comprehensive economic activities, to increase scientific and technological levels and to prove the credibility of products in international trade.

As to the most important technical aspects of this Forum, they are as follows: raising awareness on the importance of metrology and its scientific, industrial and legal aspects, presenting experiences of GCC countries in this area, cooperating with international institutions to develop and support the role of metrology, communicating with concerned GCC parties in the field of metrology and getting to know the cognitive and procedural environment in GCC countries to include legal frameworks, researches and applications.

The First Gulf Metrology Forum targets government and private laboratories, relevant institutions and companies, ministries of commerce, industry and environment and industrial companies operating in these fields: oil, gas, energy, petrochemicals, metallurgy, in addition to universities, scientific research institutions and global organisations specialised in metrology and calibration.

For further information on this Forum, you can contact the Director of this project Engineer Hazim Al-Anqar (+974 44 95 97 27 or alanqar@goic.org.qa). 

Mall of Qatar, the region’s largest leisure, entertainment and shopping complex, when it opens its doors in Doha, will première the Middle East’s first laser-illuminated projectors in its 19-screen CinemaCity complex to raise the bar for cinemagoers’ movie experience. The announcement was made at Cine Europe 2015 in Barcelona, the major European cinema trade show.  The laser-illuminated projectors of digital cinema leader Barco are to be installed in the Mall of Qatar by CinemaCity, part of the World Media Holding group. Besides the laser-illuminated projectors, Barco will also be providing more Alchemy digital cinema projectors at a later stage.

Rony Mourani, General Manager of Mall of Qatar, said “The opening of Mall of Qatar in Doha next year will mark a new era in retail and entertainment as we plan to offer our visitors and shoppers transformational entertainment platforms through cutting edge technologies and state of the art development.  With the debut of these laser-illuminated projectors in Doha, moviegoers in our Mall will be able to experience feature films as never before.”

He added that the choice of CinemaCity was down to its commitment to provide amazing movie and entertainment experiences. CEO of World Media Holding, the Middle East’s fastest growing cinema development company, Hammad Atassi said: “From a luxurious foyer and lobby, easy access and great food through to super comfortable chairs and the latest visual and audio technologies: everything about our cinemas is designed for the enjoyment of our guests.”

CinemaCity will equip the 19-screen cinema complex in the Mall of Qatar with one Barco DP4K-30L and four of Barco’s DP4K-22L laser flagship projectors. Part of the latest laser range, the 22L and the 30L laser-illuminated projectors provide the perfect projection solution for medium-sized screens. “We decided to take the next step in projection and install Barco’s laser-illuminated solution. The brightness and image quality is unbelievable,” said Hammad Atassi.

Wim Buyens, Barco’s Head of Entertainment, agreed: “It’s just fantastic that our laser-illuminated projectors will help the trendsetting CinemaCity to deliver a cinema experience that has not been seen in the Middle East before. Laser-illuminated projection is simply indispensable for cinema operators who want to take moviegoing to the next level.”

As an annual ritual,   McDonald’s Qatar celebrated the traditional ‘festival of children’- Garangaoo by welcoming children and their parents to enjoy the spectacular festivities at their branches at Suhaim bin Hamad, Airport, Landmark Mall, Ras Abu Aboud, Rayyan 2, Muaither, Tebah, Woqood, Gharaffa, Lagoona Mall, Barwa, AlMeera, Mesaieed, and Barwa City.

McDonald’s play area and drive through was filled with the loud cheers and special Garangaoo songs by the children dressed in their traditional and colourful clothes. Qatari kids and expatriates enjoyed lots of entertaining activities including games and workshop at McDonald’s branches as they walked around collecting goody bags packed with assorted nuts and candies. McDonald’s characters also added to the festive appeal as they entertained the kids and showered them with surprises. Special gifts were distributed to the kids who were dressed in the best traditional clothes.

Mr. Kamal Saleh Al Mana, Managing Director of Al Mana Restaurants & Food Co., the owner and operator of McDonald’s restaurants in Qatar said: “The Holy month of Ramadan is the time for giving and sharing and Garangaoo captures the ethos of Ramadan and our rich cultural heritage. We are truly committed to playing an active role in promoting community initiatives and raising awareness of noble causes, throughout Qatar.”

Often called “The Festival of Children” - Garangaoo, or sometimes called Gir-ga-oon is observed on 14th day of the Holy Month of Ramadan, every year. Children, clad in their traditional clothes, come out of their homes and knock on every door in their neighborhood, which will be ready to receive them with sweets and nuts. They collect the goodies in the special cotton bags, hanging loosely from their necks and they are seen wandering around the streets singing the special Garangaoo song.

In the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan, Al Meera Consumer Goods Company (Q.S.C) organized a Suhoor for its employees at the Oryx Rotana Hotel on the evening of Sunday, July 5, 2015. This came as part of Al Meera’s keenness on upholding Qatari tradition by seating everyone on the same table; thus, enhancing communication and socialization among its team members. This gathering was one of many initiatives organized by Al Meera each year during the holy month of Ramadan.

The Suhoor was attended by several senior executives from Al Meera, including Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Qahtani, Deputy CEO. Dr. Al-Qahtani welcomed the staff, stressing on the keenness of Al Meera in strengthening the bonds of friendship and developing a unified family spirit among the company’s staff members. Dr. Al-Qahtani said: “Through this special Ramadan gathering, we aim to instill the sense of goodness and giving at the core of the Al Meera family. This Suhoor is a great opportunity to show our responsibility towards the community and express our commitment to the wellbeing of our employees,” stressing on the company's commitment to continuously organize such social events.

McDonald’s Qatar and being a very active component in the local society has launched its first annual “Donate a Book”  Ramadan campaign in the  community across Qatar and in partnership with ROFAQA (a Qatar Charity initiative), the Qatari institution which engages communities in promoting the psychological, academic and social wellbeing of children and orphans worldwide. The campaign is designed to engage the residents of Qatar in a non-profit-seeking public activity recognizing the human endeavors involved in building this great nation. The “Donate a Book” campaign has been launched since the beginning of the Holy month of Ramadan and will continue till Eid Al Fitr.  

Eight boxes were placed on  eight selected premises of McDonald’s Qatar -( Abu Hamour, Woqod (Al Rayyan), Airport, Al Sadd (Suhaim), Mesaieed, Barwa City, Lagoona Mall and Al Meera (Lagtaifiya)-, aiming to encourage donors to donate books and help those children who’s hindered by social and economic barriers to reach their dreams. This charitable effort is part of the company’s ongoing campaign to give them hope, knowledge and provide them with an opportunity to realize their ambition and explore the world through books.

During Eid, the boxes will be delivered to ROFAQA as an Eid present to the people in need. Mr. Kamal Saleh Al Mana, Managing Director of Al Mana Restaurants & Food Co., owner and operator of McDonald’s restaurants in Qatar said, “Our first annual “Donate a Book” Ramadan campaign aims to raise awareness to the donation notion. We are extremely proud to be a part of growth in the country, which resonates in the success of the nation. We will continue to serve our customers and the nation by keeping with our traditional values.”

He added, “We are delighted to lead this campaign which aims to educate the underprivileged children under ROFAQA Charity. Our presence here is in line with our commitment to the community to be a vanguard in supporting charity activities that touch the future generation lives.” The combined philanthropic endeavor of ROFAQA and McDonald’s Qatar will foster and boost the children chances to learn and develop their intellectual capacity and to become a productive citizen in the future.

Al Meera Consumer Goods Company (Q.S.C) recently received the ISO 9001:2008 certification, for the activities of the commercial department, from Bureau Veritas Certification Holding SAS – UK Branch. This award includes the managing of contracts, selection re-evaluation of consumer goods suppliers that are serving Al Meera, and category review. ISO 9001 is an internationally recognized quality management system that provides a framework for managing an organization’s quality process. Receiving this Certification ensures that Al Meera meets customer and legal requirements, continuously increases performance, improves customer satisfaction and enhances financial performance.

The certificate award ceremony was held at the Al Meera headquarters in Doha, during which Mr. Selim Kseib, Country Chief Executive and Mr. Vishal Bhat, Certification Manager of Bureau Veritas, presented the award to Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Qahtani, Deputy CEO of Al Meera, Mr. Karim Noui, Al Meera’s Commercial Director and other seniors on behalf of the company. Mr. Kseib also congratulated the team on this tremendous achievement, and expressed that he looked forward to further milestones. For his part, Dr. Al Qahtani gave a little thank you speech upon accepting the certification:

“First, I would like to thank the proficient team at Al Meera and Bureau Veritas for making this possible. This is a noteworthy step for us, and a milestone that is an indication of our continuous commitment and improvement towards adhering to international standards of quality management and satisfying our consumers’ needs.” He added, “Our efforts are continuously oriented to be in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, and we constantly seek to apply the highest standards of quality by offering the finest services to citizens and residents of the state of Qatar."

Bureau Veritas, founded in 1828, is an international group with a core business of conformity assessment, applied in the areas of quality, health, safety, environment and social responsibility. It is a world leader in testing, inspection, verifying and certifying assets as well as projects, products or systems, using its own benchmark references or external standards, in order to deliver compliance reports . Bureau Veritas is present in 140 countries through its network of more than 1,400 offices and laboratories and over 66,000 employees. Bureau Veritas is recognized and accredited by the largest national and international bodies.

As part of its ongoing commitment to the Holy Month of Ramadan, Starwood Hotels & Resorts is celebrating its sixth annual ‘Iftar for Cabs’ initiative at more than 40 participating Starwood hotels in the Middle East.

During the hour of Iftar on Wednesday, July 8^th 2015, all cab drivers who drive through the main entrance of any of the participating Starwood hotels will receive complimentary Iftar packs to break their fast.  This year, Starwood is also extending the gesture to its partner-drivers at Uber. Conceptualized by Starwood Hotels & Resorts – the ‘Iftar for Cabs’ initiative has been running since 2010 and has since become an annual tradition for many cab drivers throughout the region. Last year, Starwood delivered over 3,000 Iftar packs to cab drivers across the region.

“We thank the cab drivers and our partner-drivers at Uber who support Starwood hotels and provide our guests with transportation services throughout the year,” said Guido de Wilde, Senior Vice President & Regional Director, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Middle East. “Iftar for Cabs embodies the spirit of Ramadan and we are extremely proud of our hotel teams as they unite to give back and recognise important members of our community,”

Catering teams at each hotel will prepare Iftar packs, which will include a diverse selection of food and beverage items. Associates from across various departments within the hotels, including Catering, Administration and Guest Services, will join forces on the ‘Iftar for Cabs’ initiative.  This year Starwood will also hand Iftar packs to its partner-drivers at Uber. “The initiative has been widely appreciated by our hotel owners, the local communities and transport authorities and we are excited to continue the tradition,” added de Wilde.