Qatar-based Abuissa Holding, one of the leading conglomerates in the Middle East, expanded its operations in Dubai with the opening today of its first restaurant in the Emirate, Divan Patisserie at Dubai Mall. The company manages diversified business interests in segments ranging from arts and photography to high-end retail, distribution and F&B.

Divan Patisserie is a well-known Turkish brand, starting in 1956 with one shop in the Divan Istanbul Hotel and now having grown to more than 200 restaurants throughout Turkey and greater Europe. The new restaurant at Dubai Mall is only the second Divan Patisserie in the Middle East, following an opening in Doha, Qatar in 2015. Nabil Abu Issa, Vice Chairman, Abuissa Holding, sees great opportunity for growth in Dubai. “Our long history in this region is unparalleled, and we manage an incredible portfolio of brands and businesses representing hundreds of industries and companies across three continents. Divan Patisserie is only the first of many retail and restaurant concepts we plan for the UAE,” he said.

Other brands within the Abuissa Holding portfolio include high-end fashion brands Brooks Brothers, Elie Saab, MCM, Cole Haan and Aigner. In addition to international brands, the company manages its own lifestyle house brands focusing on jewelry, home furnishings, electronics and fashion. “Dubai is the economic engine that fuels strong growth throughout the entire Middle East, said Fawaz Idrissi, CEO Abuissa Holding. “As the fashion and retail hub of the Middle East, we see unlimited opportunity to bring the world’s best brands here. Paired with our company’s unique culture and commitment to the communities we serve, we know that our customers and stakeholders will greatly benefit.”

Booz Allen Hamilton, the global consulting and technology firm, has found that investing in customer analytics offers exciting opportunities for the growth and development of the regional retail sector.

The comprehensive report – titled ‘Next Generation Retailers: Power Up Your Analytics’ discusses how the global retail sector is changing in the face of an unprecedented shift in customer behavior, fueled by advanced technology and wider acceptance of online shopping and ecommerce. According to Euromonitor, the MENA region is emerging as a global hub for retail and the sector is expected to grow from US $996 billion in 2015, to US$1.05 trillion in 2016. 

Qatar is one of the fastest growing retail markets in the region, with retail sales expected to grow by 7.3% annually by 2018 reaching a total revenue of $284.5bn according to Alpen Capital. Increased real estate and labor costs are also driving businesses to seek a profitable mix of traditional and digital sales channels. The onus is therefore increasingly on the retailers to embark on digital programs to ensure that outlets remain both relevant and profitable. Against this backdrop of economic growth and infrastructure development, the report tracks the changes sweeping the MENA retail industry and the factors that will fuel growth in the sector.

Danny Karam (pictured), Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton MENA, says: “We have found that there is immense pressure on retailers brought on by changing shopper dynamics. Retailers must understand changing customer behavior and shopping preferences, manage the cost of brick and mortar establishments, mine data and amplify their outreach through an omnichannel platform to provide a seamless shopping experience that will, in turn, create new revenue streams beyond the shop floor.” The report highlights how data analytics can be incorporated into a company’s business processes with the aim of transforming the organization’s business model into comprehensive data-driven decision making. By leveraging the value of data – both internal (customer profiles, footfall, transactions) and external (social media, traffic, weather, macroeconomic) – retailers can tailor their offering to drive sales, while at the same time optimizing their return on investment.  

The report also highlights that data analytics can be used to create value for customers themselves; improving their journey and helping retailers exceed expectations besides influencing strategy about customer stickiness, loyalty and relationship. It has identified six imperatives that are central to building a sustainable customer analytics capability – these include building a case for customer analytics, defining customer analytics service offering, building the right customer analytics capabilities, investing in agile and scalable systems, establishing an optimal operating model, and changing corporate culture. When incorporated correctly, these imperatives can help retailers stay competitive in the long run.

“As the retail sector in the Middle East attains maturity, operators will have to ensure that they utilize industry best practices to deliver a seamless customer experience. Furthermore, as customer loyalty increasingly becomes a cornerstone for businesses to remain successful, we believe that the retail sector has tremendous opportunities to harness and optimize data analytics to achieve this goal,” Jad Rahbani, Principal at Booz Allen Hamilton MENA said. While the unstable global economy may have raised questions over the ability of MENA retailers to make a profit this year, Booz Allen Hamilton predicts that in the retail sphere, the rapid rise of customer analytics is creating an environment in which retailers can not only survive, but thrive. 

Already, many leading regional retailers have modified their structures and strategies, incorporating customer analytics as a key enabler rather than a supporting capability. Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East and North Africa, relies on continuously measuring customer needs and developing a single view of the customer or a “Golden Customer Record” across its 13 business units. This allows the company to both understand and predict customer behavior and laser focus its marketing campaigns and, by proxy, positively impact customer experience and satisfaction.

With the right capabilities, and a carefully implemented digital strategy with customer analytics at its core, both retailers and consumers can expect to reap the benefits. Booz Allen Hamilton anticipates that the journey will be challenging, but the scope to reach customers with a more focused offering has never been greater.

The joint commission between Qatar and Turkmenistan on Thursday held its second meeting under the presidency of Qatar's Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani and Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov. The meeting reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries on all fronts, particularly in the fields of trade and investment and means of boosting them to serve the mutual interests of the two countries. The foreign minister stressed that Qatar and Turkmenistan enjoy distinguished and cordial ties characterised by stability and based on understanding, mutual respect and keenness on developing them.

Fifty One East, Qatar’s favourite department store, and Sony Mobile announced two incredible additions to the new X series smartphones. Continuing the vision set out at MWC in February, the flagship Xperia XZ and premium Xperia X Compact offer an even more intelligent, personalized experience.

Xperia XZ and premium Xperia X Compact are now available at Fifty One East’s outlets located in Al Maha Center on Salwa Road in addition to all branches of Virgin Megastore and major retailers in Qatar.

Capture the action laser-fast with true colour

Sony’s first flagship of the X series, Xperia XZ, and premium Xperia X Compact bring new and improved camera technology to give you the best pictures from Xperia yet. Oozing camera excellence using Sony’s heritage in camera technology and in collaboration with our digital imaging engineers, the new models feature one of the most advanced cameras in a smartphone. Maximising Sony’s acclaimed image sensor, two additional assisting sensors have been added to become Sony’s triple image sensing technology. This allows you to capture beautiful images in motion with true to life colours in virtually any conditions. 

The technology is comprised of Sony’s original Exmor RS™ for mobile image sensor which provides a powerful blend of high quality image and autofocus (AF) speed combined with Predictive Hybrid AF to intelligently predict and track subjects in motion for blur-free results. Added to this is the Laser AF sensor with distance sensing technology, which captures beautiful blur-free photos in challenging low light conditions. And what’s more, you will enjoy superb true to life colours thanks to the RGBC-IR[i] sensor with colour sensing technology which accurately adjusts the white balance based on the light source in the environment.

The 23MP main camera not only gives you clear shots, but also super-fast start-up going from standby to capture in 0.6seconds[ii] at the touch of a dedicated shutter release button, ensuring you are ready to take the perfect shot whenever it might strike. Advanced features have been added for those who want more flexibility with manual settings to further enhance the shooting experience and creative possibilities, such as shutter speed and focus controls. Videos are ever more popular for capturing and sharing unique moments on social media, both models bring significant advancements in the evolution of image stabilization, cultivated in Sony’s Handycam® camcorders, with Sony’s SteadyShot™ with Intelligent Active Mode to enable superb video. Now with 5-axis stabilization you can shoot smoother videos[iii] even when walking or capturing extreme close-ups[iv].

Xperia XZ provides a 13MP front camera for the selfie perfectionist, with its super high sensitivity as high as ISO6400 and 22mm/90-degree wide angle lens it will make the best of your pose even in low-light and group selfies. Xperia XZ also offers the highest quality recording in 4k so you get sharp, crisp footage that is full of detail.

Premium design to fit in your life

With its stunning loop surface design, the 5.2” glass display and metal back of the Xperia XZ become one, to provide a perfect fit and beautiful feel in the hand. The loop surface is inspired by a monolithic form, whilst ALKALEIDO™ metal with high brightness and high purity provides shine and a feeling of depth which both enhance its premium design.  Xperia XZ is available in a brand new blue colour inspired by the beauty of nature - Forest Blue - along with stylish classics Mineral Black and Platinum.

Adding a popular Sony form factor to the X series, the Xperia X Compact packs mighty technology into its small frame. Its 4.6” screen and loop surface design make it extra comfortable to hold and is ideal for an operation with just one hand.  Xperia X Compact’s premium design can be clearly seen via its high-gloss finish and solid feel. It also follows our new signature blue colour expression with a Mist Blue colour hue together with timeless Universe Black and stylish White.

Sony’s expertise in functional design is carried through to the Xperia XZ with a water resistant[v] design to take the worry out of a little splash of water, so you can relax about sudden spills or unexpected showers. Knowing who you are by just holding the phone, the fingerprint sensor power button^[vi] on Xperia XZ and Xperia X Compact is intuitively placed on the side of the phone, so you’re able to pick up and securely unlock in a single movement and adds to the comfortable fit in the hand.

Learning your habits to improve your experience

We’ve incorporated intelligent features into our smartphones so that they can assist you to make your daily life more convenient, more efficient, and more enjoyable. Both models feature new Battery Care[vii] complemented by Qnovo adaptive charging which work in harmony to keep your battery healthy and make the lifespan last up to twice as long[viii]. Qnovo adaptive charging monitors and adjusts the charging current to avoid damage for battery longevity whilst Battery Care controls the charging based on learned habits and avoids excess charging by pausing charge at 90% and only completes the charging just before it’s needed. Xperia Tips also recognises user habits to provide personalised tips and recommendations, helping you optimise your own personal user experience while Smart Cleaner automatically maximises performance by cleaning the cache from certain apps based on learning their usage so optimal performance is achieved at all times.

Performance matters

Xperia XZ is driven by its Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 820 processor to provide a seamless experience on your phone. As one of the most cutting-edge mobile processors ever created, the Snapdragon 820 processor with X12 LTE supports the ultimate in connectivity, graphics, photography, power and battery efficiency.

Accessories

Xperia XZ and Xperia X Compact each have a range of matching optional Style Covers in corresponding colours including Style Cover Touch (SCTF10/20) which lets you access your favourite smartphone widgets through a smart window without needing to open the case. For easy video viewing, Style Cover Stand (SCSF10/20) has an auto on/off function with adjustable viewing angle. Each model will be supplied with the new USB Type-C™ charger for easy charging.

Xperia Smart Products

Sony continues to explore the unlimited possibilities for product innovation in the area of communications and we are advancing Smart Products to enable you to interact and connect in closer, more human ways.  Xperia Ear, Sony’s in-ear and hands-free Smart Product that brings a new way of communicating, will be available to buy from November starting in select markets. Xperia Ear responds to verbal commands with intuitive operations, and through a wireless connection to your smartphone, it gives you information and assistance in a natural, authentic voice interaction. Equipped with Sony Agent Technology and a proximity sensor, it provides you with useful information such as your schedule and other personalized updates when you just place it in your ear, enabling you to face forward and get things done. Sony will also display Xperia Projector and Xperia Agent as concepts at IFA, combined with services from Yahoo Japan and Nestlé Japan, to give a glimpse of the user experiences offered by Smart Products.

Availability and specifications

be launched in KSA at the price of SAR 2,399 and SAR 1,699 will be available from October 2016.

http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/products/phones/

Teatro, City Centre Rotana’s latest restaurant hosted an art exhibition of international painter Georges Bassil, which included 12 acrylic paintings showcasing his special Doha masterpiece collection for the city’s discerning art aficionados.

The art exhibit was done at the hotel’s stunning gallery area in front of Teatro, where guests had the opportunity to admire the artistic creations beautifully hung on the walls. They were also treated to a roster of delectable canapes prepared the hotel’s master chefs and invited to enjoy Teatro’s Golden Hours.

On this occasion, Joseph Coubat, General Manager City Centre Rotana, Doha remarked, ”We are delighted to host this exhibition an Arab international painter who selected our upscale restaurant “Teatro” to exhibit his masterpieces, aligning with the restaurant’s theatrical atmosphere, contemporary artistic design and amazing decore.The walls feature a lot of paintings that was specially painted for Teatro in harmony with the dim lighting and warm colors to be an inspirational factor for our guests. And today with the hosting of Georges Bassil’s art exhibition, we showcase that Teatro isn’t just a restaurant, but is a perfect place to spend a distinctive experience, live a great lifestyle with multiple dining options and amazing ambiance transferring our guests from a country to another”.

Georges Bassil commented,”It is my pleasure to present my special Doha collection at City Centre Rotana, a five star venue showcasing not only excellent hospitality but also a preferred hotel in the city for events and arts. My paintings evoke various artistic moods and I aim to have the art fanatics relate to each stroke and color done on these paintings.” This is the first time to exhibit my paintings in Qatar, 12 special paintings have been allocated for display at “Teatro” restaurant due to its astonishing  ambience representing distinct sensations directing the comfort in the visitors’ hearts” said Georges Bassil.” The main theme of my paintings is the human form as this is the most important figure in my memory. My works can be understood by anyone who loves freedom” he added.

Bassil was born in Lebanon in 1965, his career is characterized by diversity as he owns a considerable number of art galleries, in addition to the positive reputation of his paintings on international level, Bassil’s paintings were exhibited in many countries, including Lebanon, France, Jordan, Britain, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Syria, the Netherlands, Finland, and Spain.

Residents of Qatar can now apply for Turkey visas from the new Turkey Visa Application Centre launched in the capital city of Doha.

The centre was inaugurated by HE Mr Ahmet Demirok, Ambassador of Republic of Turkey to the State of Qatar, at a ceremony held on 03 November 2016. The Embassy of Republic of Turkey awarded the contract to provide visa processing services in Qatar to VFS Global, on 06 October 2016. The new centre is located at 301 Jaidah Square, Al Matar Street (Airport Road), Doha, Qatar. With a high number of submission counters and longer operating hours, this centre, launched in partnership with Mannai Trading Co. WLL, is fully equipped with state-of-the-art security systems and facilities to ensure a convenient experience for applications. Over the last few months, VFS Global has expanded its network of Turkey Visa Application Centres in the Middle East, and globally, launching Turkey Visa Application Centres in India, Nepal, Iraq, and Algeria.

Speaking about the launch, HE Mr Ahmet Demirok, Ambassador of Republic of Turkey to the State of Qatar, said, “Since last year, Qataris don’t need visa to Turkey, but there are many expatriates who would like to visit Turkey so there has been a huge demand that our capacity does not allow us to provide easy application. That’s why we would like to outsource visa application. I believe that our partner VFS Global with its professionalism will provide good quality service to applicants.” Commenting on the launch, Mr Srinarayan Sankaran, COO – Middle East, VFS Global, said, “Turkey has always been a highly attractive destination for outbound travellers from Qatar for leisure and business. We are truly privileged to partner with the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey and believe this centre will well serve the needs of travellers from Qatar who are keen to visit this beautiful country.”

The centre will help make the visa procedure faster and smoother, with features such as:

• Convenient and centrally located, near the airport and public transport
• Photocopy, photo-booth, and printing services available at location
• Modern fire-fighting equipment and amenities
• Dedicated security control room for round the clock monitoring.
• Professional staff with local language capability to handle queries and applications
• Well-appointed centre for enhanced comfort of applicants
• Automated queue governance for smooth flow of applicants
• Dedicated country specific websites for easy access to information including visa categories, requirements, check-list and applicable fees
• Secured handling of passports, documents and personal information

FNAC, the leading French retailer of cultural, leisure and technological products at Lagoona Mall has recently supported the Doha live show of acclaimed French comedian Elie Semoun, as the Privileged Partner, that took place in Intercontinental Doha - The City on November 2nd.

Elie Semoun is a beloved comic whose career has spanned for more than 30 years following his debut on the stages of Paris, France at the age of 17. Following his early stand-up successes, Semoun made the transition to film in 1988 and subsequently starred in more than 30 feature films. Semoun’s first performance in Qatar was hailed as major treat for comedy fans. FNAC was proud to have partnered in Semoun’s first appearance in the country by being the exclusive retailer selling the tickets to the highly anticipated stand-up show.

Followers of FNAC’s pages on social media had the chance to enter an Instagram draw to win two tickets to see Semoun live on stage. FNAC’s collaboration in this entertainment presentation is indicative of the French retailer’s commitment and passion to supporting arts and cultural activities and to be the leading brand and platform for brandishing artistic showcases in Qatar. Elie Semoun is a world class comedian and FNAC was ecstatic to be able to lend their support to his performance in Qatar.  FNAC continues to bring cultural events and showcases to Doha as a means to share the vibrant range of talent that thrives within the French artistic community.

Booz Allen Hamilton, the global consulting and technology firm, has found that investing in customer analytics offers exciting opportunities for the growth and development of the regional retail sector.

The comprehensive report – titled ‘Next Generation Retailers: Power Up Your Analytics’ discusses how the global retail sector is changing in the face of an unprecedented shift in customer behavior, fueled by advanced technology and wider acceptance of online shopping and ecommerce. According to Euromonitor, the MENA region is emerging as a global hub for retail and the sector is expected to grow from US $996 billion in 2015, to US$1.05 trillion in 2016. 

Qatar is one of the fastest growing retail markets in the region, with retail sales expected to grow by 7.3% annually by 2018 reaching a total revenue of $284.5bn according to Alpen Capital.

Increased real estate and labor costs are also driving businesses to seek a profitable mix of traditional and digital sales channels. The onus is therefore increasingly on the retailers to embark on digital programs to ensure that outlets remain both relevant and profitable. Against this backdrop of economic growth and infrastructure development, the report tracks the changes sweeping the MENA retail industry and the factors that will fuel growth in the sector.

Danny Karam (pictured), Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton MENA, says: “We have found that there is immense pressure on retailers brought on by changing shopper dynamics. Retailers must understand changing customer behavior and shopping preferences, manage the cost of brick and mortar establishments, mine data and amplify their outreach through an omnichannel platform to provide a seamless shopping experience that will, in turn, create new revenue streams beyond the shop floor.”

The report highlights how data analytics can be incorporated into a company’s business processes with the aim of transforming the organization’s business model into comprehensive data-driven decision making. By leveraging the value of data – both internal (customer profiles, footfall, transactions) and external (social media, traffic, weather, macroeconomic) – retailers can tailor their offering to drive sales, while at the same time optimizing their return on investment.  

The report also highlights that data analytics can be used to create value for customers themselves; improving their journey and helping retailers exceed expectations besides influencing strategy about customer stickiness, loyalty and relationship.

It has identified six imperatives that are central to building a sustainable customer analytics capability – these include building a case for customer analytics, defining customer analytics service offering, building the right customer analytics capabilities, investing in agile and scalable systems, establishing an optimal operating model, and changing corporate culture. When incorporated correctly, these imperatives can help retailers stay competitive in the long run.

“As the retail sector in the Middle East attains maturity, operators will have to ensure that they utilize industry best practices to deliver a seamless customer experience. Furthermore, as customer loyalty increasingly becomes a cornerstone for businesses to remain successful, we believe that the retail sector has tremendous opportunities to harness and optimize data analytics to achieve this goal,” Jad Rahbani, Principal at Booz Allen Hamilton MENA said.

While the unstable global economy may have raised questions over the ability of MENA retailers to make a profit this year, Booz Allen Hamilton predicts that in the retail sphere, the rapid rise of customer analytics is creating an environment in which retailers can not only survive, but thrive. 

Already, many leading regional retailers have modified their structures and strategies, incorporating customer analytics as a key enabler rather than a supporting capability. Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East and North Africa, relies on continuously measuring customer needs and developing a single view of the customer or a “Golden Customer Record” across its 13 business units. This allows the company to both understand and predict customer behavior and laser focus its marketing campaigns and, by proxy, positively impact customer experience and satisfaction.

With the right capabilities, and a carefully implemented digital strategy with customer analytics at its core, both retailers and consumers can expect to reap the benefits. Booz Allen Hamilton anticipates that the journey will be challenging, but the scope to reach customers with a more focused offering has never been greater.

Qatar Primary Materials Company (QPMC) was designated as key sponsor of the “Made in Qatar 2016” exhibition, held Nov. 6 to Nov. 9 for the first time out side Qatar, and for its first year abroad in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Having gained significant success since its inception in 2009, this year’s “Made in Qatar” spreads across an area of ten thousand meters -for the first time outside Doha. It brings together a group of distinguished exhibitors, potential investors, manufacturers from both Qatar and KSA. The participation of leading Qatari corporations, small and medium sized companies, and other productive enterprises aims at acquainting Saudi businesses with Qatari manufacturers.

QPMC’s participation as the diamond sponsor  in “Made in Qatar 2016” aims at supporting the country’s economy and promoting Qatar’s produce and interests. The exhibition significant booths ranging from leading private and government companies come to introduce Qatari products to the sizable Saudi market, creating investment opportunities. For QPMC the Made in Qatar platform promotes possibilities for exchange of expertise with Saudi companies operating in the  premium raw and primary materials sector.

Engineer Eisa Al-Hammadi, the QPMC CEO, headed the company’s delegation to the exhibition. The QPMC delegate included a team of experts, port and jetties manager, head, operations manager and departmental director as well as HR and administrative manager. “Our participation reflects our commitment to promote a culture of planning, development,achievement, networking and exchange of expertise. Engineer Eisa Al-Hammadi added “Made in Qatar 2016” creates excellent networking opportunities, namely with Saudi companies and potential investors interested in investing in QPMC’s mega projects. We have more than one project where we can cooperate with the Kingdom to further mutual economical interests and relations of the two countries, Al-Hammadi added.

The QPMC CEO also recapitalized and praised  Qatar Chambers plans to host the exhibition “Made in Qatar” in other GCC countries in the future and for the first time in Saudi Arabia, noting that such geographical expansion would give Qatari products, services and companies unprecedented exposure, and would pave the way for more cooperation among Qatar and other GCC countries. This strategic planning for Made in Qatar added Al-Hammadi, would support national economies, encouraging the private sector and boosting our continued efforts to the achieve sustainable development goals across the Arab States, he said.

This is the second consecutive time QPMC participates in “Made in Qatar,” thus demonstrating its concrete commitment in supporting Qatar’s efforts to grow its private sector whilst upholding the local industries and encouraging regional investors, Engineer Eisa Al-Hammadi concluded. 

Leaders Skin Group & Clinic, South Korea's renowned dermatology and aesthetic brand, has forayed into the Middle East with the launch of its first clinic in Doha, Qatar. Growing from strength to strength since its inception in 2001, the clinic boasts twelve branches worldwide and is now set to serve the discerning clientele in Qatar.

In celebration of its opening, the clinic hosted an inaugural ceremony which was attended by His Excellency Heung Kyeong Park, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the State of Qatar, in addition to other VIP guests, including Mr. Abdullah Salem Al Sulaiteen, Chairman of Al Sulaiteen Group and Board Member Mr. Fahad Abdullah Salem Al Sulaiteen; Dr. Ameena Al Emadi, Chairman of Al Emadi Recruitment and Services and Mr. Yaseen Aman Al-Jabarti, CEO of London Properties. Members of the media were also in attendance at the opening event, which featured a live performance by the talented ‘Moving Young Artists’ musicians led by the famous Korean artist and musician, Mrs. Sonja Park.

Leaders Skin Group & Clinic brings a rich heritage of innovation in beauty products and treatment methods from its home country. Dr. Seok Beom Park, CEO and Clinical Director, Leaders Skin Group & Clinic, said: "The strength of Korean philosophy in skincare and beauty lies in its holistic approach to dermatology that promotes overall well-being as well. We draw on our country’s heritage of using only natural and traditional practices, and constantly pioneer new ways of performing sophisticated and non-invasive dermatological procedures with client satisfaction placed at the core of our approach. Our valued visitors can look forward to receiving quality service, rooted deeply in our tradition of wellness in an environment that is designed to deliver a soothing experience. Even the location, Al Dafna, has been chosen to provide a serene, calm and secluded location for the clinic where our guests can relax and go back feeling beautiful inside out."

The clinic will provide a host of proven treatment methods and bespoke services using state-of-the-art equipment. Non-invasive, laser technologies will be employed for a comprehensive list of skin problems, treating pigmentation anomalies such freckles, lentigo and melasma amongst others. Clients can also look forward to Botox® treatment, body massage, sculpting and contouring services, alongside modern body slimming procedures. Leaders Skin Group & Clinic will be also Qatar's only clinic to employ miraDry® in the near future - a permanent treatment to stop underarm sweat and odor.

Much aesthetic thought has also gone into designing the spacious clinic. Two separate waiting areas for males and females featuring inspiring artworks of South Korean origin add to the welcoming and relaxing ambience before visitors begin the treatment. "Attention to detail is key. At our clinic, visitors complete all the sessions in the same room right from their first appointment so that they are at ease with their immediate surroundings," adds Dr. Park, who was recognized as one of the '2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century' by International Biographical Centre (IBC), Cambridge, England in 2010.

“Long exposure to UV rays is one of the main causes of a number of harmful skin problems. Problems associated with abundant sunshine, coupled with lifestyle-related illnesses have brought to light the need of a facility that targets a host of skin and body woes under the same roof. People of Qatar are naturally inclined towards caring for their well-being, and we wanted to fill this need and provide them with the highest level of bespoke services that we have mastered over the years,” Dr. Park added. Prominent Qatari and Egyptian dermatology specialists - Dr. Haya Ali H.R. Al Mannai, and Dr. Hassan Mostafa Abdel Rahman, will support Dr. Seok Beom Park at Leaders Skin Group & Clinic. Dr. Haya brings over ten years of local experience in the field with deep knowledge of all the advanced techniques and procedures and is committed to dedicating her time and efforts to establishing Leaders Skin Group & Clinic as one of the leading dermatology clinics in Doha. 

Leaders Skin Group & Clinic will operate from Sunday to Thursday, between 10 am and 7 pm. For more information, please visit: http://www.leadersclinic.qa/en/.

McDonald’s Qatar, the leading foodservice company in Qatar, has been awarded with a certificate from Qatar Red Crescent in recognition for the successful fundraising campaign for the Qatar-based charity group.

Reaffirming McDonald’s Qatar commitment to corporate social responsibility, the brand recently teamed up with Qatar Red Crescent in the QR1 Donate Campaign, which aimed to support children, especially those who are suffering from severe diseases such as diabetes, heart conditions and other disorders. The monies raised from the joint effort will provide locally based children in care with medical equipment and supplies.

The certificate for the QR1 campaign was presented to Ms. Ghada Kamal, Marketing Manager of AlMana Restaurants & Food Co in Qatar in the presence of Ahmed AL-Khulaifi, Head of Resources Mobilization, Dr. Emad Alhaj, Head of Marketing and Mohamad Bakri, Senior Marketing Coordinator from Qatar Red Crescent at the handing over ceremony, which took place at McDonald’s Qatar City Center branch.  QR1 Donate Campaign has successfully reached out into community. Money raised from all McDonald’s Qatar restaurants in the three-month campaign that kicked off in August will help to alleviate the hardship and agony of the children in treatment. Kids are a vulnerable part of the community and McDonald’s aim is provide aid however they can. 

We are excited to officially announce that our new Job Site is live.

United MP’s updated site (www.united-mp.com) is now a free online recruitment and employment platform empowering people worldwide by giving them access to the latest job opportunities in Qatar advertised by leading Qatar Employers.

The new Job Site is now available with a fresh new look and user-friendly navigation. Amongst the new features, the site contains impactful changes including career blogs with valuable career tips and wisdom from HR professionals, Career Coaches and other professional contributors currently working in Qatar. We wish to establish this Job Portal as a source of opportunities and informative career guidance to Job Seekers giving them the ability to reach their full potential while providing Employers and Recruiters in Qatar a powerful tool to hire top professionals free of charge.

So, be sure to register and check back often so you will never miss a post of job vacancies, career blogs, client and candidates success stories, United MP announcements and much more!

GE Energy Connections (NYSE: GE) is setting a new benchmark in localized provision of power solutions with a contract to support the power supply of Qatar’s future smart city, the Lusail City mega-development that will also be the host venue of Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

GE Energy Connections’ Grid Solutions business has won the contract from L&T for Lusail City, to support seven 66/11kV substations with advanced protection and automation systems. The project will support the electricity needs for nearly 450,000 people who are expected to take up residence in Lusail City, which is envisaged to have marinas, residential districts, island resorts, commercial districts, luxury shopping, leisure and entertainment centers and a golf course community in the man-made islands. The Lusail Iconic Stadium, with a capacity of over 80,000 people, and set to host the opening and final matches of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup is also part of this master-planned mega-development.

In a significant first, GE is providing both the main relays marking the exclusive provision of all protection equipment for the substations. In addition, more than 400 protection panels and the full DS Agile substation automation system for the seven substations are provided by Grid Solutions. Eng. Essa M. Kaldari, Chief Executive Officer of Lusail Real Estate Development Company, said: “Lusail City is the smart city of the future that reflects the Qatar National Vision 2030 to drive economic diversification. As the home venue of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, the mega-development is setting new benchmarks in infrastructure and amenities. With its proven expertise in supporting Qatar’s power sector, GE serves as an ideal partner to drive the electricity infrastructure for the development.”

Mohammed Mohaisen, President & CEO Grid Solutions, Middle East and Central Asia, said: “The contract for Lusail City marks a first for GE in the country as we provide an integrated protection and automation solution that is completely equipped by GE and designed locally by our Qatar-based Grid Solutions team. GE has been a partner for the 2006 Asian Games, and now with our project for Lusail City, we are bringing our competencies to support another sporting spectacle hosted by the country. We will draw on our industrial internet strengths to deliver high levels of efficiency to the substations through advanced automated solutions.”

The seven substations in Lusail City protected and automated by GE are located in Qetafian Island South, West1, West2, Wadi1, Wadi2, North and Marina. The panels are scheduled for supply by April 2017 and all the seven substations will be energised by the end of next year. The advanced grid technology will be showcased by GE at its booth G2 at GCC Power to be held until November 10, 2016, at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel in Doha, under the patronage of HE Minister of Energy and Industry Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada.

With over 70 years of active presence in the country, GE has been a trusted partner in the socio-economic growth story of Qatar and is a close partner of Kahramaa in developing the country’s power needs for generations to come. Today, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, GE has expanded its business offerings, and has marked a global first with the introduction of its Industrial Internet solutions for the LNG sector in the country through its partnership with RasGas. GE has over 400 employees in the country, working across three offices and advanced facilities that support the growth vision of the nation. GE and Al Farraj Trading & Manufacturing Company (FTMC) have signed an agreement whereby FTMC will assemble and supply GE electrical equipment to five key Middle Eastern countries: Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Jordan.

To further support the growing requirements of its relationship with GE, FTMC is inaugurating a new manufacturing facility in Doha. The 7,000 square meter plant will manufacture electrical equipment used in the protection and distribution of electricity in residential, commercial and industrial applications. It will also create up to 150 new jobs in the country.

Adding yet another fruitful collaboration to its line-up of educative and entertaining activities, KidzMondo Doha, Qatar’s one-of-a-kind miniature edutainment city, has shaken hands with Stark Security Services W.L.L, to train its young visitors on how to protect and secure personnel, equipment and property.

Through role-play, the new activity aims to equip children in Qatar with one of the skills necessary to become responsible adults who can effectively contribute to the realization of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and build a better future for themselves and their communities.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Nabil R. Barakat, General Manager of KidzMondo Doha said: “Our booming edutainment brand’s focus on adapting to unique cultures while promoting social rules and values, enabled KidzMondo Doha’s revolutionary concept to dovetail with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and its aspirations to establish a knowledge-based economy. This sustainable development goals cannot be achieved without well-planned and executed safety and security measures in place; which is why our latest partnership, with Stark Security Services, will serve as a unique and vital purpose, as it will help our young visitors understand what it takes to protect and secure personnel, equipment and property, and the importance of achieving those goals for the benefit of themselves, their families, and the greater community. We are really proud to be collaborating with Stark Security Services to add this significant activity to kidizens’ experience at KidzMondo Doha.”

Following up on Mr. Barakat’s remarks, Mr. Gary Thomson, General Manager of Stark Security Services, said: “Stark Security Services is always keen on sharing its expertise and knowledge to help make Qatar and its establishments a safer place. Our partnership with KidzMondo Doha takes that to a whole new level, as it leverages our experience as a leading security service solutions provider, to empower today’s younger generation, to become tomorrow’s guardians of the country, its wealth and its vision. Through this special collaboration, Stark Security Services will teach Kidizens our proactive approach to solving security and safety problems, to respect Police and Security Officers, as well as teaching them social responsibility and the importance of working together for the greater good of the community.”

Stark Security Services has been operating in Qatar for over 5 years, and has recently re-branded itself as Stark in July 2015, and currently employs over 1200 personnel and operates at over 80 individual sites in Qatar. The Company prides itself on outstanding professional security service solutions to protect and secure personnel, equipment and property, which include commercial, hospitality, retail, construction and private. The Company’s services include Manned Guarding, CCTV and Alarm Remote Monitoring, Mobile Patrolling, Event Security, Traditional Security Consultancy, and Security Equipment.

KidzMondo Doha’s partnership with Stark Security Services is designed to enrich children’s experience at the indoor theme park, and augment its vast range of real-world establishments and activities. The edutainment city’s activities will support social, artistic, creative and cognitive development amongst others, while unlocking imagination and creativity in children and empowering them with knowledge, essential skills and life-lessons that will help them become well-versed individuals and prepare them for the professional world of adults with confidence and courage.

Located in the country’s largest and most unique ‘Mall of Qatar’, KidzMondo Doha will span across a built up area of about 8000 m2, that will host more than 60 unique establishments. The indoor edutainment park aims to be one of the most visited family attractions in Qatar. In addition to its existing theme parks in Lebanon and Turkey and its upcoming miniature cities in Qatar and the UAE, KidzMondo plans to expand its unique indoor theme parks across the GCC, MENA, Levant, and International regions, with the aim of becoming the number one edutainment destination in the world.

In line with the Hilton Global Month of Service, now in its fifth year, DoubleTree by Hilton Doha Old visited the Qatar Animal Welfare Society (QAWS) to care for its animals.

Led by Nina Wegmann, head of the CARE Committee, on Friday, October 28 the DoubleTree Team helped in painting the QAWS shelters, cleaning their surroundings, washing the cats and dogs toys, bowls and transportation cages. The DoubleTree Team also installed comfortable seats in the reception area, which is great as visitors who are looking to adopt will now have a place to lounge while waiting for the adoption paperwork. Since QAWS is completely dependant upon support from the community and gestures of goodwill, help from the DoubleTree Team was hugely valuable.

According to Nina, “the DoubleTree Team really enjoyed helping out the animals at QAWS and some people are even thinking of adopting; I personally adopted a beautiful German Shepherd two weeks ago.” By dedicating their time, passion and unique brand of hospitality, the DoubleTree Team demonstrated its continuous commitment to care, not only for its guests but also for their local communities. As a global company operating across 93 countries, Hilton Worldwide believes in the power of local impact, which is why during the Global Month of Service, approximately 300,000 Team Members across Hilton Worldwide properties join forces to positively impact the places where they live and work.

The findings of the latest Barclays “Compass” report, which includes the Bank’s tactical recommendations to portfolio asset allocations, were recently announced. Published by the Barclays’ Wealth and Investment Management division, the research focuses on providing investment advice and recommendations to investors around the world, including the MENA region.

The Q4 2016 Compass, which examines major asset classes globally, has assigned an overweight allocation for Developed Markets Equities. Equities in the US are seen as the main source of returns for the next six to twelve months, since the negative impact of energy sector earnings and the decrease in profits as a result of higher US dollar, are anticipated to dissipate in the coming quarters. Equities in Continental Europe were given an overweight allocation, as they are expected to benefit from the negative outlook towards the European banking sector.

The Q4 report maintained a neutral allocation for Emerging Markets Equities since an upturn in earnings momentum is not clearly visible yet. As global trade is expected to pick-up, Asian equities are considered the preferred choice for this asset class, with a particular focus on Korea, Taiwan and China (offshore). The Compass set a neutral allocation to Cash & Short- Maturity Bonds. Cash continues to play an essential role in safeguarding investment portfolios during the ongoing market volatility, as it is a source of funding to invest in other asset classes. Meanwhile, extreme valuations have negatively affected fixed income’s appeal.

In terms of Developed Government Bonds, the Q4 report highlighted a decrease in its allocation to neutral, due to the minimal yields on government bonds. Meanwhile, the report maintained an underweight allocation to Investment Grade Bonds, citing a similar reason to the Developed Government Bonds. High Yield & Emerging Markets Bonds were increased to overweight, by adding to Global High Yield, as a result of the drop in the tactical overweight for Cash & Short-Maturity Bonds, to a neutral position. However, Barclays’ strategists and investment experts believe that Emerging Markets Bonds are expensive and remain vulnerable to a reversal of inflows during the sluggish monetary normalisation process.

As for Commodities, the report increased its long-held underweight allocation to neutral, citing the recovery in China’s property market, which was sufficient to offset the negative impact of US monetary normalization on commodities’ prices. According to the report, investors are likely to see better returns should they gear their investments towards oil, which is expected to continue to rise over the next 12 – 18 months. Meanwhile, gold continues to be vulnerable to an additional increase in US interest rates. The Q4 Compass report also stressed the importance of maintaining a diversified portfolio to weather risks, in addition to having an adequate exposure to the Real Estate asset class, which retained its neutral weight.

Commenting on the report, Vic Malik (pictured), Head of Global Investments and Solutions for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) at Barclays Wealth and Investment Management, said: “World economy is expected to continue to grow at a minimal rate, and as such, maintaining a diversified portfolio will be key to protecting investments from market volatility. “Investment portfolios should be tactically tilted towards high risk assets, such as high-yield bonds and equities in developed markets. Despite the fact that bond yields will begin to recover slowly, as woes of currency deflation begin to subside, we don’t anticipate that the correction will be strong enough to impact the equity market’s weight”.   

City Centre Rotana, Doha is pleased to announce the appointment of Vikram Jamwal as the hotel’s new Resident Manager, following his successful stint as the hotel’s Executive Assistant Manager.   

Born in India and raised in Dresden Germany, Jamwal has been in the hospitality industry for more than 22 years, showcasing an extensive hotel experience across the European, African, Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern markets. Before joining Rotana, Jamwal spent 16 years with an international hotel chain and his last position was Director of Business Development and in-charge of operations in one of the largest five star hotels in Africa, in Nigeria.

Commenting on his appointment, Jamwal remarked “As part of the pre-opening team of the hotel, I have seen our property grow into a stylish, trend-setting property in Doha delivering sophisticated yet and personalized hospitality experience to all our guests. I am proud to be part of such a great team and I look forward to adding more value and contributing further towards the success of Rotana’s newest five star hotel in Qatar.”

Albatha Group’s Star Juices, Amara and Glenda biscuits, UAE based juice and biscuit brands, received the Halal Certification from Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA). The companies received the award from H.E. Dr. Rashid bin Fahad, Minister of State and Chairman of ESMA, and it was received by Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi from the Albatha Group.  These brands are available in Qatar in supermarkets and other outlets.

Halal National Mark is the final and official acknowledgement that a product was manufactured in compliance with the Islamic Sharia law. This signifies the fact that the product or the process involved in manufacturing the product should be free from alcohol, blood or pork, and must be free from contamination risk which also includes the entire cleaning process.

“Halal National Mark definitely provides consumers the confidence that the products they consume are halal and is certified by an entity such as ESMA. Our products are aimed at consumers that specifically look for a Halal National Mark on the pack. We are also HACCP and ISO 9001 & 22000 certified. ESMA certification further strengthens our credentials in halal food marketplace and thereby will surely enable us to extend our global footprint,” said Fuad Chundrigar, General Manager, Global Food Industries, Snacking Division.

Albatha group companies, Global Food Industries Snacking (GFIS) manufactures the biscuits and wafers brands, whereas, International Beverage & Filling Industries (IBFI) manufactures its juices and other beverages. This certification has been awarded for overall factory operations and certifies that both the companies have fulfilled the requirements of ESMA, and all of its supply chain, which includes even the raw materials used in the procurement and manufacturing cycle. Star Juices, Glenda and Amara brands are currently available across GCC and are exported to over 30 countries.

Mr. Jacek Plewa, Global Food Industries, General Manager for the Frozen Food and Beverages said, “We are delighted to be granted with this award once again this year but this time for our juice brands. Last year, we were granted for our frozen food segment. Educating the audience about this mark is extremely important so that they can trust the products and are sure of the quality. With our wealth of expertise, commitment to innovation and adherence to stringent standards, our brands are highly regarded for their unique taste and nutritional value. We are on a constant endeavor to develop new product categories, strategically expand our geographic presence and further strengthen our role in constantly enhancing the quality of our products for our consumers.”

“We adopt best industry practices and standards that are ahead of the industry. We source the finest halal raw materials from across the world, process them at our state-of-the-art facilities and ship the finished goods across the Middle East and African region. IBFI caters to the needs of discerning consumers by providing them with delicious value added products. Today, our brands enjoy a significant presence across all trade channels across the region,” concluded Plewa.

The Entertainer, the region’s leading Buy One Get One Free incentives brand, has launched Entertainer Qatar 2017, which customers can now purchase for just QAR 250, 15% off the regular price. On top of this great price, your purchase will unlock all 2016 offers so you can start saving right away. This fantastic deal is available directly from the website or through the Entertainer App for a limited time only.

With over 1,400 Buy One Get One Free offers for restaurants, cafés, attractions, leisure activities, spas, fitness, retail, services and more, the Entertainer delivers over QAR 587,000 in savings for customers in Qatar.

In 2016, Entertainer Members in Qatar will have used over 350,000 digital offers, saving an average of QAR 5,152 per user! In addition to all the offers in the book, the digital product includes access to even more premium offers added each month, such as brunches, buffets, spa treatments and more. New venues are added on the App throughout the year, giving customers the opportunity to save even more. Last month, the Entertainer App introduced ‘Smiles,’ a virtual currency system which allows members to earn and spend rewards throughout the year. Rewards include offer top-ups, for when you’ve used all three at your favourite spots, extra Pings and more.

With the purchase of all 2017 digital products, Entertainer members will enjoy exclusive access to ‘Hotels Worldwide’, which includes Buy One Night, Get One Free offers at over 500 hotels across the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Choose from hotels, resorts, hotel apartments, bed & breakfasts and lodges in over 30 popular destinations including Dubai, Oman, Jordan, Thailand, Malaysia, Bali and more. Hotels Worldwide includes international hotel brands such as InterContinental, Marriott, Fairmont, Sheraton, Radisson, Sofitel, Shangri-La and Hyatt. Whether you are looking for a relaxing staycation right here in Doha or an exciting trip abroad, Hotels Worldwide is your ticket to great savings.

“Our 2017 products deliver incredible value at the most extensive range of outlets available, giving our customers the opportunity to save money, go out more and spend quality time with friends and loved ones,” said Donna Benton, Founder and Chairman of the Entertainer. “The newest update to our world-class App offers more benefits and value than ever before, so there is truly no better time to be an Entertainer member.”

The ‘ENTERTAINER’ App is available in English & Arabic for free download on iOS and Android. 

McDonald’s Qatar is introducing its brand new Signature Collection Burger and conducted a special tasting preview among media influencers, food bloggers, loyal consumers and frequent users of McDonald’s mobile app and ordering website.

Amongst the limited line up of guests included winners from McDonald’s online campaign where participants entered for a chance to be a part of the exclusive tasting. This was a one day only event across five specifically chosen pilot testing stores, namely, Markhiya, Lagoona, Almeera Qutaifiya, City Center ground floor and Barwa City. The five selected restaurants accommodated 120 guests of different nationalities whom McDonald’s Qatar believes provides an overview of their customer demographics. Each participant enjoyed a complimentary mouth-watering burgers during the event.

For those feeling left out, the general public will get their chance to savor the new burgers on the official Signature Collection launched in selected restaurants. These burgers are in-store for a limited time only and available from the 5th of November until December 31. The Signature Collection Burgers will entice the taste buds of patrons who appreciate rich flavors, prepared with delicately chosen ingredients and come beautifully presented. The Signature Collection line up consists of Chicken Mexicano, The Mushroom and The Clubhouse.

“We cater to our customers’ needs and we are confident they will find our burgers just as delicious as those in served in gourmet restaurants.  There is nothing better than having an affordable premium sandwich served fresh and ready to eat,” said Mr. Kamal Saleh AlMana, Managing Director of AlMana Restaurants & Food Co. the owner and operator of McDonald’s restaurants in Qatar.