Families usually hire maids on hourly basis during the holy month compared with regular days because of hectic house work, especially cooking for guests for Iftar parties, reports Arabic daily Al Raya, said The Peninsula. With increasing demand, manpower agencies which supply maids, too, have increased hourly fees for part-time maids, according to many families.

Hiring a maid per hour for work during Ramadan could cost between QR40 and QR70 compared with about QR25 on normal days. However, many families prefer part-time maids and claim that it’s convenient for them compared with keeping a full-time maid at home. Azza Mustafah, an Arab working woman, said, “I hire two maids for five hours from a manpower agency on days we host guests for Iftar banquet and pay QR150 each. “In a way, it’s easy to hire part- time maids because there are many requirements to be met for hiring a full-time maid.” 

Some families pay as much as QR4,000 for part-time maids to help them in work. Nauf Al Doosari, a working Qatari woman, said she has been waiting for five months to get a permanent maid. “I have been trying to get a maid for five months. So in Ramadan, I’m forced to hire part- time maids which costs around QR4,000 per month,” she said. Hassa Al Ansari, another working Qatari woman, said, “During Ramadan permanent maids at home alone can’t manage work. Sometimes they complain and refuse to do more work, so the option is to hire part-time domestic helps.” 

Some complain that manpower agencies exploit demand for part- time maids during Ramadan and raise fees. Muna Al Jabor said, “Maids are necessary during Ramadan to have an extra hand for work because we host many guests. “But manpower companies cash in on the situation. On normal days they charge QR25 per hour per maid, and QR45 during Ramadan. It’s too costly for families, but we have no alternative.” Some others say hiring part- time maids is hassel-free, although they have to give a huge fee.

Abir Mohamed said, “Recruiting regular maids is not easy, there are lots of requirements to fulfil, especially we have to give them a separate room to stay. “So hiring a part-time maid is the best option we have, mainly during Ramadan, when there is more house work is to be done.

The Gate Mall reverberated with squeals of laughter as it welcomed scores of children to celebrate the traditional festival of Garangao last week. To mark the festive occasion, The Gate Mall and Salam Stores organised a range of fun-filled entertainment activities for kids of all ages.

Garangao is widely celebrated among children across the Gulf region, on the fourteenth day of Ramadan.As part of the night’s celebration, The Gate Mall and Salam Stores hosted a world-class five dimensional cinema screening of popular shows. The cinema is the first-of-a-kind in Qatar, and proved to be a great hit among kids and their parents alike. The exclusive viewing treated children to a unique experience through 3D glasses, moving seats and real-world senses.

During the event, the highly adored regional cartoon character - Um Khammas - surprised kids with a grand appearance at the venue. Other exciting activities that took place included interactive story telling sessions, face painting, and a hand crafted ceramic activity from Café Ceramiqué. Keeping in line with the festival’s custom, children came dressed in colourful traditional costumes, and were treated to special goody bags containing assorted confectionaries and gifts.

Owning to the spectacular turnout of young attendees, The Gate Mall and Salam Stores has announced an extension of the celebration until the end of Eid. The 5D cinema will continue to offer a thrilling experience to guests through continuous screenings of different shows daily; the face painting and storytelling sessions will also be held simultaneously. In addition to these, a range of new activities will also take place including comical acts of the world-renowned Muppet show, traditional henna art and a bouncing castle for the kids to enjoy. Furthermore, popular cartoon characters such as Tom and Jerry, Sponge Bob square pants and Disney’s Frozen ensemble will also be making special appearances.

Commenting on the event, Ibrahim Bitar, Managing Director of Salam Bounian said, “Garangao is one of the most popular events during the month of Ramadan and has been celebrated for generations. The Gate Mall is extremely delighted to serve as a platform to continue this tradition with today’s generation of children. We would like to thank every child and parent who dedicated their time to celebrate this joyous occasion with us. The Gate Mall is always committed to offer a wholesome family experience be it through our retail section or our annual Ramadan festivities.”

The action-packed Ramadan activities are being held at an exclusive set up within the multipurpose hall, located on the first floor of The Gate Mall.

Yesterday, Starwood Hotels & Resorts celebrated Iftar with taxi drivers across Qatar/Doha, as part of its ongoing commitment to the Holy Month of Ramadan.

For the sixth year running, Starwood’s ‘Iftar for Cabs’ campaign brought more than 40 of its hotels, including The St. Regis Doha, across the region together for a worthy cause. During the hour of Iftar, packs containing food and beverages were distributed to cab drivers and Starwood’s partner-drivers at the main entrance of each hotel. Catering teams at each hotel prepared Iftar packs which included a diverse selection of food and beverage items. Associates from across various departments within the hotels, including Catering, Administration and Guest Services joined forces to bring the ‘Iftar for Cabs’ initiative to life.

The ‘Iftar for Cabs’ initiative – ideated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts – has been running since 2010 and has since become an annual tradition for many cab drivers throughout the region. The initiative has been widely appreciated by its hotel owners, the community and local transport authorities.

Qatar Primary Materials Company (QPMC) hosted a number of events to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. Some of these events were a suhoor gathering at the logistics stores in Mesaieed and a Quran reciting competition at the head office, in addition to a few other activities and contributions that are commensurate with the spirit of the holy month. In an initiative aimed at enhancing the family bonding of its employees, QPMC hosted a suhoor gathering for all its staff of all nationalities. The event gathered, in one place, all the head office’s Managers, executives and staff with all employees and workers of various sites such as logistic & supply chain division,  port and jetties, Sahara washed sand plant and Nijian sand supply site.

The event began with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran followed by a speech by the Chief Executive Officer of the company then a number of staff participated by sharing their  own experience with the holy month of Ramadan and its rituals.  Each in their own language, talked about the spirit of the holy month and what it means to them as Muslims, the true meaning of fasting and its virtues, and the good deeds performed during Ramadan such as reading the Quran, performing the Taraweeh prayers, paying alms and charities to the poor and needy.

Speaking on this blessed occasion, QPMC CEO, Engineer Eisa Al Hammadi, thanked all the attendees for their unique efforts and continuous loyalty and urged them to approach him anytime they feel like they needed to, and to approach the company’s legal offices if needed. Al Hammadi said: “With the Holy month of Ramadan coming to an end, we wish to welcome a new chapter and year of positive resolutions. We all make mistakes as we are all human, but I believe in your hard work and together, we can grow to reach new heights. We need your dedication now more than ever.”

“Every single one of you is an ambassador of QPMC; this is the vision that gives us strength and allows us to always appear united. I want us to always be the best example in Qatar.” He added. QPMC concluded the holy month of Ramadan by hosting a Quraan reciting competition for “Al Waqeaa” passage as part of the company’s events highlighting the spirit of Ramadan, the month of the Quraan, and the importance of its traditions and rituals.

The competition, which was attended and witnessed by Imam Sheikh Jumaa Mohammed Sidiq, was held at QPMC’s head office. Commenting on the event, Sheikh Jumaa Mohammed Sidiq praised the company's efforts to revive Ramadan events. He also admired its contribution to the preservation of the traditions of the holy month through encouraging employees to read and memorize the Quraan and the company’s attempt to enhance family bonding amongst its employees in line with the principles of Islam.

QPMC’s events and competitions are part of the company's commitment to perpetuate communication and collaboration between the team members as one family. It is worth mentioning that QPMC recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Belgian engineering consultant, port and logistical operator Rent-A-Port to set up mining operations in the Khatmat Malaha area in the Sultanate of Oman and initiate works on limestone and gabbro quarries in addition to a one kilometer long jetty to quarry and transport over 3 million tons of gabbro and marketable primary materials every year by barges to Qatar.

This comes as part of QPMC's pledge to create a strategic stockpile of aggregates for the country and operates for that matter, a jetty in Lusail area, a Gabbro Berth Terminal in Mesaieed Port, which will have an unloading capacity of 34 million tons a year by 2016, and a floating jetty and stockpile in Ras Laffan which as above mentioned to import 7.5 million tons of gabbro per annum. In addition to developing gabbro quarries outside of Qatar, mainly in Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE and Khatmat Malaha in Oman, and the sea logistic supply chain; QPMC also produces washed sand and is constructing a cement silo at the gabbro berths to store and discharge over 2 million tons of imported cement annually to meet any increased demand.

‘Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara’, the luxury brand’s first resort in Qatar, developed by Al Rayyan Hospitality, will mark the Holy Month of Ramadan and Eid al Fitr with a special theme "Ahl Al Turath" (people of heritage), that will provide guests an opportunity to celebrate the blessed month with dignified grace at one of the most elegant and spectacular venues in Doha.

‘Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara’ is underlining the spirit of Arabian hospitality and Qatari heritage in inimitable style and grandeur at its dedicated Ramadan Pavillion. The Pavillion, which will be transformed into an Arabian Village, is designed as a remarkable Arabic-style courtyard with large arcades, hundreds of lanterns and chandeliers and a green colourful yet soothing ambience. The Arabian Village will offer a truly distinctive experience during the Holy Month, with guests experiencing unique facilities that are quite simply, second to none.

The Pavillion will be dressed up similar to the Arabian Souq, where there will be corners to resemble women sitting at one corner and weaving the traditional baskets, with the chance to buy some traditional souvenirs, in addition to many surprises. From the stylish reception, guests can proceed to the large courtyard, where they can break their fast at Iftar and continue to enjoy a pleasant evening through Sohour. A delectable choice of authentic Arabic dishes will be served for Iftar and Suhour at the Ramadan Pavillion in addition to traditional soothing Arabic music. The special courtyard can accommodate more than 250 guests at one time making it ideal for large gatherings.

Guests will have the opportunity of seeing the tallest “Tower of Dates”, where they can presume the number of dates disabled each evening, and have the chance of winning a stay over at the resort. The festive ambience will continue at the luxurious resort to celebrate Eid Al Fitr in a unique buffet, where the guests will indulge in the sumptuous buffet with family and friends, enjoying a feast of delectable dishes prepared to perfection. ‘Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara’ feels a world away from bustling Doha but is only a 25 minute journey by luxury ferry from Al Shyoukh Terminal located in the city’s downtown area or a 10 minute helicopter ride directly from the airport with bird’s eye views of the spectacular coastline.

To make a reservation, call +974 4040 5050, email fbreservations.adoh@anantara.com or go to http://doha.anantara.com/.  Find out more about the resort by liking Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BananaIslandResortDohabyAnantara.

Sony Middle East and Africa, the leading consumer electronics brand, and Fifty One East, the premium luxury retail chain in Qatar, announced the launch of its line of BRAVIA™ 4K LCD televisions, built with a new 4K Processor X1, further advancing the clarity, color accuracy and contrast of the Sony 4K viewing experience. The new BRAVIA™ 4K LCD televisions are available now at Fifty One East outlets located in Al Maha Center, City Center Doha and all Virgin Megastores outlets; in addition to a few leading stores in Qatar.

The new models, first announced at this year’s CES 2015, range in size from 49 to 75 inches and include three new series. The new 4K Processor X1 was built to enhance clarity, colour and contrast while improving the streaming quality of images that 4K content providers supply. Combined with the advanced 4K X-Reality™ PRO upscaling algorithm technology, these televisions will analyze and upscale to 4K resolution, providing the best image quality, regardless of the image source. 

With screens that provide a 3,840 x 2,160 4K resolution, these products also include TRILUMINOS™ Display to accurately reproduce shades of red, green and aqua blue. Colours come alive on the screen in the widest colour range ever, and dynamic colour correction ensures colours are as consistent and accurate as possible every single time. Further enhancing the picture quality, these televisions will also be equipped with the critically-acclaimed X-tended Dynamic Range™ contrast enhancement to provide peak brightness of LED as well as deeper blacks.

For the first time, these televisions will support Google’s latest Android TV operating system, making it easy to stream video, function as a gaming device and provide enhanced features like Google Cast™ and Voice Search. Google Cast™ will provide users with greater connectivity than ever before by enabling them to cast content from mobile devices. Additionally, Voice Search is available through a remote equipped with a microphone. With access to Google Play™, consumers can enjoy what they like to do on a smartphone or tablet, from their television.

High-Resolution Audio

In order to provide an overwhelming TV sound experience, the new X9400C series is compatible with the world’s first High-Resolution Audio playback as a standalone TV. Users are now able to effortlessly enjoy high quality High-Resolution Audio in USB drive or in personal computer via home network.

Sony Android TV

The new BRAVIA™ models adopt the Android operating system from Google (US) to provide customers a seamless integrated experience with their mobile devices. Customers can easily enjoy services and apps that they are familiar with on their smartphone through a large Sony TV. Thus, combined with Sony’s unique user interface, One-Flick Entertainment, this provides customers with access to various contents quickly and intuitively without any disturbance, while watching TV.

• Google Cast™ Ready: Sony has Google Cast™ built-in so customers can easily cast their favourite contents from their smartphone, tablet (Android, iOS) and laptop PC (Windows) directly on to the screen of their large Sony TV. During casting, customers can operate other actions such as check SNS, web, and more, with their mobile products.
• Voice Search: Voice function on Android TV allows customers to not only search for contents across different services but also answer general questions using the most sophisticated search engine from Google.
• By using the same familiar Google ID, customers can discover games, movies, TV shows and more from Google Play™. They can also casually enjoy many familiar apps on their smartphone, and have seamless content playback between devices.
• One-Flick Entertainment allows customers to access content quickly and intuitively without any disturbance while watching TV.

Further expanding its footprint in the high-end traditional womens wear market, Al Siddiqi Brands, a division of Al Siddiqi Holding, today opened the inaugural store of its luxury abaya brand Almotahajiba SIGNATURE in the Porto Arabia Towers at The Pearl-Qatar.

Designed to cater to the modern Arab woman, SIGNATURE aims to be a leader in the luxury traditional womens wear market,offering an exclusive range of handmade abayas, jalabiyas, sheilas, leather goods and accessories that combine exquisite designs with extraordinary quality. SIGNATURE is the third abaya brand from Al Siddiqi Brands, following the upscale AlMotahajiba and the young and trendy Dary, and offers a level of luxury previously unseen in the Arab womens wear market.

“SIGNATURE is created to fulfill a desire in the market for luxury abayas of the highest quality and craftsmanship. The brand embodies what is most noble and accomplished in the artisan world, blending tradition, sophistication and bespoke luxury to deliver an unmatched level of elegance and personalization in Arab womens wear,” said Aly Delawar, CEO of Al Siddiqi Holding. SIGNATURE uses the understanding and experience of the traditional beauty and design of the abaya, and brings it together with modern cuts and new materials to create the most luxurious abaya in the world.Each SIGNATURE piece is made of high-quality materials including pure silk and is crafted with passion, as evidenced by the exquisite details and matchless elegance of the designs.

“As the luxury label of Al Siddiqi Brands that offers an exclusive selection of designs created entirely in Qatar, SIGNATURE shares the same culture of excellence and creative spirit as the Group’s existing home-grown fashion brands, while placing even greater emphasis on the elements of quality and authenticity,” Delawar said. “We plan to expand the SIGNATURE brand into other segments of luxury retail, with a full line of fragrances, eyewear, and jewelry already in the pipeline.”

In keeping with the founding vision of Al Siddiqi Holding- “Believe, Achieve, and Succeed” -SIGNATURE is guided by five core values: constant innovation, extreme care of craftsmanship and materials, entrepreneurship mindset, upstanding leadership, and social responsibility. Founded in 1922, Al Siddiqi Holding has grown to become a diversified group managing 23 brands across six operational divisions: Retail, Hospitality, Brands, Entertainment, Real Estate, and Industrial. It has a presence in eight countries across the MENA region through its original brand outlets, retail stores, indoor theme parks, restaurants, and real estate developments.

Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels (SWBH) launched its Eid Al Fitr special offers to celebrate with visitors to historic Souq Waqif the luxury designer hotels’ official sponsorship of Souq Waqif Eid Al Fitr celebrations for 2015.

The festivities are packed with a wide range of events, highlighted by Souq Waqif’s Eid Evenings Festival that spans over four nights and features eight leading singers from Qatar and the Arab World. Copious entertainment activities will be held all day long including entertainment programmes and games for children, traditional folk bands shows, art sessions, acrobatics and myriad competitions, as well as street clown shows and the distribution of thousands of gifts to children.  

Other popular activities certain to appeal to family visitors include bouncey castles, face painting, balloon making, air hockey, mini bowling, sumo wrestling, giant darts, basketball shootout, mini golf, giant basketball, trampoline, mini go kart race track, train ride and stilt walkers, as well as drawing workshops, to name a few. Adding more delight to Eid Al Fitr celebrations, SWBH has an irresistible offer for its Eid Buffet at Al Terrace, Al Mirqab Boutique Hotel, with a comprehensive assortment of delicious food options, drinks and sweets at competitive prices in a festive atmosphere.

For its part, Al Terrace will offer a wide range of Lebanese and Arabic dishes with guests having the choice of dining either in the elegantly decorated halls or al fresco on the terrace. Providing hotel guests with the opportunity to try its exclusive facilities, relax and restore their natural body balance, Al Jasra has a special offer regarding the Moroccan bath experience at its spa for an exclusive price and a complementary half-hour massage session for every reservation. A wide spectrum of selected therapies at the collection’s health clubs and spas are also available.

“A very special occasion that allows us to offer the highest levels of luxury services in an unforgettable joyous atmosphere, Eid Al Fitr is the perfect opportunity to show our guests what original Qatari hospitality really means through our unique offers at Al Terrace during Eid for Souq Waqif visitors,” said Mr.Taleb Al Henzab, General Manager at Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels.

For reservations, please call (+974 44 33 66 66), or email (reservations@swbh.com). For more information, please visit our website: www.swbh.com.

Ramada Encore Doha is offering an Inspirational Eid dining experience exclusively at the Hub restaurant - Be inspired this Eid with our festive offerings. A special crafted buffet with a lavish feast of salads, hot and cold Mezzeh, and a wide selection of Arabic sweets at a promotional price of QR 180 per person inclusive of water and soft drinks. A special group offer of QR 99 per person with a minimum of 20 persons is also being offered during the Eid celebrations.

Come and share great memories over a scrumptious spread offered and let our joyful preparations ring in the festive celebrations of Eid for you and your loved ones. The management and team members at Ramada Encore Doha wishes you and your family Eid Mubarak, and look forward to celebrate this this joyous occasion with you and your loved ones. 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. 

Wyndham Grand Regency Doha Hotel (pictured) is offering special packages in celebration of “Eid Al Fitr 2015”. Book a room and get a 20% discount in all our restaurants and spa treatments including a breakfast buffet for 2 persons, access to the fitness center and swimming pool, plus free access to the internet anywhere in the hotel.

This offer is valid exclusively during “Eid Al Fitr” for a limited number of rooms and is subject to availability and conditions apply. This Package is exclusive for all GCC citizens & residents only. Wyndham Grand Regency Doha Hotel wishes all of our guests a happy Eid and a most enjoyable stay!. The Wyndham Grand Regency Doha is a 246-room hotel offering guests single, double and suite accommodations. Rooms feature a harmonious blend of traditional architecture and spectacular contemporary design alongside all the comforts and amenities to be expected from a five-star hotel.

Fr further information and to book, please email jvelasco@wyndham.com, call 4434 3112 / 3114 / 3333 or visit www.wyndhamgrandregency.com.

W Doha Hotel & Residences, as part of its continued commitment towards Education Above All Foundation (EAA), has donated their Iftar profits at their renowned Ramadan Sultan’s Tent from Saturday, July 4^th to the foundation’s Educate A Child (EAC) programme. A total of QAR 19,240 has been raised to contribute to EAC projects around the world which provide access to quality education to marginalized children who are currently denied their basic right to education.

Education Above All (EAA) is a global initiative founded in 2012 by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, running programmes that provide educational opportunities, with a special commitment to communities facing poverty and crisis. Commenting on the W Hotel’s Iftar, Fahad Al Sulaiti, Deputy CEO, Education Above All, said, “At Education Above All we are very grateful for the W Hotel's generosity in donating all proceeds from the Iftar to our Educate A Child programme.

This donation will go towards our goal of reaching 10 million children who currently do not have access to education by 2016. Ramadan is an important time to give back, and we hope that the W's patrons enjoyed their evening knowing that they were contributing to promoting access to education for the world's most marginalized children. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the W Hotel, and in raising awareness of the important issue of education as a basic human right that is still denied to 58 million children around the world.”

“Running for the fifth consecutive year, the Sultan’s Tent has been one of the most successful Ramadan Tents in Qatar. The tent has done exceptionally well this year as we have our Turkish guest Chef Omur Akkor’s creativity combined with talents of the hotel’s resident chefs. It is just right that we give back whatever blessing we have towards an advocacy we, as an organization, strongly supports. We began our partnership in 2014 with Education Above All and we look forward to support them in the coming years,” says Safak Guvenc, General Manager/Area Manager, and W Doha Hotel & Residences.

As part of their long term relationship, W Doha Hotel & Residences has an ongoing offer across Spice Market, La Spiga, Market by Jean Georges and W Café, where each venue has a menu item specially prepared for Education Above All (EAA). All profits raised on these select dishes are donated on a monthly basis to this esteemed organization. Guests can show their support at Market by Jean Georges and Spice Market by ordering a Calamari Leak Roll for QAR 75, at W Café with a Carrot Cupcake for QAR 35, or at La Spiga with a Bastoncini Di Polenta Croccante for QAR 20.

The Sultan’s Tent is open for Iftar from Sunset to 8:15pm at QAR 230 per person, and Suhoor from 9:15pm to 2:00am at QAR 285 per person.

For reservations or enquiries, please contact +974 4453 5014/5005 or email events.wdoha@whotels.com. For more information, please visit www.whoteldoha.com.

The Board of Directors of Aamal Company QSC (“Aamal”), one of the GCC’s fastest growing diversified companies, today announces its financial results for the half year ended 30 June 2015.

Financial Highlights

• Group revenue up 23.1% to QAR 1.35bn (H1 2014: QAR 1.10bn)
• Gross profit up 26.2% to QAR 310.4m (H1 2014: QAR 246.0m)
• Net profit¹up 45.6% to QAR 247.4m (H1 2014: QAR 169.9m)
• Net profit margins² increased to 17.1% (H1 2014: 14.6%)
• Reported earnings per share up 39.0% at QAR 0.35 (H1 2014: QAR 0.25³)
• Net investment in capital expenditure of QAR 46.0m (H1 2014: QAR 38.7m)
• Financial gearing⁴ remains low at 6.2% (31 December 2014: 4.5%)

¹ There were no fair value gains on investment properties in either H1 2015 or H1 2014; net profit is stated before the deduction of non-controlling interests

² Excluding share of profits equity accounted for investments in associates and joint ventures

³ In March 2015, Aamal issued and capitalised bonus shares so HY 2014 EPS has been adjusted accordingly (Company share capital increased to QAR 6.3bn from QAR 6.0bn)

⁴ Net debt to net debt plus equity

(N.B. there may be slight differences due to rounding)

H.E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani (pictured), Chairman of Aamal Company QSC, commented: “In April, I reported on an excellent set of results for the first three months of the year and I am pleased to say that we have managed to sustain this strong momentum in to the second quarter. Net profit increased by over 45% for the six month period, driven by both top line revenue growth and an expansion in margins. This is a reflection of the market leading positions that Aamal occupies across a number of sectors that are helping to drive Qatar’s growth as an industrialised economy.

“For example, the Industrial Manufacturing division, which now constitutes almost 60% of Aamal’s gross sales, saw a 39% increase in sales. Together with strong margin expansion, this translated into an increase in net profit of over 133%. Aamal’s Trading and Distribution and Property divisions also both continued to make significant contributions in the first half of 2015 and this diversification is certainly one of Aamal’s key attractions, in terms of both exposure to the wider Qatari economy and the management of risk.

“Part of the ethos at Aamal is the early identification of commercial opportunities and, following careful due diligence, acting decisively to ensure capital is allocated where it will create maximum shareholder value. This is evident in our change of focus within our Managed Services division away from some lower margin operations, as we continue to strengthen our performance and our competitive advantages across the business. I look forward to reporting another strong performance at the time of our nine month results announcement.”

BREAKDOWN BY DIVISION

(N.B. there may be slight differences due to rounding)

REVENUE

NET PROFIT

DIVISIONAL REVIEW

(N.B. there may be slight differences due to rounding)

• INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING

Revenues for the Industrial Manufacturing division increased by 39.0% during the first six months of the year compared to the corresponding period in 2014, predominantly led by an increase in sales for Senyar Industries, and to a lesser extent at Aamal Readymix and Ci-Scan Trading. This six month period also saw the start of commercial production at Advanced Pipes & Casts Company. Net profit for the six months increased by over 133%, supported by an expansion in underlying profit margins.

• TRADING AND DISTRIBUTION

Revenue for the Trading and Distribution division grew by over 5%, which along with an uplift in the margin, led to an increase of almost 40% in divisional net profit. Major drivers behind this excellent divisional performance were Aamal Medical and Ebn Sina Medical.

• PROPERTY

Revenue for the Property division increased by 13%, benefiting from the roll-out of Phase 1 of the redevelopment of the City Center shopping mall; together with an expansion in the margin, this  led to overall profit growth of almost 23%. City Center continues to be the flagship shopping mall in Doha and we look forward to securing the necessary permissions for Phase 2 of the redevelopment.

There were no fair value gains on investment properties during the period (H1 2014: nil).

• MANAGED SERVICES

Revenues for the Managed Services division dropped by 19% for the six month period compared with the corresponding period in 2014, reflecting the decision to withdraw from the low margin operations and services business and reallocate capital to more profitable opportunities. This withdrawal contributed to a decline in divisional margin and fall in net profit.

SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK

H.E. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Faisal Al Thani, Vice-Chairman of Aamal, commented: “The first six months of 2015 has seen Aamal go from strength to strength, consolidating and enhancing our existing market leading positions. We have grown both our revenues and our profitability, with underlying net profit margins rising to 17.1%, up from 14.6% for the corresponding period in 2014. It is this inherent focus on identifying and then maximising opportunities for the benefit of our stakeholders and for the State of Qatar itself which fills me with great optimism and excitement for the journey ahead.”

Tarek M. El Sayed, Managing Director of Aamal, commented: “These results underline the success of Aamal’s strategy in delivering sustained, long term profitability.  We are market leaders in many sectors across the Qatari economy and this enables us to be at the forefront of the country’s development as we continue to develop and meet increasing demand for high quality products and services areas, either through organic growth or in collaboration with world class partners wishing to enter the Qatari market. However, by no means are we becoming complacent and we will continue to strive to be the best in everything we do.”

Municipalities are to intensify inspection of restaurants, fast food chains, bakeries and sweet shops during the next eight days, as they have caught many violations of food safety laws in the last few days, reports Al Raya in The Peninsula.

Health inspectors of Doha Municipality conducted 1,351 visits, registered 56 violations and closed four outlets. They also raided vegetable and fruit shops to check if the items were safe for human consumptions and import documents to ensure if they were checked on the borders or not. Some shops were asked to correct minor mistakes while storing items. The municipality has divided inspectors in groups to cover various areas.

Today, inspectors in two shifts will monitor auctions at vegetable markets. Rayan Municipality inspected bakeries, food outlets and sweet shops, as many people rushed for Eid shopping. Inspectors in the morning shift focused on restaurants, traditional kitchens, cafeterias, supermarkets, commercial markets and slaughter houses. Al Shamal and Al Wakra municipalities also conducted similar inspections. Inspectors are accompanied by veterinary doctors.

Shops selling vegetables and fruits remain deserted at the Kilo Market today after the authorities removed all the stock from these shops in the aftermath of the major fire which gutted many shops in the market on Sunday, said The Peninsula. According to shopkeepers, they were asked to empty the shops and hose it down with water. Truckloads of vegetables and fruits were removed from the market last night and this morning. It is not clear yet when the shops will be allowed to resume sales.

Some private businesses and offices reopened yesterday after the Eid al-Fitr holidays even as more companies, including major ones, are expected to resume work today and tomorrow, said Gulf Times. Government offices will stay closed for a few more days and are scheduled to resume work on Sunday.

With many offices and schools closed and a large number of residents already abroad on vacation, traffic around Doha and its surrounding areas has largely been smooth over the last few days, especially during the day. Vehicular movement increases only late in the evening, particularly on roads leading to and around major shopping and entertainment destinations. Many people are also avoiding going out during the day due to the scorching conditions.

Work resumed at several construction companies, especially mid-sized ones, yesterday. “The volume of work is high and we are compensating our workers with overtime pay for resuming duties early. The Eid holidays have been a good opportunity for the company to offer incentives such as a fun party for workers and provide them with free transportation to places hosting Eid festivities. This is very good for our business, helping encourage workers to be more productive during the upcoming hot days,” said an Arab expatriate project manager at a construction company.

Most automobile workshops, spare parts shops and eateries have also reopened in the busy Doha Industrial Area. There is a lot of pending work at these garages, due to the holidays, and workers have reportedly been asked to put in extra hours to clear the backlog in many workshops. The workload has also increased for the existing staff as some employees are on leave. “Besides, people coming from other GCC countries also visit us when they have a problem with their cars and want us to fix it quickly at any cost. We have to be prepared for them as well,” said a garage operator.

The garages where the workload is high after the Eid holidays include those that have contracts with insurance companies.“Many garages seek to tie up with one or more insurance companies to secure a stable business. We have to be adequately prepared for customers in this highly competitive market,” said Khalid Abdulla, a garage operator.

GROHE, the world leading German manufacturer in sanitary fittings strengthened its leadership within the Middle East region through continued expansion and dedicated commitment to introducing luxurious water experience into major projects in the region.

Since the early 1970’s, GROHE in the Middle East has operated successfully in the project sector by implementing successful business strategies where products are delivered with the highest standard of innovation for faucets, fittings, showers and systems, which have long become integral elements of bathrooms and kitchens. This is best reflected in the company’s current evolution into a supplier of complete bathrooms, something that has become possible by fusing the company’s rich experience in water fittings with the long-standing ceramics expertise of its partner, LIXIL.

For many decades, GROHE has been the brand of choice amongst prominent architects and clients both regionally and around the world. GROHE fittings harmonize objectivity and emotion. Sensual minimalism, supple curves alternative with simplicity to ensure the perfect flow of water and utmost comfort.

GROHE is redefining the standards in innovation with a firework of products to meet the increasing demands of the market. Users of GROHE products feel the difference on a daily basis when they get to enjoy water as encapsulated in the slogan “Pure Freude an Wasser”. In terms of aesthetics, GROHE SPA® offers a selection of design collections, personalized concepts and natural lifestyle accessories to convert any bathroom into a personal spa.

The latest list of iconic projects makes it easy to understand why: Hilton Hotel, Versace Tower and Galleria Hotel in KSA, Adnoc HQ Tower, Meydan Millennium Heights and DAMAC Heights in UAE, the ISF and Kempinski The Pearl in Qatar, Movenpick Pyramids Hotel, Four Seasons Nile Plaza Hotel in Egypt, Salalah Rotana Resort in Oman, and Bristol Hotel, Versace Towers in both Beirut and Jeddah. These projects are only a few and represent GROHE’s commitment to providing uncompromised quality standards and sustainability considerations with cutting edge design.

As Masters of Technology since 1873* GROHE’s passion for water goes hand in hand with uncompromising German quality as well as innovative drive, technical expertise, precision engineering and dedication to timeless design.

*Founding year of Carl Nestler, since 1956 part of GROHE. For more visit www.grohe.com

Vegetables and fruits are currently available at low prices at the Abu Hamour Central market, local Arabic daily Arrayah has reported, said Gulf Times. This is because the market has not got too many customers of late, in view of the Eid holidays, and the salesmen are keen to clear their stocks even at low prices. 

Many customers also feel that the stocks are not too fresh and this is forcing the sellers to dispose of them at reduced prices, it is reported. Compared to rates prevalent during the holy month of Ramadan, the prices of many varieties have fallen sharply, the report notes. For instance, a 6-7kg box of tomatoes is being sold for QR10, a similar quantity of eggplants for around QR20, a sack of cucumbers for QR15-20, and around 8kg of carrots for QR26. For fruits, a 13kg carton of bananas is available for around QR40, 15kg of oranges for QR33 and 5kg of mangoes for QR40.

Residents have attributed the drop in prices to factors such as a low turnout of customers, as many families are spending the summer holidays outside the country, as well as the high temperature, which makes some products go bad quickly and as such the traders are eager to dispose of quickly. Meanwhile, sections of the Central Market which were closed after a blaze at the Kilo Market destroyed several shops have been reopened. But several tonnes of 'contaminated’ fruits and vegetables stored at the market were destroyed by authorities to prevent them from reaching the consumers.

The produce ‘contaminated’ by the blaze was collected in an open ground and ministry staff crushed it with the help of machines and later removed for disposal by garbage trucks. The shops that were gutted in Sunday’s fire had a huge stock of products containing chemical agents such as detergents, toiletries and other cleaning products. Following the advice of health officials from the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning, it was decided that the produce exposed to ‘toxic fumes’ was not safe for human consumption.

However, the traders have been disappointed by the action, complaining of losses running into thousands of riyals, which they said was unlikely to be compensated. According to a source, the fire was caused by a short circuit in an air-conditioning unit at a grocery store on the second floor.

With the country recording searing temperatures over the past few days, service centres and technicians say many customers have booked appointments for the repair and maintenance of their air-conditioning (AC) units, said Gulf Times.

Technical problems in ACs have been reported in many cases due to factors such as heavy load and scorching conditions, it is found. Mohamed Shahid, manager of Cityscapes Air-conditioning & Contracting, told Gulf Times that their technicians were fully booked despite the Eid holidays. This was reiterated by a customer service representative of a well-known appliance distributor in Qatar, who said several customers had requested for immediate repair of their ACs but had to wait for an extra day because all their technicians were already deployed to other assignments.

According to Shahid, most customers book appointments before the onset of summer to avoid any hassles once the temperature increases. However, some ACs, depending on their condition, get bogged down due to many factors, he stressed. A technician working in a AC repair shop along Najma Street explained that the weather and long-term use affect an AC’s performance. He said the rise in summer temperature is “the likely culprit” when capacitors or compressors of ACs fail. Moisture caused by high humidity may cause short circuits, damaging some of the internal parts of the unit, he added.

“To maximise optimum performance of any electrical equipment, owners should avoid overusing appliances such as air-conditioners. It is best to turn off the AC when leaving the house,” he advised. However, he was quick to add that “considering the weather conditions in the Middle East, ACs are usually overworked, which is why they are among the appliances that require constant repair or maintenance.” The repairman said many AC units sold in Qatar still use the rotary-type compressors, which have difficulty reaching optimum performance, especially at high temperatures. “Most of the AC units that we repair in the shop use rotary-type compressors,” he added.

According to Shahid, piston-type compressors are more suitable for countries in the Middle East and could provide optimal cooling even when the temperature goes above 50 degrees Celsius. “In terms of durability, piston-type compressors are ideal for Middle East countries as they outlast ACs using the rotary-type compressor when temperatures are high,” he said. A merchandiser in the appliances section of a well-known hypermarket in Doha said there are only two-three AC brands in the market that offer piston-type compressors. He noted that many customers, mostly expatriates, prefer the rotary-type compressor as they are more affordable than their piston-type counterparts.

The Holy Month of Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr holidays brought cheers to hospitality sector as hotels saw occupancy rate of up to 100 percent, said The Peninsula. Hotels said variety of events organised by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) played crucial role in attracting tourists from abroad. The offers launched by hotels encouraged guests to stay for longer duration in Qatar, reports Al Sharq.

Majority of the tourists were GCC citizens, said hotel officials. According to them, Eid festival was successful as it attracted more than expected tourists to Qatar. Sharad Ratan, Manager - Room Service at Sharq Village and Spa, said the occupancy of the hotel ranged between 80 to 100 percent during the Eid. In association with Qatar Tourism Authority, the hotel distributed booklets containing details about the Eid programmes. Guests were from all across the globe although majority of the visitors were from other Gulf countries, he said.

“We had launched offers for guests especially for families including 50 percent discount on food and beverages and related discounts for rooms,” he added. One night was offered free for those who had booked rooms for three nights. The hotel had organised special dinner on Eid for guests. Sebastian Soz, General Manager at Oryx Doha, said this year the hotel witnessed significant improvement in tourists inflow because of various events organised by Qatar Tourism Authority.

The occupancy rate was 90 to 100 percent during the Eid holidays, he added. More than 70 percent of tourists were from the GCC, he said. “Doha has become preferred destination for families. We offered one night free to guests who booked for four nights,” he added. Wisam Suleman, General Manager at Kempinski Doha, said he witnessed high occupancy of up to 90 percent during Ramadan and up to 100 percent during the Eid holidays. The hotel witnessed huge crowd of guests for Iftaar and Suhoor.

Ziad Mallad, Marketing manager at Ritz Carlton, said high occupancy showed that many Qatari preferred to stay in hotel during the Eid as all the facilities were provided for them. Ritz Carlton offered special meal for Eid, which included traditional food such as Maqboos, Oozi, Haris, Jaris, Madrooba and others. Hotel also organsied special activites for children. Harry George, General manager at City Center, said City Center received 100,000 customers during the Eid celebrations. The high number of visitor was due to variety of events organised by the Qatar Tourism Authority which included theater shows and various other entertainment programmes for families.

Each show was attended by 3,000 people. The expanded parking facility of City Center received around 13,000 cars every day, he said. Fawad Shahadan, Marketing Manager at Hyatt Plaza, said that the events organised by the Qatar Tourism Authority helped to attract around 30,000 people per day.

‘Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara’, the luxury brand’s first resort in Qatar, developed by Al Rayyan Hospitality, has recently appointed Mr. Thomas Fehlbier (pictured) as its new General Manager.

Prior to joining Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara, Thomas Fehlbier served as General Manager of Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa in Thailand. Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Fehlbier said, “I am very excited to be a part of this amazing property and it’s truly my honor to have the opportunity to lead an exceptional team. I look forward to driving its next wave of transformation and will strive to further strengthen its position as a leading brand in the region. Our aim is to reinforce Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara’s vision of offering an unparalleled stay experience and will always look for new ways to make our guests’ stay more memorable than ever before.”

Fehlbier brings with him a wealth of experience within the luxury hospitality business with over 25 years of experience in managing leisure resorts and global hotel chains across Asia, Europe and the Middle East. He has previously held senior management positions with AVANI Sepang GoldCoast Resort & Spa in Malaysia, Intercontinental Hotel Group Europe, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in the UAE amongst others.

Fehlbier started his hospitality career as a professional Chef with a Michelin star restaurant in a boutique hotel in Germany in 1989, and slowly grew the ranks within the industry having worked across several key departments such as Business Development, Sales & Marketing, Food & Beverage, Process Renovation Management, Revenue and Finance. Born and brought up in Germany, Mr. Fehlbier holds the German citizenship and is an IHF Certified Convention Manager.

Qatar's Ezdan Holding reported a 30 percent rise in second-quarter net profit on Sunday, said Reuters. Ezdan, founded by members of the ruling al-Thani family, made a net profit of 335.7 million riyals ($92.2 million) in the three months to June 30, up from 257.4 million riyals in the same period a year ago. Ezdan was added to MSCI's emerging index as part of a rebalancing of the benchmark in a report published on May 15.