Qatar’s entrepreneurs were out in record numbers at Qatar Business Incubation Center’s (QBIC) for its first networking event, the QBIC Open Day. About 400 visitors joined for an evening of networking, presentations, panel discussions and product displays. Networking is critical to the success of any entrepreneur, and is facilitated by QBIC’s space as one of the largest mixed-use business incubator in the MENA region.

Visitors then made their way along 10 stations, arranged in the order of a startup lifespan. QBIC incubated companies, including Embrace Doha, New Line for Media, Event Developers and Contactless, provided a range of services helpful to visitors thinking about setting up their own businesses.

Keynote speeches by Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Al Khalifa, Qatar Development Bank CEO and QBIC Chairman and Aysha Al Mudahka, QBIC CEO, gave an introduction to QBIC incubation opportunities and announced a series of new initiatives, including the opening of ‘QBIC Downtown’, which will be located in West Bay to provide space for education, fashion, marketing and design startups. They also provided an update on the sector-specific incubation zones it plans to launch in the coming period.

Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Al Khalifa, Qatar Development Bank CEO and QBIC Chairman said: “This inaugural Open Day has been a big success. We are working hard to unify our efforts in order to support entrepreneurs and SMEs. Ashort walk around the incubated companies at QBIC shows very clearly the success achieved by those companies, as the range of startup businesses is very impressive.”

He added: “Many of those who visited Open Day were new to QBIC, and we believe the opportunity to discuss their ideas with our staff as well as incubated companies will encourage them to sign on for the next wave of the LeanStartup program, commencing next month. We are also proud to cooperate with various organizations in Qatar to enhance the role of entrepreneurship, evident in our recent announcement of the first specialized tourism incubator ‘QBIC Tourism’.”

QBIC CEO, Aysha Al Mudahka remarked: “We are delighted at the turnout to our first Open Day. For entrepreneurs to succeed they must learn to excel at networking as it will help them exchange ideas, market their services or products, gain feedback, and perhaps most importantly make relationships that will provide the community support needed to make it through the tough times.”

“We have been working closely with Qatar Tourism Authority to develop an incubator that enables entrepreneurs to develop products and services that enhance Qatar’s tourism experience,” said Al Mudhaka, referring to aMoU signed by QDB, QBIC and QTA last February. She added: “This project is currently in its soft launch phase, and Open Day attendees are encouraged to explore ways to get involved with its representatives who are present today. We look forward to fully launching the incubator with our partners soon.”

On the night of 6^th September 2015, a video was posted on one of the social media channels showcasing two cats within the Shawarma section in the outdoor terrace kitchen of Orient Pearl Restaurant.

The Management of the Orient Pearl Restaurant would like to inform its customers that the outdoor terrace kitchen has been closed since the 1^st of September 2015 and is currently being demolished permanently. This step was taken by the restaurant management as part of a prior plan whereby the Shawarma section has been moved into the main kitchen which is indoors. The place in question was opened by staff at night after the closing time of the restaurant in order to move kitchen equipment and appliances and proceed with demolition. This explains the video footage which does not show any food items inside the kitchen.

We would like to inform our discerning customers that Orient Pearl Restaurant applies the highest standards for quality and hygiene, and holds more than 11 food safety certifications – most notably the Food Safety Certification by Boecker International SAL, for the years 2014 and 2015, consecutively. No fines or violation notices have been issued by any of the authorities who made periodic visits to the restaurant. Orient Pearl Restaurant is a unique fine dining restaurant in Qatar and we are committed to providing our guests with the best experience, excellent service and high quality food prepared by some of the most talented chefs in the Gulf region. 

Grand Regal Hotel has appointed Reyrelly Garcia as its new Sushi Chef to add his creative flair to a daily buffet at the Light House Restaurant. Reyrelly most recently worked as a commis chef at Benihana Restaurant at the Beach Rotana Abu-Dhabi, where he has been awarded Employee of the Month.  Reyrelly specializes in Japanese cuisine, in preparing sushi, sashimi and nigiri. He has previously worked at some Asian restaurants in Philippines. 

“We are delighted to welcome new Sushi Chef Reyrelly to our team,” said Tiro Ilievski, the General Manager of Grand Regal hotel. “Sometimes a new chef and some changes in the menu are exactly what a restaurant needs in order to draw people back in. I think his diverse experience, along with his extensive knowledge of Asian cuisine, will be a huge asset to our dynamic F&B team,” – he added. Fresh and beautifully presented sushi from chef Reyrelly will be available at Light House restaurant daily for lunch and dinner buffet.

On the 9 September, 4 representatives from the Saudi Ma’aden smelter visited Qatalum. They were equally represented by their respective operations and procurement departments to technically evaluate the relining contractor STAREF presently undertaking Qatalum’s relining process.

In the spirit of Qatalum’s value of transparency and cooperation, led by the Procurement department, the visit was approved by both the CEO and COO, however with limited disclosure: Hydro’s patented technology exposed in the relining process was industrially sensitive and therefore out of bounds. Therefore, following the office based meetings excluding STAREF, the tour was restricted to a drive-through in a bus, nevertheless sufficient in giving the visitors an overall impression and adequate understanding of the Qatalum Relining Plant.

Prior to the tour, the meetings held in Administration building focussed on the contractor STAREF who are being highly considered for the Ma’aden relining and carbon maintenance contracts currently under the bidding process. Qatalum were direct in its disclosure about the pros and cons of working with STAREF and are overall, very happy with their progress. Davy Fosen, Relining Manager at Qatalum highlighted STAREF’s competence in his presentation to the visitors which illustrated the successful progress of the relining project.

Davy included the timeline consisting of plan versus actual progress showing that number of pots is as per plan, and KPI target for number of hours to be used for each pot exchange has been met. Additionally, a chart showed that man hours and material costs in pot-shell repair was within budget and sometimes below, signifying the contractor’s aptitude to deliver within the planned cost. Pot-shell repair is the only process not based on fixed price in the Relining Service Contract, as STAREF is paid on fixed man-hour rates and materials at cost plus.

The take home for Ma’aden was enormous, firstly by the transparency shown by Qatalum in its willingness to share both process and time. Secondly, the knowledge gained by Ma’aden, about the contractor and relining project should allow for a smoother project process in Saudi Arabia, in turn saving them millions in correct execution.

The developer behind the huge shopping mall under construction in Qatar sees no risk to the $1bn project from the low oil price and expects to have signed up retailers for all the space by the end of the year, said The Peninsula. Shem Krey, deputy managing director of the Mall of Qatar, said 85 percent of the mall, due to cover the space of 50 soccer pitches, was already taken and he expected 100 percent to be committed by the end of the year. While Krey said the fall in the oil price had dented spending on luxury goods by Russian and Chinese tourists in Dubai, it was not affecting the Qatar project.

“We have not seen any slowdown in the retail community. For every space option, there are three alternatives,” Krey told a news conference at the World Retail Congress in Rome. The mall, next to the stadium that is due to host the 2022 World Cup, is set to open next August, hosting 500 stores including a Carrefour hypermarket. Krey said he was aiming for 5-7 percent of the space for high-end luxury, 20 percent for restaurants and other food and drink outlets, with the balance coming from mid-tier brands like Inditex’s Zara and Hennes & Mauritz.

Krey said he was not concerned about the impact of the scandal surrounding FIFA’s awarding of the World Cup to Qatar, noting that the tournament runs only for a short period and the mall was a long-term project that was part of the country’s massive investment in infrastructure.  

PwC’s 5th Annual Accounting and Tax Seminar took place last week outlining the far reaching economic, fiscal and regulatory developments which are shaping the future business landscape in Qatar.

Professionals from Qatar businesses attending the Seminar were briefed on the challenges and opportunities that will be created in an environment being developed by factors such as increased tax regulation, sustained lower oil & gas prices and economic diversification. Mark Menton, a Qatar based Partner, gave updates on changes to Accounting Standards and the implications for Qatar based entities. Neil O’Brien (pictured), Head of Tax from PwC’s Qatar office, provided a briefing on Domestic Taxation including a discussion on the status of GCC VAT and the evolving role of the tax authorities in Qatar. The seminar concluded with an overview of Global tax developments.

Following the Seminar Neil O’Brien commented: "Today has been a timely opportunity for professionals to meet and discuss the current and forward looking accounting and tax issues that affect economic development both here and overseas. Even resource rich Qatar is not immune from the impact of international developments and the falling oil and gas prices.  The impacts of these developments, allied with the continuing modernisation of Qatar's regulatory and tax regimes, have increased the incentive for Qatar to introduce new forms of taxation and its ability to enforce payment of tax and compliance with regulations. It is therefore more important than ever that businesses operating in Qatar understand such developments and how they impact on their obligations." 

Mr. Bader Al-Darwish, Chairman and Managing Director of Darwish Holding, has been honored with the ‘Visionary of the Year’ Award at the 2015 Arabian Business Achievement Awards Qatar. Held at the Grand Hyatt Doha, the award was collected on behalf of Mr. Bader Al-Darwish by Mr. Saoud Al-Darwish, Vice Chairman of Darwish Holding, at the ceremony that also recognized Qatar’s industry leaders across diverse business sectors. 

The award reflects Mr. Al-Darwish’s strong business acumen, his contribution to Qatar’s growth and his far-sighted leadership that established Darwish Holding as a leading business conglomerate within the region. It also reflects Mr. Al-Darwish’s outstanding business achievements stemming, particularly, from the innovative retail concepts and the wide range of acclaimed brands and eminent chains which are represented in Qatar and the Middle East for the very first time.

13 winners were honored during the event including: Vodafone Qatar as the Telecoms Company of the Year, Doha Bank, as the Bank of the Year, Ezdan Holding as Property Company of the Year and Qatar Islamic Bank as the Islamic Bank of the Year. Each year, the awards celebrate the very best in business achievement, both on a corporate and individual level. The Arabian Business Achievement Awards have been hosted in Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Commenting on the award, Mr. Bader Al-Darwish, said, “I am honored to receive this award and would like to thank the organizers for considering me worthy of this recognition. This award is a tribute to my outstanding teams, who strive so hard to provide the best service in the industry, and deliver on our company’s pledge to provide world-class customer satisfaction. There are more achievements to pursue as Darwish Holding moves into its next era of growth, and we remain as committed as ever to further support the continued development of Qatar and its people. Such awards and recognitions further encourage us to go the extra mile, set new benchmarks and achieve the impossible”.

The annual awards ceremony was established by ITP Publishing to honor the very best in the Middle East business sector. Regarded as one of the most prominent events on the regional calendar, the awards celebrate business leaders and entrepreneurs from across the region. The award ceremony is judged by an elite panel of judges from across business industries.

Al Meera Consumer Goods Company (Q.S.C) announced the opening of its newest branch in Al Wajba, marking the 40^th addition to the successful supermarket chain in Qatar, and the 45^th in both Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman. The new branch boasts world-class shelves to offer the best products display to its customers, in addition to high-tech lighting and storage techniques and technologies that adhere to international standards.

Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Qahtani, Deputy CEO of Al Meera Consumer Goods Company, inaugurated the opening ceremony in the presence of Mr. Cobus Lombard, Operations Director, Mr. Saeed M. Al-Nabet ; Administration Affairs Manager and Mr. Khalid Al Jassim; Safety and Security manager along with several Al Meera representatives.

The 4,300 sqm Al Wajba branch constitutes 2,022 sqm of supermarket area. The store offers shoppers a wide variety of food and non-food related items as well as fresh products. The branch includes a butchery, fishery, delicatessen, fruits and vegetables area and bakery to answer to the consumers’ various daily needs at very competitive prices. In addition to a huge parking space, the branch will feature 7 shops that are set to open soon to provide customers with a variety of services.

While discussing the expansion plan, Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Qahtani, Deputy CEO of Al Meera, said: “The opening of the Al Wajba branch is in line with Al Meera’s slogan to be ‘Your Favourite Neighbourhood Retailer’, and expand into newly developed areas as well as areas that have witnessed a significant increase in population, with a commitment to provide a unique and all-inclusive service to all segments of the Qatari community.” He added: “We are very pleased to be serving yet another segment of the Qatari community and look forward to the opening of our upcoming branches.” He made sure to stress that, through its expansion strategy, Al Meera continuously seeks to support the Qatar National Vision 2030 in its plan to develop all areas of the nation.

Al-Qahtani explained that the new branch will be serving the Al Wajba area, in addition to the New Rayyan, Muaither, Rawdat Abal Heeran and Al Sailiya until the completion of the new branches in those areas. He also thanked all parties that have supported the opening of the new branch specially the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the Public Works Authority “Ashghal”, and the KAHRAMAA Corporation for their great support on the opening of the new branch.

Al Meera is set to launch two more branches this year in Al Thumama and Rawdat Ekdeem. The aforementioned stores will be opening their doors weeks apart, one following the next, after obtaining the necessary approvals and licenses from the relevant authorities. This comes after the opening of seven stores this year in Muaither, Al Azizia, Muraikh, the Gulf Mall, Thakhira, Jeryan Njeima and Al Wakra 2. Within its framework to open 56 outlets in all areas of Qatar, Al Meera has begun the construction works on several other branches as part of its expansion strategy to construct 14 new shopping malls across the State, located in Sailiya North (Miarad), Bu Sidra, Al Wakra 3, Umm Salal Ali, Leabaib 1, Leabaib 2, Rawdat Aba El-Heran, Azghawa, Al Khor, Um Qarn, Rawdat Al Hamama, Jeryan Jenaihat, Al Sailiya and Ain Khaled.

It is worth mentioning that Al Meera signed a memorandum of understanding with Lusail Real Estate Development for the operation and management of two shopping centres in ​​ Fox Hills and North Villas District. Al Meera also plans to establish two additional branches, characterized by a unique design in Al-Jamiliyah and Al Shamal, and will continue opening other new branches whenever the opportunity presents itself. It should be noted that there is constant coordination with the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning in order to act upon their suggestions while considering our requests in terms of new locations, such as Rawdat Al Hamam North, Al Sheehaniya North, Madkhal al Khuraib, Rawdat Rashed, Umm Al Umd, Al Khuraitiyat and others. 

Faithful+Gould continues to strengthen its position as the leading consultancy firm in the region, when it was recently named Consultancy of the Year at the 2015 Construction Week awards in Doha, a high profile gala event celebrating the achievements of the Qatar construction industry. Narrowly seeing off challenges from other consultancy firms which entered the prestigious awards programme, an independent panel of judges recognised the significant contributions Faithful+Gould has made during the past 12 months to the region’s built environment sector.

The award was received by Campbell Gray, Middle East managing director, who said: “It is an honour to have been judged by our peers and the industry as Consultant of the Year. This award is for everyone in the Qatar business who worked so hard to make the past year a transformational period for Faithful+Gould, one in which we grew by 30% in staff numbers. We beat some tough competition and it is all down to the professional and dedicated nature of the team that we came out on top.”

The award confirms Faithful+Gould's position as one of the top consultants in the industry in the region. In Doha, Faithful+Gould, Faithful+Gould provided a rapid procurement delivery that fast-tracked The Pearl project; while also accelerating the Shaza Kempinski construction programme that put the project back on track for a Q4 2016 opening. For Doha Oasis, a high-end mixed use development comprising residential, a retail complex, an exclusive 7 Star high-rise hotel tower and a first-of its-kind indoor theme park, Faithful+Gould set up a Programme Management Office (PgMO) as part of the developer’s organisation, ensuring there are full time, highly skilled resource to support the complexity of this project.

Faithful+Gould helped Doha Festival City attain an important milestone with the appointment of a contractor to deliver a robust contractual platform in-line with the ambitions of their investors and the national vision. The leading global integrated project and programme management consultant, Faithful+Gould, has been delivering an ongoing series of continued professional development seminars in Qatar where it has been actively participating in providing much needed knowledge and professional development for the past three years.

In 2012, Faithful+Gould hosted their first CPD event in Doha, in association with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) with the event continuing to gain traction and attracting 200 attendees in its most recent edition earlier this month. Presentations given by Faithful+Gould’s in-house experts continues to position the UK firm as industry thought leaders.

Faithful+Gould has a reputation for successfully delivering high profile projects in the lifestyle sector in the Middle East. Completed projects include Al Zahia Mall in Sharjah, the Ritz Carlton Dubai, Yas Island Marina Hotel, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, Jumeirah Beach Resort Dubai, Kempinski Hotels & Residences in Oman, KSA and Muscat and Qurum City Centre redevelopments in Oman and Jumeirah Lakes Towers in Dubai. Current high profile lifestyle projects include Doha Oasis Qatar, The Royal Atlantis in Dubai, Reem Mall Abu Dhabi and City Walk Development Dubai.

Burger lovers in Qatar are in for a treat as McDonald’s Qatar, the leading foodservice company in Qatar, gears up to launch its flagship initiative, “Create Your Taste” for its customers at the City Center Doha restaurant.

McDonald’s‘Create Your Taste’ is a brand new dining experience that lets customers create their own mouth-watering masterpiece. This unique initiative is managed via electronic kiosks within the restaurant that provides customers options to gourmet ingredients to choose from, helping them build a burger as unique as they are. Customers can choose from fresh mushrooms up to grilled pineapples gourmet ingredients including freshly baked buns, tasty cheese selection, and choice of condiments and sauces.

Customers are invited to visit the restaurant on Thursday September 17th, 2015 from 8:00 PM onwards and explore their culinary skills while creating their own burgers, with the McDonald’s guarantee that will satisfy every taste and flavor combination. They will also be able to join in the festivities planned for the launch of this new exciting initiative.

Football fans in Qatar are in for a treat as Lagoona Mall, Doha’s premium shopping and lifestyle destination, is hosting a one-of a kind football memorabilia exhibition of rare and exclusive collections that have defined the sport over the years.

Themed ‘Football Legends’, the event will run from September 17 to October 3 and will include items that represent the football legends along with iconic moments in football history. The event furthers Lagoona Mall’s commitment to support Qatar’s passion for sports, promote continued development of football in the country and strengthen the role of engaging the society through sports activities. The specially curated exhibition presents an incredible collection of jerseys, signed boots, original footballs used during World Cup games, special stories on some of the greatest footballers and much more. The event will also raise awareness on the growth and evolution of football and its acceptance as the world’s leading spectator sport. 

The exhibition presents an amazing collection including 50 original jerseys from the icons of football such as Pelé, Maradona, Del Piero, Messi, Ronaldo, Matthaus, Platini, Ibrahimovic among others; 12 original footballs from World Cup of 1920 to Brazil 2014 ; 11 pairs of original shoes worn in official matches from 1920 to the latest models; special stories about 4 legends - Pelé, Alcides Ghiggia, George Best and Mia Hamm, who helped promote this globally revered sport ; 2 bronze copies of the original MATRICE of the old Jules Rimet Cup and the new World Cup.

The exhibition will also include a 5x2 meters screen sponsored by FNAC where visitors will be able to participate in a gaming competition to win a jersey signed by the one and only Cristiano Ronaldo. In addition, they will also have a chance to try the entertainment world renowned FIFA 16 set to be launched on September 24, 2015. The exhibition is aiming to become one of the most exciting platforms to discover the celebrated world of football, and promises ‘edutainment’ for all sports enthusiasts and football fanatics in Qatar. 

Qatar Cool and the Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), said Gulf Times. It outlines their plans to work together to expand on environmental reserves and research with regard to district cooling and explore ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of district cooling in Qatar.

The two organisations were represented by Yasser S al-Jaidah, CEO of Qatar Cool, and Dr Mohamed A Khaleel, executive director of QEERI. “Qatar Cool applauds our partners at QEERI for their remarkable focus on development and enhancement projects in Qatar,” said al-Jaidah. “We are eager to find ways to support and benefit from the partnership. We look forward to creating dialogues and partnerships focused on developing Qatar’s comprehensive evolution.” The MoU lays out plans for environmental practices and improvements focused around district cooling. 

Qatar Cool and QEERI will work together to strengthen the institutional exchange of personnel, scientific and technological information focused on how to augment and supplement consumption of natural resources while ensuring maximum efficiency of service. The partnership will extend to activities such as forums, symposiums and workshops/conferences. “Safeguarding Qatar’s natural resources and ensuring wise energy usage is vital to sustain the country’s future. Qatar Cool is constantly on the lookout for progressive technologies and procedures to ensure the continuation of district cooling’s positive environmental effect,” al-Jaidah added. 

“QEERI is a national institute focused on addressing grand challenges facing our country. Various local stakeholders, along with QEERI, are providing scientific, technical and deployment solutions to sustain Qatar’s water resources. Qatar Cool uses the most energy-efficient centralised cooling technologies. We are proud of our partnership with Qatar Cool and believe our joint efforts will result in the re-use of treated water and more sustainability of our natural resources,” said Dr Khaleel.

Leading international retailer of cultural, leisure and technological products, FNAC today hosted the signing ceremony of popular Qatari singer Ali Abdul Sattar’s new Album ‘Ali Abdul Sattar Les Voyages 2’ at Lagoona Mall, in the attendance of special guests, media and invitees.

Ali Abdul Sattar chose FNAC as the venue to promote his new album due to FNAC’s position as the leading promoter of cultural activities and the artistic hub that values creativity and arts. The signing ceremony offered Qatari fans an opportunity to connect with their favorite singer and get a personalized autograph on the new album. The new album by the much loved singer features 10 songs presented in a fresh and modern way. Regarded as one of the most prominent and famous artists in Qatar and Middle East, Ali Abdul Sattar started his career in his early youth and has a rich record of traditional and popular songs that are deep rooted in the minds of the local and regional communities.

Ali Abdul Sattar stated: “I am honored to present my latest album at FNAC, the leading platform for promoting art, culture and creativity. It is an ideal opportunity for me to reconnect with my fans and admirers, and I hope the new album meets their expectations. I feel privileged to be the first artist selected to showcase my new work at FNAC. I would like to thank the team at FNAC and Darwish Holding for honouring me and my music, and congratulate them for further strengthening our nation’s cultural fabric by introducing such innovative platforms.”

Doha is the region’s first destination for the concept store that has entertained audiences globally and will boost the retail brand’s expansion strategy in the Middle East in partnership with Darwish Holding. FNAC promises a unique and enriching experience for people of all ages and offers the most sought after selection in editorial, entertainment, cultural and technical products and appliances. 

With Eid Al Adha only days away, The Gate Mall and Salam Stores have launched an exciting line-up of activities to welcome the festive season. The grand celebrations are taking place at an exclusive set up within the multipurpose hall, located on the first floor of the mall, and will be held daily until the end of Eid. The festivities include a series of fun-filled events that are aimed to entertain every member of the family. The activities have been designed to offer residents in Qatar an opportunity to explore the country’s rich culture and its Eid traditions.

A rich selection of confectionaries from Café Ceramique, featuring  popcorn, crepes, cotton candy and icecream, will be laid out for attendees to sample while they partake in a beautiful journey of cultural exchange. A Canon photo booth has also been installed for guests to capture the fun and excitement, and take home a photo souvenir. In addition, a talented henna artist has also been brought in to design beautiful hand art for guests of all ages.

The festival includes a delightful range of play activities for the little ones including; face painting, balloon twisting and a fun-filled bouncing castle. Moreover, a number of popular cartoon characters will be making a special surprise appearance at the venue, amusing kids with their comical acts. However, the highlight of the celebration is the much-loved Muppet show and interactive story telling sessions. Held daily, the shows receive a significant turnout of children and parents alike.

Commenting on the event, Ibrahim Bitar, Managing Director of Salam Bounian said, “The Gate Mall is pleased to welcome each and every resident in Qatar to join us in the Eid Al Adha celebrations. This festive season is a particularly exciting period for us, as it provides us a wonderful opportunity to engage with the community. We would like to thank all those who have graced our celebrations with their presence so far, and encourage more families to experience our cultural fiesta. We wish everyone a blessed Eid Al Adha.” 

The 2015 winners of the Middle East Investor Relations Society (MEIRS) Awards were announced last night at a gala ceremony at The Address Dubai Mall. Marking its seventh year, the awards continue to honour the outstanding achievements of Investor Relations (IR) professionals and organisations in the Middle East. The Awards were celebrated during the 7^th MEIRS Annual Conference, the only event dedicated to IR in the region.

Four regional awards and two country-specific awards were presented to highlight the continuous efforts of professionals and organizations in developing IR standards in the region.

“The Middle East Investor Relations Awards celebrate one of our key mandates– to promote best practice in the IR industry. The awards are a reflection of the changes in the IR environment in the region, and the award winners and candidates are a testimony of the effort in our community to achieve excellence in investor relations. I would like to thank everyone who was nominated for their efforts in advancing IR practices in the region, and to congratulate the winners for demonstrating IR excellence.” said Oliver Schutzmann, Chairman, Middle East Investor Relations Society.

The winners for the 2015 MEIRS Awards are:

Grand Prix - Leading Corporate for Investor Relations - Middle East: DP World

Best Investor Relations by CEO - Middle East: Mohammed Sharaf, DP World

Best Investor Relations by CFO - Middle East: Karim Karoui, FGB

Best Annual Report - Middle East:

Number 1: DP World

Number 2: Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

Number 3: National Bank of Abu Dhabi

Best Investor Relations Website – Middle East:

Number 1: SHUAA Capital

Number 2: DP World

Number 3: Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank

Best Corporate for Investor Relations

·         Bahrain: Ahli United Bank

·         Egypt: Eastern Co

·         Kuwait: National Bank of Kuwait

·         Levant: Bank Audi

·         Oman: Omantel

·         Qatar: Ooredoo

·         Saudi Arabia: Bupa Arabia

·         UAE: DP World

·         Palestine: Banque of Palestine

Best Investor Relations Professional

·         Bahrain: Eline Hilal, Aluminium Bahrain

·         Egypt: Yasmine Hemeda, Commercial International Bank

·         Kuwait: Amir Hanna, National Bank of Kuwait

·         Levant: Alexandre Mouradian, BLOM Bank

·         Oman: Menon Gopinath, Omantel

·         Qatar: Andreas Goldau, Ooredoo

·         Saudi Arabia: Ahsan Kamal, Riyad Bank

·         UAE: Sofia El Boury, FGB

·         Palestine: Raya Yusuf-Sbitany, Banque of Palestine

Oryx Rotana, the five star luxury business hotel in Doha, is celebrating Eid al-Adha by offering a delectable spread of exquisite cuisine at Choices restaurant.This is in addition to the special offers on rooms that allow guests to experience the hotel’s facilities.

The buffet at Choices includes a variety of cuisine from the Mediterranean. The delectable seafood spread will include fish – especially salmon, tuna, shrimp and crabs as well as caviar – prepared by master chefs using the best cooking methods. The buffet spread will also comprise live cooking stations that offer sushi and sashimi, in addition to a wide range of appetizers and starters. One can choose from significant variety of sweets ranging from Western to Arab that is included in the buffet. Visitors can indulge in a buffet meal daily from 12:30 am until 4:00 pm at competitive prices starting from QR220 and special discounts for children.

Lana Jwainat, Director of Marketing and Communications at Oryx Rotana said,”Eid Al-Adha is a special occasion and represents a great opportunity for us to celebrate with everyone. We aim to bring in this holiday season by offering the highest levels of luxury service for our guests in a festive atmosphere that they are unlikely to forget. It is also one of the best opportunities to introduce all our visitors to the highest level of Qatari hospitality through our exceptional offerings that are specially designed for the occasion of Eid Al Adha.”

Almuftah Window Film has signed a major licensing agreement with 3M, one of the world’s most innovative business groups. The strategic partnership involves the promotion and distribution of window film, paint protection and building glass films of 3M in the Qatar market. Present during the signing were Mr. Ibrahim Almuftah, Managing Director of Almuftah Group, Mr. Ali Almuftah, Director of Almuftah Group, and other executives from 3M and Almuftah group.

Mr. Ibrahim Almuftah explained the importance of the deal, stating that: “Our company is excited to bring the 3M franchise to the Qatar market. As an established player in the field of protective films, we understand its evolving needs. This is mainly the reason why we decided to bring 3M’s highly innovative line of products in Qatar for the benefit of our customers.” Almuftah Window Film and 3M have decided to work together to provide the best quality products and outstanding solutions to their valuable customers. It has been at the forefront of some of the latest innovations, window tinting know-how, and services in the Qatar market. These include body paint protection, undercoating protection, car polishing, and glass protection, both for vehicles and buildings.

The company is committed to improving its competitiveness by further investing on its expertise in the installation of protective films. Discussions surrounding this commitment were deliberated in a recent business meeting held in Dubai, UAE, where the focus was on further expanding the 3M product line to the Qatar market. Almuftah Window Film is also preparing for an upcoming technical seminar where customers will get to see the full benefits of the capabilities of 3M products.

3M is a leader in shaping innovation in the protective film industry. It provides various solutions for different customer and dealer requirements, including its premium automotive window films, outsource program, precision fit program, and bulk rolls program.

Customers can experience the full benefits of the full 3M product line from Almuftah Window Film’s Service Centre in Salwa Road. For further information, customers can contact them at (+974) 4460 1863 or via email at mdayoub@almuftah.com.

Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara, the luxury brand’s first resort in Qatar, developed by Al Rayyan Hospitality, has been named ‘Hospitality Company of the Year’ at the 2015 Arabian Business Achievement Qatar Awards.

The award was presented to Mr. Thomas Fehlbier, General Manager of Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara at the awards ceremony held recently at Grand Hyatt Doha, and attended by business leaders and VIPs from Qatar and the region. Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara, has been recognized for its commitment to service excellence and unparalleled luxury and has been voted for by leading tourism industry professionals from the region and beyond.

Mr. Thomas Fehlbier, General Manager of Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara said, “We are delighted to be recognized for the strides we are taking towards achieving our vision of becoming the number one resort in Qatar and the GCC. Launched just this year, our resort has consistently exceeded the world’s most discerning customers’ expectations with our unmatched levels of attention to detail and the famed Arabian hospitality. To be honored at an event celebrating the success of elite brands in this highly competitive industry further inspires us to achieve greater levels of brilliance and customer satisfaction.”

‘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. The annual awards ceremony was established by ITP Publishing to honor the very best in the Middle East business sector, both on a corporate and individual level. Regarded as one of the most prominent events on the regional calendar, the awards celebrate business leaders and entrepreneurs from across the region.

Each year, the awards celebrate the very best in business achievement, both on a corporate and individual level. The Arabian Business Achievement Awards have been hosted in Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The award ceremony attracts participation from many well-known and established organizations from the Arab World and is judged by an elite panel of judges from across business industries. 

Crunch Doha, Qatar’s 1^st fitness transformation company, hosted a media gathering, which took place at the Intercontinental Doha The City on the 16^th of September, to share some of their fitness and nutrition secrets and tips. The two-hour event gathered several influential members of the press along with Crunch’s founders and fitness specialists, in an engaging, lively atmosphere that made healthy living fun through informative, motivational speeches, an interactive Q&A session, followed by a delicious, nutritious food tasting session.

In a speech he made during the event, Nuwaid Pocker, Founder and CEO of Crunch Doha, said: “It is very important to us at Crunch Doha to be in constant contact with the public in order to create awareness through our health and fitness messages to help improve society’s health and wellbeing. One of the most important aspects of doing this is press, whose support we are eternally grateful for. Today’s event is tailormade for you, to engage you in our latest news and share with you few  health and fitness tips to help in improving your daily living and food choices.”

Saima Bukhari, Co – Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Crunch Doha commented: “We are proud to share with you today the latest addition to Crunch Doha’s fitness programs, ‘Nuwaid’s Nutrition’, a healthy food catering brand aimed at improving your wellbeing by restructuring your lifestyle.” Following this motivational speech, a food tasting session took place to introduce the media to “Nuwaid’s Nutrition”, the perfect variety of mouth watering food designed to transform your physique, thanks to its carefully selected super foods, balanced portions and beneficial nutrients.

Crunch Doha seeks to transform one person at a time for a healthier Qatar by reshaping bodies naturally through weight loss, exercise, and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle. With six successfully tested fitness programs, Crunch provides well-planned personal training, nutrition plans and supplementation advice for both fat loss and lean muscle building to achieve health and fitness goals.