The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce the 2018 Discover America Festival – where we bring the best of American innovation and culture to Qatar.

The Festival will feature a jam-packed week of events to explore American innovation, fashion, business, music, consumer products, food, and films. All events are open to the public, and the U.S. Embassy will be hosting a variety of events throughout the week of October 28 – November 4. A full schedule of events is available on http://qa.usembassy.gov/daf2018.

After more than 45 years of friendship and partnership, relations between the United States and Qatar have never been stronger. More than $62 billion worth of goods and services has flowed between the two countries in the past 20 years. The U.S. continues to be Qatar’s largest foreign direct investor and largest trading partner. And U.S.-Qatari commercial ties only continue to grow, increasing by more than 85% during the first nine months of 2018 as compared to the same period of time in 2017. Nearly 40,000 Qataris visit the United States every year, 15,000 of them traveling on student visas. And the United States continues to increase its commercial presence, with more than 100 U.S.-based companies located in Qatar. 

During the week of October 28 through November 4, come discover American fashion, business, food, music, and films with us. For the fashionable crowd, Heya Fashion Show will feature the debut of U.S.-designer and celebrity-favorite Tosca NY. Qatar Airways will launch special promotions to U.S. destinations. Lulu Hypermarket will feature special promotions on American food favorites and brands. And eight hotels in Doha will feature American cuisine in specially- crafted menus including:

All menus are available on http://qa.usembassy.gov/daf2018.

For future entrepreneurs, you can join the U.S. Embassy for a live Twitter chat on October 30 from 10:30AM @USEmbassyQatar. Submit questions in advance about doing business and investing in the U.S.

For film lovers, the U.S. Embassy in Qatar is partnering with the Doha Film Institute to present the “Cinema Under the Stars” series. Enjoy a line-up of four American films to entertain the whole family at the Museum of Islamic Art Park and enjoy the cooler evenings. Screenings are free and begin at 7 PM.

Thursday, November 1: PLANES (2013)

Friday, November 2: PIXAR SHORTS: VOLUME 1 (2007)

Saturday, November 3: TOY STORY (1995)

Sunday, November 4: CHICKEN LITTLE (2005)

On November 3, wrap up the week with a performance by an American band performing pop and rock favorites at the Mall of Qatar’s Oreedoo Stage at 4:30, 5:30, and 7:30 PM.

Come and experience American films and music, and discover new opportunities to partner with American businesses in Qatar and abroad. Find out what is going on during the 2018 Discover America Festival and let others know how you are enjoying the festival by using #DAinQatar and #USQatar in your tweets and Instagram posts.

Be sure to follow the U.S. Embassy on Twitter @USEmbassyQatar, on Facebook @USEmbassyQatar, and Instagram @USAinQatar for the latest updates on the festival.

The Board of Directors of Aamal Company Q.P.S.C. (Aamal), one of the region’s fastest growing diversified companies, today announces its financial results for the nine months ended 30 September 2018.

Financial Highlights

• Group revenue down 23.7% to QAR 953.1m (Q3 2017: QAR 1.25bn), primarily due to the reclassification of two business entities within the Industrial Manufacturing segment from subsidiaries to joint ventures from 1 April 2017
• Gross profit down 15.3% to QAR 354.9m (Q3 2017: QAR 418.8m)
• Net underlying profit margins have increased by 2.1 percentage points to 27.9% (Q3 2017: 25.8%)
• There were no fair value gains on investment properties in neither Q3 2018 nor Q3 2017
• Total net profit¹ down 10.7% to QAR 338.3m (Q3 2017: QAR 379.0m)
• Net profit attributable to equity holders of Aamal down 4.7% to QAR 336.3m (Q3 2017: QAR 352.9m)
• Reported earnings per share are down 5.4% at QAR 0.53 (Q3 2017: QAR 0.56)
• Net capital investment expenditure increased by QAR 6.2m to QAR 78.9m (Q3 2017 QAR 72.7m)

¹ Total Company net profit is before the deduction of net profit attributable to non-controlling interests

SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK

Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman of Aamal, commented: “As we have noted in previous quarters, we continue to feel the impact of the reclassification of two business entities within the Industrial Manufacturing segment from subsidiaries to joint ventures, with a consequent change in their accounting presentation. This change will continue to impact our financial results until after Q4 2018, at which point the change will have fully annualized. “Aside from this, however, we are pleased with our 2018 performance to date which demonstrates the resilience of the private sector and our ability to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the strength of the Qatari economy.

“Looking ahead, we continue to strive to achieve the goals set out in the Qatar National Vision 2030 and remain committed to investigating new opportunities to generate additional revenue streams, either organically through development of our existing business offerings or through the extension of our ever-diversifying business model, to ultimately create and enhance long-term shareholder value”.

H.E. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Faisal Al Thani, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Aamal, commented: “Aamal continues to perform well as we enter the final few months of the year, and in the third quarter we have seen a notably strong performance from our Trading and Distribution segment. “In our Property segment, the redevelopment work at City Centre Doha is progressing and the East Food Court is due to open by year end. Furthermore, several of the refurbished areas are now available for leasing and we are now looking for new tenants to further enhance City Centre.

“In Aamal’s Trading and Distribution segment, revenue and net profit increased by 15% and 4%, respectively. This is largely attributable to Aamal’s success in establishing alternative supply chains. It has also been an exciting quarter for the segment as it has expanded its network of business partnerships to introduce new products and services to the market. “We look forward to building on these successes in the final three months of the year”.

Mondrian Doha, Qatar’s leading destination from global lifestyle hospitality company sbe, is pleased to announce the launch of its Saturday Sundown Sessions at Walima, the first and finest modern Qatari dining venue in the region.

Staring from Saturday 27 October 2018, Walima guests will have the unique opportunity to celebrate the return of the cool weather in style, with the newest level of Qatari hospitality, dining, and entertainment offers at the venue’s outdoor terrace. Located on the P2 floor at Mondrian Doha, Saturday Sundown Sessions at Walima Terrace are set to celebrate and embrace the spirit of the cooler weather where guests can enjoy live DJ performances, powered by Spirit Night, offering guests the opportunity to enjoy a one of a kind sitting with relaxing commercial, vocal & deep house and minimal tunes.

Set to transform Doha’s Saturday evenings, Saturday Sundown Sessions at Walima will offer its guests a brand new Mediterranean Menu inspired from the region’s rich cuisine and culinary heritage, all in a modern and vibrant hospitality style, symbol of Mondrian Doha’s services and vision.

The menu at Saturdays Sundown Sessions features Qatari many Mediterranean delights such as Lamb Kofta, Crispy Lamb Rolls, Saffron Chicken and Shawarma along with the famous Arabian Mezze but with a modern twist including Smoked Hummus, Minted Pesto Labneh Falafel and Tabbouleh Cups. Special Soups and Salads are also on the menu with the Orange Blossom Carrot Puree, served with rosted carrots, green olives and mache salad. Mains also boast Qatari classics with a modern twist including a variety of meat filled dishes inflused with Qatari spices. This is addition to different styles of Tandoor and hearty grills with the Ajwain King prawns, Buttlerfly Beef Tenderloin and delicious Cumin Marinated Lamb Chops served with Chimchurri Sauce. Heavenly desserts feature Yogourt Panna Cotta with Strawberry Meringue and Rose Jelly as well as a selection of ice creams and Cheese Cake.

Commenting on the launch of Saturdays Sundown Sessions at Walima, GM Gokul KC said: “Walima at Mondrian Doha looks forward to welcoming guests to this distinguished offering where patrons can enjoy the lovely cooler weather, our newly launched terrace while taking in the sounds of our live DJ.” Open every Saturday from 15:00 till 01:00, Saturdays Sundown Sessions at Walima offer guests a spcial Walima Terrace Menu. For reservations, call +974 4045 5999 or email WineandDine-MondrianDoha@sbe.com

Walima celebrates the Qatari heritage of authentic flavors, echoing the nation’s spirit as it remains true to its roots, while boldly embracing influences from around the world. Guests at Walima will always expect a warm welcome in a true Qatari fashion, renowned for its abundant generosity and hospitality.

A true manifestation of Qatari receptiveness, Walima was designed by Dutch Designer Marcel Wanders with the task to re-imagine Qatari hospitality in a modern dining space. Inspired by local black and white garments and oriental patterns, Marcel Wander’s created an inimitable setting for discovering local and regional flavors from the Middle East. Cascading lanterns, bold colors, ornament shishas, a sunken majlis perfect for large family meals, along with private dining rooms offering VIPs the chance to enjoy some privacy, are some of the key features that set the scene for the Walima experience. A souk inspired arrival experience marks the beginning of the guests’ journey, where Walima will collaborate with select local and regional entrepreneurs and creatives to offer new sensory experiences for guests to discover.

Walima serves local ingredients as part of its efforts to support local and organic produce. Mondrian Doha believes it’s a common responsibility to ensure sustainable development of local farms and advancement of the Qatari food supply.

For further information, visit www.mondriandoha.com

Angry Birds World, Qatar’s largest indoor and outdoor family destination, held a special awareness event, in cooperation with Qatar Cancer Society (QCS), which aims to raise awareness about Breast Cancer. The widely-loved flock welcomed members and breast cancer survivors from QCS along with some of the city’s leading bloggers for a day of endless fun and enlightenment at the nest.

The intimate event brought together cancer survivors and influencers for a friendly competition, under the theme of breast cancer. Teams were pitted against one another in a series of intriguing challenges, with the flock’s pink bird ‘Stella’ crowning the winning team. The event also celebrated the valiant spirit of survivors, as they shed light on the importance of early detection. Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, accounting for 39 percent of cancer cases in women in Qatar. About 248 new cases of malignant breast cancer were diagnosed in 2015, out of which 242 were females and 6 were males.

The park injected just the right amount of fun and excitement, to make the fight against cancer a truly memorable one. Guests were immersed in a thrilling experience, filled with games and laughter, that ultimately focused on the importance of periodic examination for early diagnosis of breast cancer and spreading the culture of a healthy lifestyle as a preventative measure. Introduced by Trimoo, in partnership with Rovio Entertainment, the world’s first Angry Birds World is located in Doha Festival City. The 17,000 sq.m park, comprising an indoor space of 6,500 sq.m is teeming with thrill, transforming the classic bird-flinging game into a cluster of high-octane attractions that is designed for every member of the family.

ANGRY BIRDS WORLD™ constitutes one of the four major entertainment parks set to open at Qatar’s highly sought after mall. Upon completion, the unique entertainment destination will be home to –  SNOW DUNES™ – the country’s first indoor snow park set in an ancient Arabian village; VIRTUOCiTY™ – the region’s first digital and eSports gaming park; and JUNIVERSE™ – the world's first city in space that aims to inspire and entertain children.

City Centre Rotana Doha, one of the leading hospitality properties in the Qatari capital, has concluded its initiative to collect old and new books that falls within the scope of its corporate social responsibility and concurrent with the Global Campaign for Literacy. Sena Catak, Director of Marketing & Communications handed over the collected books to Mrs. Ruqaya Al Sada, one of the founders of “Rwaq” Qatar-the innovative project that promotes reading in Qatar.

On this occasion, Ruqaya Al Sada said, “We thank City Centre Rotana Doha for its cooperation with Rwaq Qatar and its noble contribution for its recent book collection campaign to mark the global literacy initiative.” She said, “We believe that books are made to be read, and we regard that it should be available to one and all. We have therefore, opened the doors for donation and contribution for both new and used books, which from our part we will distribute for free during all events in which Rwaq is taking part.”

From her side, Sena Catak, Director of Marketing & Communications at City Centre Rotana Doha said:” At City Centre Rotana Doha, we strive to support all initiatives in town which addresses humanitarian, cultural, environmental and other aspects that are consistent with our corporate social responsibility.  The launch of our books collection campaign was in line with the global literacy. The campaign received huge support from the hotel’s guests and staff and we handed all collected books to “Rwaq” Qatar,  which has a mission of introducing to  the society the importance of books and the urging people to read”.

Mannai Corporation QPSC (Qatar Exchange: MCCS), today announced its third quarter results for the period ended 30^th September, 2018.

Mannai Corporation reports Net Profit of QR 221 Million on revenue of QR 7.6 Billion for the nine month period ended 30 September, 2018. The Company’s EBITDA for the nine month period ended 30, September 2018 rose by 33% to QR 671 Million compared to QR 506 Million last year. Whilst Profit before finance costs increased by 12% in the 9 month period, the overall Net Profit declined by 20%, mainly due to increase in finance costs relating to acquisition funding and higher interest rates.

Earnings per share stood at QR 4.85. In continuation of the Group’s strategy of diversifying its earnings the Group is in the process of acquiring the remaining 3.4% stake in GFI before the end of the year.

AURA Hospitality & Food Services has once again rubber-  stamped its position as the leading player in hospitality, entertainment sectors in Qatar by organizing two musical extravaganzas last weekend.

Enjoying the pleasant October weather, locals and expats headed to the iconic Orient Pearl Restaurant situated at the Corniche of Doha on October 25, to enjoy spectacular music and watch their favorite singer Noor El-Zein perform live. The opulent evening along with the vibrant atmosphere at Orient Pearl Restaurant, gave seasoned fans and enthusiasts a chance to enjoy Arabian beats as they reveled in a unique night of unforgettable food and entertainment.

In addition to El-Zein’s lively musical show, the Orient Pearl presented 2 more acts. A lady violinist on high base welcomed the guests while singer Rita Sleiman alongside a Santur musician were the main entertainment during the dinner, and the whole event was hosted by Carla Haddad. Meanwhile, the Debs w Remman at the Medina Centrale, The Pearl, was the venue for  yet another musical evening on  October 18 & 19. Here visitors and guests were treated to a live performance by Lebanon’s Hadi wel Chabibeh Band and the Vio Cello Girls with a delectable menu from the celebrated TV personality, Chef Richard Khoury.

Finian Conrad Gallagher, CEO of Aura Hospitality and Food Services said, “We are extremely pleased to witness scores of people attending the two musical shows, which will most certainly add another dimension to the variety of exciting events planned for this year and beyond, further boosting Qatar’s appeal as a hub for family entertainment. Our focus is on generating a fun and welcoming environment for families and individuals by providing exciting options for visitors and guests.” Gallagher said, “AURA Hospitality & Food Services is committed to providing exceptional and engaging experiences to residents of Qatar.  We are proud to play our part in transforming the Qatar hospitality and entertainment landscape through our diverse hospitality  mix and unique entertainment events, and we look forward to welcoming visitors as we gear up to organize an event every month till the end of March at both venues.”

Since its inception in 2012, AURA Hospitality & Food Services has grown to become one of the foremost names in Qatar’s fast-growing, entertainment and hospitality sector. The group currently owns and manages 37 outlet F&B and Entertainment outlets, including the hugely popular Orient Pearl and Smat, La Casa Twenty Eight, Debs W Remman, Baladna and Remman Café - at the Medina Centrale, The Pearl, Qatar and Mall of Qatar among others.

Gibbs Amphibians (Gibbs), is establishing a strategic partnership with the Madaeen Al Doha Group for the supply and assembly of the Gibbs Humdinga. The subsidiary, called Gibbs Amphitech, will be based in Qatar and will supply Gibbs products in the region and other key markets including Australia, Canada and the UK.

On this occasion, Mohammed Al Sada, Partner at Madaeen Al Doha Group said:” today’s announcement about establishing the first factory for Amphibian vehicles is a great millstone for both Qatar and the Arab world. The first phase will revolve around assembling the “Humdinga” in Qatar as a first step till the factory commences production of all GIBSS’s amphibian models to be able to supply global demand for this technology which is expected to be available in the local market before 2022 and bear the MADE IN QATAR stamp”

Gibbs founder Alan Gibbs is enthusiastic about the new opportunities in the region and the performance of the Humdinga in the market.

“There is a developing global demand for the Humdinga, and we are receiving high levels of interest from all kinds of customers, including governments and private individuals. This is the right time and the right opportunity to furtherthe use of Humdinga, and I expect we will see them being widely used in many parts of the worldin the near future.Thisis the right step because Gibbs products are high value and high tech, and we are keen to work with partners who share our vision and values, as the Madaeen Al Doha Group do. The first product we will be focusing on for the region will be the Humdinga.”

Gibbs has locations in the U.K. (Nuneaton) and New Zealand, utilising engineers and expertise from both countries to continue to develop High Speed Amphibian (HSA) technology and the vehicles designed around it. Over the last 20 years Gibbs has invested hundreds of millions of pounds, and more than three million man hours, in the maturation of the technology. Which has resulted in over 400 patents and patents pending worldwide, making Gibbs the global leader in High Speed Amphibious technology.

The Humdinga is one of the more rugged vehicles created by Gibbs, capable both off-road and on-water. It seats up to 9 passengers, with the signature Gibbs central driving position and can carry up to a tonne in payload. It reaches speeds in excess of 40mph on water and over 80mph on land, with 4wd and twin Gibbs proprietary water jets.The Humdinga is a flexible platform, capable of applications from logistics to search and rescue, from police patrols to private leisure. It has been manufactured under license in South East Asia but has never been available to the public, or to such a wide region before.

“Thisstrategic partnership for thesupply and assembly of the Gibbs Humdinga is an achievement for both parties. With Qatar looking for more ways to achieve its 2030 national vision, and Gibbs looking to supply the increasing global demand for their products, there is a lot of potential.” Ajay Sharma, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the State of Qatar, said. “The Humdinga is where imagination meets engineering, creating something that can broaden the definition of a vehicle. Just as the Madaeen Al Doha Group is broadening itself with this move into vehicle production.”

Careem, one of the region’s leading technology organizations, launched a breast cancer awareness campaign in partnership with the Qatar Cancer Society last October.

When a Careem customer booked a ride using the code “PINKPOWER”, 10% of the ride’s fare was donated to Qatar Cancer Society during the Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among women, impacting 2.1 million women each year and causes the greatest number of cancer-related deaths. In 2018, it is estimated that 627,000 women passed away from breast cancer, that is approximately 15% of all cancer deaths among women.

Khaled Nuseibeh, General Manager of Careem GCC said: “The earlier we educate young women, the healthier the communities become. One of our main goals at Careem is to give back to our communities, our region and our customers and if we help at least one woman combat the disease, it would be a great victory for all of us.” Mariam Hamad Al Nuaimi, General Manager of Qatar Cancer society said: “We truly value our partnership with Careem Qatar and the efforts set towards reaching out to their passengers to raise the awareness of the dangers of Breast Cancer. We have to deliver the most important message at the end of the day, the earlier a tumor is detected and treated, the better the outcomes.”

In observance of the International Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Galler Chocolatier, Qatar’s unique boutique and dining space, joined hands with the Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) to organize a health drive against one of the most curable types of cancer, which due to lack of awareness and timely treatment continues to take thousands of lives every year.

The health session at the Mall of Qatar, saw Galler Chocolatier swept by a sea of pink decoration, while all proceeds from ribbon sale were donated to Qatar Cancer Society, in bolstering their efforts in advocating breast cancer early detection across the country. Aisha Al Tamimi, a cancer survivor moved the audience by narrating her personal story and affirmed her belief that the disease can be challenged when addressed effectively.

Speaking on the occasion, Galler Chocolatier Team said: “Breast Cancer is a very important global issue at hand, and October has forever been a specific time for the community to shift its attention and join hands in support of those in need. We are delighted to cooperate with Qatar Cancer Society on this matter, and confirm that this contribution on behalf of its staff and customers signify Galler Chocolatier’s commitment to help and support the local community. We would like to thank those who took part and helped us reach our goal in delivering an amount of money to the organization, and we look forward to further collaborations with our customers in honor of the community.”

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting women worldwide, accounting for 16% of all cancer types. It is notable that in Qatar a large number of breast cancer patients are diagnosed in later stages thereby decreasing their chances of survival.

Doha Festival City, the region’s favourite leisure and retail destination is commemorating the official completion of the mall with a grand opening celebration taking place on Thursday, 8^th November 2018 at Mondrian Doha.

The milestone marks the opening of more than 400 stores, including flagship brands ACE and Harvey Nichols, which opened earlier this year. The celebrations include a private VIP gala dinner performance by legendary entertainer Jennifer Lopez. Special super-sale promotions will also take place at Doha Festival City mall in the weeks leading up to the grand opening event, running from 19^th October – 8^th November 2018.  

“We are extremely proud to have established Doha Festival City as one of the region’s most exciting destinations, offering the best in family entertainment, retail and dining,” commented Kareem Shamma, CEO, Bawabat Al-Shamal Real Estate Company W.L.L. (BASREC). “This has been a successful journey, and together with the support of our retail partners and the loyalty of our customers, we are pleased to see the destination come to life. We look forward to celebrating our official grand opening and continuing to bring to Qatar even more of these hugely memorable events.”

The celebrations begin at 7:00 pm on the evening of Thursday, 8^th November with Essa Al Marzouq, a prominent Kuwaiti artist, showcasing the best of the region’s talents and World-renowned entertainer Jennifer Lopez. Doha Festival City’s grand opening celebrations are in partnership with key sponsors, including the Mondrian Doha and Qatar Airways, two of the nation’s leading brands that share Doha Festival City’s vision of providing exceptional services to customers.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said, “Qatar Airways is thrilled to be partnering with Doha Festival City for its grand opening and welcoming Jennifer Lopez to our beautiful country. This exciting event is a major highlight in Qatar’s calendar and supports the nation’s emergence as a world-class entertainment destination. We believe in bringing people together through music, and we are honoured to soon have Jennifer Lopez onboard our state-of-the-art aircraft to experience a five-star journey before arriving to Qatar, where she will be welcomed by our nation’s warm hospitality.”

Commenting on the partnership, Axel Gasser, General Manager at Mondrian Doha, said, “We are thrilled about partnering with Doha Festival City as the hospitality sponsor for its grand opening celebrations featuring global sensation, Jennifer Lopez. This sponsorship is another testament to our commitment to exclusive partnerships with cultural visionaries to shape the entertainment and hospitality sector in Doha.”

Doha Festival City is currently home to more than 400 carefully selected international and local brands, including the country’s only IKEA and the largest Monoprix in the world. The Mall hosts some of the most admired names, many of which have made their debut in Qatar at Doha Festival City. With more than 100 restaurants and cafés, as well as exclusive attractions such as the country’s first VOX Cinemas 4DX cinema complex and the awe-inspiring Angry Birds World Park, Doha Festival City is a destination that offers something for everyone.

Last night witnessed the opening of “MOMENTS”, the first integrated showroom dedicated for brides in Qatar, in the presence of a group of elite guests and women of the Qatari community, media representatives, Bloggers and social media influencers. All the attendees enjoyed the special shows during the opening event.

During the launch, Elias Mekhael, Managing Partner at “MOMENTS”, said: “I am elated to see such a huge turnout for our showroom launch and would like to thank them for their presence today to share with us the opening of the first fully integrated showroom in Qatar dedicated for brides and weddings, through which we will fulfill all the requirements of the bride, which will transform her wedding to unforgettable MOMENTS”.

“Who didn’t dream about his big and special day? We all did and still do, that’s why we chose the name “MOMENTS” to be the destination of choice for each and every girl dreaming of perpetuating those memories and living an unforgettable experience, where we support those dreams and transform them into tangible reality” he added.

During the launching show, one of the models went on stage on the rhythm of bridal music and showcased the latest and glamourous wedding dresses offered by MOMENTS to its clients and wore a special diamond neckless brought specifically for the launching event, all this to give the audience a perception about the calibre and standard of dresses and jewellery offered by MOMENTS for dreaming brides who deserve the best on their special day.

“MOMENTS” seeks to provide to the bride everything she needs from A to Z, enabling her to enjoy every MOMENT of the wedding which will be everlasting in her memory and the memory of the invitees. “MOMENTS” provides multiple services such wedding dresses and gowns, Make Up, hair dressing, photography and videography all performed by the best talents in their respective fields. Moreover, “MOMENTS” offers one dedicated section for wedding consultation designing and decoration in addition to the special perfume collection. 

To deliver the wedding of dream, MOMENTS collaborates with big names in various industries such as fashion and haute couture, international and local jewellery brands which will provide for the bride the widest choices she can select from to suit the desires for her special night.

Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) has announced that it has recently received the most acclaimed membership of The CPD Certification Service. The accreditation is to acknowledge that QFBA courses comply with universally accepted principles of Continual Professional Development (CPD) and have been structured to meet the criteria of personal development plans.

The CPD certification means that the content and structure of the courses have been independently assessed and approved for multi-disciplinary and industry-wide continuing personal and professional development purposes.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the holistic commitment of professionals towards the enhancement of personal skills and proficiency throughout their careers. The foundation of CPD is based on the auspices of vocational and skills-based or ‘practical’ learning.

The CPD certified training is a testament that the learning activity has reached the required CPD standards and benchmarks, and that the learning value has been scrutinized to ensure integrity and quality.  Furthermore, the CPD Certification Service provide recognized independent CPD assessment compatible with global CPD standards.

A structured, practical and methodical approach to learning helps employers across industries to keep key staff and develop the skills & knowledge in their organizations to maintain a sustainable and competitive advantage. The CPD Certification Service provides recognized independent CPD accreditation compatible with global CPD requirements.

Continuing Professional Development is essential in helping individuals, organizations or entire industries to keep skills and knowledge up to date. Providing CPD enables organizations to become a knowledge bank to key stakeholders of your organization. CPD accredited training courses, workshops and events allow professionals to use the learning time towards individual CPD requirements. Such strong membership is slated to enhance the scope of QFBA in its future endeavors and will ultimately benefit students who are a part of QFBA.

On this achievement, Dr. Khalid Al Horr, Chief Executive Officer, QFBA, said: “We are delighted to be recognized as an accredited provider with the CPD Standards Office. As we are all aware, the world of financial education is constantly changing at a rapid pace, with increased competition. This credential will offer a tremendous boost to our academy’s apprentices in their future endeavors and provide them a great platform to start their career on the right track. We, at QFBA, are taking immense efforts to support Qatar National Vision 2030 where education is recognized as one of the crucial pillars for the country’s holistic growth. By offering right platforms to our future generations, we believe we will be able to achieve our target in the most structured way and would be able to bring a change to the Qatari financial landscape.”

During Milipol Qatar, Lysys Group was represented by Lysys Qatar WLL and Encode.

Lysys Qatar (www.lysys.com) is a technology company with expertise and a successful track record in systems integration for security and ICT systems for critical infrastructure as well as industrial automation, professional and enterprise communication systems. Lysys is operating in Qatar since 2011. It maintains in Doha a large team of experts, system integration engineers, software developers and an experienced program management team. Throughout its operation, Lysys has managed to establish and keeps developing an advanced eco-system of partners who have the best-of-breed solutions in their respective fields.

Lysys is proud to have participated and executed part of the scope of the most prestigious and world’s largest projects in Qatar covering a wide range of systems and technologies. Lysys is investing significantly in the continuous development of the skills and technical competencies of its engineers and project managers as well as its partnership with world best class vendors aiming to offer only the best solutions to its customers. Lysys shareholders and higher management are honoured to work in Qatar and to be selected to implement some of the most critical projects and would like to express their commitment for continuous investment in Qatar market and contribution in realising Qatar’s vision for security and knowledge transfer.

Encode (www.encodegroup.com)  is a leader in the space of Cyber Security. Hundreds of companies worldwide, use Encode’s services & technologies to manage their cyber risks. The technologies & services assume that the ICT environment will be eventually compromised and have been developed to augment customer’s capabilities for detecting and responding to cyber-attacks and security breaches.

The company’s flagship platform, Enorasys, is a cutting-edge Early Compromise Detection & Response Orchestration. It is a leading Predictive Security Analytics solution designed from the ground up to deliver early compromise detection by understanding the attack-logic and exploitation paths of the advanced and determined adversary. This is realized through focused Big Data Security Analytics harnessing powerful Machine-Learning techniques and encapsulated offensive and defensive expertise. It provides additionally advanced Incident Lifecycle Management, by encapsulating and streamlining all core Security Operations Center (SOC) and Cyber Incident Response Center (CIRT) processes.

The Enorasys platform is also available via the company’s powerful 24/7 Managed Detection and Response service. The 24/7 managed service has been developed to be able to detect and timely respond to attacks and security breaches against mission-critical, Internet-facing systems and ICT infrastructures from any type of adversary, covering nation-states or state-sponsored teams, hacktivists, cyber-criminals and insiders alike.  

Encode’s commitment & mission, is to empower Qatari organizations with state-of-the-art early warning and adaptive response capabilities against advanced & targeted cyber threats.

Around 20 Indian companies participated in the 3rd edition of ‘Hospitality Qatar 2018’ exhibition organised by IFP Qatar from November 6 to 8 at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC).

The exhibition witnessed participation from exporters, manufacturers and traders from food and food processing and packaging sector as well as the hospitality sector from over 15 countries including Qatar, Iran, Algeria, Turkey, Russia, Austria and India, said a release.

The Indian pavilion at the exhibition was inaugurated by P. Kumaran, the Ambassador of India to the State of Qatar. The Indian pavilion was organised by WegVoraus, a business promoter and exhibition organiser headquartered in New Delhi; with a participation of around 20 companies with the support of the Indian Embassy in Doha. The Pavilion was among the largest international participation received by the expo with companies representing nearly every food product in the sector. Among the major players participating in the pavilion were PCL Foods, Zimdra Foods from the Rice Sector, Jay Shree Tea from the Tea segment, VNKC Agrocom who specifically pioneer in peanut segment and Fedora Impex from the Kitchen Equipment Sector.

Others included manufactures and exporters like Savour India representing breakfast cereals; Kaloon Agro - Honey; Evexia - Food Supplements, KCPM & SIGC - Cardamom, Orchid Exim - Sesame seeds and spices and others from rice and cereals like KKRM, Meghdoot etc. Apart from food, the pavilion also had participation from the food packaging sector – Spectra Plast providing plastic based packaging material supplies and solutions.

Keeping the tradition intact and reflecting its commitment towards sustainable horizons, City Centre Rotana Doha (CCRD) participated in the 3rdedition of Qatar Sustainability Week 2018 held from October 27 – November 3, 2018.

Held under the patronage of his Excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Abdullah Bin His Excellency Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, this initiative has been rolled out by Qatar Green Building Council. On its part, CCRD hosted Segregation Program because the hospitality giant believes that segregation of waste is extremely important as waste has a huge negative impact on our environment. CCRD started proper Segregation program at its properties by recycling plastic, cans, used oil & paper/carton boxes in kitchen, outlets, banquet, offices, guest rooms, etc. Additionally, it also pledged to reuse Housekeeping amenities in different areas at the hotel.

In yet another initiative, the engineering department of the hotel kick-started energy saving program. The result achieved was commendable as the hotel replaced the halogen Bulbs to LED for all guest and service elevators, which resulted in considerable energy saving.  Similarly, in the ballroom and pre-function area, chandelier bulbs were replaced to LED Bulbs, thereby saving energy. Likewise, the air-conditioning temperature has also been set to 23 degree Celsius for all public areas and 27 degree for plant room areas.

On this significant achievement, Sena Catak, Director of Marketing and Communications at City Centre Rotana Doha, said: “At Rotana, we believe in offering the best of services to our clients by keeping our sustainable goals in check. This has been our constant endeavor to keep pushing our green envelope to serve Qatar in achieving sustainability goals. By participating at Qatar Sustainability Week 2018, we have become one step closer to achieving our objective. This year, we have taken two remarkable initiatives to support sustainable growth – recycling and energy conservation. In both these endeavors, we have been able to achieve significant breakthroughs and have offered us tremendous boost to set our next goalpost.”

Qatar Sustainability Week aims to further engage the community in a wide range of sustainability-oriented activities. This initiative plays a crucial role in raising awareness among the wider community, while showcasing the progress Qatar has made in the areas of sustainability and green buildings. The Week serves as a unique platform to promote the nation’s sustainability vision as well as community engagement with relevant stakeholders under an overarching umbrella to achieve the nation’s sustainable development goals.

Montblanc has celebrated the opening of its fifth boutique in Doha, expanding its presence of premium retail locations in Qatar. Unveiling the Neo² retail concept currently being rolled out worldwide, the new Montblanc boutique in Mall of Qatar offers an immersive retail environment reflecting Montblanc’s constant quest for purposeful and aesthetic innovations.

Visiting Qatar for the opening, Montblanc Senior Vice President of Sales, Julien Renard inaugurated the new boutique at an official ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, 22^nd October, alongside Awn Zureikat, Chief Operating Officer of Ali Bin Ali Luxury. Among the guests were President of Montblanc Middle East, India and Africa, Franck Juhel, a select group of VIP customers and friends of the Maison who enjoyed an exclusive reception and launch of the 1858 Collection.

Managed by Montblanc’s longstanding partner, Ali Bin Ali Luxury, the 155m² boutique was designed by French interiors architect Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, and offers a pure and uncluttered aesthetic, mixing black, white and wood for a contemporary look and feel. A selection of fine materials pay tribute to the Maison’s rich heritage in writing instruments, timepieces, leather goods, men’s accessories and jewellery. Watchmaking is brought to life through the use of bronze-sheen brass, leather and wood; black leather and walnut wood reflect the Maison’s leather goods expertise; while lacquers and fine metals evoke writing instruments and jewellery.

Of interest to watch enthusiasts and modern-day explorers, Montblanc’s recently launched 1858 Collection of timepieces was inspired by the legendary professional Minerva watches, meant for military use and mountain exploration. The collection includes an 1858 Automatic, 1858 Automatic Chronograph and 1858 Geosphere Model and combines materials such as special alloy of bronze that evolves over time with innovative and useful in-house complications. The new boutique also showcases a wide selection of the Maison’s new and limited edition writing instruments including the recently launched Writer’s Edition Homage to Homer, paying tribute to the poet best known for the Iliad and the Odyssey, as well as the Meisterstuck Le Petit Prince Special Edition, celebrating Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s much loved literary classic.  

A wide range of leather goods will also provide the perfect gift for today’s style-conscious professional or urban traveller, offering sleek modern design and refined functionality. Montblanc’s brand new line of #My4810 trolleys also brings together Italian savoir-faire, German mechanics and Japanese high-performance technology to deliver the most efficient and sophisticated travel solutions. Commenting on the opening, Julien Renard said: “Montblanc is constantly looking to elevate the shopping experience for our customers and our new boutique design showcases our extensive product collections in an unprecedented way, inviting our clients to a journey of discovery into the heart of the Montblanc universe.”

Awn Zureikat, Chief Operating Officer of Ali Bin Ali Luxury, continued: “We are delighted to be opening the doors to this exceptional new boutique, and expanding Montblanc’s presence in Qatar.  We greatly value our long-term partnership with the Maison, and have confidence in its continued success in our market thanks to our loyal and discerning Qatari customers.”

The new Montblanc boutique is located in the VIP area of Mall of Qatar, Jahhaniya Interchange, Al Rayyan.

Journalists from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting discussed their experience reporting on issues that have a global impact and may be controversial to cover to students at Northwestern University in Qatar.

Ian James, a reporter for The Arizona Republic, and Sharron Lovell, visual journalist and an educator based in Beijing, discussed work they have done reporting on the depleting water supply and the effects it may have on a global crisis. The journalists have produced multimedia projects with support from the Pulitzer Center about how water is being carelessly depleted or also how this finite resource is being mismanaged. Everette E. Dennis, dean and CEO of NU-Q, noted that the students at NU-Q benefited from hearing from working journalists who are able to provide them with insights on how to handle reporting on global issues, as well as learning more about these issues – including water insecurity.

In a documentary James produced with Steve Elfers of USA Today, “Pumped Dry: The Global Crisis of Vanishing Groundwater,” the consequences of groundwater depletion in places around the world from India to Morocco were explored. James’ work has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, the PBS NewsHour, and other radio and television programs. He also helped produce a 2014 series about climate change in the Southwest that won an Associated Press Media Editors’ Journalism Excellence Award for Digital Storytelling.

Lovell meanwhile produced a documentary, “Drinking the Northwest Wind: China’s South North Water Transfer Project,” that focused on the millions of Chinese citizens who have been relocated over the past half-century to make way for hydroelectric projects, which has resulted in millions living in poverty. Lovell’s work has been published in National Geographic books, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes among many other news outlets. In discussing the work that they have produced with the support of the Pulitzer Center, Lovell and James told the students that reporting on a global crisis requires that they do extensive research, be well prepared, and be culturally aware of the society they are covering.

The journalists were accompanied by Pulitzer Center Executive Editor Indira Lakshmanan, an international and national correspondent, and columnist for newspapers, magazines, radio, and television. She spent a dozen years as an international correspondent for The Boston Globe from the Balkans and Latin America to Afghanistan and China and has been a columnist for The Boston Globe since 2016. NU-Q’s partnership with the Center also offers students the opportunity to apply for fellowships at the Center. Last year’s fellows – NU-Q students Ayilah Chaudhary, Isabella Palma-Lopez, and Amna Al-Baker – presented their reporting project on the persecution of Pakistan’s Ahmadis as part of the annual fellows weekend in Washington, D.C. in October.

More on their project, which included their experiences of traveling to Pakistan and the challenges they faced in order to report on the human rights situation, can be found here.

City Centre Rotana Doha, one of the leading hospitality properties in the Qatari capital, announced that its Bodylines Fitness & Wellness Club has bagged the “Favourite Signature Treatment in Doha” award during the Oh Lala Spa and Wellness Awards 2018 ceremony.

The award was bestowed for the “Ginger Lily Oil” massage, which is considered as an antibiotic, antispasmodic, anti-depressant, and helps in digestion, relieves nausea, rejuvenates the skin, reduces inflammation. In addition, it is a good sedative and brings peace and calmness to the mind. The result was based on readers voting on the magazine’s website and based on a panel of independent judges.

On this occasion, Sena Catak, Director of Marketing & Communications at City Centre Rotana Doha said: “We are delighted that Bodylines Fitness & Wellness has won the “Favourite Signature Treatment in Doha” for the year 2018 during the Oh Lala Spa and Wellness awards ceremony for our “Ginger Lily oil” massage. At Bodylines we always strive to select and offer the best treatments to our customers to help them maintain a healthy activity and pursue a distinctive lifestyle”.

Bodylines Fitness & Wellness club at City Centre Rotana Doha offers a range of exclusive offers that will encourage sports, and enjoy the benefits and facilities within the club, where the club provides visitors with high-level services through the latest equipment, jacuzzi, steam rooms, sauna and outdoor swimming pool. Visitors and guests can select from the array of Bodyline personal bouquet available within the club’s treatments menu and enjoy the diverse services such as massage body scrub and others.

Mondrian Doha, from global lifestyle hospitality company, sbe is excited to announce that it has earned top honors at the World Luxury Hotel Awards held in Bali on 10 November.

Mondrian Doha took the prestigious award for Best Luxury Design Hotel for the Middle East & North Africa Region (MENA) adding another notch to the award-winning sbe group. Mondrian Doha beat out hotels who entered the awards ceremony from over 100 countries. This award serves as recognition of sustained commitment to excellence, an outstanding achievement in the international luxury hospitality industry.

Made up by an extensive range of designers and architectures including South West Architecture, the lavish 270-room Mondrian Doha hotel is sbe’s first hotel in the Middle East as well as Marcel Wanders’ first hotel for the region. Structurally, the building of Mondrian Doha is shaped like a falcon, with many references to the national bird of Qatar also found inside; from paintings and portraits to falcon headpieces and ornaments. Mondrian’s famous lobby scene, the soul of the hotel, recreates the see-and-be-seen vibe. Further majestic highlights at the hotel include the mesmerising stained glass dome skylight on the 27^th floor, and a striking custom-designed four-level high spiral staircase to no-where; an awe-inspiring sculptural piece that gives the impression that the stairs extend to the sky and acts as a focal point of the atrium which leads guests up to one of the most beautiful viewing platforms of Doha’s skyline.

Established in 2006, the World Luxury Hotel Awards is the pinnacle of achievement in the luxury hotel industry offering international recognition as voted by guests, travelers and industry players alike. Over 300 000 international travelers vote each year, during a four-week period to select the winners. Luxury hotels have the opportunity to participate in the World Luxury Hotel Awards by entering hotel categories that showcase their unique selling points and destinations.

Adds Dutch design extraordinaire, Marcel Wanders who collaborated with Mondrian Doha in designing and executing this luxurious lifestyle hospitality offering; “We feel proud to be attributed the Best Luxury Design Hotel in the 2018 World Luxury Hotel Awards. At the Mondrian Doha, we have created an iconic design destination that is deeply rooted in local Arabic culture, and authentically made for international and local travelers alike. We celebrate this great honour together with our partners SBE and SW Architecture”.

Says Axel Gasser, General Manager of Mondrian Doha: “This remarkable recognition is not only for the outstanding and unique design of our hotel, but also the exceptional commitment and dedication of the teams in delivering the highest standard in service and experience for our guests who continue to deliver this each and every day. It is an absolute to honor to accept this award on behalf of Mondrian Doha and our world class team.”

For further information, visit www.mondriandoha.com

To book contact 44045999