In the last quarter of 2015, GOIC’s Training and Capacity Development Program (TCD) will deliver a series of training workshops to develop human capacities and professional skills of individuals working in the industrial sector. In parallel, the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) will put the finishing touches to the 2016 training schedule, hence continuing to support the industrial sectors and economies of GCC countries.

In this regard, GOIC will hold a training in English entitled “Production Management and Quality Control for Industrial SME” at its headquarters in Doha, Qatar from the 12^th till the 14^th of October 2015. The training will be attended by many production managers, engineers, quality control personnel, production supervisors, production engineers and quality control managers from various private and public sector institutions in the GCC.

GOIC Secretary General Mr. Abdulaziz Bin Hamad Al-Ageel stated: “The main objective of this training program is to identify ways and means to improve the managerial skills in industrial SME for production management and quality control practices in order to increase profits and/or decrease/eliminate costs or losses in the plants.”

Participants will discuss the productivity elements and quality dimensions as well as several cost and waste reduction strategies. Quality control and quality improvement techniques will be reviewed with focus on their relation to productivity. The course delivered by Dr. Basel Shadid will also introduce problem-solving tools and basic statistical concepts, process control and process capability plans, acceptance sampling, and attribute controls.

GOIC offers a number of training workshops to concerned parties according to their specific needs in various fields through the Organization’s Training and Capacity Development Program (TCD). The objective is to increase individual and organisational skills in the industrial sector of GCC countries and Yemen. You can register online www.goic.org.qa or via Facebook and Twitter. 

Embedding the theme of “Global Action Plan – Promote Worker Heath & Let the Business Thrive”, the Employee Health and Wellbeing Conference organized by Fleming Gulf and supported by the Supreme Council of Health, Qatar is scheduled to kick off this Sunday, 11th October at the InterContinental Hotel in Doha Qatar.

Keeping in mind the significance increase in healthcare spending across the GCC, the conference is designed for health, safety and wellness leaders from various industries to promote, debate and discuss on occupational wellness, and will also showcase a host of solutions providers highlighting emerging opportunities in this sector. The conference takes place at a time when organizations are thinking beyond the ROI and adopting a duty of care approach to employee health and wellness in the wake of rapidly increasing occupational diseases and fatalities. In addition to reducing health risks and improve productivity and quality of life, wellness programs are ultimately beneficial to an organization's bottom line.

High stress levels in recent years have led to widespread use of alcohol and other substances detrimental to health and productivity. Emphasizing the impact of stress, alcohol and drugs on general and occupational health, Dr. Vidya Mohamed-Ali, Director of the Life Sciences Research Division at the Anti-Doping Lab Qatar will also be speaking at the conference. The Anti-Doping Lab Qatar, founded in 2007 by the Supreme Council of the GCC, is a Gold Sponsor of the conference.

GARMIN Health & Wellness in partnership with LINGAWI (Silver Sponsors at the conference) will showcase cutting edge wearables to improve healthy life style for employees, sports trainers and multi sports professionals. A global leader in GPS technology, the company will introduce an entire new category to the market through the conference.

Stephan Balte, Manager Wellness B2B at Garmin International when asked about a Global Action Plan he would like to see implemented to promote worker health, he stated “Governments must give corporates a higher incentive to foster own corporate health initiatives. Since the problem is cross country we need international standards for workforce health initiatives with an academic foundation”. He further went on to add, “Companies must learn they cannot just rely on the society to solve it. The problem is eminent and directly affects their shareholder values in the long run”. Balte will be address the conference on Corporate Wellness: From Theory to Practical Applications.

In addition, Wellsource (health and wellness technology company), JMS (provider of industrial safety and worker wellness products), Crunch Doha (fitness program planning company) and Aetna (leading medical insurance provider) will also be participating as Associate Sponsor, Exhibitor, Raffle Sponsor and Visiting Partner respectively. 

HE Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA), Board Member, Sheikh Mohamed bin Faisal Al -Thani said that the association has touched a strong desire of the Turkish businessmen to hold more trade deals with Qatari counterparts, which will make the association to effectively activate its role for the exchange of visits and experiences with the Turkish side.

During a session held here today on the sidelines of the 19th International Business Forum (IBF) Congress and dvanced and strategic technology exhibition at Qatar National Convention Center, HE Sheikh Mohamed expressed satisfaction of the association over development of Qatari-Turkish accelerated growth and prosperity, citing that the strong presence of so many companies in the conference translates decisions and recommendations called by the leaderships of the two countries.

During a session titled " Investment and business opportunities between Qatar and Turkey" He stressed Qatar 's determination to proceed with its major projects and their implementation on its date in a preparation for the 2022 World Cup, despite a decline in oil prices to its lowest levels and great volatility in exchange rates. He pointed out that Qatar had invited the private sector to participate in implementation of such large , diverse and revitalization projects, which constitutes a cornerstone to build a creative economy capable of shape by the year 2030 to make Qatar a developed country within the major economies.

Qatar could represent a trade portal with Turkey in the Gulf , he added, in this context, praising a stone foundation laid by HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al -Thani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to establish a Turkish market in Doha, its construction oversees by Turkish and Qatari companies, which will increase the volume of trade exchange between the two countries. For his part, Yousuf Mohammed Al-Jaida CEO of Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority confirmed that Qatar enjoys an economy constitutes as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, saying we are working to create a distinctive and attractive environment for investment and work and we have economic facilities, encouraging Turkish companies to come and invest in Qatar.

Al-Jaida note that the Qatari economy is entering a new phase based on economic diversification, stressing that Qatar has not greatly affected by the decline in oil prices around world ,while pointing out the Qatari government is working to reconcile the situation and achieve financial balance consciously regardless of global oil prices. Meanwhile, Mariam Al Khalaf of Qatar's of International Cooperation and Trade Agreements Department at Ministry of Economy and Commerce explained that Qatar's economy offers a range of benefits and incentives for foreign investment such as tax exemption and ownership of some projects which increase up to 100 percent, saying this directly strengthening Qatari-Turkish relations, which witnessed a great development during the last period in all sectors.

She referred to the big economic capabilities enjoyed by Qatar at regional and global levels, where it tops list of countries in international business competitiveness thanks to the attractive economic policy , free trade policy and facilities being provided to local and foreign investors. Head of Export Department at Turkish Ministry of Economy and Commerce lauded distinguished relations between his country and the State of Qatar, which he said contributed a great role to promoting trade and investment relations, expressing his hope for achieving more cooperation in the future so as to ensure the achievement of economic well-being of the two countries. 

He explained that his country is characterized by good investment climate so that it could attract direct investment, adding that Turkey has plans, principles and legislations to facilitate the reception of foreign investors and give them facilities with a view to developing the Turkish economy.

Qatar's largest leisure, entertainment and shopping complex, which is scheduled to open next year, has signed a leasing agreement with MH Alshaya Co to open more than 30 stores and restaurant outlets, said Arabian Business. Alshaya's brands will occupy around 18,000 sq m of Mall of Qatar including a collection of international fashion and footwear, food, health and beauty, pharmacy, optics and home furnishings brands.

"Qatar is an important and growing market for us and we are very pleased to partner with Mall of Qatar to expand the range of retail, café and dining choices that we can offer to customers", said John Hadden, senior vice president, Retail Property for Alshaya. "With more than 70 leading international brands in Alshaya's portfolio we look forward to bringing traditional favourites, exciting new brands and outstanding new-look stores to this significant new addition to Qatar's retail scene."

Under the deal, the 32 brands that will join Mall of Qatar's growing list of shops, cafes and restaurants include Debenhams, Pinkberry, Bath & Body Works, Milano, Icing, American Eagle Outfitters, Vision Express, Jo Malone, River Island, Asha's, Starbucks, PF Chang's, The Cheesecake Factory, Texas Roadhouse, Payless ShoeSource, Boots, Claire's, MAC, Foot Locker, Shake Shack, H&M, Miss Selfridge, Topshop, Phase Eight, The Body Shop, Victoria's Secret, Pink, Babel, Pottery Barn, Raising Cane's, Next and Mothercare.

Last month, the developer of Doha's the Mall of Qatar confirmed it has delayed the opening of the mega facility until the end of the third quarter of 2016. The mall, which is owned and developed by Mall of Qatar in collaboration with turnkey contractors UrbaCon Trading & Contracting (UCC), was scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2016, after developers announced a delay to the original opening date of Q3 this year. Shem Krey, managing director of Mall of Qatar, said they decided to move the opening date to Q3 in order to allow more time for the tenant fit out.

With 256,000 square metres of leasable space on three levels, and over 500 retail stores, Mall of Qatar has leased 85 percent of its tenancy space.

In its continuous efforts and commitment into delivering product and service excellence to its customers, Al Meera Consumer Goods Company (Q.S.C)  has announced the completion and near-term implementation of  plans and projects to revamp and renovate its space across its growing network of branches in Qatar.

The announcement comes in line with the chain’s increasing focus on improving and advancing its consumer journey experience, backed a stringent set of product and service quality control and assurance benchmarks and processes.

The Al Meera branches of Wakra, Khalifa South, Mansoura, Bin Omran, Hazm Al Markhiya, Azghawa, Mamoura and Géant Hypermarket in Hyatt Plazahave already successfully undergone complete internal renovation, which encompasses refrigeration, shelving and flooring, among others.  Also slated for internal renovation by end of this year and into 2016 are the Shamal, Al Mirqab, Gharafat Al Rayyan, Dahl Al Hamam, Rawdat El Khail, Onaiza 2,Shahaniya, Jumailiya, Ghuwairiya and Kaaban branches. Additionally, Al Meera has undertaken the façade revamp for the Hazm Al Markhiya branch, with tenders currently under process for the Shamal, Wakra, Bin Omran, Mansoura, Jumailiya, Dahl Al Hamam, Rawda El Khail, Onaiza 2, Azghawa, Mamoura, Khalifa South and Gharafat Al Rayyan branches to follow suit.

When discussing the renovation strategy, Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Qahtani, Deputy CEO of Al Meera said: “As we continue to scale and expand our operations across Qatar, both opportunities and challenges for our business grow with remarkable pace and weight. We have vowed to continuously improve our customer experience and have adhered, since our establishment, to world-class standards of service delivery and excellence”. He adds: “In line with our expanding footprint in the local market, we fully realize that we must intensify and reiterate our efforts to ensure that quality control and standardization processes across our network of branches are consistent but, also, continuously enhanced and developed at the service of our growth, customers and communities in which we operate.”

Al Meera’s massive renovation project comes on the heels of its strategic footprint expansion in Qatar, which was marked by several branch openings across residential and commercial hubs in the country.

Boecker®, the largest public health company in the Middle East, has announced its participation in the upcoming Hospitality Qatar 2015 exhibition, as official sponsor of the Salon Culinaire. Boecker® will seize this opportunity to bring the highest international standards of food hygiene to the forefront, by showcasing its world-class products and services across its three lines of business – Pest Management, Food Safety and Biosecurity. The company is also set to launch a brand new service under its biosecurity line of business – the Infection Control Plan™ (ICP™), which is a highly effective service developed to treat, control and prevent the growth of a broad spectrum of germs, viruses and bacteria across all environments and businesses.

As the official sponsor and Hygiene Jury of the Salon Culinaire, Boecker® has the role to assess the food safety practices of over 250 competing chefs across the live cooking stations in addition to providing them with a hygienic environment that is both free from pests and germs. For that purpose, Boecker® is committed to install pest control measures that are compliant with food safety management systems and to provide all the necessary food safety tools including professional disinfectants that are food grade.

Standing by its commitment to promoting food safety, Boecker® will also host two free professional training courses for F&B professionals, hygiene officers and prominent Qatari stakeholders in the hospitality sector. These courses will provide valuable information on the different food safety techniques and measures through. An introductory course to Basic food hygiene and an induction course on HACCP. Participants will receive a certificate of attendance upon completion of the training.

“Hospitality Qatar 2015 is an excellent opportunity for Boecker® to build on its strategic commitment to elevating and promoting public health across the region by reaching out to both the public and private sectors,” said Carla Ghaleb, Boecker® Qatar Country Manager. “We bring in our latest products and services that have been known for their international quality. Our presence at the Salon Culinaire is yet again milestone in our efforts to promoting food safety standards in Qatar and we are confident that our participation in a large-scale event such as Hospitality Qatar will enable us cater to the needs of the F&B and hospitality sector here and in the region.” 

Hospitality Qatar 2015 is scheduled to be held from 13-15 October at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, under the patronage of HE Sheikh Ahmed Bin Jassim Al Thani, the Minister of Economy and Commerce.

Qatar British Business Forum (QBBF) welcomed Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex as guest speaker at its monthly networking luncheon. The event is one of the many ongoing events and activities organised to promote business opportunities in Qatar and encourage trade between the UK and Qatar. QBBF Chairman and CEO of the Rumaillah Group Emad Turkman MBE, introduced Her Royal Highness, who spent the week in Doha with Orbis UK, the global blindness prevention charity which last year delivered 6.1m optical treatments to save the sight of people in some of the most deprived areas around the world.  Mr Turkman highlighted her important work in eliminating avoidable blindness.

Her Royal Highness stressed the importance of ensuring that business has a positive impact on people and the planet: “There are 39 million people in the world today who are blind, most of them in poor areas of the globe. Yet, in eight out of ten cases, blindness can be prevented or treated with proven, cost effective interventions. It is clear that one of the most effective methods of addressing urgent global issues is through strategic alliances between companies and non-profits, who together are joining forces to benefit both society and business.”

“In more recent times charities have come to understand that in order to attract bigger and more sustained income they have had to start speaking a new kind of language. They have had to prove that charitable giving is not just good for the conscience, but it is good for business too and over the past decade the term corporate social responsibility, or philanthropy, has become commonplace, with many businesses recognising the benefits of the triple bottom line ensuring a positive impact  on people, planet and profit.”

Mr Turkman commented: “Her Royal Highness is a Patron of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight and a Global Ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. Through these roles she has seen first-hand the difference that organisations with the right knowledge, experience and funding – like Orbis UK and Standard Chartered Bank - can make on a global scale. The bank’s Seeing Is Believing initiative has raised US$ 79.4 million which has reached more than 78 million people and funded over 3.4 million cataract operations and surgical interventions.”

The luncheon is part of a series of events QBBF host throughout the year to discuss various topics; most recently Double Olympic Champion Dame Kelly Holmes who discussed the importance of sport for health and well-being, as well as Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham who shared his experiences as a leading light in the field of medicine, and Qatar’s healthcare sector achievements and challenges.

For more information on QBBF visit http://www.qbbf.com.

The Qatar chapter of Entrepreneurs Organisation (“EO”), the world’s most influential network of entrepreneurs, hosted internationally renowned leadership and performance speaker Anand Chulani at Banana Island Resort by Anantara.

Mr Chulani’s talk was the first learning event to be organized by the new EO board and was attended by EO members and their guests, who spent part of the day visiting Qatar’s newest resort. Mr Chulani’s talk put forward that idea that leadership is not a one- dimensional concept or just a title or the ability to lead an organization, but rather about excelling in all three dimensions of life: personal, business and relationships. He shared a number of techniques with EO members on how they can structure these three dimensions to become more effective business leaders.

Michael Portz, President of EO Qatar, remarked that “In EO, successful Entrepreneurs share their learnings in order to help another to keep growing. Doing so is even more enjoyable in a setting as beautiful as Banana Island Resort.” Abdullah Al-Kubaisi, Learning Chair of EO Qatar, added: “Continuous education is at the core of the EO experience. In EO we learn from visiting speakers such as Anand Chulani, as well as from sharing our own real business experiences in our monthly EO Forums. Our learning events take place in Qatar, across our region, and all around the world.”

Anand Chulani is renowned for having developed the ‘Peak Performance Pyramid’ model, a system designed to continuously activate and empower leaders, teams and organizations in business, sport and entertainment to perform at their peak consistently, create a lasting legacy and achieve success on their terms. According to Mr Chulani, the key to any organization is the psychology of its leadership ( success is 80% psychology and 20% strategy ), Anand Chulani offers organizations a chance to create leaders who have the tools to get the best out of their talent, raise the leadership intelligence and standards of their team and take the organization to the next level.

He has coached and been a legacy advisor to leaders in sports, business, and entertainment from CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies and elite family businesses to Hollywood and Bollywood stars to Olympic Gold Medal Athletes to IPL stars to IPL team Kings X1 Punjab. He has worked as a strategic consultant and coach with CEOs  and senior leadership of Fortune 500 companies and elite family businesses in India, Dubai, Africa and Europe such as  Google, Disney, Reliance, BBC,  YES Bank, Parle Agro, Hero Motocorp, Nestle, Accenture, Airtel, Exonn Mobil, Credit Suisse, Cisco Systems, Toshiba, Turner Broadcasting, organizations such as YPO International and the International Association of Hostage Negotiators.

Prior to his career as a coach and speaker, Anand Chulani toured with Russell Peters as one of the “gurus of comedy”, acted in Hollywood movies and TV shows opposite stars like Jeff Goldblum and George Clooney and was the first Indian to ever write for an American sitcom, the Simpsons & Goodness Gracious Me. EO is a global network of more than 11,000 successful Entrepreneurs in 48 countries with combined annual sales of over US $536 billion.

The EO Qatar Chapter was established in 2009 and currently has 30 members who employ in excess of 3,000 employees. All its members are self-made entrepreneurs and own successful businesses meeting the membership criteria of EO. Members of EO in Qatar are a diverse mix of Qataris and expatriates from Europe, the Middle East, North America and Asia. Their businesses are involved in various sectors including Public Relations, Legal Services, Hospitality, Wireless Communications, Multi-media, On-line Services, Business Process Outsourcing, Publishing, Consumer Product Manufacturing, Retail, Green Technologies and Renewable Energy.

EO Qatar is established as a branch of the Qatar Businessmen Association. EO Qatar welcomes membership enquiries, and for inquiries or more information, please contact EO Qatar’s President, Michael Portz, at michael@portz.qa, or EO Qatar’s Membership Chair, Dr. Tejinder Singh, at tejinder.singh@bpo-plus.com or visit www.eonetwork.org.

Dining In Doha, Qatar’s premier website for restaurant listings, has launched its first printed annual Doha Restaurant Guide. An exciting, modern, hardback guide to the best restaurants in Qatar, Doha Restaurant Guide features dedicated sections to Katara, The Pearl-Qatar and SouqWaqif as well as special features on Doha’s Best Breakfasts, Best Cheap Eats, Friday Brunch and Express Lunches.

Doha Restaurant Guide also features an 8 page, exclusive sit down interview with Chef Gordon Ramsay, where he talks about love for his family, cooking for Nelson Mandela and his future in Doha. Doha Restaurant Guide will also include The Dining In Doha Top 20, an annual list of the best restaurants in Qatar’s ever growing capital city. A development from what Doha has seen before in restaurant awards The Dining In Doha Top 20 pitches Doha restaurants against each other, regardless of cuisine. The annual list is compiled by a panel of restaurant critics, based upon a combination of food, service and environment. Doha Restaurant Guide is available for 29 QR in supermarkets and bookstores across Doha, including Spinneys, WHSmith and Virgin Megastore. 

Qatar Business Incubation Center (QBIC) founded by Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and Social Development Center (SDC) kicked off its fourth wave of the LeanStartup Program on October 4^th, 2015. 42 participants from 29 startups enrolled in the 10-week entrepreneurial journey will help the Center achieve its mission of developing the next QAR 100 million companies in Qatar.

The LeanStartup Program focuses on providing entrepreneurs with real world, hands on experience and knowledge on how to successfully transform their business idea into a thriving startup. The Program runs twice a year, in Spring and Fall, and follows an untraditional approach by excluding the necessity of creating a business plan in advance, and instead follows a practical approach by developing products and services that are needed by the target customers. For the very first time, and by utilizing the same approach, the fourth wave of the LeanStartup Program is being fully conducted in Arabic. 

Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Al Khalifa, Qatar Development Bank CEO and QBIC Chairman said: “After a lengthy and strenuous application process, we’re pleased to have witnessed a high number of applications to QBIC’s flagship Program the LeanStartup Program. With the fourth wave taking place in Arabic, we’re confident that the strength of our unique Program will further produce a wide and impressive range of projects.” He added: “By providing all means of support and unifying our efforts to help Qatari entrepreneurs, we would be fulfilling our duties in developing the local SME sector.”

Some of the potential ideas that could turn into prosperous startups include ideas in the field of development, technology, and education. Out of a total of 29 ideas, 6 are related to tourism. If eventually incubated, these will fall under the first specialized incubator, the newly soft-launched “QBIC Tourism”, guided by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA). Aysha Al Mudahka QBIC CEO said: “We’re very pleased to introduce the first Arabic LeanStartup Program at QBIC. The last three LeanStartup waves were very effective in transforming ideas into startups that are now quickly thriving, however we realized that there are many more ideas out there that are remain uncultivated, which deserve to be brought to light and developed to their maximum potentials.”

She added: “By reinstating QBIC’s flagship Program in a new light and in our country’s native language, we’re expanding our reach to those entrepreneurial minds who also seek to build successful startups, but feel more confident and efficient doing so in Arabic.” Two specialized instructors are currently conducting the fourth wave of the LeanStartup Program, and are heavily experienced in the entrepreneurship field. In the remaining 9 weeks, the aspiring entrepreneurs will learn more about the lean methodology and will test their products and services using the customer validation technique.

Khalid Hamad Al Thani, QBIC entrepreneur enrolled in the fourth wave of the LeanStartup Program said:  “The best thing about the Program is learning how to start a business from scratch. To be able to think aloud with a group and exchange ideas, is more productive than thinking alone.” He added: “My intended business project is called ‘Doobee’, which is a mobile application that acts as a platform to all of Qatar’s laundry and dry cleaning vendors. By ‘uberizing’ this concept, users will be provided with a delivery laundry service.

Hamda Al Naimi, QBIC entrepreneur enrolled in the fourth wave of the LeanStartup Program said: “The Program so far has been enlightening in terms of expanding my understanding of the business implementation process. With discussion, it provided me with details on how to be self-sufficient. My startup idea includes the recycling of palm tree remnants to create raw materials such as fertilizer and coal.” Based on customer feedback, entrepreneurs are urged to develop prototypes that act as a reflection of their customers’ needs. These will be showcased while pitching their refined business ideas to a judging panel and potential investors during a Demo Day event, marking the end of the 10-week journey.

Tahani Al Onaizi, another QBIC entrepreneur enrolled in the fourth wave of the LeanStartup Program said: “The Program taught us that we cannot expect to have a full-fledged idea ready for immediate implementation; instead, it showed us that we have to really narrow our ideas down and confine them to a single field. This helped me develop a more realistic view when thinking about my project, which will be a center for human development.” 

Following on from the success of its inaugural events in the Young Arab Women Leaders: The Voice of the Future series in Amman, Beirut and Dubai in 2012, Palestine in 2013, and London in 2011 and 2014, the Arab International Women’s Forum (AIWF) is proud to announce its seventh Conference of the series and its first ever event in Doha, Qatar in October 2015.

The one-day Conference aims to recognise and celebrate the contribution of business women in Qatar and to inspire the next generation of young Qatari women leaders to contribute to the development of the Qatari economy and to MENA economic growth overall. It will address how the government, civil society, the media and the academic sector can help young people in business achieve their potential by launching and growing scalable, profitable businesses that will create jobs and positively impact Qatar’s economy.

AIWF will be working closely with its Global Partner PwC, all AIWF Global Partners, the Qatar Business Incubation Centre as Host Partner, and with the full and invaluable support of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Qatar BusinesswomenForum.

Haifa Al Kaylani, Founder Chairman of AIWF, said: “I am especially proud that the first AIWF Conference in Qatar is part of the successful Young Arab Women Leaders series because Qatar is fertile ground for women-owned businesses. Women in Qatar are also among the most educated in the MENA region, with more than 70% holding a degree, and Qatar has a higher percentage of women in the formal workforce than the regional average, with Qatar’s gender employment gap also lower than most Arab countries. As Qatar moves towards the realisation of its 2030 Vision, there is no doubt that the role of women will be critical to its success. The involvement of the government will be instrumental to improving access to small business grants that can cover startup costs, and to providing free information resources, entrepreneurship exchange programmes and management skills development.AIWF is very much looking forward to supporting that process.”

Ibtehaj Al Ahmadani, Board Member of the Qatar Chamber, and Chairperson of the Qatar Businesswomen Forum said: “We are pleased to welcome the Young Arab Women Leaders conference for the first time in Qatar. We believe it will inspire many young Arab women by showcasing success business stories, the ups and downs in business life and ways to be a leader as talented young women. Qatar Chamber represented by Qatar Businesswomen Forum gives its full support to the success of this Conference. Women’s empowerment is an integral part of Human Development, which is an important pillar of Qatar national vision 2030. It's an investment in our societies and our future.“

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) CEO and Qatar Business Incubation Centre (QBIC) Chairman Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Al Khalifa said: “We are delighted to be supporting this important Conference, especially since the number of ambitious and successful Qatari women who wish to lead their own careers is increasing, and conferences such as this, offers them the recognition and empowerment they deserve." He added: "At QDB and QBIC we encourage women to explore the entrepreneurial world and provide them with the support and services they need to kick-off their own businesses, and to prosper in a competitive market place. I'm very proud to say that 19 of our incubatees so far are women with innovative, thriving businesses, and a drive to build an even stronger career."

Wadih Abou Nasr, Qatar Country Senior Partner of PwC said: " At PwC, we believe that women are a critical talent group to enable us to continue our growth and to build trust and help our clients address their most important challenges. We seek to provide an inclusive environment for women throughout their careers, by providing them with the resources, role models, mentors and support that contribute to their successes. As part of our continuous commitment in the region to invest in and develop local talent, in September 2015 more than 250 graduates joined our firm across the region from top universities, 32% of the graduates were females, which reinforces PwC’s commitment to provide more opportunities for women and support their success. Abou Nasr added: " We are proud to support AIWF in creating a better future for our region and more opportunities for our women and our future generations."

The event will address opportunities for collaboration between Qatar and the international business community on developing and widening the role of women business leaders; exploring the challenges, prospects and success stories for women doing business in the MENA region; how to take full advantage of the unprecedented opportunities arising from technology and cross-border commerce; and the role of social media in Arab entrepreneurship and the role that social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter can play in promoting and mainstreaming the successes and challenges of Arab women entrepreneurs.

The Conference will close with reflections on leadership, where distinguished women leaders from Qatar and across the region will be invited to share success stories, exchange experiences on how best to deal with the inevitable challenges of entrepreneurship; and an important session in which leaders from prominent corporations present in the region will discuss the dynamics of the Arab business community with relevant and valuable advice on how to navigate through challenges with agility and creativity.

Mrs Al Kaylani has described the event as “a milestone in AIWF’s mission to promote education, leadership training, capacity building, self-development and networking for Arab women and youth in all sectors of business and professional life.”The agenda of the Young Arab Women Leaders series was carefully developed with the close involvement of young women leaders in the region, and delegates will be addressed by a number of distinguished speakers including Mrs Haifa Al Kaylani, Founder Chairman of AIWF, MsIbtehaj Al Ahmadani, Chairperson and Founder Al Ahmadani Centre & Executive Board Member, Qatar Chamber; MrAbdulaziz Al Khalifa, CEO Qatar Development Bank; and MrsAysha Al Mudahka, CEO Qatar Business Incubation Center, among others.

The Young Arab Women Leaders event in Doha will take place on Wednesday 28 October 2015 at the Qatar Business Incubation Centre in Doha, Qatar. For more information on the conference or to view the programme and list of speakers, please visit www.aiwfonline.com. Additional events in this series are planned for other Arab countries in 2016 and beyond.

With the increasing demand for blood at Hamad Medical Corporation’s blood donation unit, Salam International and The Gate Mall organised a blood donation drive to help support the cause. The drive was held at the mall’s West entrance, and garnered a steady participation from employees and visitors alike.

The blood donation drive was effortlessly carried out by staff from HMC’s Blood Donation Unit, which constituted a team of highly experienced medical professionals, nurses and consultants. Individuals were then carefully evaluated based on their eligibility to donate; candidates were informed that they had to eat adequately before hand, get a good night’s rest and meet a minimum weight requirement. The campaign was also supervised by dedicated staff from The Gate Mall, in which donors were expertly guided through the process of blood donation. 

Launched as an on-going initiative, The Gate Mall blood donation drive comes as part of the corporate social responsibility strategy of both Salam International and The Gate Mall. It aims to encourage employees to help save a life by donating blood, and making a difference in the community. Furthermore, the initiative also reflects the strong collaboration that Salam International and The Gate Mall have fostered with Hamad Medical Corporation, to contribute towards the welfare of the residents in Qatar.

Commenting on the initiative, AbdulSalam Abu Issa, Deputy COO – Salam International, said: “The Gate Mall blood donation drive marks an important day on our corporate calendars. It’s not just a wonderful opportunity for us, as organisations, to do our bit for the society, but it also instils in us a deeper meaning of humanity, as we work together to save lives.  We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our staff and visitors who showed their support to the cause. Salam International and The Gate Mall are deeply committed to keep this cause alive, year after year, to bring a positive change in the society.”

Expanding their presence further in Doha’s vibrant dining scene, Aura Retail and Palma Hospitality Group recently opened three new outlets: Debs W Remman, La Casa Twenty Eight restaurants and Mokarabia coffee bar, all located in the picturesque settings of Medina Centrale, The Pearl, Qatar. Debs W Remman is a 300-seat Lebanese casual dining concept – dubbed as the “Ambassador of the Levant Cuisine” – that recreates the atmosphere of the old streets and souqs of Beirut. Manned by Chef Bashir Zeitouni, the restaurant serves a wide variety of traditional dishes that capture the essence of authentic Lebanese cuisine.

A unique 250-seat casual dining Mediterranean bakery and steakhouse, La Casa Twenty Eight serves delightful Mediterranean-inspired cuisine under the watchful eye of Executive Chef Errico Gabriele, while the Mokarabia Café, famous for its high-quality coffee blends, serves exotic coffee creations along with healthy salads, tantalizing sandwiches and desserts. Commenting on the launch, Mr. Charbel Mhanna, General Manager of Palma Hospitality Group, said, “The three new outlets will offer guests an entirely new level of dining experience, and will serve a variety of authentic, fresh and delicious food that promises to raise the bar for culinary excellence and personalized service and keep customers coming back for more.”

He added, “Medina Centrale is the perfect location in which to unwind and spend quality time with family and friends, and residents and visitors hanging out at this popular hotspot needn’t look any further than Debs W Remman, La Casa Twenty Eight and Mokarabia for a pleasant and enjoyable dining experience - whether you plan to grab a quick bite to eat, enjoy a celebratory meal with your loved ones, or simply fancy an exclusive coffee blend.”

Mr. Wesam Al Badawi, Managing Director of Aura Retail, said, “2015 is an important year for our group in terms of the continued investment and expansion of our project portfolio. Along with Aura Retail as investor, Palma Hospitality Group has been busy planning and finalizing several major projects, including the upcoming 7,000 sqm entertainment center ‘Megapolis’, which will open to the public soon at Medina Centrale, The Pearl.”

Designed as a complete leisure destination, Megapolis is set to be one of the biggest entertainment centers in the GCC, and will feature Bowling, Indoor Golf, Darts, Billiards, Karaoke, PS Games, a high-tech Gaming Arcade, Action Zone, Children’s Edutainment and Entertainment and much more - all under one roof. In addition to multiple, one-of-a-kind attractions that cater to guests of all ages, Megapolis will be home to an eclectic mix of F&B outlets featuring leading international and local food brands. 

Sony Middle East and Africa, the leading consumer electronics brand, and Fifty One East, Qatar’s favourite department store, announced the launch of the latest addition of its award-winning series of compact, full-frame α7 cameras with the introduction of the α7S II.

Highlighting Qatar’s increasing prominence on the regional map and the huge potential the market offers, Sony chose Qatar as the launch destination for its new camera for the first time in the Middle East. Sony Middle East and Africa and Darwish Technology organized a dedicated workshop for professionals and camera fans to showcase the new product and highlight its key features that position it at the top of its game.

The workshop was held at Doha’s La Cigale Hotel in the presence of Mr. Satoru Arai, Head, Sony Middle East Marketing Company, Mr. Ziad Asmar, Executive Director of Darwish Technology, in addition to “FotoArabia”, and the attendance of professional videographers and photographers from Qatar, along with experts from Sony who were on hand to provide details on the salient features of the new camera that distinguishes it from the competition. The camera will be available in the market from 25th October at Fifty One East stores in Al Maha Center located on Salwa Road and City Center Doha; in addition to Fifty One East’s shop-in-shop in Virgin Megastore at Landmark and Villaggio.

Offering ultra-high sensitivity and wide dynamic range across the entire ISO range and 5-axis image stabilisation for greater shooting control, the α7S II delivers stunning image quality for photographers who shoot in the most challenging light conditions. Be it the brightest of mornings or darkest of nights, the α7S II enables new levels of photographic expression at whatever shutter speed you wish to deploy. The α7S II also incorporates a host of pro-style movie functions including the ability to shoot 4K video with full pixel readout and no pixel binning in full-frame format, making it an extremely appealing proposition for photographers and videographers alike.

The α7S II delivers an awe-inspiring sensitivity range of ISO 50-409600¹, thanks to the combination of its 35mm full-frame 12.2 megapixel image sensor and BIONZ X™ image processing engine. The sensor optimises the dynamic range across the entire ISO range and broadens the range of tonal gradation in bright environments and minimises noise in dark scenes meaning that it delivers impressive results even in the most extreme conditions. The upgraded image processing algorithm of BIONZ X™ maximises the sensor’s capabilities and improves depiction throughout the full sensitivity range with particular emphasis on the mid-to-high range. This means that the resulting stills and movies demonstrate extra-fine detail with minimal noise.

Video Master

The α7S II can record 4K movies internally in the XAVC S format meaning that content is wonderfully detailed. Because information from all pixels is utilised without line skipping or pixel binning, the camera can maximise the expanded power of the full-frame image sensor and produce 4K movies with higher image clarity and negligible moiré. Full pixel readout without pixel binning is also employed when shooting Full HD movies, which means that it collects information from approximately five times as many pixels that are required to generate Full HD and condenses the information to produce extremely high quality movies.

A first for the α7 series, the α7S II can record 120fps at 100Mbps with full pixel readout without pixel binning in full frame format which can be edited into wonderful 4x/5x slow motion footage in Full HD. The α7S II also has the ability to shoot 4x/5x slow motion footage internally which can be immediately reviewed on the camera screen. 

Video functionality has been further enhanced with new profiles; S-Gamut3.Cine/S-Log3 and S-Gamut3/S-Log3. These new profiles deliver wide dynamic range and colour correction is easier to perform. The α7S ll even offers impressive 14-stop latitude in the S-Log3 gamma setting. The camera also supports S-Gamut/S-Log2 which is very popular among cinematographers and videographers. Gamma Display Assist is a new function that allows users to monitor images or check focus when recording S-Log movies and the Zebra function has been improved for even greater control. 

5-Axis Image Stabilisation

The new α7S II is equipped with the innovative 5-axis image stabilisation system that is proving extremely popular in the α7 II and α7R II cameras. The system corrects camera shake along five axes during shooting, including angular shake (pitch and yaw) which has the greatest impact on image quality and tends to occur with a telephoto lens, shift shake (X and Y axes) which becomes noticeable as magnification increases, and rotational shake (roll) that often affects night shooting or video recording.

Autofocus accuracy

The autofocus system on the α7S II has been upgraded and now offers 169 AF points for fast, precise focusing with greater accuracy. The power of the image sensor means that the absence of noise in images generated, enables the Fast Intelligent AF to detect contrast more easily and react speedily even in low-light situations (as low as EV-4), when it’s even tough to check with the naked eye. When shooting video, the AF performance is twice as fast as the predecessor model.

Electronic Viewfinder

The XGA OLED Tru-Finder™ in the α7S II has been upgraded and offers the world’s highest viewfinder magnification of 0.78x (roughly 38.5 degrees in diagonal field of view) and shows clear images across the entire display area. The use of ZEISS T* Coating ensures sharp reduction of reflections on the viewfinder and unlike an optical viewfinder, the OLED Tru-Finder™ can be used to instantly show how exposure compensation, white balance and other selected settings are affecting the displayed image.

Uncompressed RAW format

The new α7S II will come with user selectable Compressed and Uncompressed 14-Bit RAW image capture, giving photo and video enthusiasts the choice of RAW processing types that will further elevate the performance of the camera. This new feature will also be added via firmware update to additional α cameras, starting from the recently introduced α7R II full-frame mirrorless model.

User upgrades

A number of enhancements have been made to the look and feel of the α7S II to make it more user friendly, reliable and intuitive. Its magnesium-alloy body is both light and highly robust and the grip and shutter buttons have been re-designed so that the camera feels more natural in the hand. For situations when you just want to blend into the background, silent shooting mode can be activated for 5fps continuous shooting and reliability has been enhanced with reduced-vibration shutter movement. The lens mount has been further reinforced to ensure greater resilience, particularly when attaching third party lenses and users can now charge the camera via a USB power supply whilst the camera is in operation, thus extending battery life. For greater comfort and safety, Sony is also launching the LCS-EBF; a new premium leather body case for the α7S II which is also compatible with the α7R II and α7 II.

The α7S II is also Wi-Fi® and NFC compatible and fully functional with Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile application available for Android™ and iOS™ platforms, as well as Sony’s growing range of PlayMemories Camera Apps, which add a range of fun creative capabilities to the camera.

The St. Regis Doha, The Finest Address in Qatar, has partnered with the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning, to clean up Al Safliya Island of its debris, restoring its cleanliness and beauty. Over 80 associates and senior leaders including The General Manager of the St. Regis Doha, Tareq Derbas, joined forces to support MMUP in this initiative. The clean-up drive coincides with “Arab Environment Day” and aims to raise awareness about conserving Qatar’s environment and natural habitat, giving people a better way to experience the world.

St. Regis Doha’s participation in this local initiative comes in line with the Starwood Cares for the Community’ - Together as One Campaign, which is a global associate volunteerism program that runs every year in the Starwood group across its properties and offices worldwide. The Together as One Campaign is an opportunity that unites employees from different levels of the organization to help make a difference in their local communities.

McDonald’s announced today that it has completed the transition of the frying oil used at all its restaurants in the GCC to a sunflower and canola oil blend. The new oil will have a significant impact on the nutritional value of McDonald’s fried products, not least a 37% reduction in saturated fats.

“The change to the new oil blend delivers on our long-standing commitment to cater customers’ varying lifestyles and diets. This marks a new milestone following our earlier initiative through which we brought down trans fats in our fried food to almost 0%,” commented, Mr. Kamal Saleh Al Mana, Managing Director of Al Mana Restaurants & Food Co., the owner and operator of McDonald’s restaurants in Qatar. McDonald’s is in the process of updating the nutritional information of the food it serves in the GCC. This data will continue to be available on McDonald’s packaging, tray mats and on mcdonaldsarabia.com, as part of the brand’s commitment to provide all information required for customers to make informed choices about their food.

For any queries, please visit McDonald’s Your Right to Know platform on www.mcdonaldsarabia.com/yrtk-en.

Hospitality Qatar 2015, the sole 360° hospitality and HORECA show in Qatar, concluded on a high note, furthering its status as the leading hospitality event of the year. The exhibition,licensed by the Qatar Tourism Authority, was held under the patronage of H.E.Sheikh Ahmed Bin Jassim Al Thani, the Minister of Economy and Commerce.

From 13 – 15 October, Hospitality Qatar 2015 attracted a footfall of 7,346 trade visitors who came to network with 120 exhibitors from 12 countries–China, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Egypt, Germany, India, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Romania and Lithuania–spread over 5,000 sqm at the Doha Exhibition Center (DEC). A main feature of this year’s show was the Business-to-Business matchmaking platform, as part of which 13 top hotels in Qatar were hosted as buyers, with 320 meetings held with a wide variety of exhibitors. The B2B platform was open for trade visitors, who were able to register and book appointments with the exhibitors they wished to meet.

Commenting on his company’s participation at the show, Mr. Khalid Yousef, Business Development Manager at Elegancia Events & Entertainment, the Gold Sponsor of Hospitality Qatar, said: “The hospitality sector in Qatar is witnessing major growth and we would like to be part of that growth - this is why we chose to sponsor Hospitality Qatar 2015. The show was very successful; we were able to network with a large number of trade visitors and received several leads. Hospitality Qatar is the perfect platform for industry professionals to meet and network, and it also supports the growth of the hospitality sector and Qatar’s economy in general.” 

The exhibition also featured the Salon Culinaire. A show-stopper at Hospitality Qatar 2015, Salon Culinaire brought together the country’s leading chefs to compete across fifteen categories. The event was co-organized by the Qatar Culinary Professionals association (QCP), and supervised by the World Association of Chefs Societies for Africa & the Middle East (WACS). The competition was judged by 10 regional and international judges who awarded the winning contestants with 22 gold medals, 38 silver medals and 99 bronze medals.

Commenting on the success of the Salon Culinaire, Chef Thomas Gugler, Continental Director of WACS Africa & Middle East, said: “Hospitality Qatar is a great event because it is attracting a large local and regional audience. I would like to commend the Qatar Culinary Professionals’ association on the large number of contestants that they enrolled for the Salon Culinaire. Such massive participation shows that local chefs are hungry for these kind of events and more than willing to showcase their talent at such an exhibition.”

Speaking on behalf of the Official Kitchen Sponsor of the show, Mr. Imad Askar, Director of Operations at Askar Industrial Co. WLL, said: “Askar is pleased to be supporting the Salon Culinaire this year. We believe the show is ideal to showcase the mini kitchens for the chefs to utilize and see our products. Hospitality Qatar and the Salon Culinaire proved very successful this year and we expect the show to continue to grow in popularity and influence in the future as it is the leading event of its kind, bringing together several key aspects of the hospitality industry from competitions to training workshops, in addition to providing a robust business platform.”

The exhibition also included the highly anticipated Mocktail competition, which offered an opportunity for HORECA bartenders to test their knowledge and skills and to compete against each other for the tastiest mocktail in Doha. The contest was concluded by the Mocktail competition sponsor, Tonino Lamborghini, which awarded medals and trophies to the 3 most talented bartenders. In addition, the show featured a 3-day certified safety training workshop conducted by Boecker, the Salon Culinaire and Official Hygiene Sponsor. The highly technical workshop was attended by 370 professionals who received certificates after attending sessions about “Induction to HACCP” and “Induction to Basic Food Hygiene Awareness”. 

Ms. Carla Ghaleb, Country Manager – Qatar, Boecker, said: “We believe that Boecker has a role to play in the growth of the hospitality sector in Qatar, and sponsoring the show and conducting free safety training workshops during the event forms part of our wider commitment to the industry. Hospitality Qatar is the ideal platform through which investors targeting the hospitality sector can network and conclude business deals with local, regional and international suppliers.”