ISSUEISSUE

16 | JUNE-JULY
14 | APRIL 2015

TRAVEL INDUSTRY
TRIES TO OVERCOME
CHALLENGES

LNG ATTRACTIVE
ENERGY OPTION

MDPS FORECASTS
LOWER INFLATION

GENUINE AUTO
SPARES BUSINESS

Qatargas CEO says LNG will

play major role in a
sustainable energy future as
an attractive alternative.

Ministry of Development
Planning and Statistics says
inflation is likely to drop to 2
per cent this year.

A leading automobile spare

parts business owner speaks
about rising demand for auto
spares in Qatar.

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MESSAGE

BACK TO
DARWISH S. AHMED EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Travel industry: A fast-growing sector

Come summer and one question everyone seems to be asking others is: When are you and your family
travelling? With the mercury soaring to levels that make any kind of outdoor leisure activity impossible and
most schools closing for more than one month, both Qatari nationals and expatriates choose this time of the
year to travel to cooler climes or a destination of their choice.
Quite naturally airports, airline offices and travel agencies are at their busiest in summer and the airport
check-in counters of most airlines have long serpentine queues. But, travel at this time of the year needs
meticulous planning to avoid unpleasant surprises. The principle of early bird gets the worm works when it
comes to booking your seat on the most economical airline. The smartest book months in advance to ensure
air travel at the most affordable fare.
With a sizeable number of employers in Qatar providing employees and their family members, annual tickets
to their country and back, companies too jump into the fray for tickets at economical rates through their
travel agents. As per World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) figures for 2013, the local travel and tourism
sector is valued at QR12.4bn or 1.8 per cent of the GDP.
WTTC estimated the industrys total contribution direct, indirect and induced at nearly four times that
figure that is QR47.6bn or 6.7 per cent of the GDP. It was also estimated that the sector would grow at an
annual average of 4 per cent up to 2023.
Businessmen and high net-worth individuals travel many times a year as Qatars connectivity keeps
increasing with the introduction of direct flights to newer destinations around the globe. Also there are
attractive offers from airlines throughout the year, encouraging people to travel during the periods of relative
air travel lull. MICE tourism brings people to Qatar at all times of the year to attend events, while more and
more GCC visitors visit the country because it is an attractive destination for families.
This issues cover story focuses on the travel industry and its various operators, who work hard to come
up with attractive packages for travellers. In addition to our regular reports on energy, banking and SMEs
we have a couple of columns on construction and the use of social media for business, an interview with
an authorised dealer of genuine auto parts. This issues travel piece is on the cruise industrys smartship
Quantum of the Seas.
Enjoy reading!

Editor-in-chief: Darwish S. Ahmed

Graphic Design: Renju Varghese,

Editor: M.V.A. Kumar

AGM Marketing: James John

Advertisements: Marketing Team

Feature Writer: Sami Said Ali

Contributors: Peter Alagos, Jyoti Lalchandani

Copy Editors: John Varghese, Shemna

Bijith, Dr. Sudip N, Pradeep Kumar

JUNE - JULY

Jiji Yohannan

R. Ramesh

Circulation Manager: Adel Hammam

Editorial enquiries: Tel: +974 44466620
Email: bq@gulf-times.com

Business @ Qatar

CONTENTS

E N G A G I N G Q A T A R S B U S I N E S S COMMUNIT Y

Travel industry
seeks growth
Qatar is trying to realise
its full potential as an
attractive destination.
Outbound travel has
kept pace with the influx
of foreign workers and
change in global travel
trends.

Nip negativity,
ignite creativity
The human resource
department in an
organisation should not
ignore negativity among
employees and instead
take swift corrective action
to avoid its toxic spread,
writes R. Ramesh.

Exclusivity on four
wheels in Qatar
A new bespoke vehicle
from Rolls-Royce and
others from Porsche,
Hyundai, GAC and
SsangYong were
unveiled in Doha recently,
while Nissan reported
spectacular sales growth.

Whats possibly the

future of cruising
Christopher Reynolds
grades the worlds first
smartship, Quantum of
the Seas after travelling
aboard it along with 4,799
other passengers on a
seven-night itinerary to
Florida and the Bahamas.

JUNE - JULY

EVENTS REAL ESTATE

CASE MADE FOR WOMEN AT THE HELM

GCC family businesses provide female leadership opportunities
In Qatar, there are many women holding top executive

positions because of their education, talents and a

prevalent culture of offering qualified women opportunity
to grow in their careers.

Nigel Nicholson

Recently, Nigel Nicholson, Professor of Organisational

Behaviour, London Business School, commented
that: Family firms, which represent up to 80 per cent
of the regions non-oil economy, offer women unique
opportunities to fast track into leadership positions.

Professor, London Business School

presence in family businesses across the region

demonstrates their ability to overcome such obstacles.

As we know from behavioural science, fitness to lead

is not an exclusively male attribute. In new businesses
that seek to avoid the failure of command-and-control,
females may have as much or more to offer than the male
members of a family.
While cultural and structural obstacles still exist for
women to achieve their potential, womens growing

These barriers can be broken down by supporting women

in family businesses, encouraging their personal and
professional growth, and developing them as responsible
owners who transition into roles in the business world by
choice, and when the time is right for them. This can be
achieved by women having a sense of ownership over the
fate of the business and through professional development
in strategy, financing, operations and management of
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Corporate ladder
GCC family businesses provide female
leadership opportunities, says professor.

News Scan
A quick rewind to find out which individuals and
companies were in the news last month.

Events Entrepreneurship
Made in Qatar 2015 has put the spotlight on
women entrepreneurs, reports Peter Alagos.

Report Real Estate

A new initiative is expected to enhance Qatars
real estate sector, writes Peter Alagos.

Roundup Banking
Qatari banks loans as well as deposits declined,
but it was a great month in terms of awards.

Report SME
Recently many organisations took the initiative
to encourage entrepreneurship.

Report Retail
Qatar ranked fourth in the GRDI report even as
Al Meera opened three more branches.

Stock review
During the five-week period upto May 17 QSE
witnessed mostly a bearish phase.

10 JUNE - JULY

CONTENTS
LNG attractive
energy option

24

Qatars participation at the

World Gas Conference in
Paris, LNGs role in ensuring
a sustainable energy future
and Qatargass first LNG
cargo to Jordan figured
prominently in the news.

Lower inflation
indicated in 2015

26

Ministry of Development
Planning and Statistics said
inflation would drop to 2 per
cent in 2015. However, the
ministry also forecast that
economic growth would
taper of next year.

Genuinely successful
auto spares business

34

M.V.A. Kumar speaks to

the helmsman of one of
the leading automobile
parts dealers, Davis Ittoop,
to find the reason for his
extraordinary business
success.

Theres more to social

business than likes
There is surely be more
to social business than
tweeting about new
product launches and
driving up the number
of likes for their brand,
writes Jyoti Lalchandani.

46

REPORT REMUNERATION

EXEC PAY PACKAGES

BALLOONING AT THE TOP
Executive search firm says top executive salaries in Qatar at over $1 million
rank among the second highest-paid in the GCC
With the GCCs economic growth
once again on an upswing, pay
packages are now seeing a return
to form following the dip in 2014. As
per market research, average income
across the region and across different
sectors has registered a 7 per cent
surge with the turn of the year.
Meanwhile, top-tier executive salaries
have seen a whopping 39 per cent
hike in some sectors in the GCC;
CEOs in the construction sector
incidentally, the highest-paying sector
for senior management executives in
the region now rake in up to $1.2
million (QR4.36 million) per annum
as basic pay. Qatar-based tier-one
executives, ranking the second
highest-paid in the region, are on
average paid anywhere between
$37,393 to $45,314 (QR165,396.1)
per month across sectors.
The construction and real estate
industries have experienced
exponential growth in the last year.
This is especially the case in KSA,
Qatar and the UAE, where multiple
new projects are materialising.
Top-level executives within these
sectors are now in a position to
reap the benefits of this momentum.
Companies, too, stand to benefit
with the knowledge that these
talented executives are capable of
adding value in terms of leading
organisational development and
augmenting income and profits, said
Mohamad El Turk, Partner at Rasd;

Nadim El Said

Managing Partner at Rasd

Mohamad El Turk

Partner at Rasd

the pioneering regional executive

search firm boasts 25 years of
market experience in the GCC, and
specialises in connecting quality
leadership talent with enterprises
serious about building organisational
capability in high growth markets.

about their requirements, to invest

in attracting talented indigenous
executives who understand the
corporate and cultural challenges,
and as a result able to capitalise on
the promising economic outlook of
the region. added El Turk.

Lagging slightly behind the

construction sector in top-level
executive pay scales are the
commercial banking sectors
CEOs who earn basic incomes
of anywhere between $600,000
and $1 million (QR3.65 million).
Meanwhile, executives within the real
estate, consumer goods retail and
automotive sectors are now drawing
anywhere between $350,000 and
$550,000 per annum.

Once again, this year Saudi Arabia

and Qatar remain the highest paying
regions within the GCC, especially
for professionals in CEO-level
roles. Nadim El Said, Managing
Partner at Rasd, explained: The
cultural component plays a big
role when hiring in GCC countries;
multinationals are willing to pay
significant amounts especially for
highly skilled leaders who also exhibit
cultural-compatibility. This trend is
even more pronounced with local
groups and conglomerates who
seek leaders possessing a deep
understanding of the region and that
can communicate effectively with
native stakeholders

Another trend were noticing is

the need for candidates who have
a profound understanding of local
market dynamics. A trend that is
driving companies, that are particular

NEWS
Barwa Bank Groups Merhej bags
General Counsel Award

At the Corporate Counsel Middle

East Awards 2015, Allen Y. Merhej,
Executive Director and Head of Legal
at The First Investor, the investment
banking arm of Barwa Bank Group
, was recognised as the Highly
Commended General Counsel of
The Year. The awards ceremony was
held recently at Dubais Raffles Hotel.
The fourth edition of the awards
ceremony, it was jointly hosted by
Legal Week, organisers of The British
Legal Awards, and the Association
of Corporate Counsel Middle
East (ACCME), an international
organisation that serves more than
35,000 members in 85 countries and
the largest membership group for
in-house legal counsel in the Middle
East. It is the only event rewarding
legal excellence, innovation and
achievements in the Middle East,
opening participation for the regions
in-house legal teams and law firms.
This year, a record of 25 multinational
and regional companies made the
shortlists, including the biggest
legal firms, investment companies,
financial institutions, oil and gas
companies, real estate development
conglomerates and insurance groups
operating in the region. Allen was
initially shortlisted along with other
six worthy contenders in the General
Counsel of The Year sub-category,
which falls under the larger In-House
Awards category; the latter also
includes Legal Department of the
Year, In-house Innovation and Legal
Counsel of the Year.

12 JUNE - JULY

Ahlibank opens a new look branch in Al Markhiya

Ahlibank Qatar recently opened a new look branch in Al Markhiya, which

is the third one under its redesign programme aimed at providing the most
personal banking experience. The branch features the banks new brand
identity with modern technology including interactive touch screens and
tablets designed to enhance the customer experience.
The redesigned branch was inaugurated by Ahlibank Chief Executive Salah
Murad in the presence of premium banking customers and other officials of
the lending institution. It features an exclusive premium banking lounge, with
two dedicated relationship managers serving as a single point of contact for
premium banking customers account and investment management needs.

Qatar National Convention Centre bags three awards in a month

Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), operated by Amlak Holding,

recently won three awards for its excellence as one of the leading convention
and exhibition centres globally as well as its commitment to sustainability,
according to a statement.
QNCC has been honoured with the Best Conserving Building Award by
Tarsheed, named the Best Conference and Convention Centre at the World
Tourism Forums Oscars of Tourism Awards and won the title of the Middle
Easts Leading Exhibition and Convention Centre for the third year in a row
at the World Travel Awards.
Tarsheed, the National Programme for Conservation and Energy Efficiency,
is an initiative of Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa).
It has honoured QNCC for its sustainability efforts.

Citizen appoints Marzooq Al Shamlan as official retailer

Citizen Watches appointed recently Marzooq Al Shamlan & Sons as the

official retailer in Qatar. With the growing demand for our brand in Qatar
it was but natural to partner with a retailer who has good number of doors
and a good brand portfolio, said Takuma Murata, Assistant to the General
Manager, Citizen Watches Middle East.
Marzooq Al Shamlan & Sons has a very sophisticated and advanced
approach to retail and they are well positioned in all segments of the market
with a retail concept for each segment which includes Crono, Crono fashion
and Watch Corner, giving our brand the required reach in the market, he
explained.

Commercial Bank extends mPOS service to Papa Johns

Mohamed Ali al-Mannai appointed

CRA President

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin

Hamad al-Thani recently appointed
Mohamed Ali al-Mannai as President
of the Communications Regulatory
Authority (CRA) through the Emiri
Decree No. 25 of 2015. As president,
al-Mannai will be responsible for
leading all technical, financial and
administrative affairs of the CRA,
established last year to regulate the
communications and postal sectors,
as well as access to digital media.
Al-Mannai brings to the job nearly
18 years of wide-ranging experience
in the telecommunications industry,
including serving most recently as the
Chief Executive Officer of the Qatar
National Broadband Network (Qnbn).
Prior to becoming CEO of Qnbn, alMannai served as senior director
for the network rollout at Oordeoo
(formerly Qtel), and was responsible
for the design and implementation of
both fixed and wireless networks.

Commercial Bank said recently that it would roll out its Mobile Point of Sale
(mPOS) solution across all Papa Johns outlets in Qatar. Papa Johns has
17 stores located across the country. Commercial Banks mPOS solution is
a device that connects to a merchants mobile phone using Bluetooth and
allows the phone to process debit and credit card transactions. This new
solution is designed for all types of businesses and enables card payments
where cash was previously the only option.
Merchants can use their mobile phones to accept payments by using the
pocket-sized mPOS device and downloading Commercial Banks mPOS
application that is available on the Android and Apple online stores. The
major advantage of mPOS is the convenience of transactions taking place
via a mobile phone, allowing sales to be made on the go, anywhere within
or outside a store, and can be used to pay for cash-on-delivery services.

Since 2010, alMannai has served on

the board of the Al Jazeera Network
and was appointed board member
of Maldives operator before joining
Qnbn. Al-Mannai holds a bachelor
of science in physics and electronics
from the American University in Cairo.
Al-Mannais immediate focus will be to
engage with the service providers and
stakeholders to develop initiatives to
ensure that competition in the market
is on a level playing field for the
operators and to address identified
bottlenecks at the wholesale level.

JUNE - JULY

13

NEWS
Mena recognition for
Qatar Cool practices

The Qatar District Cooling Company

(Qatar Cool) was the winner of
the HR Team of the Year Award
and Excellence in Learning and
Development Award during the
2015 Mena HR Excellence Awards
Ceremony held in Dubai recently.
The awards ceremony was part of the
2015 Mena Human Assets Expansion
Summit, which celebrates leading
employers and HR practitioners for
their achievements and drive for
impactful human capital strategies.

Cozmo Travel opens branch in Gharaffa

Cozmo Travel opened their third branch in Qatar on Al Ittihad Street in

Gharaffa recently. Qatar Airways Vice-President Ehab AbdelFattah Amin
inaugurated the branch. Cozmo Travel Chief Executive Officer Jamal
Abdulnazar, Country Manager Mohamed Ashraf K M, Head of Sales Deepa
Rajesh, and other dignitaries from the travel industry were present.
We started our operations in Qatar in 2011 when we opened our first
branch at B-Ring Road, Doha, recalled Abdulnazar. With the inauguration
of our third branch in Qatar, we now have 37 branches in GCC countries,
he added. Ashraf observed that Qatar was one of the primary markets of
Cozmo Travel.

GWC inaugurates UPS flagship customer centre in Qatar

The summit tackled many important

issues
in
human
resources
management, such as innovation in
recruitment and talent retention. It
also provided a platform for panel
discussions on the obstacles of
creativity in the HR field. Winning these
awards is a great milestone in Qatar
Cools history, especially considering
the importance of the summit and the
standard of participants, according
to a statement.
Qatar Cool was judged on a variety of
aspects, such as strategic planning,
talent attraction and retention
and performance and rewards.
Yasser Salah al-Jaidah, CEO of
Qatar Cool, said: We are proud to
receive such recognition at such a
prestigious summit. The awards are a
demonstration of our commitment to
perfecting our operations in all areas
of our business, starting from HR and
talent development to other business
support disciplines and operational
practices.

14 JUNE - JULY

UPS flagship customer centre on D-Ring Road was inaugurated by GWC,

the authorised service contractor for UPS in Qatar. The new UPS customer
centre will function Saturday through Thursday between 7am and 7pm.
UPS is considered one of the worlds largest and most trusted package
delivery companies. With more than 400,000 employees, the express courier
provider delivers to 9.8mn customers a day. UPS has a global reputation
as problem solvers, we are in the business of connecting our audiences:
connecting them to the things, places, and answers they need, the moment
they need them. We strive to give our customers everything they require
to do more. You define what you need, and we support you by proposing
solutions and quickly implement them to keep goods moving smoothly and
swiftly around the world, said Christos Volis, Country Manager for UPS in
the Middle East.

Pearl-Qatars Porto Arabia Marina gets top TYHA rating

Ronautica Middle East (RME), a wholly-owned subsidiary of United

Development Company and operator/manager of The Pearl-Qatars three
marinas, recently announced that Porto Arabia Marina has been awarded
5 Gold Anchors rating from the Gold Anchor Award Scheme by The Yacht
Harbor Association (TYHA).
Receiving the highest Gold Anchor rating is a significant development for the
marina at Porto Arabia and for RME. The rating constitutes a testimony to
the marinas international standing as well as to RMEs acumen in operating
and managing the marina, consequently positioning Ronautica as a leading
force in Qatars luxury boating industry, according to a statement.

QBWA, Squire Patton Boggs sign legal services deal

The Qatari Businesswomen Association (QBWA) has signed a memorandum

of understanding (MoU) with global law firm Squire Patton Boggs (MEA)
to collaborate on a number of activities and areas of common interest.
QBWA Vice-Chairwoman Aisha Alfardan described the MoU as a natural
development of the mutual trust that has been fostered between our two
organisations.
According to the MoU, the law firm will join QBWAs existing partners and
extensive network, which works locally and regionally to advance women in
the Qatar business community. QBWA will also benefit from the provision of
legal services contributed by Squire Patton Boggs in Qatar. The MoU states
that Squire Patton Boggs will provide pro-bono legal advisory services to
QWBA for a specified number of hours per month, as well as exclusive
discounts for QBWA members.

Ibrahim al-Othman named UDC

Chief Executive Officer

United Development Company (UDC)

has appointed Ibrahim al-Othman
as its Chief Executive Officer.
Approved by the UDC Board of
Directors, al-Othmans appointment
followed the statement by the UDC
Chairman during the Annual General
Meeting (AGM) in March that various
candidates for the CEO position
were being considered and that an
appointment should be made within
two to three months time.
UDC Chairman and Managing
Director Turki al-Khater said Ibrahim
al-Othman was a perfect fit to lead
United Development Company. AlOthman is a Chief Executive who will
capably lead United Development
Company forward by ensuring it
remains results oriented and focused
on delivering for our shareholders,
clients, residents and employees.
For six years, Ibrahim has led Gulf
Drilling International (GDI) as its Chief
Executive Officer, and during this time
he has proved to be an outstanding
leader who has made a direct impact
on the companys bottom line.
Al-Othman holds a B.Sc in petroleum
engineering from the University of
Southern California and an MBA from
the American University of Beirut. He
has more than 25 years of experience
in the oil industry. Throughout his
executive career path at GDI, he
chaired various strategy-inclined
committees and has also represented
Qatar Petroleum as director on the
boards of joint venture companies.

JUNE - JULY

15

NEWS
Vodafone Qatar narrows
net loss by 12 per cent

IBQ wins STP award from Citibank for payments, SWIFT standards

Vodafone Qatar CEO Kyle Whitehill

Vodafone Qatar has narrowed its net

loss by 12 per cent to QR216mn for
the year ended March 31, 2015 on
the back of double-digit increase
in revenues from higher customer
base. The company has suggested
a dividend of 2.1 per cent (QR0.21
per share) to be approved by
shareholders at an annual general
assembly meeting scheduled on June
30. The dividend represents a 24
per cent increase on the companys
maiden dividend paid last year.

International Bank of Qatar (IBQ) has won the Citibank Straight Through
Processing (STP) award in recognition of its outstanding performance in the
execution of commercial and financial payments in US dollars.
The award was based on IBQs state-of-the-art in-house payments
architecture and reflects the banks high SWIFT standards, which facilitate
automated processing throughout the payment process, it said. IBQ
Managing Director Jabra Ghandour said, We are delighted to receive this
award during the first year of doing business with Citibank, which reflects
the efficiency of our operations vis--vis excellent customer service on the
payments side.

Vodafone among top three employers

The company witnessed continued

mobile customer growth of 9 per cent
to 1.44mn, thus translating into a 16
per cent increase in revenue yearon-year to QR2.31bn. The average
revenue per user (ARPU) was QR122.
Capital investment increased 68 per
cent to QR579mn, representing 25
per cent of revenue reinvested, a
company spokesman said.
Earnings before tax, depreciation
and amortisation (Ebitda) margins
were stable at 25 per cent with fullyear Ebitda of QR566mn, a 14 per
cent improvement over last year.
This financial year has seen many
major achievements for Vodafone
Qatar, most notably in network
enhancements. In June 2014, we
launched our 4G network and in
January this year, we began Phase
1 of Vodafones network evolution
by upgrading every network site in
Doha with the latest state of the art
technology, Sheikh Dr Khalid bin
Thani al-Thani, Chairman of Vodafone
Qatar said.

16 JUNE - JULY

Vodafone Qatar has recently been named among the top three employers
of the year in the Mena region. At the seventh annual Mena HR Excellence
Awards 2015 held alongside the 10th Annual Human Assets Expansion
Summit Mena, Vodafone bagged the second position for Employer of the
Year - Private Sector.
Organised by Naseba, the Mena HR Excellence Awards celebrate leading
employers and HR practitioners for their achievements and drive for impactful
human capital strategies. The Employer of the Year - Private Sector
award category rewards an organisation for its commitment to supporting
employees at all levels and excelling through talent retention, employer
branding, nationalisation, learning and development, CSR activities, health
and safety, and diversity and inclusion, all of which are key priorities for
Vodafone Qatar, the company said in a statement.

ONLINE SECURITY REGIONAL

RISK ON THE CARDS

Experts warn of increased card data
threat as online payment activity grows in
the MENA Region
Leading experts in card data

security recently urged the regional

payment industries to come together
to tackle an increased threat to the
integrity of card data as online and
mobile payments grow. The PCI
Security Standards Council has called
for merchants, banks and retailers
to work together in securing a safe
online experience for the regions
consumers.
The call for collaboration was made
by the PCI Security Standards
Council International Director
Jeremy King, during the Middle East
Forum held in recent months. The
event brought together the regional
payments industrys key players to
discuss the issue of card security
and understand how best global
standards developed by PCI can
be deployed in the Middle East.
This is an active, mobile and techminded region that is moving quickly
to capitalise on the economic
opportunity of e-commerce and
m-commerce, said Jeremy King,
International Director of PCI Security
Standards Council. But as digital
payments rise its important that we
quantify the risks and look to combat
the threat with robust measures.
The PCI exists to work with industry
players across the region and the
world, to deploy a set of standards

Jeremy King

PCI Security Standards Council International Director

that protects the integrity of data

and promotes safe, secure online
transactions fueling growth and
opportunity. he continued.
According to data revealed by PCI
during the forum, the rise of credit
and debit card use in the United Arab
Emirates has added $4.2 billion to the
countrys GDP. Saudi Arabias GDP
saw a $4.7 billion rise, with Kuwait
and Qatar witnessing more modest
rises of $1.2 billion and $0.4 billion
respectively.
With more than 175 million internetconnected people across the region,
mobile commerce is also set to
play a significant role in the future
of online payments. Research by
Juniper Research, suggests that 11.9
million users in Middle East currently
making mobile transactions. Over 80
million people in the Middle East and
Africa are expected to turn to mobile
banking by 2017.
Yet according to Middle East
Payment Services (MEPS), 56 per
cent of consumers in the region are
concerned about credit card fraud
and a lack of consumer confidence
was cited as a barrier to realising
a significant e-commerce market
opportunity.
The average cost of a data breach
rose 15 per cent in 2013 to $3.5

million, added King. The root

causes of data breaches differ among
countries, but countries in the Middle
East, as well as in Germany, had more
data breaches caused by malicious
or criminal attacks than other parts
of the world. Its a threat that will
only increase as e-commerce and
m-commerce become more widely
adopted.
Dr Abdul Malek al-Jaber Chairman
of Middle East Payment Services
(MEPS) and Founder and Chairman
of MENA App also stated that The
cyber security battleground must
be contained. Some institutions
have started to issue prepaid cards
to increase payment security and
encourage online retail, but that does
not eliminate the threat. The threat
can only be eliminated through a
collaborative commitment from
merchants, banks, gateway providers
and retailers to a set of robust,
globally recognised standards.
The first Middle East Payments
Forum brought together more than
200 industry players from across the
Middle East to discuss and advance
payment security in the Middle East.
The region has witnessed an increase
in cyber activity recently, with
criminals turning their attention from
Western targets, to emerging markets
with relatively nascent security
infrastructure

JUNE - JULY

17

COVER STORY TRAVEL

TRAVEL INDUSTRY
TRIES TO OVERCOME
CHALLENGES
Qatar is trying to realise its full potential as an
attractive destination for inbound leisure tourists while
outbound travel has kept pace with the influx of foreign
workers and change in global travel trends, reports
Sami Said Ali

Qatars growing travel market,

comprising both in inbound and
outbound travel and their related
figures, mirror the changing global
trends in this dynamic sector.
The United Nations estimates that
there will be 250 million international
migrants by 2050, signifying a
growing global trend towards
migration. The World Tourism
Organisation forecasts an annual
growth rate of more than 6 per cent
between 1995 and 2020 in the Middle
East travel market alone.
Globalisation of travel and tourism is
seen as one of the prime reasons for
this phenomenal growth in travel. It
has been predicted that by 2050 there
would be three billion middle-class
Asians with a purchasing power parity
comparable to Western markets, as

18 JUNE - JULY

a result of a 600 per cent rise in the

regions per capita incomes.
Forecasts also indicate that the total
number of overseas trips made by
tourists from the worlds top travelling

nations will double from 433 million

to 837 million by 2020. A recent
Travel Report from Amadeus, a major
vendor of software for travel agents,
sees globalisation of business as one
of the prime drivers of global travel,

The inbound leisure segment still continues to be weak when

compared to markets such as the UAE despite efforts by the
Qatar Tourism Authority to boost this category.

A350

015 tourism Performance

summary
Airbus A319
The interior of

an ever-increasing number of foreign visitors in Quarter 1 (Q1) of 2015, with 11% more arrivals compared to the same pe
a thriving tourist accommodation sector, with significant increases in both occupancy rates and revenue per available r

ArrivAls to QAtAr by region

ss
rkets

Arrivals to Qatar by region, Q1 2015 vs Q1 2014

of 16% from
minated by an
arabia, which
the majority
when saudi

2014

2015

% change 2014-15

totAl

759,098

841,025

11%

Gcc

310,507

361,660

16%

other arab

84,504

84,251

0%

other africa

8,328

8,238

-1%

other asia inc. oceania

198,062

212,371

7%

europe

120,451

131,056

9%

americas

37,246

43,449

17%

among GCC countries in terms

of overall departures and average
spend by tourists which is among
the highest in the GCC region. It
also
leads
in the
In terms of outbound
travel,toQatar
Arrivals
Qatarhas
from the
gcc,
Q1 2015
vs number
Q1 2014 of frequent
travellers which includes expatriates,
been one of the engines of growth
with the world economy expected to
become 80 per cent bigger in 2020
than it was in 2000.

900.000
800.000
700.000

who live and work here in addition

600.000
to wealthy Qatari families who
go on
long holidays abroad.
500.000
No. of arrivals

Table courtesy: Qatar Tourism Authority

als from the

ope by 9%,
als from the
arket, grew
ng by 16%
014. arrivals
can nations

400.000
Qatar Airways too has played
an
increasingly important role300.000
in terms
of branding Qatar internationally as
200.000
a tourist destination. Backed
by a
strong fleet of 120 aircraft 100.000
and flights
to over 110 countries, the airline
0
has fully capitalised Qatars unique
2014
2015
geographical location between
Europe and Asia. The national
carriers efficiency
planning
Arrivals toand
Qatar
from non-gcc Primary marke
have turned Qatar into a stopover

2014

2014

2015

% change 2014-15

totAl

310,507

361,660

16%

totAl

205,018

Bahrain

33,157

33,648

1%

australia

5,848

Kuwait

31,184

27,540

-12%

Brazil

1,741

2015

JUNE - JULY

19

218,251
5,820
1,659

ormance summary

tors in Quarter 1 (Q1) of 2015, with 11% more arrivals compared to the same period in 2014. Key
, with significant increases in both occupancy rates and revenue per available room across all hotels.

2015

ArrivAls to QAtAr by region, Q1 2015 vs Q1 2014

900.000

% change 2014-15

Dubai and London are the top

11%
preferred destinations for Qataris to
361,660
16%
enjoy their summer
vacations and
84,251
0%60 per cent of the
account for about
total bookings, followed
by Turkey,
8,238
-1%
Thailand, France,7%
Spain, Budapest,
212,371
Egypt, Sri Lanka, Maldives and
131,056
9%
Hong Kong, which are among other
43,449
17% for residents in
favourite destinations
Qatar, says Azraf Pananillath, CEO
of Orbit Travels, one of the popular
travel agencies in Qatar.

No. of arrivals

841,025

Americas

800.000

Europe

700.000

Other Africa

Other Asia inc. Oceania

Other Arab

600.000

GCC

500.000
400.000
300.000
200.000
100.000
0

2014

2015

He adds: The conservative nature

ensure
doesnt
for
leisuretoand
stopover
which Primary
are
Arrivals
Qatar
from non-gcc
markets,
Q1that
2015one
vs Q1
2014 have to settle
for the second best option. Most
usually not available in readymade
customers
also 2014-15
experience the joy of
packages.
% change
2014
2015
pre-holiday buzz when they book well
205,018
218,251
6%
in advance, which is a huge stressAll travel agents advise planning and
5,820
0%
buster, says Azraf.
advance 5,848
booking both for holiday
Brazil
-5%
-12%
packages1,741
and air tickets. It may 1,659
help
Almost 40 per
cent of the business
the travellers
Mohammed
china
6,589obtain a reduced rate
8,053
22%
5%Rimzan, another holiday
target of a travel agent is achieved
and sometimes the discount could be
travel specialist begs to differ. france
12,606
14,307
13%
28%
during the summer vacation period.
as high as 25 per cent. More crucial
While Europe remains the favourite
Germany
12,286
-1%
2%
Most of the travel
agency customers
is the fact
that it helps to avoid 12,216
lastdestination
for sightseeing and
india
102,499
107,262
5% the best strategy
are regulars and
minute hassles and disappointments
East Asia for detox and relaxation,
to boost sales
is through word of
over non-availability
of hotel rooms
most customers avoid readymade
russia
1,596
1,561
-2%
the mouth publicity,
service and
or seats 37,789
on flights. As long-haul39,270
packages. Today, most people prefer
u.K.
4%
dedication, said all the travel agents
and flight fares tend to fluctuate, by
to travel with their families and they
u.s.a.
24,064
28,103
17%
contacted by this reporter.
booking well in advance one can
tend to look for specified spots

of2015
Qatari
travellers
om the gcc, Q1
vs Q1
2014 has changed in
2015
361,660
33,648
27,540
30,685
241,008
28,779

Table courtesy: Qatar Tourism Authority

destination for tourists on their way

to places
such
as2014
Hong Kong and
o Qatar by region,
Q1 2015
vs Q1
Australia.

recent years, and they are now open

to exploring
destinations. Luxury
% change new
2014-15
travel packages are also popular,
16%
totAl
including detox packages in luxury
australia
1%ski packages in the Alps.
resorts and

20 JUNE - JULY

onth (2011-2015)

ArrivAls to QAtAr by region by month, % chAnge (2014-2015)

Quarter 1 2015 tourism Performance summar

Qatar continued to welcome an ever-increasing number of foreign visitors in Quarter 1 (Q1) of 2015, with 11%
performance indicators show a thriving tourist accommodation sector, with significant increases in both occu

ArrivAls by region

Arrivals to Qatar by region, Q1 2015 vs Q1 2014

759,098

CEO of Orbit Travels

841,025
11%

Gcc

310,507

361,660

other arab

84,504

other africa

8,328

other asia inc. oceania

198,062

europe

120,451

americas

37,246

16%

84,251
The main
disadvantage is that0%
there
is no personal
8,238touch in the (online)
-1%
service. Should something go wrong,
212,371
7%
it becomes difficult to rectify the
9%
situation.131,056
A person for example,
may have43,449
booked himself on the
17%
wrong flight or wants to cancel the
ticket. Undoing all this could be
problematic. Airline call centres are
often notoriously unhelpful, leaving

Arrivals to Qatar from the gcc, Q1 2015 vs Q1 2014

2014

2015

% change 2014-15

totAl

310,507

361,660

16%

Bahrain

33,157

33,648

1%

Kuwait

31,184

27,540

-12%

oman

29,204

30,685

5%

saudi arabia

188,733

241,008

28%

u.a.e.

28,229

28,779

2%

tot

aust

Braz

chin

fran

Germ

india

russ

These cards act as a potential

threat and the only way for travel
agents is to increase their credit
period in comparison with the
banks, says Mohammed about the
competitiveness of the travel industry
in Qatar.

u.K.

u.s.

ArrivAls to QAtAr in Q1 by month (2011-2015)

ArrivAls month-by-month

Arri

70%

350.000

60%

300.000

50%

250.000

40%
% change

No. of arrivals

monthly arrivals
Qatar
during becoming
Q1 2015 align
Withtoonline
bookings
with previouspopular
years these
trends,
where
days, wherearrivals
travel are
arrangements
be made
high in January,
dipping can
slightly
in from
february,
the comfort
of ones
home, at
travel
and rebounding
in march.
Looking
monthagencies
are
working
harder
to
by-month arrival patterns at a regionalmake
level
things easier for their clientele. Online
shows particularly
strong performance by Gcc
facilities have impacted business,
countries in march
2015 compared to march
particularly as far as attracting
2014. this was
almost
exclusively
driven by
individual
travellers
is concerned.
a large influxHowever,
of arrivals
from
Saudi
Arabia,
the impact is not as much
making marchin 2015
Qatars
busiest
month
for
the case of Qatars corporate travel
ourist arrivalsmarket,
ever. says Azraf.

2015

totAl

PerformAnce
Across
Having an office in a strategic
also brings
walk-in
QAtArs location
source
mArkets

customers.
Normally
a travel
agent
During Q1 2015,
the overall
growth
of 16%
from
gets
incentives
based
on
targets
he Gcc countries was primarily dominated by an
set by an airline, based on the
ncrease in visitor arrivals from saudi arabia, which
percentage share of business.
grew by 28% compared
Q1 corporate
2014. the majority
However, it to
is the
of this growthcustomer
took place
in
march,
base that helpswhen
travel saudi
visitor arrivals agents
grew by
82%
compared
to atmarch
to retain their business
the
macro level. The trend has, however,
2014.
started
banks have
Visitor arrivalsnow
from
otherchanging
primaryasmarkets
also
started
introducing
corporate
showed growth
in Q1,
most notably
fromcredit
china
22%) u.s.a. cards.
(17%) and france (13%), when
comparing to the same period in 2014.

% change 2014-15
Azraf Pananillath

2014

Table courtesy: Qatar Tourism Authority

n comparison to Q1 2014, arrivals from the

americas grew by 17%, from europe by 9%,
and from other asia by 7%. arrivals from the
Gcc, Qatars largest source market, grew
markedly in Q1 2015, increasing by 16%
compared to the same quarter of 2014. arrivals
rom other arab and other african nations
emained roughly the same.

200.000
150.000

30%

23%

20%

11%

10%
0%

100.000

6%

4%

-10%

50.000

-20%

0%

JUNE - JULY
Jan

Feb

Mar

21

Total

d in 2014.

ArrivAls to QAtAr in Q1 by month (2011-2015)

h-by-month

70%

350.000

60%

300.000

50%

250.000

40%
% change

No. of arrivals

Table courtesy: Qatar Tourism Authority

uring Q1 2015 align

, where arrivals are
slightly in february,
Looking at monthat a regional level
erformance by Gcc
compared to march
xclusively driven by
rom Saudi Arabia,
s busiest month for

200.000
150.000

30%
20%
10%
0%

100.000

-10%

50.000

-20%

0%
Jan

travellers frustrated and having to

n sector
fend for themselves. This is not the

case when a travel agency is in the

commodationpicture.
stock The online mode of travel
confirmations
also lacks flexibility, Jan
ed hotels and hotel
Azraf
argues.
or the first quarter of

85%
All
ents performed well,
Mohammed all
too
supports
this
view.
Hotels
Deluxe apartments
85%
He adds that while doing online
pancy rates slightly
all Hotel apartments
84%

1,596
37,789

39,

u.s.a.

24,064

28,

1,5

cultural standards and traditions

ArrivAls to QAtAr by region by month, % chAng
as those countries. Efforts to lure
Europeans and other Westerners are
under way as the country prepares to
61% during the
attract millions of people
World Cup event, says Azraf.
The peak season is heavily
dependent
on festival dates but
23%
usually leisure
travel period is
16%
11%
between
July and August through to 10%
6%
4% Also there
4%
3%is an increase
October.
in
0%
travel during the December-January
-1% -1%
-4%
-3%
-5%
as well as April-May periods.
-11%

7%

15%

Total from theGCC

Other Arab
Other Africa
Other
People
Indian subcontinent
Oc
travel
mostly
during
Eid
holidays
Feb
Mar
while East Asians and Western
travellers prefer the Christmas interval
to go
back toPerformance
their home indicators,
countries.Q1
In 2015 by month
Accommodation sector
summary
a country where most of the working
population
livingrate
away
from their
occupancy rate (occ.)
Averageisroom
(Arr)
revenue
family, vacation is all about catching
up with their
feb
mar
Q1 total
Jan
feb loved ones,
mar saysQ1 total
Jan
Mohammed.
The Qatar government

79%
81%
81%
intends
to invest
up to
79% in the
81%
$25bn
tourism 82%
sector,
77%
80%
80%
diversifying into cultural,
76%
78%
79%
sports and education
82%
84%
85%
tourism. It is also working
80%
82%
83%
to ease regulations.

hotel bookings, travellers are often

staruse of words like 81%
confused by5the
superior, deluxe
4 starand thus end up 88%
making the wrong
3 star choice which
85%
invariably leaves them unsatisfied.
1 & 2 star

russia
u.K.

82%

79%

81%

81%

555

546

566

556

Travel agents mostly focus on

560
552
573
562
outbound travel for business, although
501
486 city tour508
499
they do offer
packages within
816
804
830
817
the country as per received enquiries.
The increasing
360
354 purchasing
367 power361
in
the
hands
of
the
middle
as
369
323
354 class, 350
well as the global migration trend and
217
207
214
213
travellers eagerness to explore new
575
561helped the
593travel industry
577
places have
339
335
336
to grow. 335

469

474
422
665
317
315
178

% change

QAR

Deluxe
apartment
73%
75%
76%
469
Qatar does face
tough
competition 81%
in
apartment
88%
91%
90%
306
the inbound standard
leisure travel
segment, 90%
where it often loses out to the
10 years in the tourism sector,
Middle-aged customers do not
countries with a considerable number
diversifying further into cultural,
occuPAncy rAte, Arr, And revPAr by hotel clAssificAtion, Q1 2015
occuPAncy rAte, Arr, An
take a chance and prefer to consult
of sites that are historical legacies.
sports and education tourism. In
Q1 2015 vs Q1 2014 by ho
Ance Prominent among
seasoned
travel
agents
because
these
are
Egypt,
addition
to
financial
support,
the
1000
all hotels reached
40% of
they trust them. The youngsters
Turkey and Syria. However, carefully
government is also working to ease
900
35%travel
in comparison
to
today, on the other hand, use
drawn up government strategies
regulations in terms of tourism-related
817
800
at the same
time,
agencies as an information 30%
platform
and skillful selling have established
development.
ed slightly (by
1%),
and
after
references
they
book
Qatar
as a regional
25%
700 centre for the
100%
643
85%
83% themselves. This makes
562
82%still
online by
The inbound leisure segment
n 4-, 2- andmeetings,
1-star incentives, conferences
81%
20%
550
80%
17%
79%
being in the travel business,15%
really
and exhibitions (MICE) market.
continues to be weak when compared
459
420
60% UAE, despite
11%
competitive. Travel agencies
offer 8%
to350markets such as the
361
10%
305
289
7% 6%
discounts with low margin of5%
even
This has carved280
a niche for Qatar
efforts by
Tourism Authority
213 the Qatar 40%
172 segment. It is one of
QR10, to remain in the business and
as the chosen destination
for
to boost this
140
20%
0%
retain their customers. Further, this -1%
business travel in the GCC region.
the five key areas prioritised for
0
0%
-5%
Investments in infrastructure
and
the
development
of tourism.
Qatar 5 Star
All Hotels
5 Star
4 Star
3 Star
All Hotels
4competition
Star
3 Star
1 & 2 Star
1is
& 2set
Star to grow, says
-10%
Mohammed.
landmark projects like Qatar National
does not offer the same variety and
Convention Centre, Doha Convention
diversity of activities and leisure
-15%
5 Star
However, despite the competition asAll Hotels
Centre, towers and the hosting of
attractions as some of its neighbours
a result of new trends in the market,
strategically important conferences
like the UAE and hence remains far
travel
agents with strong roots and
and events have cemented
Qatars
less
attractive.
Despite
this fact,
occuPAncy
rAte, Arr, And
revPAr
by hotel
APArtment
clAssificAtion,
Q1 2015
a dedicated customer base are here
strong position in the minds of
Saudis and Kuwaitis are key source
nt
to stay. This contrasts with smaller
corporate travellers.
tourists for this type of tourism, as
agencies mushrooming around the
they
find
Qatar
more
entertaining
100%
700
90% to have a tough time
began collecting
city which tend
The Qatar government intends to
577 than their home countries and easy to
80%
80%
550
m hotel apartments
in76%
the market
invest up to $25bn over 499
the next
access, while maintaining the same
QAR

otel apartment data

e, similar to hotel
e occupancy 22
rateJUNE
of - JULY
nts.

420
280
140

441

401

336 303

60%
40%
20%

EVENTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The recently held Made in Qatar

2015 exhibition has helped establish

women in entrepreneurship by putting
the spotlight on two Qatari women
whose unique skills have made
them forerunners in their respective
businesses.
The Qatar Chamber-initiated
exhibition, held at the Doha Exhibition
Centre, included for the first time,
a bazaar where visitors could buy
jewellery, perfumes and oils, assorted
clothing, souvenir items, handicrafts,
and a number of homemade
products.

ENTERPRISE, CREATIVITY FIND

A NEW CHANNEL
Made in Qatar 2015 has put the spotlight
on ambitious women entrepreneurs, reports
Peter Alagos

One of the stalls that stood out from

among the rest belonged to 25-yearold Ahood Dafa, who runs Subogh
w Brosh, which means paint and
brush in Arabic.
Dafas speciality is resurrecting
worn-out personal belongings made
out of leather such as handbags and
wallets, as well as sunglasses and
phone covers. She only started the
business two months ago.
The whole idea started with
recycling; I was looking for things
that people would usually throw
away. I collect stuff from everywhere
and this has led me to dumpsters,
construction sites, and other places.
I wanted to reuse these objects
and turn them into art, Dafa told
Business@Qatar.
A BS Graphics Design graduate of the
Virginia Commonwealth University in
Qatar, Dafa said her craft, illustration
art, gains inspiration from pop art.
When I customise your bag or any
personal belonging, I do not repeat
the design hence, the art is yours,
she said.
Apart from putting up a business,
Dafa said she hopes to start a small
community to push recycling as an
advocacy.
In light of the many developments
happening in Doha, I wish I could

inspire people to move towards

recycling and not just dispose their
belongings when they feel they are
not useful anymore, she stressed.
Meanwhile, self-taught photographer
Reem al-Bader, who established
Baby Mania Studio three years ago,
is now in the process of moving her
home studio in Duhail to a mall in the
next two months.
Al-Bader, 28, is a forerunner in the
field of newborn photography in
Qatar and was inspired by the works
of Ana Brandt.
I adore babies and children; I started
with babies and then taught myself
to take pictures for newborns, which
has now become my specialty.
I was definitely inspired by Ana

Brandts photography and I even

purchased her videos to enhance
my craft, said al-Bader, who also
photographs weddings, parties,
fashion, and other events.
Al-Bader said she also draws
inspiration from the royal family: HH
the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad
al-Thani, HH the Father Emir Sheikh
Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and HH
Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.
They inspired us since we were
children and served as our role
models. And I also have all the
support of my family. Nobody has
held me back and they have even
pushed me to pursue my craft,
which is why I can say that I am a
forerunner in this business, she
said

JUNE - JULY

23

ROUNDUP ENERGY

LNG AS ATTRACTIVE ENERGY

ALTERNATIVE HIGHLIGHTED
Qatars participation at the World Gas Conference in Paris, LNGs role in
ensuring a sustainable energy future and Qatargass first LNG cargo to Jordan
figured prominently in the news

Qatargas CEO Sheikh Khalid bin

Khalifa al-Thani said recently that
liquefied natural gas (LNG) will play
a major role in a sustainable energy
future as it represents an attractive
alternative to unsustainable, higher
priced, higher polluting, and less
reliable energy options.
He was delivering a keynote speech
on the theme Natural Gas: A Core

24 JUNE - JULY

Pillar of a Sustainable Energy Future

at the World Gas Conference 2015 in
Paris.
As the global focus on climate
change continues, countries around
the world are seeking to diversify their
energy mix with a focus on cleanburning fuels. Qatargas is proud to
play an important role in meeting
this global demand for reliable and

cleaner sources of energy, Sheikh

Khalid said.
In his speech, he dwelt upon
Qatargass commitment to responsible
resource utilisation and the highest
standards of environmental protection,
which are fundamental requirements
enshrined in Qatargas direction
statement and vision. He outlined
the various initiatives through which

Qatargas continues to promote the

use of state-of-the-art solutions to
further improve the environmental
performance of its production
facilities.
As the worlds population continues
to grow, the demand for power
generation will rise, Sheikh Khalid
pointed out. However, at a time
when there is an increasing focus
on climate change, and specifically,
on the need to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, the use of fossil fuels
needs to be properly managed. He
called for greater use of natural gas
as a key solution to this challenge.
The increased use of natural gas-fired
power plants is inevitable due to their
significantly lower emissions.
In addition to the keynote speech
by the CEO, Qatargas, the principal
sponsor of the conference, also
presented five other papers, covering
various topics including LNG supply
and demand, long-term sustainability
of LNG markets and greenhouse
gas emissions study. Qatargas also
participated as part of the Qatar
Petroleum pavilion in an exhibition
that was held in parallel to the
conference.

One of the key strengths of Qatargas

has been the development of a
centre for excellence in supporting
the commissioning of both landbased LNG receiving terminals and
FSRUs. To date the company has
supported the commissioning of 15
LNG terminals across the Americas,
Europe, the Middle East and the Far
East.

Opportunities for SMEs

The contract period for the

manufacturing of safety boards and
electrical labels is for two years,
cafeteria and catering for staff
and events (three years), custody
flow meter calibration (five years),
manufacturing of stud bolts (three
years), on-site technical support for
welding inspectors (three years),
manufacturing and maintenance of
fire extinguishers (five years) and
managing of social media (two years).

Opening new horizons for private

sector development in the country,
Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and
Qatar Shell recently unveiled seven
new specific business opportunities
for the local small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) to become part of
the supply chain for Pearl GTL, the
worlds largest gas-to-liquids plant
delivered by Qatar Petroleum and
Qatar Shell.

More than 150 local entrepreneurs

and SMEs participated in the
workshop where they were briefed
on Qatar Shells tendering process
as well as the advisory support and
financial incentives provided by QDB.

QDB and Qatar Shell said the

local SMEs are the cornerstone
for achieving a sustainable and
diversified economy and key to
facilitating a thriving private sector
in Qatar, whose non-hydrocarbon
sector has grown faster than the
hydrocarbons segment.

(QU) and Imperial College London

recently signed a research and
development (R&D) agreement on
corrosion prevention in wet sour gas
pipelines. The signing ceremony took
place at Qatar University and included
QSRTC General Manager Youssif
Saleh, QU Vice-President (research)
Dr Hassan al-Derham, and Imperial
College London Professor (materials
science and technology) Mary Ryan.

Corrosion prevention pact

Qatar Shell Research and Technology
Centre (QSRTC), Qatar University

LNG cargo to Jordan

Qatargas recently also sold the first
cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG)
to Jordan as part of broad-basing its
markets across the world. The LNG
from Qatar was loaded on-board the
Floating Storage and Regasification
Unit (FSRU), Golar Eskimo, at Ras
Laffan Port. The conventional-sized
cargo, which was sold Free-On-Board
(FOB) to Royal Dutch Shell, reached
in Aqba, Jordan, late last month
where it will be permanently moored
on the Red Sea coastline.
The most recent entry of Jordan
into the LNG industry represents an
important milestone for that countrys
energy security and an increasing
significance for the Middle East as
an LNG market. The sale of this first
cargo to Jordan further demonstrates
Qatargass commitment to expand its
reliable supply of a clean, safe and
efficient source of energy to more
countries.

Qatar Shell presented the

specific business opportunities in
manufacturing of safety boards
and electric labels; cafeteria and
catering services for staff and
events; servicing of custody flow
meter calibration; manufacturing of
stud bolts; supplying onsite welding
inspection services; manufacturing
and maintaining fire extinguishers;
and managing Qatar Shells social
media.

The corrosion of pipelines

transporting sour oil and gas streams
is a specific technical challenge
facing the oil and gas industry in
Qatar. The research will use state-ofthe-art analytical techniques focusing
on the mechanisms to prevent
pipeline corrosion and extend the life
and durability of pipelines

JUNE - JULY

25

ROUNDUP ECONOMY

LOWER
INFLATION
INDICATED

Dr Saleh Mohamed Salem al-Nabit

HE the Minister of Development Planning and Statistics

Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics

said inflation would drop to 2 per cent in 2015; the
ministry also forecast that economic growth would
taper of next year
Expecting consumer price levels to
be muted, Qatars inflation is likely
to come down to 2 per cent this year
from 3.3 per cent in 2014, but will
see a modest pickup in the next two
years, the Ministry of Development
Planning and Statistics (MDPS) has
said.
In part, the subdued inflation of
2015 outlook is explained by a lower
weight (21.9 per cent) of the housing
and utilities component of the index,
which has been the principal driver of
consumer price inflation in the past
two years, the MDPS said in its Qatar
Economic Outlook (QEO) for 2015-17.
However, the growth in that
component is expected to moderate
over 2015 and this, combined with
broadly stable import prices for
consumer goods, will bring down
headline inflation, according to the
QEO.
A weakening rental inflation and
fall in overall pressures on prices is
seen in the inflation data over the

26 JUNE - JULY

first four months of 2015, with a

sharp reduction in monthly inflation
measured year-on-year, it added.
A benign global inflationary outlook
and a strong US dollar (to which the
Qatari riyal is pegged) are expected
to subdue imported sources of
inflation, it said, adding slowing
population expansion, rising capacity
in the non-traded goods sector and
moderating growth of governments
recurrent spending are all expected to
dampen domestic price pressures.
Looking out to 2016 and 2017, a
modest pickup in inflation is seen,
the outlook said, adding declines in
commodity and manufactured goods
prices are expected to ease, while a
prolonged appreciation of the nominal
effective exchange rate of the US
dollar seems unlikely.
Pressures on the prices of nontraded goods and services stemming
from growth of the non-oil and gas
economy will persist, but are not seen
intensifying.

In 2016 and 2017, as the global

recovery gathers pace and downward
pressures on global commodity
prices ease, it is anticipated that
Qatars consumer price inflation will
edge up, the latest QEO said.
Global commodity price deflation
is expected to recede and this,
with moderation of the US dollar
appreciation, may nudge inflation up
in 2016 and 2017, but no significant
strengthening is expected of
domestic price pressures, it said.

deficit in 15 years in 2016 itself against

the previous forecast of 2017.

It also factors in increased spending

restraint on current expenditures.

In its Qatar Economic Outlook (QEO)

for 2015-17 MDPS said robust
growth in 2015 will taper off to 6.6 per
cent in 2016 and 6 per cent in 2017.

In calendar 2016, it is foreseen

that Qatar could register its first
deficit in 15 years, which the QEO
estimates at 4.9 per cent of GDP
owing to an anticipated squeeze on
hydrocarbon-linked revenue. As per
the earlier estimate, Qatar would have
shown a fiscal surplus of 4.7 per cent
in 2016.

Finding that the impact of lower oil

prices is seen most immediately in the
nominal gross domestic product (GDP)
estimates, the ministry also said Qatar
could still post fiscal surplus of 1.4 per
cent of GDP in 2015 but to show up
deficit of 4.9 per cent in 2016 and 3.7
per cent in 2017.

Robust growth to taper off

Meanwhile, Qatar cut its growth
forecast to 7.3 per cent this year from
an earlier estimate of 7.7 per cent and
hinted that it could show the first fiscal

The considerable fall in fiscal surplus

in 2015, against 12.3 per cent in 2014,
reflects a relatively quick pass-through
of lower oil prices on budget revenues.

Qatars strong net asset position

and good credit standing will enable
deficits in 2016 and 2017 to be
comfortably financed over the
projection period.
Real economic growth, despite lower
oil prices, is expected to remain

A work site of the Doha Metro project. Growing demand for cement and metals stemming from construction
and infrastructure projects is expected to sustain momentum in other manufacturing activities.

JUNE - JULY

27

strong in 2015 on non-hydrocarbons

that are set to carry through to 2016
and 2017, before it moderates, it said.
The robust growth prospects in
2015 are largely due to the additional
output from Barzan project that will
come on stream in the middle of the
year, adding about 21 per cent to
pipeline gas production.
The ministry said strong momentum
in the non-oil and gas sector would
be sustained by capital spending on
infrastructure and by relatively strong
population growth this year.
On lower growth in 2016 and 2017, it
said the expansion of capacity from
Barzan would have been completed
and output in the hydrocarbon sector
would plateau. While robust and
broad-based expansion of the nonhydrocarbon economy is expected
to continue, it will decelerate in
these two years as government
infrastructure spending peaks and as
population growth slows.
Construction, projected to expand
13.6 per cent in 2015, will continue
expanding through 2016 and 2017
but the pace of growth will slow, with
the emphasis moving to completing
existing investments rather than
starting to build new assets.
The service sector is expected to
be the largest contributor to growth
and its share in aggregate output
will continue to rise, it said, adding
financial, real estate, transport
and communication and business
services will benefit from real estate
development and infrastructure
projects.
Trade and hospitality are expected to
grow robustly owing to conferences
and to growth in tourist arrivals,
particularly from the region. If the
foreseen moderation in population
growth comes about, this will,
however, clip service sector growth in
2016 and 2017.
Manufacturing will grow, but only
incrementally in 2015. The production
of refined products is slated to fall,
with expansion of other downstream
activities (natural gas liquids and

28 JUNE - JULY

fertilisers) limited by the availability

of feedstock. In 2016, manufacturing
is set to recover as an increase in
feedstock from Barzan will lift the
production of refined products,
fertilisers and petrochemicals.

the basket, saw 5.8 per cent decline

in March month-on-month owing to
5.8 per cent fall in the price of crude
petroleum and natural gas; even as
stone, sand and clay prices rose 1.3
per cent.

Growing demand for cement and

metals stemming from construction
and infrastructure projects is
expected to sustain momentum in
other manufacturing activities.

The mining sector PPI reported 44.5

per cent shrinkage y-o-y due to 44.5
per cent plunge in the prices of crude
petroleum and natural gas; while
stone, sand and clay prices firmed up
1.3 per cent.

The ministry said that a new

condensates refinery, Laffan 2, is
set to come on stream in the fourth
quarter of 2016, accounting in large
part for the vigorous manufacturing
growth expected in 2017. Business
pages 1, 2

Trade and hospitality are

expected to grow robustly
owing to conferences and
to growth in tourist arrivals,
particularly from the region.
If the foreseen moderation
in population growth comes
about, this will, however,
clip service sector growth
in 2016 and 2017.

PPI for industrial sector plunges

Qatars producer price index (PPI) for
the industrial sector plunged 41.4 per
cent year-on-year (y-o-y) in March
2015 on account of lower prices for
crude, refined petroleum products,
basic chemicals and basic metals,
according to MDPS figures.
The PPI for the industrial sector a
measure of the average selling prices
received by domestic producers for
their output had reported 5.2 per
cent fall compared to that in February
on lower prices of crude, refined
petroleum products and basic metals.
The PPI for mining, which carries the
maximum weight of 77 per cent in

Second in economic performance

Qatar has ranked second in economic
performance, the International
Institute for Management
Development (IMD) said in its World
Competitiveness Yearbook 2015.
The IMD said this years assessment
confirms Qatars strong performance
across multiple fronts. The
assessment was based on a range of
statistical indicators and on opinions
polled among local business leaders
for a rounded view of the economys
competitive position, it added.
Qatar also ranked 13 out of 61
high-income countries, according
to the report. Aside from economic
performance, the country was ranked
fourth in government efficiency and
11th in business efficiency.
Scope for improvement, however,
was identified in some areas,
including infrastructure (47).
This ranking has been positively
influenced by a number of factors,
including strong economic
performance as represented by
current account and trade surpluses,
low unemployment rate, and solid
GDP growth. Other contributing
factors were a strong surplus in the
general budget and efficient financial
management.
The report also suggested some
areas of improvements. These include
lowering export concentration by
product and partner, strengthening
direct inward investment flows,
increasing female labour force
participation, strengthening high-tech
exports, and the share of renewables
in total energy requirements

REPORT REAL ESTATE

REALTY GETS A PUSH

A new initiative is expected to

enhance Qatars real estate
sector, writes Peter Alagos

A leading company in Qatar has unveiled a new initiative

to develop the states real estate sector. SAK Holding
Group has announced that its subsidiary SAK Partnership
Company will join hands with investors and land owners
as part of the initiative named Partner with us.
SAK Holding Group Chairman Sheikh Thani bin Abdulla
al-Thani said: SAK is ready to share in building and
developing all kinds of first-rate land and property in the
country to help investors meet their objectives and get
attractive returns as well as increase the readiness of
Qatars real estate sector.
Apart from landlords and property owners, Sheikh Thani
noted that Partner with us is open to real estate investors,
owners of ailing projects and other prospective partners.
He explained that SAK Partnerships Companys team of
highly-professional specialists has already succeeded in
developing its work over the past years and achieved a
series of achievements and partnerships.
SAK Holding Group Deputy CEO Abdul Rahman alNajjar told Business@Qatar, Rather than selling land,
the development of various tracts of property could help
cushion the effects of the escalating costs of real estate in
Qatar.
He said land owners were always trying to sell their
properties and this explained why real estate prices
were constantly increasing. But the time for selling land
is finished, and now is the time to develop real estate
properties, al-Najjar said.
It became clear to us through a realistic and a prospective
study of the real estate market that a large segment of the
sector can be considered as potential partnersbut they
dont have anyone to easily and clearly communicate their
needs and discuss their investment ideas and plans.

Al-Najjar emphasised that the competitive advantage

of SAK Partnerships Company is its ability to help
prospective partners manage and market their real estate
projects whether it is a piece of land, an existing or ailing
project, or any property ready for development.

SAK Partnerships Company General Manager Adel Hassan

M Saeed also spoke to this magazine and said there were
six ongoing projects in the residential and hotel sector
under the Partner with us initiative.

He added, SAK Partnerships Company will provide a

feasibility study to determine the return of investments
and identify various market risks. Since we have years
of experience in contracting, we have full control and
we know how much is the project cost from the very
beginning thus, there is no variation in the time-frame.
Timing is very important to us.

But Sheikh Thani was quick to stress that details of these

projects will be unveiled shortly; they will translate into
various urban projects that will form a distinct addition to
the real estate sector in Qatar.

This was reiterated by Saeed, who said: We have full

control of the project and we are able to deliver it on
schedule. We believe that time is money. If you delay, that
means unnecessary losses in terms of income

JUNE - JULY

29

ROUNDUP BANKING

QATARI BANKS LOAN

BOOK DECREASES

Diminished public
sector activity drove
down banks loans
as well as deposits
in April; Qatari banks
win top awards

Local banks saw their loans and deposits drop in April

after a growth in March, mostly due to the public sector
activities, QNB Financial Services said in its monthly
banking sector update.
The loan book decreased by 0.5 per cent month-on-month
(MoM) and (+2.9 year to date YTD) after growing by 3.2
per cent MoM in March (gaining by 1.7 per cent MoM in
February).
Deposits followed suit and dipped by 0.2 per cent MoM
(+3.1 YTD) in April. Public sector pulled down total credit
growth with a decline of 4.7 per cent MoM (down 5.9 per
cent YTD). Moreover, public sector deposits receded by
4.8 per cent MoM (down 4.5 per cent YTD). Thus, the
loans-to-deposits ratio (LDR) remained at 109 per cent in
April.
The public sector deposits dropped by 4.8 per cent MoM
in April compared with a decent growth of 1.3 per cent
MoM in March.
Delving into segment details, the government institutions
segment, which represents 57 per cent of public sector
deposits, declined by 8.3 per cent MoM (down 4.4 per
cent YTD).
Moreover, the government segment receded by 6.9 per
cent MoM (down 4.5 per cent YTD) after surging by 50.1
per cent MoM in March (dropping by 11.4 per cent and
22.9 per cent in February and January respectively).
On the other hand, the semi-government institutions
segment posted a strong performance, expanding by 13.6
per cent MoM (down 4.9 per cent YTD).
On the private sector front, the companies and institutions
segment climbed up 1.1 per cent MoM (down 1.3 per cent
YTD). The consumer segment followed suit and ticked up
by 0.8 per cent MoM (+5.7 per cent YTD). Non-resident
deposits grew by 10.7 per cent MoM (+45.5 per cent YTD).

30 JUNE - JULY

CBQ raises FOL to 49%

Foreign shareholders can now hold up to 49 per cent in
Commercial Bank of Qatar, the countrys largest private
sector lender by assets.
The Qatar Central Securities Depository (QCSD) has
amended the foreign ownership limit (FOL) in the shares of
the insurer to 49 per cent of capital, a spokesman of the
Qatar Stock Exchange informed recently.
The QCSD explained that this amendment comes in
implementation of Law No (9), which allows foreign
investors to own a percentage not more than 49 per cent of
each company listed on the domestic bourse.

Award
Commercial Bank also recently won the Best Commercial
(SME) Bank of the Year Qatar award from UK-based
publication, The International Banker. Commercial
Bank was nominated for the award by the publications
subscribers.

Commercial Bank CEO Abdulla Saleh al-Raisi said, The

Qatar National Vision 2030 identifies SMEs as a key
constituent for sustainable economic development and
SMEs are globally recognised as essential drivers for
economic diversification, job creation, and new sources of
innovation.
Commercial Bank is therefore actively committed to
empowering entrepreneurs and supporting the needs of
SMEs to help develop the private sector for the benefit of
both the companies concerned and for our beloved nation.
As Qatars first private bank established 40 years ago
on the principles of ambition, entrepreneurship, and
innovation, Commercial Bank has developed a deep
understanding of the SME market in Qatar and their
specific business needs.

QNB wins multiple awards

QNB has received several awards from two top banking
magazines, The Asian Banker and Banker Middle East, in
recognition of its exceptional banking performance and
continued progress in 2014, the bank said in a statement.
QNB senior officials attended The Asian Bankers dinner
reception in Dubai, where they have collected the Best
Credit Card Product and Best Direct Bank awards,
which represent the QNBs retail banking services and
products that provide innovative and state-of-the art
technologies.
QNBs elite services of asset and wealth management,
successfully won the third award of the Sub-Custodian
Bank of the year in Qatar, the statement added.

QIB wins honour

The Banker magazine also recognised Qatar Islamic Bank
(QIB) as Islamic Bank of the Year 2015 in the Middle

East, and, for the third consecutive year, Islamic Bank of

the Year in Qatar.
QIB Group CEO Bassel Gamal described the two awards
as a testament to the collective efforts of our staff,
support from all stakeholders and board of directors,
clients trust, sound business model, and our commitment
to continuous improvement.

IBQ wins top two awards

International Bank of Qatar (IBQ) was another Qatari bank
that received two top awards from Banker Middle East
Magazine. IBQ DGM and head of private banking Chaouki
Daher received the award for Best Private Bank Qatar,
while Head of Retail Banking Hassan al-Mulla received the
Best Customer Service Qatar award during the annual
event.

Barwa Bank gets Islamic finance recognition

Barwa Bank was recently recognised by the Euromoney
Awards for Innovation in Islamic Finance for its lead role in
international sukuk issuance.

JUNE - JULY

31

Against a number of criteria across key

metrics, including innovation, cross-border
presence and industry growth contribution,
Barwa Bank won two awards for the
200mn UK sovereign sukuk, as well as
for the International Finance Facility for
Immunisation Company/GAVI $500mn
sukuk.
In June 2014, Barwa Banks appointment as
one of five joint lead managers for the UKs
200mn debut sovereign sukuk marked its
integral role in a landmark transaction that
saw the first Shariah-compliant issuance
by a western nation. The total order book
ran to close to 2bn, with nearly half being
generated through Barwa Bank.

Hassan al-Mulla

IBQ Head of Retail Banking

Bassel Gamal

QIB Group CEO

Issued in November 2014, the IFFIm (International Finance

Facility for Immunisation Company) benchmark mediumterm sukuk addressed a humanitarian cause with its
proceeds channelled into the provision of free vaccines
and health systems for the worlds poorest nations.
Alongside the World Bank, the acting treasury manager;
Barwa Bank was mandated among four other banks as
joint lead manager and bookrunner for the IFFIm sukuk
- an assignment that has not only highlighted Barwa
Banks prominent role as a lead on cross-border, scalable
and high-profile sukuk issuance transactions, but also
exemplifies the banks commitment to instilling core
Islamic finance values in innovation, the bank said.

The bank, however, did not specify a timeframe or size for

a potential debut deal.

QInvest has come a long way since we launched our new

strategy in early 2013, and successfully positioned the
bank to support Qatar and the wider regions international
investment plans. In addition, we have ensured that we are
ideally placed to nurture the growth of the global Islamic
finance industry and act as a gateway for investors looking
to access the regions fast growing dynamic economy, its
Chief Executive Tamim Hamad al-Kawari said.

Doha Bank wins award

Doha Bank launches Tadbeer

For the third year in a row, Doha Bank was named the Best
Regional Commercial Bank at The Banker Middle East
Industry Awards.

Doha Bank has broken new grounds in corporate cash

management with Tadbeer web-based platform. The
first integrated cash management software platform
in Qatar, Tadbeer is designed to address a full range
of collections, payment, liquidity management, and
reporting services, providing customers a single online
interface that is capable of managing all aspects of their
cash management requirements, including payables,
receivables and liquidity information, a bank spokesman
said.

Recently the banks shareholders approved plans for a

$2bn senior unsecured sukuk programme that could be
issued in various currencies.

Dr R Seetharaman, Group CEO of Doha Bank, received

the award on behalf of the bank. Dr Seetharaman too was
presented the Lifetime Achievement Award at the same
event. He was recognised for his personal contribution to
the greater understanding of the economic development
of the region and his support for the environment and
business.

QInvest feted
QInvest, one of the most prominent Islamic financial
institutions globally, was awarded the Global Leadership
Award for Excellence in the International Banking and
Finance Sector at the 2015 awards ceremony in Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia.

32 JUNE - JULY

By providing customers direct, real-time access to their

bank accounts and by centralising their receivables and
payables on one electronic banking system, Tadbeer
empowers organisations across the business spectrum
with unparalleled control of their cash management
operations, allowing them to manage their cash flow
faster and more efficiently, Doha Bank chief executive R
Seetharaman said

INTERNATIONAL RECYCLING

TREASURE FROM TRASH

Total loss vehicles are valuable treasures to some

Each year auto insurers declare

millions of vehicles to be total losses.

This typically happens when an
insurance company decides that
its more cost-effective to pay the
insured for the pre-damage value of
the vehicle rather than repair it. Ever
wonder what happens to that vehicle
after the insurance company writes
the cheque and takes it away? Most
of the time the vehicle is sold through
an auto auction.
There is an ever-growing market
of buyers for damaged vehicles. It
might be hard to believe theres a
second life for damaged vehicles, but
one persons trash is often another
persons treasure. Most wrecked
vehicles still have significant value
after theyre in an accident. In fact,
many total loss vehicles offered

for sale at auctions have incurred

only relatively minor, easy-to-repair
damage.
Vehicle dismantlers and recyclers find
value in reselling used parts removed
from the vehicle or in recycling the
metal. Body shops and an increasing
number of personal buyers have the
skills to flip damaged vehicles by
repairing them and selling them for
a profit. Theres a large market of
foreign buyers who purchase vehicles
through US online auctions and
export them to their home countries.
Through auctions they are able to get
vehicle makes and models they may
not otherwise have access to at lower
costs.
One of the biggest players in the
auto auction world is Copart. Copart

operates over 200 auction

locations in the US, Canada,
the United Kingdom, the United
Arab Emirates, Brazil, Spain and
Germany. With such an extensive
inventory of vehicles, Copart
draws over one million people to
Copart.com each month to search
for vehicles. The companys strong
performance and growth recently
landed it at the top of Deloittes
list of exceptional 100 companies.
If youre interested in entering a
bidding war for vehicles that could
earn you thousands of dollars
a year, or if you are just curious
about the types of vehicles that
are sold through auction (you
might be surprised), check out
Copart at www.copart.com/
aftermarket
Courtesy: BPT

JUNE - JULY

33

SME INTERVIEW

GENUINELY
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
M.V.A. Kumar speaks to the helmsman of one of
the leading automobile parts dealers, Davis Ittoop,
to find the reason for his extraordinary business
success
Fast-paced growth is the dream of every business big or small, because it
spurs profitability which in turn helps the entrepreneur to sustain and expand
the business in the long run amidst growing competition. A company selling
genuine automobile spare parts by no stretch of imagination would fit into
that category because of the slim margins and ever-rising operational costs.
However, Davis Ittoop, Managing Director of Global Auto Parts W.L.L., has
achieved enviable growth for his company within 13 years through sheer hard
work, integrity, co-operation of partners, meticulous planning, rational adoption
of technology and a strong focus on keeping customers satisfied.
Although the company was started in 2002 with one shop, it hit the fast track of
growth only five years later when it was awarded a dealership by Toyotas sole
dealer in Qatar, M/s Abdullah Abdul Ghani & Bros. Co. At that point there were
already three other authorised dealers, who had been in the business for over
35 years. Having bagged the dealership for Toyotas spare parts, Davis and his
team grabbed a Nissan dealership and then moved on to Mitsubishi and other
brands. Expanding in this manner, the company today caters to customers of
24 automobile brands, offering them genuine spare parts, leveraging a wide
network of branches.
Explaining the logic behind adding more brands, Davis says that it is not
worthwhile for an authorised dealer to concentrate on just one brand because
the business would not be able to sustain itself for long. Foremost among the
reasons he cites for this are the prevailing high rents for commercial premises.
He substantiates his claim by quoting figures. The rent for a single-shutter
shop, when he started the business in 2002, was merely QR1,500 per month,
whereas today such a shop commands nothing less than QR20,000 per month,
he points out.

34 JUNE - JULY

In addition to this, the profit margin

for sellers of genuine auto parts
is extremely thin and there is stiff
competition in this market segment.
Although only authorised dealers
are allowed to sell these parts
locally, because of Qatars existing
open market policy no restrictions
are imposed on the direct import
of these parts from Dubai or Japan
and the turf is free for anyone to
do so. In Dubai an auto spare part
often costs 20 to 25 per cent less
than its price in Qatar. Even after
paying the five per cent customs
duty, many find it more economical
to import.
An authorised dealer is, however,
contract-bound and not supposed
to import from outside. Davis
explains: We buy huge quantities of
spare parts from the Toyota dealer.
For example, last year alone we
purchased over QR20 million worth
of goods from them. They offer us
a discount of 25 per cent on the
selling price. However, customers

Davis Ittoop

Director of Global Auto Parts W.L.L.

too are willing to buy these genuine spare parts from us only if we offer
them a 20 to 25 per cent discount.
We deal mainly with more than 120 big garages and these workshops main
activity is carrying out body repairs of vehicles that have been damaged in
road accidents. We also supply parts to car dealers like Teyseer, which though
a dealer for Suzuki vehicles, also carries out repairs of all vehicles. The parts
supplied are bumper, lights etc. We are able to promptly supply these parts
because of our well-stocked warehouses and conveniently located 15 branches
spread across Qatar. In addition to this our sales team regularly visits garages to
take orders for various parts, based on their requirements.

We buy huge quantities of spare

parts from the Toyota dealer.
For example, last year alone we
purchased over QR20 million worth
of goods from them. They offer us
a discount of 25 per cent on the
selling price. However, customers
too are willing to buy these genuine
spare parts from us only if we offer
them a 20 to 25 per cent discount.

JUNE - JULY

35

Another factor that contributes to the

stiff competition in this segment is
the existence of duplicate auto parts,
which are in great demand among
cost-conscious customers. Even
traders like to promote these parts
because the profit margins that can
be earned by selling these duplicate
parts is huge, compared to what can
be earned by selling genuine parts,
informs Davis.
An average duplicate part for an
automobile would cost only a fourth
of the price of a genuine part. For
example a headlight made by the
automobile manufacturer may cost
QR800 whereas a duplicate headlight
could be bought in the market for
QR200 or 250.
When asked whether this would not
encourage garages to indulge in
malpractices like replacing damaged
genuine parts with duplicate parts,
Davis says that although this is a
possibility, experts from the insurance
company can identify such duplicate
parts. Besides this insurance
companies also demand original
bills. Being an authorised dealer
we are able to provide bills with the
companys logo and stamp etc, which
a trader selling duplicate parts cannot
do.
However, he admits that owners
of old vehicles often prefer to buy
and use duplicate parts because
of the affordability factor. For his
company, competition from other
authorised genuine parts dealers
exists only in the case of the Toyota
and Nissan brands. He says that it
is not all that easy to handle multiple
brands, because the Electronic Parts
Catalogue (EPC) of each of these
brands has to be installed in the
computer system, so that the same
can be accessed by any branch.
Numbers allocated to parts make the
location of spare parts easy because
this is unique. For example the brake
pad for a 1998 model Land Cruiser
would be different from that of the
2010 model.
Besides this staff too need to
be trained in the use of EPC, to
accurately locate where the part
demanded by the customer is

36 JUNE - JULY

available. Broadly an automobiles

parts are divided into four categories
Body, Engine, AC and Electrical.
The search for parts commences by
entering into the system the chassis
number of the vehicle, as mentioned
in the registration card (Isthimara).
This gives all details about the
vehicle and the specific number
of the part to be procured, Davis
explains.
For ease of stocking spare parts,
they are further placed into two
categories. The first category is
called fast-moving items or service
parts like brake pads, filter, spark
plugs etc., which the dealer stocks
because it has frequent buyers. The
second category is termed as nonfast-moving items like lights etc.
which are replaced by a customer
only in case of an accident. For these,
stocks are not maintained and they
are procured from the sole dealer as
and when required. If the sole dealer
too does not have the stock, then it is
purchased from Dubai.
We ensure that under no
circumstance a customer is turned
away and also ensure total customer
satisfaction. Global deals in parts of
all light and commercial vehicles with
the exception of trucks, for which
they have another company called
Royal Spare Parts.
He said that most of Globals
customers were credit customers,
buying from the company on a longterm basis and they are offered an
attractive discount of 20 per cent
whereas a sole dealer would only

offer a maximum of five to 10 per

cent discount and that too on a
large order. He said an authorised
dealership like his has to strictly
sell at prices that do not exceed
the prices mentioned in the sole
distributors price list. Compliance
with this is frequently checked and
monitored by Qatars Consumer
Protection Department.
Although the business grew fast,
Davis quit his job with Qatar
Petroleum only in 2013. Sheikh
Abdulrehman bin Ahmed al-Thani
is the companys chairman and
renowned otolaryngologist, head and
neck surgeon Dr Mohan Thomas is a
director of the company.
Global Auto Parts has handpicked each of its 80 employees
belonging to various nationalities.
The management ensures
employee loyalty by addressing
needs like training, transport and
accommodation etc. New employees
manning sales counters are expected
to learn Arabic for ease of dealing
with native Arabic speakers.
By investing in technology, Davis
is able to monitor the business
activity at each of his branches,
whether it is from his office, home
or abroad. This includes adherence
to everything from working hours to
business ethics. Strict compliance
with Qatars rules and regulations is
expected, probably because of which
the company has an untarnished
reputation of never selling a nongenuine part to a customer as
genuine

EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION REGIONAL

CHALLENGE OF STAFF MOTIVATION

Study reveals that companies in the region are looking
at non-cash ways to increase employee satisfaction
While businesses are focusing on a variety of ways to grow and expand, salary
increases have been slowing down across the region, creating more pressure on
talent attraction and retention, a new study by The HR Observer and the 19th Annual
Compensation & Benefits Forum with 161 GCC companies revealed.
According to the study, about 11 per cent of companies said that they plan to reduce
the size of the workforce. The key theme seems to be uncertainty in the market; while
70 per cent of companies have not seen an impact on employee remuneration as yet,
60 per cent more companies than last year are uncertain about the bonuses that they
will pay in 2015.
Sandrine Bardot, Dubai-based Compensation & Benefits specialist, Managing Director
of The Bardot Group, said, Currently, the most important focus in the market is on
managing the pressure from rising cost of living especially housing, education and
healthcare, while keeping control of costs. Employees expectations are high, and
managing retention in these circumstances will be a challenge, given the increasing
war for talent.
There is a delicate balancing act for companies, who are dealing with uncertainty
around company budgets and cash-flow on one side, against the need to remain
competitive in the attraction and retention of talent on the other. Increasing living
costs in the region are adding additional pressure to this equation, said Rob Sahi,
Conference Director of the 19th Annual Compensation and Benefits Forum. One
outcome of this is that many companies are becoming more innovative in the non-cash
value they can give their employees. Things like flexibility, wellness programmes and
recognition can give enormous worth to employees and do not cost organisations any
extra money.

There is considerable pressures on salaries as many of

the regions pay rises are falling behind inflation rates
60 per cent more companies than last year are uncertain about the
bonuses that they will pay in 2015.
For many employees, 3.5 per cent or lower pay rises will see their income barely able to keep up with inflation. Such low pay increases are
unlikely to have any positive motivational effect.
When asked in 2014, 18 per cent of companies predicted a pay increase of 3.5 per cent or lower for the year. However, the 2015 survey
reveals that in reality 30 per cent of companies last year gave this low
level of increase

JUNE - JULY

37

REPORT SME

WORKSHOPS, EVENTS
ORGANISED TO AID SMEs
Recently many public sector and private organisations took the initiative to
encourage entrepreneurship among young Qataris and provide technical and
other training to SMEs

The Ministry of Information and

Communications Technology
(ictQATAR) recently hosted a Web
presence workshop for small and
medium enterprises (SMEs) in
collaboration with Ooredoo, Qatar
Development Bank and Thomson
Reuters.
The workshop, attended by nearly
100 IT professionals from SMEs,
aimed at providing them with the
appropriate know-how to successfully
develop their online businesses.
ictQATAR presented the ICT SME
Toolkit webpage (www.ictqatar.qa/

38 JUNE - JULY

en/smetoolkit) which assists SMEs

in adopting technologies in Web
presence, e-Commerce, and cloud
services.
The SME Toolkit operates as the
central portal, which gives SMEs
the required knowledge and tools to
adopt these technologies.

MEC services
The Ministry of Economy and
Commerce (MEC) is currently working
on providing services related to
young entrepreneurs, which should
be ready by November this year.

This was stated by HE the Minister

of Economy and Commerce Sheikh
Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed alThani at the Forum for Empowering
Youth at the Qatar University
yesterday. The forum is held by the
Ministry of Economy and Commerce
on an annual basis to discuss
challenges facing the countrys youth.
Sheikh Ahmed said the annual forum
would help raise the awareness of
youth on entrepreneurship which
would help achieve the Qatar National
Vision 2030. The vision was launched
in 2008 and aimed at diversifying
Qatars economy away from oil and gas.

Bedaya skills workshops

More than 600 young Qataris
benefited from the regular skills
workshops on entrepreneurship
and career development organised
this year by the Bedaya Centre
for Entrepreneurship and Career
Development.
In January, business expert
Mohamed al-Jufairi kicked-off the
workshops with the topic Financing
your Business. This was followed
by two other topics delivered in
February by Mufeed Ahmed (Take
your business online) and Mahmoud
Khater (Power of LinkedIn).
In March, Bedaya Centre
Entrepreneurship manager
Yasmeen Hasan helped budding
entrepreneurs to develop ideas
for business with the Ideation
Workshop, while Mohamed Hayder
discussed Key to Influence, which
delved into the importance of first
impressions.

The solution, called Ocloud Web

Builder Pro, enables companies to
develop mobile-friendly websites
using high quality templates, with
no design or technical knowledge
required.
The sites have high levels of search
engine optimisation (SEO), so that
potential customers can find them
easily online. Small and mediumsized businesses in Qatar have
traditionally lagged behind larger
enterprises in their online presence,
but this trend is changing as more
companies realise the benefits of
reaching out to a potentially global
audience online.

QDB dwells on SMEs role

Qatar Development Bank (QDB)
recently took part in the 11th annual
international network of small and
medium enterprises forum (INSME
2015) in Cape Town, South Africa.
These meetings, which were hosted

Web expert Ebrahim al-Khinjis

topic in April was How to create
your business website in less than
5 minutes. This was followed by
Mohamed al-Enzis Discover your
inner motivation.

Ooredoos new web solution

Ooredoos Web Builder solution,
which enables companies in Qatar
to develop a professional presence
online quickly and easily, is proving
to be a significant success in 2015,
as more SMEs look to reach out to
customers on the Internet.

The new Al Dhameen plan is

a QR100mn portfolio aimed at
facilitating and speeding up approvals
to guarantee the value of the funding
provided by the partner bank to SMEs
lacking sufficient guarantees. QDB
has prepared a special portfolio guide
that describes the terms, conditions,
highest international standards,
due diligence, credit monitoring,
and applications and guidelines
development to help QNB to take the
necessary decisions without referring
to the QDB.

Doha Bank hosts SME meet

Doha Bank recently hosted a
business breakfast meeting
exclusively for small and medium
enterprise (SME) customers.
The event served as a platform for
its existing as well as prospective
clients to share business updates
and indicate future plans and
requirements in order for the bank to
effectively partner in their growth.

Optimism about selling prices

Two more workshops followed in

May with Bart Burgraef discussing
Emotional intelligence and Suhail
al-Gosaibi, who took on the Basics
of Entrepreneurship.
The Bedaya Centre, a joint initiative
between Qatar Development
Bank and Silatech, also offered
a full programme of workshops
on business planning, sales and
marketing, career awareness,
entrepreneur challenges, career
planning and development, and
legal business issues.

Programme portfolio that aims to

push further expansion of small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
financing in Qatar.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs)

have a stronger outlook than large
companies in terms of selling prices
and level of employment, according
to the Business Optimism Index (BOI)
of the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC).
in South Africa for the first time,
focused on the theme Technology
and Innovation for Inclusive
Growth, where they discussed
ways to develop local institutions
by highlighting the important role
of technology and innovation in
raising the level of competitiveness
of these institutions and enable them
to achieve growth. It also sought
to explain best global practices in
supporting the SME sector.

QNB, QDB in deal to help SMEs

Top officials from Qatar Development
Bank (QDB) and QNB recently signed
an agreement for a new Al Dhameen

Large companies are more optimistic

on new orders and net profits, while
both SMEs and large companies have
a similar outlook for sales volume.
SMEs continue to be more optimistic
about the business environment as 42
per cent of them indicated that they
do not anticipate negative factors to
hamper business operations in Q2,
2015, compared to a corresponding
26 per cent proportion of large
companies.
The BOI for sales volume and level of
selling prices for SMEs are 51 and 12
respectively compared to 50 and nine
for large companies

JUNE - JULY

39

REPORT RETAIL

EXPANDING RETAILERS EYE QATAR

Qatar ranked fourth in the Global Retail Development Index (GRDI) report
by AT Kearney; Al Meera in expansion mode opened its 41 st, 42 nd and 43 rd
branches

Qatar is ranked fourth among the

top five in the world and the top in the

GCC countries in the Global Retail
Development Index (GRDI), a report
released by AT Kearney said recently.
Marking its debut into the index,
Qatars retail market is expected
to grow on the back of growing
infrastructure projects and
population.
Overall, Qatar saw total retail sales
hit as high as $12.4bn with a 9.7 per
cent annual growth over the past four
years.
Bolstering Qatars global position is
its projected growth in retail space,
which will reach one million square
metres in the next three years. The
proliferation of malls in the country,
paired with the Doha Shopping
Festival, will also enhance the retail
landscape. It is likely a variety of retail
outlets make their way to the country,
ranging from hypermarkets to luxury
goods.
Shamail Siddiqi, principal (Consumer
and Retail Practice) AT Kearney
Middle East, said, Despite the
record drop in oil prices, retail sales
growth is expected to continue its
momentum. Indeed, the retail space
pipeline remains strong, with several
major projects under way in Qatar
as well as the UAE and Oman. Many
retailers see Qatar as the natural
next step for increasing their regional

40 JUNE - JULY

footprint. The countrys staggering

GDP per capita, along with the
ambitious infrastructure projects,
has made it a market retailers cannot
afford to ignore.
The 2015 GRDI includes a special
feature on the prospects for luxury
goods in developing markets.
Martin Fabel, partner and Global
Head ( Strategy Practice) said, Our
work with consumer industries
and retail clients shows retail sales
growth is expected to continue.
Luxury remains a relatively bright
spot in emerging markets, as the
wealthy have proven less vulnerable
to economic woes than the general
population.
The feature includes an analysis of
the 15 leading luxury brands and
their presence in the GRDIs top
30 countries. The analysis shows
emerging markets fall into three tiers
of luxury development, with different
implications for brands looking to
enter or expand in these markets.
Qatar currently hosts 13 of the top
15 brands, indicating a strong local
demand for luxury brands and an
opportunity for luxury retailers to
further penetrate the market.

Published since 2001, the GRDI ranks

the top 30 developing countries for
retail investment worldwide. The
index analyses 25 macroeconomic
and retail-specific variables to help
retailers devise successful global
strategies to identify emerging market
investment opportunities.

Al Meeras adds three branches

Al Meera Consumer Goods Company
recently opened its 41st, 42nd and

Martin Fabel

partner and Global Head (Strategy Practice)

JUNE - JULY

41

43rd branches at Muraikh, Thakira

and Jeryan Njeima respectively as
part of its expansion strategy to serve
as many customers in Qatar.
Dr Mohamed Nasser al-Qahtani,
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Al
Meera, stressed that the companys
continued expansion supports the
Qatar National Vision 2030, which
calls for continuous community
development around the country.
We always strive to be true
to our motto Your Favourite
Neighbourhood Retailer by
establishing our footprint in as many
communities as possible. This allows
us to answer the needs of residents
by providing them with a unique and
convenient shopping experience in
each of our branches, al-Qahtani
said.
The 5,500sqm Muraikh branch boasts
of a 1,200sqm supermarket area and
offers a wide variety of food and nonfood items, as well as fresh products.
The store includes a butchery, fishery,
delicatessen, fruits and vegetables
area, and bakery.

42 JUNE - JULY

Al-Qahtani said the Muraikh branch

will also host 19 shops, four
restaurants, and a small playground
for kids, which will be inaugurated
soon.
The new branch is highlighted by
state-of-the-art elements from hightech lighting to storage techniques
and technologies. The branchs
world-class shelves reflect our
keenness to offer the best products
display for our customers; our goodlooking and well-spaced shelves also
allow customers to shop for items
efficiently, al-Qahtani explained.
He also said Al Meera will be
inaugurating four other branches this
year in Al Wakrah, Al Thumama, Al
Wajba, and Rawdat Ekdeem.
These new upcoming stores will
be opened to the public on weekly
intervals as part of our goal to
achieve a wider spread and satisfy
our customers, al-Qahtani said.
In addition, al-Qahtani said Al Meera
is currently constructing 14 new
shopping centres in Sailiya North,
Bu Sidra, Al Wakra 2, Umm Salal,
Leabaib 1, Leabaib 2, Rawdat Aba ElHerran, Azghawa, Al Khor, Um Qarn,
Rawdat Al Hamama, Jeryan Junaihat,
Al Sailiya, and Ain Khaled.

The Thakhira branch has been built

according to international standards
to provide customers with a
convenient shopping experience, and
will be serving Al Khor and Thakhira
residents, al-Qahtani said during its
opening ceremony.
He said, Our team rushed
construction work to open the
Thakhira branch following the closing
of the Al Khor branch in the last
quarter of 2013. As a result, Al Khor
and Thakhira residents can easily
enjoy shopping at the new branch,
thanks to its convenient location on
the Thakhira highway.
The 4,150sq m Thakhira branch
features a 1,750sq m supermarket
area. The store offers shoppers
a wide variety of food and nonfood related items, as well as fresh
products.
The store includes a butchery, fishery,
delicatessen, fruits and vegetables
area, and bakery that cater to
consumers various daily needs. In
addition, the branch will feature five
tenants from restaurants to shops to
provide customers with additional
services.
Jeryan Njeima,where the 43rd branch
was opened, is a Doha suburb, near
College of North Atlantic - Qatar. The
5,500sq m branch features a 1,200sq
m of supermarket area, which offers
shoppers a wide variety of food and
non-food related items, as well as
fresh products

STOCK REVIEW

QSE INDEX PLUMMETS

ON BEARISH SENTIMENTS
The Qatar Stock Exchange lost over 642 points and the index landed

well below 12,000 points between May 17 and June 18, though the
bourse showed signs of recovery towards the end of the review period.
On May 17 added 24 points, mainly lifted by real estate and telecom
stocks. Lower net selling by local retail and institutional investors and
increased net buying by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) institutions
led the 20-stock Qatar Index to gain 0.19 per cent to 12,540.1 on rising
trade volumes.

Small cap stocks came under buying spotlight in the bourse, which
reported 2.07 per cent gains year-to-date. Trading was largely skewed
towards realty, telecom and banking sectors, whose stocks together
accounted for more than 87 per cent of the overall volume.
The following day, however, the bourse lost 68 points to settle below
the 12,500 mark, mainly pulled down by realty, telecom and transport
stocks. Increased net selling by local retail investors, bearish outlook
of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) institutions and non-Qatari retail
investors led to the index shedding 0.54 per cent to reach 12,471.89 as
trade volumes also declined.

During the five-week

period, between May
17 and June 18, QSE
witnessed mostly a
bearish phase despite
an occasional bullish
momentum which
was often replaced by
selling pressure

Profit booking especially in the small, large and mid-cap stocks on

May 19 extended the bearish spell. Telecom, insurance, industrials,
consumer goods and banking counters witnessed selling pressure and
the index shed 0.12 per cent to reach 12,457.17 amid higher trade
volumes.
On May 20 QSE added 65 points to its main index, after remaining
under a bearish spell for the previous two days, on the back of strong

JUNE - JULY

43

buying interests in real estate and insurance

stocks. Buying support from Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) individuals and institutions,
albeit at lower levels, was visible as the index
rose 0.52 per cent to 12,522.3 points amid fall
in trade volumes.
Foreign institutions continued to be bullish,
but with lesser vigour, in the market, where
trading was largely skewed towards realty,
banking, consumer goods and industrials
sectors, whose stocks together accounted for
more than 90 per cent of the overall volume.
The following day QSE returned to the
negative terrain, losing 79 points to settle
below the 12,500 mark, mainly dragged by
real estate stocks. Increased net selling by
local retail investors and institutions were
mainly instrumental in the index losing 0.63
per cent to 12,443.49 points as trade volumes
also fell.
Market capitalisation fell 0.44 per cent or
about QR3bn to QR661.97bn with large and
small cap equities losing 0.55 per cent and
0.04 per cent, while mid and micro caps
gained 0.15 per cent and 0.09 per cent
respectively.
On May 24, the bourse saw losers
outnumbering gainers, however, in spite of
this its main index treaded a flat course.
Stronger selling pressure was, however, seen
in the consumer goods, industrials, banking
and telecom sectors as the index settled at
12,443.42 points amid marginal decline in
trade volumes.
Domestic institutions and Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) individual investors were
increasingly bearish and non-Qatari retail
investors turned net sellers; while foreign
institutions buying interests weakened
considerably in the market, where trading was
largely skewed towards realty and banking
sectors, whose stocks together accounted for
more than three-fourth of the overall volume.
The next day profit-booking pressure
especially in telecom, real estate, industrials
and transport stocks led the Qatar Stock
Exchange to lose 44 points to settle below the
12,400 mark on May 25. Local retail investors
turned bearish as the index settled 0.35 per
cent lower at 12,399.49 points amid increase
in trade volumes.
Foreign institutions were increasingly into
buying, but the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE)
settled mere 10 points higher on May 26. The

44 JUNE - JULY

index managed to gain a meagre 0.08 per cent to 12,409.13 points as

there was increasing selling pressure from domestic institutions and
both Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) retail investors and institutions as
well as non-Qatari individual investors turned bearish.
On May 27, the bourse was gripped by strong profit-booking, especially
in the blue-chip real estate and banking stocks, and its key index
plunged 180 points to settle below the 12,300 mark. Increased net
selling by domestic institutions and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
retail investors led the index to knock off 1.45 per cent and drop
to12,228.83 points.
The Qatar Stock Exchange witnessed mayhem on May 28 with its
key barometer plunging 327 points to settle below 12,000 levels
and capitalisation eroding by about QR16bn. Strong profit-booking,
especially in the real estate and telecom sectors, led the index to
plummet 2.67 per cent to 11,902.07 points.

The bourse exhibited resilience on May 31 by gaining a sizeable 146

points. The telecom, consumer goods and industrials sectors witnessed
heavy buying interests as the index surged 1.23 per cent to 12,048.26
points; capitalisation gained about QR9bn. Local and non-Qatari retail
investors were net buyers in the bourse.
Foreign institutions buying interests kept up the strong bullish
momentum for the second day on June 1 on the back of small and large
cap equities as the index gained more than 128 points to inch near the
12,200 level.
On June 2 too industrials and consumer goods stocks witnessed robust
buying interests but overall bourse was largely flat with local and GCC
retail investors marginally bullish. The index rose merely 0.08 per cent
to 12,184.8 points.
The bourse largely remained flat for the second day on June 3 despite
strong buying interests from the domestic institutions. The index edged

down 0.02 per cent down at 12,182.09 points

although local retail investors as well as
foreign and GCC institutions turned bearish.
Increased buying support from domestic
institutions notwithstanding, the bourse on
June 4 lost 90 points. Heightened profitbooking by local retail investors and GCC
institutions led the 20-stock Qatar Index to
shed 0.74 per cent to 12,092.25 points. Largecap equities bore the maximum brunt in the
bourse.
Increased selling pressure from GCC
institutions and substantially lower buying
interests of domestic institutions on the first
day of the following week led to a 110-point
drop and the index settled below the 12,000
mark.
Selling pressure especially in the insurance,
real estate and telecom stocks on June
8 extended the bearish run on the Qatar
Stock Exchange to the third day. Local
retail investors turned bearish and domestic
institutions buying substantially weakened
as the index fell 0.66 per cent to 11,903.08
points.

trade volume rose 54 per cent to 6.38mn shares, value by 66 per cent
to QR336.53mn and deals by 29 per cent to 4,130.
Buying interests in insurance and real estate stocks on June 11 lifted
the bourse by 43 points but, overall it continued to trade under 11,900
levels. The following week too QSE opened on a weaker note, mainly
dragged by insurance, transport, telecom and real estate stocks. The
index shed 0.18 per cent to 11,858.32 points as Shariah-principled
stocks melted faster than the other equities. Domestic institutions
bearish grip led to an overall bearish overhang in the market.
On June 15, the bourse was back in the positive trajectory, gaining 45
points to cross the 11,900 mark, on sustained buying support from local
retail investors and foreign institutions. The index rose 0.38 per cent to
11,903.23 points on the back of buying interests in the insurance, real
estate, telecom and transport equities.

An across the board buying especially in

the consumer goods, real estate, industrials
and insurance on June 9 reversed the
three days of bearish trend in Qatar Stock
Exchange. Buying support from local and Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) retail investors
lifted the index 0.34 per cent to 11,943.5
points as trade volumes also grew. Buying was
intense in the small and large cap equities,
which was, however, down 2.79 per cent yearto-date.
The bourse was back in the negative trajectory
on June 10 and its key index settled below
the 11,900 mark, apparently taking cue from
the Ministry of Development Planning and
Statistics cut in growth estimates for this
year. Selling pressure from foreign and GCC
institutions as well as local retail investors
were instrumental in dragging the QSE index
by 0.89 per cent to 11,836.95 points.
The GCC individual investors net buying
weakened to QR1.72mn compared to
QR9.43mn on June 10. However, domestic
institutions turned net buyers to the tune of
QR39.04mn compared with net sellers of
QR8.29mn on June 9.
Non-Qatari individual investors were also net
buyers to the extent of QR14.47mn against net
sellers of QR6.75mn the previous day. Total

On June 16, insurance and telecom stocks dragged the bourse and
its key index retreated below the 11,900 levels. Local retail investors
bearish grip and increased net selling of GCC institutions and retail
investors as well as non-Qatari individuals led to the QSE index
shedding 0.25 per cent to reach 11,873.55 points amid rising volumes.
Foreign institutions buying interests largely bulwarked stronger selling
from domestic institutions as QSE settled 11 points higher on June 17.
Industrials and real estate counters witnessed buying support as the
index rose 0.09 per cent to 11,884.28 points amid falling volumes. NonQatari retail investors and GCC institutions continued to be bearish, but
with lesser vigour in the market.
The bourse rose on June 18 mainly helped by local retail investors
and domestic institutions. Buying was seen more pronounced in the
real estate, banks and transport counters and the index settled 0.12
per cent higher at 11,897.95 points, supported by rising volumes.
Nevertheless, foreign institutions hurriedly squared off their position in
the market

JUNE - JULY

45

SOCIAL MEDIA

THERES MORE TO SOCIAL

BUSINESS THAN LIKES
Jyoti Lalchandani explains why brands need more
than a Facebook page to be truly social
Mention the term social business
Jyoti Lalchandani is
Group Vice-President
and Regional Managing
Director for the Middle
East, Africa, and Turkey
at global ICT market
intelligence and advisory
firm International Data
Corporation (IDC). The
views expressed are his
own

to most people, and their thoughts

immediately turn to social networks
such as Facebook, Twitter, and
LinkedIn. And with small businesses
alone accounting for more than 30
million active pages on Facebook, such
a response is perfectly understandable.
But there are also a growing number
of people who believe there must
surely be more to social business than
tweeting about new product launches
and driving up the number of likes for
their brand. And those people would be
right.
The confusion that exists around this
topic can be forgiven because, in
many ways, we are still only at the
concept stage. True social business is
in its infancy worldwide, and we have
barely scratched the surface here in the
Middle East, but it is already moving
quickly from one-way communications
and basic data gathering to a future
where people and smart devices are
connected in a complex network that
can sense and respond to trillions of
daily inputs in real time. And of all the
new technology theories shaping this
latest era of computing, social business
has the potential to be the most
disruptive to the traditional business
models that organisations around the
world have become so accustomed to.
Indeed, the march of social business
will be accompanied by organisational,
cultural, and process changes so
extreme they will revolutionise business
performance, with the impact being

46 JUNE - JULY

felt by all constituents of the business

ecosystem. But what exactly is
social business? Simply put, its an
umbrella term that encompasses all
social-driven workflow, internal and
external, to and from a business.
Today, social business is often thought
of as an interconnection of public and
private social networks with smart
applications that engage people
directly in new and different ways,
with Big Data analytics recording
the frequency, nature, duration, and
outcomes of this social contact.
The most commonly cited motivation
for embracing social business is the
desire to enable a seamless customer
experience. However, this cannot
be the sole focus of such initiatives,
and I urge organisations to develop
all-encompassing social business
strategies that aim to reduce the cost
to serve, measure customer sentiment,
generate immediate upselling and
cross-selling opportunities, enhance
transparency and trust, address the
growing demand for information, and
facilitate a space for idea generation
and collaboration. The key challenge is
making sense of how all these pieces
fit together to provide value and drive
business outcomes.
And while technology is certainly
important in providing the basic
capabilities, the more important
architectural issues involve how
to integrate the new technologies
with existing applications and then
how to use the new capabilities and

information to evolve the business

model. This requires an in-depth
understanding of value exchange
during customer interactions so that
initiatives can be focused where it
matters most.
Success in using social technologies
to improve business performance
will reside in mastering the ability
to position the organisation at the
interface touch points in social
interactions, thereby enabling it to act
as an intermediary, expert resource,
connection service, or smart gateway.
Indeed, understanding where these
interface touch points are located
must become the key focus of any
social business strategy because
incorrectly identifying opportunities
for social interaction with potential
customers will inevitably lead
to wasted efforts and missed
opportunities.

While social networks such

as Facebook and Twitter
are continuing to grow
and evolve into platforms
for communication and
community-based interaction,
most organisations have not
yet figured out how to truly
leverage them to improve
customer experience and
business performance.

business capabilities, and it is

critical that senior executives show
visible support for the application of
socialytics in driving new business
initiatives and overcoming existing
business challenges.
While social networks such
as Facebook and Twitter are
continuing to grow and evolve into
platforms for communication and
community-based interaction, most
organisations have not yet figured
out how to truly leverage them
to improve customer experience
and business performance. A lot
of trial and error will occur as the
social business concept matures,
with some businesses simply
getting lucky and others wasting

Another key determiner of success

will be the deployment of so-called
socialytics. By this I mean the
ability to collect Big Data across the
social spectrum and, within seconds,
conduct complex analytics functions
that show what customers are
saying and buying, what competitors
are saying and doing, and what is
happening in the markets in real time.
There is simply no point in a business
correctly identifying customer
touch points and then not doing
anything with the reams of potentially
invaluable data that inevitably heads
its way. This data must be thoroughly
analysed to determine its relevance,
with the near-instantaneous
information provided by socialytics
used to adjust organisational
processes and enhance the user
experience.
Aside from the ability to collect and
communicate Big Data through
millions of devices in real time,
there are a minimum set of cultural
requirements that organisations
must be prepared to fully embrace if
their social strategies are to deliver

long-term business value. These

include a willingness to collaborate
and exchange information across the
entire stakeholder community, and
an enterprise-wide understanding
of any and all direct and indirect
contributors to the customer
experience. Businesses must also
strive to closely align their operations
and processes with their social

their efforts on hunches about

improving the customer experience.
To some extent, that is the nature
of innovation, but the true winners
will be those that focus their efforts
and experiments where it matters
most on understanding their
stakeholders, defining relevant
value streams, and identifying key
interface touch points

JUNE - JULY

47

HR POLICIES

NIP NEGATIVITY,

IGNITE CREATIVITY
The human resource
department in an organisation
should not ignore negativity
among employees and instead
take swift corrective action to
avoid its toxic spread, writes
R. Ramesh

It is not rare to encounter colleagues

full of negative emotions at the

workplace. The reasons behind such
negativity could be wide-ranging:
from personal to professional. He or
she may find flaws even in the best of
scenarios and may feel that nobody
works as hard or even cares about
him/her.
But for the human resource
department to ignore swift corrective
action is like sitting on a virtual timebomb! After all, the pessimism virus
could spread at rapid speed engulfing
the entire team.
The primary action that the HR
team is expected to initiate in
such a situation is to identify such
employee/s and find out the root
cause of the problem.

48 JUNE - JULY

The negative emotions may be

because of wage and compensation
disparity, disproportionate workload,
lack of appreciation, dissatisfaction
with the nature of work, changes in
the set-up, romantic affair, job loss
fear or even a domestic issue.
Negativity in the workplace is a very
concerning issue. When staff are in
this type of environment, it affects
their productivity and standards of
work. It is up to the company and
management involved to monitor
this kind of behaviour in the work
place. Companies such as Google
have put in place excellent working
environments to ensure that their staff
are in an area which will only benefit
them, elaborates Amanda Gavin,
Director of AMG Consulting, a PR and
Marketing company.

Happy and contented employees

do not leave firms, they tend to stay
and climb the corporate ladder in the
organisation. This, in turn, benefits
the company as the cost for retraining
staff members is low.
To assist with combating negativity
in the work place, the management
needs to listen and work with the
staff to put in place incentives and
programmes that will allow them to
grow and learn new skills. Everyone
needs to feel they are important and
matter to an organisation, because
as we all know we spend most of our
day there, explains Amanda.
Even a poorly considered space
design at office has the potential to
create negative feelings and harm
productivity.

Steelcase Inc., a leader in the office

furniture industry, reveals in its
latest research, The Privacy Crisis,
the strong influence of workspace
configuration in fostering employee
engagement.
As per the study, in the UAE,
disruption and stress seem to be
the factors that have the highest
negative impact on employees
levels of satisfaction with their work
environment and their engagement.
Collaboration is essential to
innovation and employees need
to be with their colleagues is
as compelling as their need for
privacy, explains Chris Congdon,
Director Research Communications
at Steelcase. The key is to achieve
a balance and provide employees
with the ability to collaborate and
interact even more while respecting
the culture of high privacy at work
that prevails in the region.
According to Akanksha Vij, who
works as a human resource
executive with a private firm, one
statement all employees must
remember in order to keep their
mindset positive is, Rule your
mind! Dont let your mind rule over
you!

Negativity is often also the

result of a loss of confidence
on the part of the employee.
Even rumours about pay or
job cuts can sap enthusiasm
among staff.

Every employee needs recognition

to make his/her existence known so
that s/he is able to prepare towards
fulfilling personal and professional
commitments and thus create a
healthy work environment.
But when it comes to being
competitive in the same work
environment, negativity is born in
the form of jealousy, complaints and
dissatisfaction in performance. This
can play the most sensitive part
in the organisations growth and
development, she points out.
According to Vij, one of the major
reasons of negativity arising at

workplace is CHANGE, especially

when it is not managed properly.
Employees are resistant to
executing immediate changes in
the organisations from time to time.
These changes include the policy
structures, conditions, performances
and expectations to perform the
best.
Thus, it is necessary for the
employees to be well-informed and
motivated to face such transition.
Among the most appropriate
techniques to indulge in anything
new for the employees to work upon
and perform better is to organise
games and workshops related
to developmental aspects and
concerns, she elucidates.
As these techniques are more
participative in nature, they will surely
enhance employee participation and
engagement to perform their tasks
efficiently and effectively.
Critics do play an important role
when it comes to ensuring qualitative
performance, but it does not
always support the strength of the
organisations mission and the way
of practising perfection towards
achieving their goals. It may lead to
attrition eventually.

JUNE - JULY

49

Innovation, Improvement and

Performance are the three main
motives that an organisation must
work upon. Thus, exit interviews are
amongst the most effective ways
to accomplish a SWOT (Strength,
Weakness, Opportunity and Threat)
perspective and thus increase work
productivity and performance with
continuous improvement taking
place, Vij concludes.
Negativity is often also the result of
a loss of confidence on the part of
the employee. Even rumours about
pay or job cuts can sap enthusiasm
among staff.
Take action highly recommended
is to meet and talk to the employee,
suggest S. Punyamurthy, head of a
Dubai-based advertising company.
The situation may not be as bad as
it is being perceived. Be sympathetic.
Hear out the concerns. Make him or
her feel good and belonged. Work
out an action plan, with a reasonable
timeline. Go out for a lunch or coffee.
Give space for the employee to
change and express.
More often than not, the goals will
be accomplished. Some small issue,
either personal or professional, would
have triggered the negative tone or
behaviour.

50 JUNE - JULY

If the negative attitude continues, let

the employee go. At least, you will be
satisfied that you have gone the extra
mile to address the issue and create
a compatible work environment!
argues Punyamurthy.
Many employees do not realise that
constant complaining can have toxic
effects on themselves and their
colleagues. Hence it is crucial to
tackle any negativity across the board
in an organisation.
It not only hampers the attitude of
the person carrying it, but spreads
and affects the entire environment of

the company. Identifying and taking

immediate corrective action should
be made a major goal.
The best way, of course, is to filter
and recruit the right people through
proper personality tests and ensure
that they enter the company with the
right attitude.
Conducive working environment
that promotes positive and cheerful
outlook of employees serves as a
path to this end.
After all, negativity should never be
awaited, its always better avoided

INTERNATIONAL COMPANY CULTURE

EMBRACE
DIVERSITY
OF THOUGHT
Want to work with a diverse company? Tips to tell the factual from the fake
Americans are becoming more committed to diversity

and inclusion than ever before. They look to do business

with companies that are truly diverse, too. Not only does
this align with their values, it offers a distinct advantage:
companies with more diverse teams are also top financial
performers, according to McKinsey & Company research.
How do you know if you are buying from, or even working
for, a truly diverse company and not one that only pretends
to be? Here are some tips from Lorie Valle-Yanez, VicePresident and Chief Diversity Officer at Massachusetts
Mutual Life insurance Company (MassMutual) a
DiversityInc. 2015 Top 50 Company.

Look at leadership
Diversity is a strong value that is woven into a companys
culture. That culture is most often driven by the leaders
at an organisation. The best first step in determining if a
company is truly diverse is to look at the makeup of those
in leadership roles. What is the makeup of the C-suite and
board of directors? Are women and different ethnicities
represented?

Ask about initiatives

Diversity is an ongoing effort that requires dedication.
Before working with or for a company, ask about diversity
initiatives and how the company is structured to support
a dedication to inclusion both internally and externally
toward clients.

Is there a department and leader dedicated to

serving the unique needs of diverse customers and
employees?

Investigate inclusion
A culture of diversity is an ongoing effort that involves
all employees. When looking at the authenticity of a
company, inclusion is an important value. Company
leaders must embrace diversity of thought and unique
viewpoints while helping employees to develop
professionally and maintain high engagement at work.
One indication of inclusion at a company is the
presence of Employee Resource Groups. ERGs are
great for promoting inclusion among all employees.
Groups are created for people with similar
characteristics, such as gender and religion, and some
are even interest-based, focusing on topics such as
the environment or parenting.

Seek strategic partnerships

A company that values diversity and has a mind for
the future will look for strategic partnerships that
provide insight into niche markets and unique cultures.
Find out if a company has memberships to diverse
organisations that represent different markets and
groups of people. Additionally, learn whether the
company strives to work with others who are equally
committed to diversity
Courtesy: BPT

JUNE - JULY

51

AUTO REVIEW

Li m el ig ht Co
Ro lls -R oy ce Ph an to m

lle ct io n un ve ile d

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars recently unveiled the new

limited-edition Phantom Limelight Collection, which
debuted at the 2015 Shanghai Motor Show and has now
arrived in Qatar.
Comprising just 25 vehicles, the Bespoke designers at
the home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood have used their
deep understanding of the habits and behaviours of RollsRoyce Motor Cars clientele to create a unique collection
that appeals directly to the busy lives of the ultra-luxury
marques elite clientele, according to a statement.
In creating the Rolls-Royce Phantom Limelight Collection,
our designers have delivered authentic luxury by thinking
deeply about the lifestyles of the powerful people
who operate in the public eye and move swiftly from
engagement to engagement as part of their daily life, said
Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
The result is a beautiful, discreet motor car in which those
for whom the world is waiting can prepare, relax and arrive
in the finest luxury and style.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Limelight Collection has been
conceived for that select group of people who spend their
lives in the public eye and on the world stage. Its name
was inspired by the origin of a British invention, which
became synonymous with fame.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Doha, the sole authorised
dealership of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in Qatar, revealed
the exclusive collection to its discerning clientele at a

52 JUNE - JULY

private event in Doha. The event had a range of premium

products and services on display, provided by a selection
of high-end affinity partners.
Considering the busy lifestyles of many of its clients, who
spend considerable amounts of time travelling in the rear
compartment of their Phantoms, the Bespoke design team
at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has created the Phantom
Suite, comprising unique personalised rear door panniers
and a new luxury seating configuration in which to relax
before arriving.
The unique interior features door panniers available with
different options for women and men and can also be
personalised to suit what particular possessions are
required for the occasion.
Unique to this collection and a first for Phantom is a
two-veneer finish that shows off the unique skills of the
woodworkers at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

Porsche Centre Doha of Al Boraq Automobiles recently

announced that Porsche created a special series of the

911 Carrera and Boxster: the Black Edition. It features
black paintwork and black interior, the standard equipment
on the 911 Carrera and Boxster Black Edition models
includes Porsche Communication Management (PCM)
with navigation module, automatically dimming rearview mirrors, rain sensor, cruise control and sport design
steering wheel.
The 911 Carrera Black Edition is based on the basic
model with a 3.4-litre flat engine developing 350 hp. It is
offered as coup and convertible versions with rear-wheel
or all-wheel drive. The special edition runs on 20-inch
911 Turbo wheels and the LED headlights, featuring the
Porsche Dynamic Light System Plus (PDLS+), are part of
the standard equipment.
The other key features are heated sports seats for driver
and passenger, standard Bose Surround Sound System,
the telephone module and Park Assist at front and rear,
which includes a reversing camera.
The Boxster Black Edition, a mid-engine roadster is
powered by the 2.7 litre flat engine with 265 hp. The soft

EXCLUSIVITY
ON WHEELS

Por sch e unv eils spe cia l 911 mo del

top and rollover protection bar are both in black. The wind
deflector helps to avoid undesirable turbulence when
the soft top is down. The 20-inch Carrera Classic wheels
and the bi-xenon headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light
System (PDLS) set distinctive highlights. The driver and
passenger can enjoy two-zone air conditioning and heated
seats. The sound system in the Boxster Black Edition is
the high-quality Sound Package Plus.

cl e fro m
A ne w be sp ok e ve hi
rs fro m
R ol ls -R oy ce an d ot he
AC an d
Po rs ch e, H yu nd ai , G
ile d in D oh a
Ss an gYon g w er e un ve
n re po rt ed
re ce nt ly, w hi le N is sa
ow th
sp ec ta cu la r sa le s gr

Hyundais Veloster Turbo 2016 arrived in Qatar recently,

shifting the Korean manufacturers model portfolio into
top gear. Offering the sportiness of a coup with the
roominess of a sedan, the new edition will offer customers
Hyundais signature driving experience through a highpowered engine and a selection of savvy specifications
and technological infotainment features.
It is with great delight that we welcome the new Veloster
Turbo to our Middle East portfolio. It brings new levels of
sportiness to our fleet and represents the latest vehicle to
feature our fluidic sculpture design language and is set to
make waves across the region, a Hyundai official from the
regional headquarters based in Dubai said.
Under the bonnet the Veloster Turbo houses a sevenspeed dual clutch gearbox featuring shiftronic automatic
technology for increased power. With a maximum output
of 204hp from a 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder engine, this
new model is set to take pole position on the regions

Hyu nda i lau nch es Vel ost er Tur bo

20 16

roads. To deliver a sportier ride, the Turbo features

modified front suspension, featuring gas-filled hydraulic
monotube shock absorbers, while the motor-driven power
steering has been tuned for increased steering response.

JUNE - JULY

53

Hyundai Motor Company is now celebrating the 30th

anniversary of one of its best-selling models, the Sonata

mid-size sedan. The Sonata, which made its debut in 1985
in South Korea, has played a pivotal role in Hyundais
growth and reputation, especially in the Middle East and
Africa, where it was launched in 1988, and by April it had
registered sales of some 314,181 units in this region alone.
In total, it has recorded sales of over 7.3mn units globally
since its introduction 30 years ago, ensuring its place as
a family sedan much-loved by customers all around the
world.
During its 30-year history, the Sonata has been constantly
reinvented with a fresh new look and innovative
technologies to ensure each generation is the leader in
the class. Most recently, the Korean brand introduced
the all-new Sonata, 7th generation, to the Middle East in
September 2014.
Over the past 30 years we have continued to aspire to
become the worlds most beloved brand and the ongoing
success of the Sonata has helped contribute to this goal,
said James Kim, Vice-President and Head of Hyundai
Africa and Middle East.
Since 1988, this iconic model has been a huge factor
in Hyundais growth not only in Africa and the Middle
East but around the world, this is thanks to the constant

Son ata cel ebr ate s 30 th ann ive rsa

ry

reinvention of the model which has ensured that it has

continued to stay ahead of competitor models and at the
forefront of our customers minds.
National Car Company, the sole distributor for Hyundai
vehicles in Qatar, launched the all-new Sonata midsize sedan during October last year and ever since the
launch, the model has become very popular in the Qatar
automotive market in view of the high quality and value
offered.

El Naael Company recently

launched in Qatar, SsangYongs allnew SUV Tivoli 2016, which boasts
of an all new platform, body and
engine, European styling, class
leading levels of safety, interior
space, equipment, options, highly
competitive fuel economy and CO2
emission levels.
Tivoli is the first new model of
South Koreas fourth largest
automaker under Indias Mahindra
& Mahindra ownership. Resulting
Ssa ngYongs all- new
from 42 months of development
and an investment of 350bn
Korean won (280mn), the car will compete strongly on
account of many features including available all-wheel
drive.
The newly developed 1.6 litre e-XGI160 petrol engine,
designed for fuel efficiency, can be combined with the
choice of a 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive system.
Tivoli offers best in class standards by including seven
airbags front passenger, side and curtain airbags
plus a drivers knee airbag. There is also multi-function
ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), Active Rollover
Protection, Brake Assist, Hill Start Assist and ESS

54 JUNE - JULY

SU V Tiv oli 20 16
(Emergency Stop Signal), a tyre pressure monitoring
system and a warning reminder on all five seat belt
positions.
The new SUV provides one of the largest cabins and
boot volumes in its class, while also offering a generous
number of storage spaces. The background colour of the
instrument cluster may be changed to any of six colours.
The B-segment SUV features a dynamic, urban look with
a contemporary silhouette, and embodies the rhythmical
motion of SsangYongs design language, Nature-born 3
Motion Rhythmical, Dynamic and Dignified.

Doha Marketing Services Company (Domasco) officially

launched the GAC Motor brand in Qatar recently.
The launch took place in the presence of Len Hunt,
President of Al-Futtaim Automotive Group; Colin Cordery,
Regional Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Group; Wang
Shunsheng, GAC Deputy General Manager; and Sheikh
Fahad bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani.
Faisal Sharif, Managing Director of Domasco, said:
Domasco today reiterates its strong position in Qatar
by introducing one of the worlds fastest emerging
automotive brands to the local market. Domasco
launched three new GAC Motor models: the GA3, a
compact sedan; the GA5, a mid-sized sedan; and the
GS5, an urban SUV.
With each of GAC Motors three models already
having the highest five-star rating in the C-NCAP safety
test, the brand is already foremost in passive safety.
This, combined with an industry-leading insurance,
warranty and service combination, will present a new
and compelling proposition to car buyers in Qatar,
said Andrew Parrott, sales and marketing manager at
Domasco.
Speaking on the expectations for GAC Motor in Qatar,
officials said Domasco is very enthusiastic about the
sales of GAC. We are launching three models serving
three high-volume segments of the market. The three
models of GAC being introduced, two sedans serving
the C and D segments and one SUV serving the small
SUV segment, arrive with a compelling product and price
offering. We believe that all customers in the served

Dom asc o lau nch es GA C mo del s

market segments looking for outstanding value without
compromise on features and performance will add GAC
to their consideration list.
They said plans are well under way to introduce a third
sedan and a second SUV either later in 2015 or early
in 2016. Within a year from launch, five models will be
available covering significant volume segments of the
market. Elaborating on GACs unique selling points, the
officials said GAC has incredible scale and experience
in automotive manufacturing with over 1.2mn units in
operation.
World-class manufacturing coupled with a trusted and
experienced distribution partner in the Qatar market is a
strong combination ready to gain share.

Global automaker Nissan reported an 18.1 per cent jump

in GCC sales with as many as 185,135 units sold in the
2014 fiscal year that ended in March compared with
156,778 in 2013. The Japanese automaker grew twice as
fast as the Gulf market, achieving a 10.3 per cent overall
market share, the company said.
Nissans market shares in Qatar grew 1.4 per cent to
16 per cent in the 2014 fiscal year compared with 14.6
per cent in 2013, making it the highest among all Gulf
Cooperation Council members. Nissan Middle East is now
targeting to sell 240,000 units in the GCC region by fiscal
year 2016, aiming for a 12.3 per cent market share.
The 27-model Nissan line-up performed well across the
spectrum, with the Patrol and Sunny faring exceptionally
well. Patrol sales jumped 35 per cent to 34,015 units,
while Sunny sold 29,688 units in 2014, a 30 per cent gain.
Pathfinder recorded a 15 per cent growth to 6,800 units
and X-Trail touched 4,400, a mammoth 300 per cent jump
compared with 2013 fiscal year.
Nissan Motor Co was the first Japanese car manufacturer
to establish a regional Middle East headquarters in June
1994. Its operations now cover over 20 countries across

Nis san GCC sal es jum p 18. 1%

the region, making it one of the best represented Japanese
automotive brands in the Middle East.
Globally, Nissan, Japans second-biggest automaker,
announced last week its fiscal-year net profit jumped a
better-than-expected 17.6 per cent to $4.2bn

JUNE - JULY

55

LAUNCHES

NEW PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Rado DiaMaster Plasma is automatic and has a polished

plasma high-tech ceramic case, pressed on titanium
case back with sapphire crystal, polished plasma hightech ceramic crown, curved sapphire crystal with antireflective coating on both sides. The dial mother of pearl,
has 12 diamonds.

The hot new Red Musk collection has an intensely

different feminine fragrance that is heating up the perfume
establishment with a smouldering blend of spiced musk
with hot notes of pepper, cinnamon and tobacco and no
flowers. The scent adds a red-hot new note to the bold
fragrance history of The Body Shop.

Perrelets new Turbine Pilot collection associates the

Turbine concept with that of the circular aviation slide
rule: a new technical and stylistic exercise for a truly
unique aviator watch. It will be an excellent seagoing
companion, combining Turbine with a function from the
maritime world: the windrose.

The new G-SHOCK GBA-400 watch supports Bluetooth

Smart connectivity. It boasts features for enjoying music
when paired with GMIX App, a new app for smartphones
that can control audio settings, simulate concert sound,
and identify the names of songs from music playing
nearby.

56 JUNE - JULY

Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy

management, has released Wonderware SmartGlance
2014 R2 mobile reporting software. The updated versions
features make monitoring, visualising and analysing realtime plant and industrial process data via mobile devices
easier than ever.

The SoundLink Color speaker lets you play music

wherever you are, whatever youre doing. Its compact and
light (570 gm) to take along even when youre travelling
light. The speaker is designed for ease of use. It features
power, volume and source buttons. You can control other
functions from your Bluetooth device.

Sonys projector VPL-GTZ1 combines the best of its

projector technologies 4K, laser light source and ultrashort throw capabilities. The VPL-GTZ1 is designed for
a range of B2B and commercial applications including
museums, design simulation, oil and gas sector,
simulation and training etc.

Newly launched Elegant Resorts could be that idyllic

summer getaway that the traveller is yearning for. Elegant
Resorts announced recently that they are open for
business in the GCC market. From city breaks to Indian
Ocean hideaways Elegant Resorts creates a personalised,
bespoke experience to suit all tastes.

JUNE - JULY

57

DESTINATION CRUISE

Christopher Reynolds
grades the worlds first
smartship, Quantum
of the Seas after
travelling aboard it
It was Friday, Feb. 13, a 15-degree

winter morning. But that did nothing

to discourage the thousands of
travellers who turned up to seek
happiness alongside the ice-slick
docks in Bayonne, New Jersey.
The attraction? Quantum of the Seas,
which is not a James Bond sequel but
a $1-billion Royal Caribbean cruise
ship. It was launched in late 2014 and
was to soon head to China. Some
people thought of it as the future of
cruising. Others werent so sure.

WHATS POSSIBLY THE

FUTURE OF
CRUISING
58 JUNE - JULY

But there were plenty of curious

onlookers. By 3.45 p.m., we
passengers about 4,800 of us on
a seven-night itinerary to Florida
and the Bahamas - were racing from
novelty to novelty on the 1,141-footlong ship. On Deck 16: simulated
skydiving in a 23-foot-high vertical
wind tunnel that looked like a seethrough smokestack. On Deck 3:
the casino. In the SeaPlex recreation
area: bumper cars. At the Bionic Bar:
robots mixing drinks.
And dont forget North Star, an
observation capsule on a long
arm that lifts passengers 300 feet
above the sea and (when its not too
windy) swings them over the side for
staggering birds-eye views. Before
anybody could go up, however, the
ships captain, Henrik Soerensen,
broke in on the public address system
to welcome us and enlist our help.
Please keep an eye on the
temperature, Soerensen said. If it
doesnt get warmer, that means were
going in the wrong direction.

How long, I wondered, until that

punchline is tweeted? Eager to
spread the word of this ships
wonders, Royal Caribbean has
outfitted Quantum to be the Webfriendliest cruise ship ever so
passengers can post their vacation
tweets and snaps (after paying as
much as $30 a day in Wi-Fi fees).
Conde Nast Traveler calls it the
first cruise ship built specifically for
selfies. The cruise line calls it the
worlds first smartship and has a
new app to help passengers book
meals and activities.
Quantum isnt just big and busy and
filled with new technology. Its also a
telling move in the cruise industrys
global chess game.
In May, the ship was to move to a
home port in Shanghai, where Royal
Caribbean hoped to entice a mix
of Chinese and Western travellers.
Meanwhile, Quantum has a nearidentical sibling (Anthem of the
Seas) which was due to debut in
April and start sailing the Caribbean
in November. So how much fun is

If you go
Royal Caribbeans Quantum of the Seas sails between New
Jersey and the Bahamas and Caribbean through late April, then
goes to Europe and Asia. Beginning June 25, it will be based
in Shanghai (Baoshan), with mostly four- and five-night cruises
to ports such as Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Okinawa and Nagasaki
in Japan, and Seoul (Incheon) and Busan in South Korea. For
its July 26 four-night sailing to Incheon and back, rates for an
interior stateroom for two begin at $1,036 per person. Airfare
is excluded, as is $66 in taxes, fees and port expenses. I paid
$1,649 for an interior single room on a seven-night Bahamas
itinerary. Quantums sibling Anthem of the Seas will begin sailing
Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries in November.

this smart new ship? Its fun and its

vexing, depending on what youre
up to.
Perhaps the ships biggest hit was the
North Star observation pod, which
holds up to 14 passengers at a time
(first come, first served). Passengers
waited up to two hours for their
chance to spend about 10 minutes
in the sky, looking down on the ship
and out to the sea. The warmer the

temperature got, the longer the line. I

went up three times, on three different
days, after waits of five, 20 and 90
minutes. On the way down, I asked my
capsule companions whether the view
was worth nearly two hours of waiting.
The grins and yeses were unanimous.
The simulated skydiving classes,
Ripcord by iFly, were almost too
popular. Trainers said most of the
available slots were booked before

JUNE - JULY

59

the cruise began, which left some

passengers grumbling and others
competing to fly standby when noshow spots opened up. (Thats how I
got my chance.)

spend about a minute in the air with

an instructor, hovering, spinning and
getting buffeted from below. If youve
ever wanted prominent cheekbones,
have somebody snap your picture
while youre looking down at that big
fan on the floor.

As for the faux flight itself, after you

don a flight suit, watch a video and
get a little personal training, you

Unfortunately, Quantums new

dynamic dining system isnt as
uplifting. Instead of relying on one

60 JUNE - JULY

grand dining room like ships of

yesteryear (formalwear, captains
table, ice sculptures, two assigned
sittings per night), Royal Caribbean
has re-imagined that space as 18
restaurants, including Asian, Italian,
buffet, pub and steakhouse options,
from ultra-casual to formal.
This gives passengers more choice
and the cruise line more revenue,
because eight of the restaurants
charge extra fees, from a few bucks

appeared at the Passenger Services

desk or at the restaurants entrances,
stating their cases.
Although many passengers praised
their meals, when I asked seven of
them to grade the reservation system,
the median rating was 6.5 out of 10.
It was a lot of work to do this
cruise, said Sue Bonelli of Long
Island, New York.
I feel nickeled and dimed, said her
husband, Guido Bonelli, referring to
the dining and Wi-Fi charges.
At a Q&A session on Day 7, Dean
Bailey, the ships hotel director,
told passengers that the dining
programme is still evolving. ... Its
not where we want it to be. Indeed,
the ship had already added personnel
and items to menus to appease
passengers who prefer to stay put
in the biggest dining rooms. But its
clear theres work to be done.
The ships Wi-Fi was hit-and-miss for
me. After paying $140 for eight days
of access for two devices, I lost my

enlivened by six suspended video

screens that tilt, slide, merge and
regroup to create remarkable visual
effects.
The roster of family-friendly activities
is long, including the FlowRider
wave-maker (for surfing and boogie
boarding), the rock-climbing wall
(next to a 30-foot-tall magenta bear
by sculptor Lawrence Argent), circus
trapeze lessons, roller-skating,
basketball and, in a nod to decades
gone by, one lonely shuffleboard court.
I tried rock climbing for the first
time, said Emanuel Strong, 40, a
New York corrections officer who was
travelling with his wife and two kids.
Heather Rubinstein, a veteran cruiser
and wheelchair user who came from
New York with her husband and two
kids, told me that access on the ship
was pretty good. (However, her
husband had just lifted her to a spot
that she couldnt reach independently
because crew members couldnt
find a key to some accessibility
equipment.)
Passenger Tom Murray, who brought
his family from London, loved the
artwork and service. But he called the
dining-and-entertainment reservation
system a waste of time, found the
main promenade cramped and the
ship too gimmicky.

Courtesy: McClatchy-Tribune News Service

for a snack at Johnny Rockets to $45

per person for an evening of cuttingedge gastronomy at Wonderland.
The idea is that passengers will scan
the choices and book their dinners
online before boarding. Passenger
Kevin Marshall of Pennsylvania said
it worked perfectly for him. In fact, he
said he would be back aboard in April
for another cruise.
But many passengers viewed
booking before boarding as a burden,
and many had trouble making
reservations. Every day, dozens

laptop and smartphone connections

just about every day, sometimes more
than once. (Conversely, I got so fond
of my virtual balcony the monitor
disguised as a window in the ships
375 inside staterooms that I left it
on for the entire cruise.)
The ships entertainment got high
marks for the singers who rose
above the plot of the ABBA musical
Mamma Mia! and for the dancers
and musicians in striking original
productions called Star Water and
Sonic Odyssey. The 1,300-seat
Royal Theater is a pleasant venue,
and the space known as Two70
is a multilevel entertainment area

Passengers Miranda Tso and Katty

Lam, New York moms who brought a
friends-and-family group, didnt like
the restaurant reservation scheme or
the food. Next time, they said, theyll
try another cruise line.
Im guessing the cruise line has
already solved some of these
problems. But the equation was
about to change.
Before the ship moved to Shanghai,
Quantums workers said, they would
tear out the Music Hall bar, expand
the casino, add shops, retune the
restaurants and bring on more
Mandarin-speaking crew. Tailoring the
ship to Chinese passengers, many of
them new to cruising, will surely mean
more trial and error. In other words,
the worlds first smartship still has
plenty to learn

JUNE - JULY

61

NEBOSH IGC
NEBOSH OIL & GAS

HEALTH
SAFETY
ENVIRONMENT

LEAD AUDITOR -

ISO 9001, ISO 14001 & OHSAS 18001

SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE

ACCREDITED CENTRE FOR

NEBOSH&
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TRAINING

COURSES

HIGHLIGHTS
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Located in the heart of Doha
(Mamoura)
Multi-lingual instructors
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Flexible training hours
Round the clock call center assistance
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Budget accommodation available

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CLARITY FOCUS RESOLUTION

Ramadan Kareem

Quantum Global Solutions

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Doha
Qatar

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