December 2012
2 posts
November 2012
25 posts
AutoNews Nov 2012
Porsche launches special Gran Turismo series
Porsche is offering a particularly exclusive and elegant version of the Panamera: the Platinum Edition. The elegant special edition, also available as Panamera 4 and Panamera Diesel, stands out thanks to its subtle, independent design features in platinum silver metallic combined with expanded standard features and exclusive details.
The lower half...
Newsbites: Round Up!
Qatar helping to rebuild Palestine
Qatar has launched a $254 million (QR924 million) plan to rebuild and modernise Gaza, the biggest injection of reconstruction aid for the Palestinian enclave since it was devastated in an Israeli military offensive nearly four years ago.
Qatari ambassador Mohammed Al-Amadi said the projects will require the cooperation of Israel and Egypt to admit building...
From the readers: Your views!
Enhancing Qatar’s national identity
Priyanka Motaparthy made an interesting point in response to criticism from lawyer, Al Zaman when he said the labour and sponsorship laws were in place to help maintain national identity. She said that Qatar’s national identity can only be enhanced by protecting human rights commitments that the country’s rulers have been committed to...
Labour laws being amended
“The approach should rather be to focus on entrenching human rights and strengthening the [human rights] infrastructure of frameworks, institutions and professionals.”
Qatar Today continues with its human rights coverage as Vice-Chairman of Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Dr Yousef Obaidan advances the opinion that we shouldn’t be looking to find solutions...
Apple launches iPad Mini - but at what price?
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook announced its latest tablet computer, the iPad mini in California last month. It’s designed to look like a smaller version of the triumphant iPad. It’s also expected to eat into its sales. It is flat and slim - 7.2mm from front to back, and weighing 0.68lbs. It has a slightly larger screen size than some rivals: 7.9ins, not least because the bezel on the iPad...
Qatar Today & Doha News
Trending on Doha News in October
We’ve rounded up the most popular stories on Dohanews.co for the month of October. While safety at Villaggio Mall and the proceedings of the post-fire hearing continued to be a topic of significance, it was the apparent dress code changes at Aspire Park that generated the most interest and discussion.
1. Residents express confusion, frustration at dress...
Fast and Furious
Technology marries design in the McLaren 12c.
It stuns Doha speed aficionados and startles Sindhu Nair.
Fast acquired a new meaning when Yousef Tarabaih,the talented professional driver, put his foot on the pedal of the McLaren MP4-12C Coupe and drove it… View Post shared via WordPress.com
Can e-health work in Qatar?
As information and communication technologies have grown rapidly in recent years, medical science is compelled to keep pace with what they can offer. Both segments can collaborate to provide more robust healthcare products whilst Governments can leverage their flexibility to implement leaner management systems. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is promoting a concept called...
Self-belief for the big rewards
Qatar Today kick-starts a health and living series where the top echelon in the country reveal their work-life balance strategy and healthy living guidelines.
By Nicole van Hattem
The desire to move ahead in business and ensure a solid financial future for yourself and your family can lead you to take short cuts with your health and wellbeing. Is this the best way to get to the top and stay at...
Aspiring to be the Greatest
“What we are trying to do is provide a platform for local and international companies to do business in Qatar, especially now that we are preparing for the World Cup in 2022”
As Qatar becomes a regional hotbed for sporting activity, it’s only natural that it should provide a definitive platform for potential stakeholders to discuss industry related topics. The third Aspire4Sport...
Encouraging people to have a healthier lifestyle
“A growing number of studies show that human beings do not always act in a way that maximises their interests.”
To fight against health problems like obesity and smoking, governments are experimenting with new ways of regulating lifestyles. These methods, or incentives, usually involve a “nudge” that takes advantage of the irrational patterns in human behavior to...
Diversity goes a long way
The key to unlocking the full potential of the diverse Qatar workforce lies within organisational leaders. To transform Qatar to where it needs to be, it will require organisations to empower all their employees, specifically those who are currently unable to make significant contributions to their organisations, but have the expertise to do so.
Qatar is rich in diversity and has had many...
News from around the Arab World
Asian Co-operation summit aims to fight poverty
Kuwait’s Emir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, opened the two-day Asia Co-operation Dialogue (ACD) summit at the Liberation Building at Bayan Palace in Kuwait. He proposed setting up a $2 billion fund to fight poverty in Asia and said Kuwait would donate $300 million to its corpus. The session was attended by HH, the Emir of Qatar,...
Cover Story: Where are all the Qatari men?
Qatar Today looks into a report that highlights the lack of interest by Qatari men to pursue higher education. How should the country keep them motivated?
By Sindhu Nair
Qatar University President, Sheikha Abdullah Al Misnad detailed the University’s plans for the academic year a couple of months back. She first focused on its recent achievements. 4,000 new recruits – a huge 35.7% increase from...
Qatar Today November Issue
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Fast and Furious
Technology marries design in the McLaren 12C. It stuns Doha speed aficionados and startles Sindhu Nair
Fast acquired a new meaning when Yousef Tarabaih, the talented professional driver, put his feet on the pedal of the McLaren MP4-12C Coupe, and drove it out of the enclave of Al Wajba showroom, right into the evening rush of Doha traffic.
McLaren took on shades of stealth, a command of space...
Qatargas signs new SPA with Chubu
HE Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry and Chairman of the Board of Qatargas, signed a new long-term Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) between Qatar Liquefied Gas Company Limited (3) (Qatargas 3) and Chubu Electric Power Company Incorporated (Chubu Electric) of Japan.
Under the terms of the agreement, Qatargas 3 will deliver up to one...
All in a day’s work
“The experiences which I have gone through in the last four or five years are the greatest one can possibly hope to have. You have to weather all the storms that come across your path. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Dr R. Seerathaman has been CEO at Doha Bank for over ten years now yet hasn’t relinquished an ounce of his early enthusiasm. The last five years might have...
QIB completes issuance of Sukuk
Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) has successfully priced a $750 million (QR2.7 billion) five-year Sukuk issued at par with a 2.5% semi-annual profit rate under its $1.5 billion (QR5.5 billion) Trust Certificate Issuance Programme. Deutsche Bank, HSBC, QInvest and Standard Chartered Bank acted as joint lead managers and joint book runners, with Qatar International Islamic Bank and Sharjah Islamic Bank as...
Media moves towards localisation
By Ola Diab
As you flip through the Arabic TV channels, you begin to see a pattern of western influenced shows similar to The Voice, American Idol and America’s Got Talent. There’s also the phenomenon of the dubbing of Turkish, Indian, Mexican and Spanish TV series to Arabic. This is called Arabisation—commonly seen in media today. Now, however, there’s an increasing interest in the localization...
Making a social phenomenon of street-food
By Ola Diab
Falafel had almost become a forgotten food until Just Falafel, one of the Middle East’s fast growing brands, brought them back in a more modernised and international version of the basic recipe.
Lebanese entrepreneur, Fadi Malas, the CEO of Just Falafel, brings with him diverse business expertise and a strong focus on expansion that has pushed Just Falafel from being a mere...
Advertising Age
Repositioning “Positioning”: The best way into a consumer’s mind is not with visual nails but with a visual hammer.
Forty years ago, Advertising Age published a series of articles by Jack Trout and my father, Al Ries, titled The Positioning Era Cometh.
Almost a decade later, McGraw-Hill published their book Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind.
In the years that followed,...
Inflation proof your savings
What returns do you currently enjoy from your savings? Whatever those returns are, chances are it will be a lot less once inflation has taken its bite. So to achieve a ‘real’ return from savings, you need to make sure any financial planning takes inflation into account.
Inflation is a measure of the purchasing power of cash. It is generally calculated by measuring price changes of a...
October 2012
24 posts
Construction Awards for excellence in the sector
The Construction Week Qatar Awards 2012 were held last month at the Grand Hyatt in Doha, paying tribute to the Qatar’s burgeoning construction industry.
A total of 13 awards were handed out in a range of categories, from projects to individuals, with about 300 people attending the high-profile event.
The judges commented: “From humble beginnings, Qatar has become one of the most...
BMW 7 Series brings new levels of class
Alfardan Automobiles, the BMW Group Importer in Qatar, launched the new 7 Series model last month. The flagship 7 Series model has consistently been amongst BMW’s best-sellers in Qatar and across the GCC region. A number of important design and technology modifications have been introduced to the new car to give it a stronger presence on the road and provide an even more luxurious and...
Staying Relevant in the Workplace
What does “staying relevant” mean? In these days of outsourcing, cost-cutting and continuous radical shifts in the ways companies produce, communicate, interact and source candidates, it is crucial to remain tuned in to the demands, trends and developments of the marketplace and fine-tune your qualifications and skill-set accordingly. Career experts at Bayt.com have some simple...
Carbon Capture & Storage: The next step in climate...
Shell, Qatar Petroleum and Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) have opened the world’s largest suite of laboratories to research the storage of the greenhouse gas CO2 in carbonate rock formations. The new laboratories form part of the Qatar Carbonates and Carbon Storage Research Centre (QCCSRC ) at Imperial College London, and are part of a QR255 million ($70 million), 10-year research...
Infrastructure key to Qatar's Growth
Doha Bank hosted an exclusive regional knowledge-sharing seminar on “Market Opportunities, Risks and Solutions” on September 10, with expert submissions from Wells Fargo Bank, Axis International (Insurance Surveyors), Cunningham Lindsey (Loss Adjusters) and Latham & Watkins (law firm).
Doha Bank Group CEO, Dr R. Seetharaman highlighted the trends at global and regional level and...
Rising cost of construction points to high demand
The cost of building in Qatar has seen a dramatic rise in recent months. Across the board, from labour to building materials, prices have increased. Indeed, in August it was announced that construction costs in Qatar were now the highest in the Middle East, with a report released by consultancy EC Harris finding that Qatar is now the 13th most expensive country in the world (having previously...
How very English at the Grand Heritage
As London becomes a popular destination for a summer retreat for Qataris, the Grand Heritage is returning a little bit of the Big Smoke to Qatar. The 5-star hotel’s design and style - which is unique to the region - is Victorian and heavily inspired by the Lanesborough Hotel, just off Hyde Park - from its elegant architecture to the cozy feel of its Tea Room.
Just walking into the lobby of...
Companies with the Best Global Reputations
Reputation Is What You Stand For Than What You Sell
A newly released global reputation study of more than 100,000 consumers shows that who you are as a company is more important than what you produce, with BMW, SONY and Disney topping the list of the most reputable companies.
The third annual Global RepTrak 100, by reputation consultancy firm Reputation Institute, identifies how stakeholders...
Is iPhone 5 worth it?
Is iPhone 5 worth it?
So the iPhone 5 has finally been released. Such has been the hyperbole, you may be wondering if your current smart phone will cease to work anymore or if you’ll be ridiculed at the water-cooler for pulling out something less. Is it worth getting up in the morning if you don’t have Apple’s latest design? Let’s look at five ways it usurps its predecessor.
Screen: At 4 inches...
“COP18 is a huge opportunity for the country”...
By Sindhu Nair @snareqatar
Michael Mathres, Director of World Climate Ltd, has a simple mandate: to make sure that the UN COP18 – to be held in Doha from November 26 to December 7, 2012 – is a success. He specifies that what he wants is COP18 to have as many deals signed, new initiatives announced and Doha, the host country, to be portrayed in a sustainable manner to the whole world.
Considering...
Financing your property dream
For expatriates carving out careers in Qatar, investing in one of the spectacular luxury developments on offer is a tempting option. But in the current economic climate, careful thought should be given as to how best to finance your venture.
Investing in the property market has been an option since 2004 when the government opened up the market to foreign buyers. The move saw three main designated...
Carbon footprinting: Fundamentals and benefits...
As delegates from around the world gather in Doha for COP18 (the 18th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), business executives will also congregate to engage in a number of side meetings and discussionsadjoiningthe conference.
In recent years, regulators, investors, customers, employeesand other stakeholders have increased their requirementsfor...
Saluting Brand Heroes
After Qatar Today’s September cover story on Branding, the Executive Director Qatar at The Brand Union Middle East, Iain Webster celebrates ‘Qatar’s Brand Heroes’ - the organisations successfully equipping their businesses with compelling world-class brands. He looks at what it takes to become a Qatar Brand Hero.
It is appropriate to start with two of the country’s...
Hospitality served from the souq
Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels are the latest entrant into Qatar’s hospitality sector and it brings with it a new concept in a truly traditional setting.
By Sindhu Nair
There is a new breed of designer hotels - a segment that is very sagaciously coined ‘boutique hotels’ — that wishes to tap into the mid-budget range of hotel offerings, a range that has not been explored much...
GPS to evaluate schools
Having successfully completed its first year of operation, the Green Programme for Schools (GPS) will conduct a final evaluation session to award the best performing school for the year 2011-2012.
Officials of the Green Programme for Schools (GPS) have announced that a final evaluation session will be held for participating schools on October 9-10, 2012 at the Msheireb Enrichment Centre. Schools...
What’s trending on Doha News this month?
Doha News rounded up stories everyone wanted to talk about in September for Qatar Today. Topping that was the opening of the Villaggio Mall. From boycott calls to a postponed court hearing to Villaggio’s eventual reopening, folks just couldn’t get enough of that story.
Villaggio Mall re-opens
http://dohanews.co/post/31875433285/official-villaggio-to-re-open-on-thursday
Three and a half months...
Payment Gateways in the Middle East
As e-Commerce sites continue to grow in the region, many online players are still looking for an affordable gateway to process payments. There are several successful e-Commerce companies in the region like Souq and MarkAVip, and an increasing number of entrepreneurs launching online businesses. For startups that are bootstrapped, cash flow is always a concern. ‘Cash on Delivery’ is...
Landmark Report on Impact of Social Media on...
Press Release
Findings Put Unprecedented Regional Spotlight on Social Media’s Ability to Boost Job Prospects, Up-skill Local Talent and Inspire Entrepreneurs
Report Welcomed by UAE Minister of Labor and Senior Officials in a Policy Forum at Dubai School of Government
Study Outcomes to Play Key Role in SAP’s Ongoing Feasibility Study for Creating Cutting-edge, Project-enabling ICT...
"Sponsorship reforms needed urgently"
And not in ten years’ time says HRW researcher
By Sindhu Nair
Last month, Qatar Today published interviews with two leading Qataris, one representing the Labour Ministry and another a prominent lawyer, both of whom criticised the Human Rights Watch (HRW) report released in June 2012 that critically examined the recruitment process and Qatar’s restrictive sponsorship system.
Reacting...
October - Newsbites from Qatar
Qatar to host UN Climate Change Conference
COP18/CMP8 represents more than just the largest conference to come to Doha; it is a global symbol of the nation’s commitment to building a prosperous and sustainable future for generations to come.
Over the past few years, Qatar has risen to a global leadership position in the fields of research, education, media, international business, energy,...
Qatar's Banks have aggressive risk appetite
How much risk are Qatari banks exposing themselves to? The average return-on-equity for the banking industry was 19% in 2011, which was a reflection on how well they did last year, but is it also tempting them to squeeze out a little bit more, especially with the Qatari government’s track record of providing liquidity and capital during periods of market turmoil? Stéphanie Méry Carillon,...
Mashreq Bank retail banking growing at a steady...
Figures: Customer deposits in QIB have increased to a total volume QR33.4 billion as of end-June 2012, a growth of 26% above the figure from the end-June 2011. Retail banking represents approximately three-quarters of QIB’s total deposits
What people are saying?
Head of Retail Banking at Barwa Bank, Hussain Al Abdullah: “Competition always works to the advantage of customers, but the...
What our Readers are talking about this Month
Define Qatar
Your cover-story makes an interesting point about marketing campaigns from around the world - they’re all different, but they’re all the same; ‘Incredible India’, ‘Malaysia, Truly Asia’, ‘Remarkable Indonesia’. Where’s the punch? Where’s the angle? Qatar needs something truly unique to tell the world, but is struggling to...
