Bahrain News

4 years ago

Fun in the Bahrain Sun with Porsche’s 718 Boxster GTS 4.0

Gulf Insider drives the new Porsche 718 Boxster GTS 4.0, and is impressed. By Charlie Cooksey Things have changed since the days when the Boxster was considered by many as the poor stepchild of the Porsche line-up. This model looks fantastic and may have even eclipsed the 911 cabrio in good-looks. This is a real sports car, so the cockpit is snug with absolutely no space wasted, and there’s a traditional power folding soft top. Under the bonnet there is a naturally-aspirated, flat-6 “boxer” engine offering 395 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque – a huge engine for the size of this car. The 0-100 km/h takes just 4.0 seconds, with a top speed of 288 km/h. The mid-engine layout helps it to feel balanced and stable through corners, while the superb steering reacts quickly and accurately. The 718 Boxster’s handling and steering is just wonderful. The 718 Boxster may not share the same iconic image of the Porsche 911, but it not only has great styling, it also is without doubt one of the best-driving sports cars there is. GTS spec includes the Sport Chrono package with its clock atop the dash, Sport Plus mode for even faster gearshifts, […]

4 years ago

Looking to pursue your MBA in Bahrain?

The American University of Bahrain (AUBH) announced its first post-graduate programme, co-created with California State University, Northridge. The modern workplace is all about innovation, strategic communication, and an entrepreneurial spirit. In an economy governed by competition, technological advances, and rapid growth, more and more workplaces are looking for dynamic leaders with Masters in Business Administration (MBA)-level qualifications. Whether you’re fresh out of college or looking to take your career to the next level, an advanced MBA program can accelerate your skills for management across sectors and equip you to deal with real-world challenges. View this post on Instagram A post shared by American University of Bahrain (@aubh_bahrain) The AUBH MBA programme builds business fundamentals with strong foundations in accounting, marketing, and strategy. The two-year programme helps students master skills in leadership, creating partnerships, interpreting industry data, managing crises, and negotiation techniques. The programme spans across four semesters, augmented by additional summer coursework. The concentrations cover topics such as Leadership for Innovation in Global Contexts; Data Analysis and Mining for Business; People Analytics for Leaders; and Intercultural Communication in Business. The programme will be offered outside of regular working hours to accommodate the schedules of busy, mid-career professionals. The design of […]

4 years ago

Bahrain: The VW Golf GTI (Mk8) is in a League of its Own

Gulf Insider drives the car that, since its launch nearly 50 years ago, sets the standard for ‘hot hatches’. By Charlie Cooksey From picking up the kids, to carting around boxes, to driving just for the sheer fun of it… the Golf GTI is considered the daddy of hot hatches – a fast and practical car that will do just about anything you need. Now in its eighth generation (Mk8), a new 2-litre turbo four-cylinder engine provides 245 horsepower and a substantial 273 pound-feet of torque. Choose Sport mode and the car instantly becomes stiffer. An ultra-responsive throttle gets this car from zero to 100 kph in 6.4 seconds. VW has reworked the suspension for better performance and the steering feels good. Understeer is usually a let-down in front-wheel-drive cars, but the GTI is in another league. Further noticeable changes from the previous model include new rear hatch and taillight designs, a greater sloping bonnet, and full-width running lights below the bumper. Inside, a big difference from the previous model is the fully digital cockpit making the interior clean and uncluttered. There are no knobs and few buttons on the dash – whether this is a good thing or not is subjective. A 10.3-inch […]

4 years ago

Why is the Macan the World’s Best-Selling Porsche?

Gulf Insider drives the top of the range Porsche Macan GTS to find out. By Charlie Cooksey Porsche came in for a lot of criticism back in 2002 when they announced they were going to build an SUV; it just wasn’t something a company known for high-performance sports cars did at the time. But history reveals that they were just the first sports car manufacturer to do so, and most others eventually followed. The Porsche Cayenne was a massive success and became the company’s bestselling vehicle – until 2014 when they launched the Macan which many believe is not just even more fun to drive than the Cayenne, but has better value – which is why it’s now outselling the Cayenne. The 7-speed PDK shifts with lightning-fast precision and is hard to fault. It’s easy to see why this model is so well-liked, it’s an outright joy to drive – a premium crossover that puts a smile on the driver’s face. The GTS, which I drove, is the top-of-the-range Macan with a significantly more powerful twin-turbo V-6 engine than standard models. It has 434 horsepower and will go from zero to 100kph in less than 3.5 seconds. The latest model […]

4 years ago

Beyon Money: Teamwork makes the dream work!

A great team can either make or break a company. Teamwork at the workplace is essential to maximize the output and yield better productivity out of everyone involved. It is crucial to spark and maintain a continuous flow of motivation, enthusiasm, and encouragement within the team members throughout the process. Roberto Mancone, CEO of Beyon Money, shared an impressive and inspiring story with us recently that highlighted the power of great teamwork. The team’s management of the incident reflected the leadership quality and strong team spirit at the up and coming company. The team at Beyon Money has created a range of WhatsApp groups, each relating to a department or service – one of these, is related to handling issues faced within the app. The Incident One Friday night at around 11:45 pm, one of the employees noticed that there was a minor malfunction on the app. The team has in place a continuous process of testing of the app, monitoring any potential issues that some clients may face from time to time. The Response As soon as the first WhatsApp alert message was sent, everybody jumped in the group chat in a coordinated manner: one member started testing, another […]

4 years ago

How is Canadian School Bahrain giving students real life financial literacy skills?

The CSB Junior Banking Programme allows students to learn the ins and outs of banking through a hands-on learning experience. In collaboration with Al Salam Bank, the Canadian School Bahrain (CSB) launched a ‘Mini Bank Branch’ at the school campus where the students get to experience and learn real-life financial literary skills. Students from Grades 5 and 6 will learn how banking works by taking the role of both bankers and customers, experiencing real time exchanges with their peers. The students will learn the day-to-day responsibilities of a CEO, customer representative, branch manager, and teller as well as how to work together as a collaborative team to ensure that operations run smoothly in a fast-paced environment. Children learn best when they are fully engaged, and one of the most effective ways to engage them is through a hands-on approach. It challenges them through experience and encourages them to experiment, think outside the box, and learn new problem-solving strategies. CSB is a certified offshore school offering the British Columbia, Canada curriculum (BC Curriculum). Its core competencies are integrated into all learning, namely: communication, critical and creative thinking, and personal and social responsibility. For more information on CSB and their Junior Banking […]

4 years ago

Bahrain: What are the benefits of an American curriculum?

“Every curriculum and approach, whether it’s British, American, or Canadian, have their strengths.” – Dave McMaster Gulf Insider speaks with Dave McMaster, Founding Director of the American School of Bahrain, about the American curriculum, the advantages of studying in a US accredited school, the IB Diploma, and how the students are being prepared for university and careers beyond. ASB offers a standards-based American curriculum. Can you tell us briefly what this is? An American-based standard curriculum is a research-based educational approach for a curriculum that looks at each area of academic studies. We use the common core standards for English and Math, the new generation’s Science standards, as well as standards for Physical Education, Health and Wellness, and Fine and Performing Arts. As the students go through school, the teachers will look at if they’re meeting these standards. We use data driven assessments like the Measure of Academic Progress test, which measures their literacy and numeracy levels. If there’s a gap – which there’s been a lot lately, due to COVID – they can go back and assess how the student is doing against these standards. Is ASB accredited by any US accrediting authority? What does it mean for the […]

4 years ago

A long Dubai weekend with a McLaren 720s Spider

Gulf Insider spends time with what’s been called “the world’s greatest supercar”. By Charlie Cooksey I remember visiting McLaren’s factory in Woking back in the summer of 2015 and being impressed with its beauty – spacious modern architecture on the edge of a lake set within the rolling hills of the English countryside. Everything was state of the art and spotlessly clean – you could, as the saying goes, ‘eat your lunch off the floor’. I felt the pride and innovation of the McLaren workforce and the great lengths the engineers go to improve every product for speed, lightness, safety, and to make the world’s finest performance machines. I have kept good relations ever since, to the extent McLaren kindly offered me a striking bright orange 720s Spider to use as my personal transport when they learned I’d be visiting the UAE over a four-day long weekend last month. It would have been rude to have turned down such an enticing offer so on arriving in Dubai, I went and collected this thrilling machine from the Dubai Autodrome. Getting into the 720s, silly me had forgotten this car doesn’t do ‘normal doors’ – it sports the gull-wing doors. Getting in […]

4 years ago

A Dubai weekend in “affordable” Ferraris – Part I | The Roma

In the battle of the “affordable” Ferraris, which wins – Roma or Portofino M? Gulf Insider seeks to find out. By Charlie Cooksey Which is the best “affordable” Ferrari, the Roma or the Portofino M? I had the opportunity last month to drive and spend time with both. Okay, let’s be honest, neither of these entry-level Ferraris can really be called affordable, with starting prices of around BHD 95,000. But, in the world of luxury supercars, they qualify. Both are stunning, immensely powerful, and in the very top echelon of sports cars. I contacted an influencer friend in Dubai, Nadia Sultan, and asked if she’d like to collaborate with us to create some glamorous Ferrari content – turns out she’s always loved the Ferrari brand and jumped at the chance. I mean, who doesn’t love Ferraris? Nadia (@nadiasultanx) is a growing influencer and TikToker based in Dubai who I’d been following for a while and creates fun, authentic yet glamorous content. A great fit for the job. We decided to create content with Nadia for the Portofino M – she suited the Portofino M since it was a convertible so we could get some wind-swept shots with the roof retracted. […]

4 years ago

What is the Importance of Giving Back to the Community?

John Maguire, Executive Headmaster at the British School of Bahrain shares the importance of giving back, developing compassion and humility within the school, and how they strive for a positive impact globally through charitable projects. A school truly at the heart of a community is one that gives back. No longer can private schools sit as ‘islands’ detached from their local surroundings. Outstanding schools should be an integral part of the community and use their position to improve the lives of those around them while nurturing within all of their students the importance of community spirit, philanthropy, and charity. The British School of Bahrain (BSB) was founded over 26 years ago and has grown tremendously since. The school’s early beginnings relied on the local community, and the school has continued to nurture its position within Bahrain and the global community ever since. At the heart of the school’s educational provision are its character-forming values, of which Community is one of the core values. These values underpin BSB’s ongoing development as one of the leading schools in the Gulf region. Community-based initiatives are aplenty within the school, including environmental and society-based projects. The monthly Big Beach Clean is a popular and […]

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Search Here

Fun in the Bahrain Sun with Porsche’s 718 Boxster GTS 4.0

Looking to pursue your MBA in Bahrain?

Bahrain: The VW Golf GTI (Mk8) is in a League of its Own

Why is the Macan the World’s Best-Selling Porsche?

Beyon Money: Teamwork makes the dream work!

How is Canadian School Bahrain giving students real life financial literacy skills?

Bahrain: What are the benefits of an American curriculum?

A long Dubai weekend with a McLaren 720s Spider

A Dubai weekend in “affordable” Ferraris – Part I | The Roma

What is the Importance of Giving Back to the Community?

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Now It Takes Just 48 Hours To Get UAE’s Single Entry Tourist Visa Valid Up To 60 Days

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