interview - Gulf Insider

7 months ago

National Bank of Bahrain’s Usman Ahmed: Community, Stability, and the Growth Mindset

Usman Ahmed, Group Chief Executive Officer of the National Bank of Bahrain, discusses the bank’s role in supporting Bahrain’s financial stability, its community focus, and how it’s embracing digital innovation amid shifting scenarios in this exclusive interview. Now in its third edition, Business Leaders in the Middle East brings together sharp insights from across the region. These aren’t mere interviews; they’re windows into how leadership is evolving in a world shaped by rapid digital transformation. Technology touches nearly every industry now, and these leaders show us how to navigate change with purpose. How is NBB leveraging the fintech ecosystem to improve customer experience and access to services? The FinTech ecosystem in Bahrainhas flourished thanks to a progressiveregulatory framework. At NBB, We see great value in collaborating with FinTechs to enhance niche customer experiences and expand our offerings. We’re exploring partnership models in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, using our commercial banking licences to offer banking as a service. Recently, we partnered with a FinTech to introduce digital ID verification on our retail app. FinTech involvement has broadened the industry’s scope, and we remain committed to both partnerships and investing in best-in-class digital services for our customers. What unique leadership challenges […]

7 months ago

Hospitality with Heart: Remya Madan on Creating a Thriving Business Legacy in Bahrain

What began as a gesture of support became a transformative journey into leadership and success. In Bahrain, Remya Madan and her husband, Madan Perattur, built Remya Management from the ground up, spanning hospitality and fitness, into a portfolio that now includes some of the island’s favourite lifestyle hubs such as Black Angus, Texas Longhorn. Now in its third edition, Business Leaders in the Middle East brings together sharp insights from across the region. These aren’t mere interviews; they’re windows into how leadership is evolving in a world shaped by rapid digital transformation. Technology touches nearly every industry now, and these leaders show us how to navigate change with purpose. What was the initial challenge or gap you aimed to address when starting this business? Ten years ago, I stepped into the hospitality industry primarily to support my husband, Madan Perattur, in whatever capacity I could. At the time, I had no prior business experience, so I learned everything alongside him, taking it one step at a time. From the outset, our goal was to create a warm, inviting space where guests not only enjoy top-notch amenities but also feel genuinely cared for and connected to the locale. I firmly believe […]

7 months ago

Julius Baer Bahrain’s Shaj Babu on Preserving Wealth Across Generations

Shaj Babu, CEO of Julius Baer Bahrain, reflects on the wealth management firm being on the cusp of marking 50 years of presence in the Kingdom. In this exclusive interview, we learn about how Julius Baer witnesses shifting client preferences as the younger generation looks to alternative forms of wealth management. Now in its third edition, Business Leaders in the Middle East brings together sharp insights from across the region. These aren’t mere interviews; they’re windows into how leadership is evolving in a world shaped by rapid digital transformation. Technology touches nearly every industry now, and these leaders show us how to navigate change with purpose. Bahrain has been a key part of Julius Baer’s regional story. Can you walk us through the evolution of your presence in the country and what makes this market strategic for the bank? Julius Baer’s expansion into Bahrain was initiated by the Group’s acquisition of Merrill Lynch’s International Wealth Management businesses in 2013. Since then, 95% of Merrill Lynch Bahrain’s clients moved to Julius Baer in recognition of our values, heritage, and innovation. Next year, we will proudly celebrate 50 years of continuous presence in the Kingdom. This milestone not only showcases our long-term […]

7 months ago

Alphabeta Properties’ Abdulla Al Shaibani: Shaping the Architectural Fabric of Dubai

Abdulla Al Shaibani, CEO of Alphabeta Properties, has built his venture with an aim to contribute significantly to the architectural and cultural fabric of Dubai. In this interview, he dives into the trends shaping the UAE’s real estate landscape and how thoughtful design, tenant satisfaction, and digital transformation are redefining modern living. Now in its third edition, Business Leaders in the Middle East brings together sharp insights from across the region. These aren’t mere interviews; they’re windows into how leadership is evolving in a world shaped by rapid digital transformation. Technology touches nearly every industry now, and these leaders show us how to navigate change with purpose. What led you to establish Alphabeta Properties? When starting Alphabeta Properties, we originally set out to offer a much higher quality rental product in Dubai’s real estate market. The goal was to raise the standard, both in terms of design and service. From the beginning, our ambition has been to become Dubai’s leading build-to-lease developer, with a clear focus on delivering well-designed, purpose-built spaces for tenants. What milestones has the company achieved in the last two years? With M77, we introduced the UAE’s first-ever rental auction model, completely redefining how rental units are […]

3 years ago

Getting to know the new President of the American University of Bahrain

Gulf Insider speaks with newly appointed President of the American University of Bahrain, Dr. Bradley J. Cook. Succeeding Dr. Susan E. Saxton, the Founding President of the American University of Bahrain (AUBH), Dr. Bradley J. Cook joined the University in the summer of 2022. He has over thirty years of distinguished experience in higher education across the US and the Middle East. We reached out to learn more about his plans as he takes up his new role, his definition of leadership as related to education, his greatest achievements, and more. What are your primary focus areas as you take up this new role? I am thrilled to join AUBH and the wide array of potential I can see within the University. During my years of experience in higher education, I have worked with numerous practical institutions to better understand and analyse the needs of the marketplace. Being connected to the industry is crucial to supporting AUBH in developing a caliber of graduates with world-class education who possess the essential skillsets required to thrive in the practical environment. This will in turn drive the growth of the Kingdom’s economy. As I take up the new role, I am currently […]

4 years ago

Benefit: Elevating digital transformation in Bahrain

Gulf Insider talks to Benefit’s Chief Executive, Abdulwahed AlJanahi on the newly launched remittance services, exciting new services to look forward to, and vision for Bahrain’s financial sector. Benefit is Bahrain’s leading regional player in electronic financial transactions and FinTech solutions. The company has been unlocking vast opportunities for nearly 25 years by powering effortless payment solutions for all individuals and businesses in the Kingdom. Benefit has won many prominent local and international awards such as the e-Government Excellence Award 2021 and the Best Smart Application Award 2021 and many more. As Bahrain’s leading regional player in electronic financial transactions, how do you aim to improve efficiency with your new digital remittance service? The remittance service is something that we’ve been working on for some time as we have big numbers of expats here in Bahrain. Our goal in everything we do is to make things easy for the public. With the remittance, we have started with Bahrain Financing Company (BFC), but there will be a number of money exchange companies on the app in the near future for the purpose of providing the customer with the most convenient services. They can compare prices and rates on the app – […]

4 years ago

Unfolding the ambitious vision of the Red Sea Project

Gulf Insider interviews Ahmad Darwish, Group Chief Administrative Officer of the Red Sea Development Company. What is the Red Sea Project (TRSP)? We wanted to create a destination that is luxurious but regenerative at the same time. It is 28,000 square kilometers in size – the size of a country. The objective is to set new standards for sustainable development and position Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map. It has been in preparation for the last five years, and now is in its implementation phase where the customers are beginning to see this vision come into reality. Where did the idea come from? Why did you decide develop this area into a tourist destination? The area we were tasked with developing, and protecting at the same time, naturally lends itself to tourism in terms of its weather, it’s beauty, and the diversity of landscapes and activities that can be enjoyed. We started looking at the natural assets and resources in the Kingdom, brainstormed how we can develop around these assets, and at the same time protect them. We wanted to enhance the life of the people around this area and present a definite positive impact. Approximately 75% of the […]

4 years ago

BMW Group: Sustainability, inclusivity, and social responsibilities

Charlie Cooksey of Gulf Insider attends a roundtable by Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Human Resources and Labour Relations Director, and patron of the Intercultural Innovation Award (IIA) as she speaks about BMW and the IIA. The BMW Group is an international, intercultural company operating in 140 countries and has production operations in over 30 countries. Intercultural, mutual understanding, and respect are their key drivers for future cooperation, as well as climate change with their sustainability strategies and social responsibilities. The BMW Group and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) awarded ten organizations from ten countries with the Intercultural Innovation Award (IIA) at the Germman Pavilion at EXPO 2020 Dubai. The award honoured people and projects that promote diversity, tolerance, and inclusion in a creative way. Over 1,100 organizations from 120 countries applied for the award. Why hold the IIA in Dubai? Coinciding with the themed week on Tolerance and Inclusivity, and the International Day of Tolerance, it was the perfect place. I really liked the motto of the of the expo – “connecting minds creating future”. If you want to connect minds, you need to respect one another, therefore, I think it’s […]

4 years ago

Adamas Motors operates the new Lotus Bahrain showroom

Charlie Cooksey interviews Karl Hamer, CEO, Adamas Motors on the newly launched Lotus showroom in Bahrain. You describe the new Lotus Bahrain showroom as a “world first”. What do you mean by that? Bahrain’s market is not the biggest in the world, we all know that. Although it’s a conservative market, people here love their cars. Our business is in the Asia Pacific and Middle East only so when we had the chance to go into Bahrain, I jumped at it. Motor retailing has changed and now it’s all about giving lifestyle experiences. I wanted to build the world’s first department store for cars in a high-end fashion in the center of Manama’s financial district. The Bahrain showroom is the first in the world to display Lotus’ new retail identity. Where does the name Adamas come from? When I was forming the company, I didn’t want it to be in my name. I wanted a brand of our own so that when you hear it across Asia Pacific and the Middle East, you’ll immediately know it’s synonymous to luxury. The name Adamas was inspired by its Latin origin of a diamond – unbreakable, indestructible and invincible. We understand that Bahrain […]

5 years ago

Interview: The impact of COVID-19 on Bahrain’s education sector

The COVID-19 pandemic presented significant disruptions in different sectors of the society; the education sector worldwide is not an exception to the impact of these unprecedented times. In Bahrain, the spread of COVID-19 has required a range of extraordinary responses from authorities and education institutions. We recently interviewed Dr. Jawaher Shaheen Al-Mudhahki, the Chief Executive of the Education and Training Quality Authority (BQA) to know more about the current status of educational institutions in the Kingdom. We have learned from your recent annual report that you have shifted your frameworks and processes in rating educational institutions remotely. Did this have any implications on the accuracy of the ratings? The BQA is committed to improving education and training by evaluating educational and training institutions fairly and objectively. In response to the current challenging circumstances, the BQA has established a framework that focuses on evaluating the schools’ responses to any exceptional circumstances the country or the world is going through. This framework has been adopted to gauge the appropriateness of the schools’ measures, procedures and practices to ensure the continuity of providing proper education to all students. It does not replace the regular review framework – it adopts a somewhat modified approach and set […]

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National Bank of Bahrain’s Usman Ahmed: Community, Stability, and the Growth Mindset

Hospitality with Heart: Remya Madan on Creating a Thriving Business Legacy in Bahrain

Julius Baer Bahrain’s Shaj Babu on Preserving Wealth Across Generations

Alphabeta Properties’ Abdulla Al Shaibani: Shaping the Architectural Fabric of Dubai

Getting to know the new President of the American University of Bahrain

Benefit: Elevating digital transformation in Bahrain

Unfolding the ambitious vision of the Red Sea Project

BMW Group: Sustainability, inclusivity, and social responsibilities

Adamas Motors operates the new Lotus Bahrain showroom

Interview: The impact of COVID-19 on Bahrain’s education sector

Recent Posts

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Bahrain: Unlicensed Medical Practice Penalties Set At Up To Five Years And BD5,000 Fine

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