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Citizens express shock over burglary death (no replies)

September 14, 2013, 7:57 pm
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Several citizens have expressed shock and surprise over the death of an expatriate on Thursday after a brawl with an intruder in his house in Ain Khalid.

The Ministry of Interior confirmed the incident yesterday and said the accused was arrested from his house later on Thursday. The incident also left the man’s son injured. According to the Ministry, the expatriate and his son found a stranger inside the house when they returned home. As they tried to prevent the man from fleeing, the father fell to the ground and died while the son suffered injuries. The statement did not mention the cause of death.

Al Sharq, in a report on its website yesterday, denied earlier reports that the man was stabbed to death by the intruder. He died of heart attack, after he hit the ground, said the daily.

The daily also scotched rumours that the man died after being hit on the head by the stranger.

As the man tried to stop the trespasser from fleeing, he asked his son to call the police. The stranger threatened to kill the son, if they blocked his way, said the daily. During a fight that ensued, the father fell down and died and the son suffered injuries on his stomach. Reacting to the incident, several citizens, described the incident as rare but disturbing. Many felt that illegal and runaway workers were behind such crimes.

“Qatar is a safe and secure place. The crime rate is very low compared to other GCC countries. This incident is rare though and strange for the Qatari community. The police were able to catch the culprit,” said Dr Mohammed Al Muslamani, a member of the Central Municipal Council. He called on the Ministry of Interior to intensify its crackdown on runaway workers. Dr Abdulla Jumuan Al Saadi, a Qatari columnist, while expressing similar sentiments, urged the authorities to impose stricter punishments on companies that fail to provide jobs to people under their sponsorship and those employing runaway workers.

“Such incidents are unfamiliar to our country. Theft and robbery are very rare. That is why many people leave their cars and houses open. Joblessness is forcing some people to commit crimes,” said Al Saadi.

[thepeninsulaqatar.com]
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Qatar are in danger of having 2022 FIFA World Cup snatched from them with major pressure on FIFA (no replies)

September 14, 2013, 11:03 pm
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QATAR are in danger of having the 2022 World Cup snatched from them as a result of a four-pronged attack on their right to stage the tournament.

Pressure from Europe’s football elite — including the Premier League — as well as the concerns of powerful American TV interests, Qatar’s beaten rival bidders for 2022 and anti-corruption investigators could scupper the project to stage the world’s biggest football tournament in the small but oil-rich desert state.

It is virtually certain that football’s world governing body, FIFA, will announce early next month that the 2022 tournament cannot be staged in Qatar in the summer — as originally envisaged when the World Cup was awarded to the emirate three years ago — because of the dangerously high temperatures, which can reach 40 degrees centigrade.

FIFA will propose switching the tournament to winter, but American TV giant Fox have told The Mail on Sunday that they agreed to pay $1billion for the rights to screen the World Cup in the summers of 2018 and 2022, not in winter. Industry sources say it is ‘unimaginable’ that they will accept a switch, not at that price.

The Mail on Sunday has also learned that, contrary to the public claim of FIFA president Sepp Blatter last week that bidders for 2022 agreed only ‘in principle’ to a summer event, the words ‘in principle’ did not appear in tender or bidding documents.

This bombshell revelation highlights the enormous legal complexities ahead. Legally and contractually, Qatar are obliged to stage a summer event that most agree they cannot now stage. But they have no legal or contractual right to stage a winter World Cup in 2022.

Although the head of Qatar’s bid, Hassan al-Thawadi, has been bullish in recent days that there is ‘no reason’ why his Middle Eastern nation — roughly the size of Yorkshire — cannot host the tournament, one source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘This is far from over. Qatar won’t be keeping 2022 without a struggle.’

The 2022 World Cup, lest we forget, is a tournament the FA’s new chairman, Greg Dyke, has set as a target for England to win. Goalkeeper Jack Butland, who will be 29, could be a fixture between the England posts by then, playing alongside other stars such as Phil Jones, (then 30), Luke Shaw (27), Jack Wilshere (30), Ross Barkley (28), Raheem Sterling (27) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (29).

Dyke’s target always looked unlikely for a tournament expected to be played in inhospitable conditions, even with Qatar’s much-vaunted plan to build air-conditioned stadia capable of dealing with high heat and humidity. A switch to winter might suit England’s national interests, but senior administrative figures within Europe’s major leagues are talking privately about the impossibility of a winter World Cup and are lobbying hard against it. Some are even suggesting a boycott.

If a winter event is ruled out and summer has been established as too hot for Qatar, then a change of venue would be the only option.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has told FIFA that he will not support a move to winter, while Dyke insists Qatar cannot host in summer. Their combined position, essentially, is that Qatar cannot stage the 2022 World Cup.

The major European leagues’ umbrella body, the EPFL, made it clear last week that an extensive consultation process must take place before FIFA’s Executive Committee rubber-stamps any winter move.

‘Any change to the international calendar must be carefully assessed through a full and proper consultation and decision making process balancing all relevant interests, including all football stakeholders and notably the EPFL,’ said a statement. The EPFL outlined how a switch to winter is far from simple, disrupting not just Europe’s domestic leagues but other major international sports events such as the Winter Olympics, FIFA tournaments including the Confederations Cup, UEFA tournaments including the Champions League and even impact on the global transfer and contract systems.

The EPFL’s public tone is amicable for now, ‘kindly requesting’ that FIFA do not make definitive decisions on a winter switch at FIFA’s next executive committee meeting on October 3-4.

But key figures from leagues of all sizes are increasingly indignant. ‘Clearing an eight-week winter window is a nightmare,’ said one. ‘That won’t be in January or February because even FIFA won’t go up against the IOC and clash with the Winter Olympics. So even theoretically you’d be looking at mid-October to mid-December. That cannot happen in 2021, it’s just impossible logistically to fit qualifying in between Euro 2020 and then.

‘And if you think the back end of 2022 is easier, try working out how much disruption that causes in the three or more years afterwards.’

One influential FIFA executive who has gone public with a plea for a detailed assessment of a winter switch before any vote is Sunil Gulati, the president of the US Soccer Federation and a new FIFA executive committee member.

He says: ‘I don’t see at this stage, frankly, how I or any member of FIFA’s executive committee could make a sensible decision [on a winter switch without a detailed impact assessment]’ ... we don’t have enough information and there are too many questions.’

Gulati wants detailed answers about how a winter switch would affect participants, leagues around the world and even Fifa finances if TV contracts have to be ripped up, potentially costing Fifa lost revenues in the billions.

Fox Sports, together with Telemundo (a subsidiary of the mighty NBC), bid $1bn for summer World Cups in 2018 and 2022. A Fox spokesman says: ‘Fox Sports bought the World Cup rights with the understanding they would be in the summer as they have been since the 1930s.’

Fox would not comment on potential legal action if the 2022 event moves to winter, but a network insider says the broadcaster ‘will not countenance’ a World Cup being given prominence on US TV between October and December.

America’s primary ‘sports property’, NFL football, is screened on Sundays in that time and the hugely popular college football is screened on Saturdays.

Asked about TV contract problems and EPFL opposition to a winter switch, a FIFA spokeswoman said: ‘The matter of the timing of the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be discussed in various ad hoc committees as well as the FIFA Executive Committee at the occasion of its next session on 3-4 October in Zurich and until these meetings have taken place FIFA is in no position to make any further comments.’ If the World Cup of 2022 is moved to winter in Qatar, FIFA face possible legal action from other 2022 bidders who lost out, having bid specifically for a summer event. Those rivals were the United States, Australia, Korea and Japan. It is understood the Australians are most likely to sue, with the Americans keeping a ‘watching brief’.

Blatter appeared to attempt to claim last week that FIFA had the latitude to move the event at will, saying 2022 bids were made for a summer event ‘in principle’.

But The Mail on Sunday has established that key paragraphs in the relevant documents never included that phrase, specifying a June or July 2022 World Cup, after a Confederations Cup in June 2021.

A FIFA spokeswoman: ‘The president made this [‘in principle’] comment in an interview situation. His statement was certainly not meant to be a legal explanation.’

Former US attorney for New York, Michael Garcia, is still investigating whether there was any corruption in the 2022 process. ‘He’s not finished yet,’ said a source. ‘There’s no firm conclusion either way.’

Any hard proof that Qatar broke the bidding rules, including colluding over vote swaps, could on its own see them lose the 2022 showpiece.

[www.foxsports.com.au]
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BBC Symphony Orchestra, Damien Hirst and V&A Pearls Exhibition are just some of the highlights Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture has in store for the autumn Season (no replies)

September 15, 2013, 4:33 am
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With over 50 events completed and the biggest yet to come, the organisers of Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture reveal a packed autumn schedule

Doha, 15 September 2013: On the heels of the critically-acclaimed Fashion Exchange in London, Qatar UK 2013 organisers today announced a busy autumn schedule of events, emphasising that the best has yet to come.

Building on the success of Qatar UK 2013 events in Qatar and the United Kingdom in the first half of the year, the autumn highlights announced today include:
- The first visit to Qatar by the BBC Symphony Orchestra (30 September – 1 October, Katara Opera House) conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, performing works by three of England’s finest composers: Elgar, Britten and Vaughan Williams
- Damien Hirst: Relics Exhibition (10 October 2013 – 22 January 2014, Al Riwaq), the artist’s first retrospective solo exhibition in the Middle East
- Ben Barbour Exhibition (23 October – 16 November 2013) Following Ben’s artistic journey from Qatar to the UK on a vessel transporting Qatargas’ LNG this summer, the Doha based resident artist’s drawings will be on display in Katara for three weeks.

In October and November, Qatar UK 2013 will also host a series of Café Scientifique – a series of informal events where scientists will host talks in public cafés and parks across Doha. Topics will vary from observation in human beings and animals to star gazing on the Corniche. The autumn programme will also include a ‘Women in Science’ day, in collaboration with Qatar Shell at the Qatar University on the 27th November, with talks and workshops from leading and inspiring Qatari and UK female scientists.

For sporting enthusiasts, the Premier Skills coaching programme has been confirmed 19-23 October 2013, organised by Qatar Football Association and the Qatar Women’s Sport Association. Qatar UK 2013 will also be hosting an International Schools Football Tournament 12-18 December in Doha.

Forthcoming UK events include:
- The much anticipated V&A Pearls Exhibition (21 September 2013 – 19 January 2014) exploring the history of pearls at the world renowned Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
- Hey’Ya: Arab Women in Sport (until 13 October) exhibition at the National Football Museum, Manchester
- Ferozkoh: Traditional Arts from a contemporary Afghanistan (14 November 2013 – 19 January 2014) exhibition at the Leighton House Museum, London

Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture recently produced a film, celebrating the strength of the bilateral relationship between the UK and Qatar and highlighting some of the collaborative projects created during the Year of Culture, in the fields of visual and performing arts, sports, and science.

Through events such as the first Arts and Disability Festival in the Middle East, the Ehtifal family day in Hyde Park as well as the artist Ben Barbour’s recent trip on an LNG vessel from Qatar to the UK, the enhanced cultural interchange has strengthened the relationship between the two nations, which will continue to flourish even when the Year of Culture concludes at the end of 2013.

His Excellency Nicholas Hopton, British Ambassador to Qatar, said:
“The Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture has been a tremendously eventful year to date. People in both Qatar and the UK have had many opportunities to share and experience first-hand cultural, sporting and musical events from each other’s nations. The British Embassy is very excited about the upcoming UK Season here in Qatar and we are lending our full support to the project.”
Commenting on the occasion, Miguel Blanco, Director of Strategic Cultural Relations, Qatar Museums Authority, said:

“Qatar UK 2013 is the second bilateral Year of Culture coordinated by QMA. Working together with the British Council and our Platinum Sponsors - Qatargas, Shell and Vodafone - this cultural exchange initiative with the UK has given us the opportunity to promote cultural dialogue and programmes, strengthening bilateral relations between our two countries.”

Martin Hope, Director of the British Council in Qatar said:

“It has been an honour to work together with QMA on the Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture; the year has been going from strength to strength with some fantastic experiences along the way. It has been and continues to be a year of firsts; we experienced STOMP in June, the BBC Symphony Orchestra is about to visit Qatar for the first time as is Relics: Damien Hirst Exhibition. The year has brought the best of Qatar to the UK and vice versa; we are really excited to get people of all ages and backgrounds involved and engaged in this cultural dialogue.”

Hamad Al-Eida, spokesperson for Qatar UK 2013 Year of Culture, said”:

“We are very pleased with the outcome of this collaboration in both Qatar and the UK to date. The Year of Culture has allowed us to experience and explore Qatari and British cultures in our countries, developing a deeper understanding for each other’s nations.”

Mansour Rashid Al-Naimi-Public Relations Manager, Qatargas said:

"Qatargas is pleased to be part of Qatar UK 2013 as a platinum sponsor and to provide all our support to such socially responsible initiatives which contribute to strengthening the relationship between the two countries and increasing the opportunities for cultural exchange. Through our Corporate Social Responsibility programme, we will continue to demonstrate our company's commitment to promoting activities in the fields of education, art, culture, community development and sports. We look forward to an exciting schedule of upcoming events for the rest of the Qatar UK 2013 autumn season".

Rob Sherwin, General Manager Corporate Affairs and Deputy Country Chairman said:
“Shell first invested in Qatar more than 50 years ago and has been promoting the bilateral relationship between Qatar and the UK since its earliest days. As the Qatar-UK programme gains further momentum with the opening of the highly-anticipated Pearls Exhibition and the BBC Symphony concerts, we are delighted to be supporting these events that showcase the best of both Qatar and the UK.”
Mohammed Al Yami, Director of External Affairs, Vodafone Qatar said:

“Vodafone Qatar is a British Company that is very proud to be operating successfully in Qatar through our partnership with Qatar Foundation- we are 77% owned here in Qatar mostly by local Qatari individuals. We are committed to fully support the Qatar National Vision 2030 by building a world class telecommunications infrastructure and to do whatever we can do to support the excellent and growing relationships between UK and Qatar. The Qatar UK Year of Culture is a really excellent initiative and is proving already to be a terrific success; we delighted and proud to be joint sponsor of the programme.”

[attachment 10771 ScreenShot2013-09-15at14.32.19.png]

- ILQ News -
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VODAFONE CONTINUES RETAIL EXPANSION IN GHARRAFAH WITH STORE AT EZDAN MALL (no replies)

September 15, 2013, 6:56 am
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Vodafone today announced the opening of its new store at Ezdan Mall, Al Gharrafah’s newest shopping destination, taking the company’s retail footprint to 20 stores located at key residential and commercial areas across Qatar. Vodafone now serves the bustling Gharrafah area with four outlets where the other three are located in Landmark, Al Gharrafah Souq and Lulu Hyper Market Al Gharrafah.
Marc Norris, Chief Commercial Officer at Vodafone Qatar, said: “This is another strategic milestone in our retail expansion roadmap for the year which is set to see a series of other outlets opening nationwide. Making our products and services continuously accessible to our customers wherever they are in Qatar is at the top of our priorities. It also strongly underlines our commitment to go the extra mile and make our customer experience a lot more convenient and delightful.”
With over 200 tenants, Ezdan Mall is poised to become a unique lifestyle centre for families in Qatar, housing world renowned brands, a supervised kids’ playground, ample parking facilities and a vibrant line-up of global culinary favourites. Al Gharrafah’s North Road area welcomes over 50,000 shoppers a day with its suite of hypermarkets, shopping malls and other service facilities.
Vodafone Qatar has recently inaugurated its fully refurbished store in Villaggio in addition to two other outlets in Al Khor Mall and Old Airport Street. Vodafone’s ultra-modern, multi-functional store at Villaggio houses a mezzanine section dedicated specifically to serve the company’s VIP customers.
For further information visit us on www.vodafone.qa

[attachment 10772 ScreenShot2013-09-15at16.45.37.png]

- ILQ News -
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Strike by school bus drivers leaves children stranded (no replies)

September 15, 2013, 7:44 pm
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Panic gripped parents of several students of Doha Modern Indian School (DMIS) after their children failed to return home on time yesterday following a “wildcat strike” by the school bus drivers.

DMIS principal Jai Gopal Jindal told Gulf Times that the transportation was outsourced to a company and it was a dispute between the transportation firm and the drivers that had led to the disruption in bus services.

“We hope that the matter will be sorted out and things will be normal soon,” he said while explaining that the school had no prior information of any plan by the drivers to abstain from work.

“When we learnt about the situation, we decided to send SMS to all the parents. We also tried to contact the parents by telephone,” he said.

The drivers cited “ill-treatment” by their employers.

The “strike” left children stranded at school, creating panic among their parents. Many of the frightened parents who rushed to the school said they were not immediately informed about the situation by the school authorities.

But the principal said that parents were informed through SMS about the unavailability of transportation and asked them to collect the students from school. Many parents said they had failed to receive the message on time. They said the school should have responded to the situation in a more responsible manner.

As anxious parents crowded the school office, there were heated exchanges of words with the officials. Some of the parents said they received the SMS only around 4pm, after reaching home with children.

The text message also said that parents must make alternative arrangements for transportation until further notice.

One of the drivers told Gulf Times that they were paid “very low” salaries and not properly treated by the company. He said the drivers had represented the matter before the company management long time ago.

“Even when the school reopened this year we requested for a hike but they refused to listen. Today after picking up the children from their homes we had informed the company’s office that we will not be dropping them back. The management has totally ignored us and we were forced to act.”

A parent said she came to know about the problem from another parent around 2.30pm as they were coming from Al Khor to Doha. “My friend’s child had called her using the phone of somebody else. I immediately called my husband who works in Doha and he rushed to the school and collected the children. I was deeply worried until they reached home.”

Another parent said that he was frantic as his child did not reach home on time. “When I tried to call the school, all the lines were engaged and the school driver did not pick up the phone either. I rushed from my workplace to the school and found that many parents had reached and most of them were agitated. I picked up my child and reached home around 3.30pm. Around 4pm I received an SMS from the school informing me of the inconvenience.”

[www.gulf-times.com]
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Boy battling for life after falling into manhole (no replies)

September 15, 2013, 7:45 pm
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A five-year-old Indian boy who fell into a manhole, located alongside the Fish Market complex, is battling for life at the Paediatric Intensive Care unit of the Hamad Hospital.

Sources told this newspaper that the boy, identified as Fahim was on a visit to Doha where his father Mohamed Sirajuddin is employed as accountant in a private firm.

When contacted yesterday, Sirajuddin said his son remained in a critical condition. He said that Fahim had suffered severe brain damage and was not responding to calls.

According to the father, the boy is hooked up to a respirator.

The accident occurred when the family was returning after a visit to the market on the evening of September 10. Fahim was walking a few metres ahead of his parents who were carrying their other
child, an 18-month-old baby girl.

Sirajuddin had brought his wife, son Fahim and his baby daughter to Doha in April from their native Cudalloore in Tamil Nadu.

The manhole was located in a poorly-lighted area. “I was at our stall when I learnt about the incident,” said a person who went down the manhole risking his life to take the boy out. “The hole was filled with sewage
water up to my shoulder level.”

The rescuer said he had used a long hose to climb down the manhole which is reported to be more than 5.5m deep. He said it was more than 15 minutes after the boy “disappeared” that he was told about it and he immediately volunteered to go inside the manhole, along with another person, searching for the missing boy who was found lying unconscious at its bottom.

[www.gulf-times.com]
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Qatari robbed at Paris airport (no replies)

September 15, 2013, 7:46 pm
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A Qatari businessman was attacked and robbed as he left a Paris airport, a source close to the case said, the latest foreign victim of crime in France.

At least three people stopped the car of the “rich businessman” as it left the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport on Saturday morning, bashed in the door and roughed up the Qatari and another person in the vehicle, the source told AFP.

The businessman was forced to give them a watch worth 30,000 euros (around QR145,000) and luggage containing high-value objects, the source, who wished to remain anonymous, added.

It was not clear whether the robbers specifically targeted the businessman or whether this was a random attack.

The assault comes as the French capital fights a rise in crime targeting foreigners that has tarnished its reputation as a haven for tourists.

In one high-profile attack in March, robbers robbed a group of 23 Chinese tourists - known for carrying large amounts of cash - in a restaurant shortly after they arrived in Paris.

[www.gulf-times.com]
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Best of Disney for Mozaic TV customers soon (no replies)

September 15, 2013, 7:48 pm
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Ooredoo has signed a multi-territory, multi-year deal with the Walt Disney Company (Middle East and North Africa) to bring some of the world’s best-loved entertainment direct to Ooredoo customers for the first time.
Customers of Ooredoo’s award-winning Next Generation Mozaic TV service will be able to access Disney Movies on Demand, Disney Channels on Demand and ABC TV on Demand via the Video-on-Demand services both inside the home and on the move with connected devices. Services are due to launch in Qatar later this year.
Families will be able to watch top Disney Channel TV shows like Shake It Up as well as blockbusters and classic movies from Disney and Disney-Pixar such as Pinocchio, Toy Story, Monsters, Inc, Cars and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Ooredoo’s unlimited, on-demand services will enable children to watch and re-watch a huge set of favourite Disney moments again and again.
In addition, customers can catch up on box sets of hit shows, including Desperate Housewives, Private Practice, Ugly Betty and Lost and watch recent ABC award-winning TV series such as Body of Proof.
The multi-screen agreement will enable customers to access the content via iPads, iPhones and PCs, as well as their home television.
Waleed al-Sayed, chief operating officer of Ooredoo, said: “This is a milestone agreement for Ooredoo as we link with one of the world’s leading companies to provide the very best content for our customers. Disney is a brand that is known and loved all around the world by children and families and we are delighted to be able to offer such a range of fantastic family entertainment directly to our customers.”
Didier Vanneste, country head of the Walt Disney Company (Middle East and North Africa), said: “Our deal with Ooredoo brings audiences in Qatar a range of quality content from Disney, Disney-Pixar and ABC Studios. With the launch of Disney Movies on Demand, ABC TV on Demand along with additional catch-up services and the ability for customers to access content on the move, this agreement gives viewers the content that they want, whenever they want it.”
Next Generation Mozaic TV offers a wide range of content in HD picture quality, with on-demand features such as Pause and Record Live TV and a Catch-up missed TV facility.

[www.gulf-times.com]
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Qatar to see highest urbanisation by 2020 (no replies)

September 15, 2013, 9:01 pm
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Qatar will achieve the highest level of urbanisation in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region by 2020, with 99.5 percent of its estimated population living in cities, followed by Kuwait at 98.4 percent, much above the Mena average of nearly 62 percent, according to the United Nations’ latest estimates.

Other GCC countries such as Bahrain, the UAE and Saudi Arabia will achieve 89.4, 86.7 and 84.1 percent urbanisation, respectively.

Egypt and Sudan, the two big Arab counties with the largest and second-largest population in the region, will continue to remain the least urbanised by 2020, with only 45.5 and 35.1 percent of their population living in cities, respectively.

As per the latest revision of the World Urbanisation Prospects report by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Qatar’s population by 2020 will reach to 2.2 million, of which 2.1 million will be living in cities.

However, in contrast with UN estimates, according to an earlier forecast by the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Qatar’s population is expected to reach about 2.8 million by 2020 from the present 1.83 million.

The UN report says more than 226 million people will be living in cities throughout the Mena region by 2020, accounting for 61.7 percent of the region’s total population.

The report says a two percent average annual urbanisation growth will continue across the region until the end of the decade, as the predominantly youth population gravitates towards cities in search of improved work opportunities and better lifestyles.

Sudan will witness the highest rate of 2.7 percent annual urbanisation, followed by Qatar, the UAE and Syria, each to grow at 2.3 percent.

The average urban population in all GCC states (including Qatar) will be 85 percent, with 45.1 million people expected to live in dense urban conglomerations by 2020. The average annual urbanisation growth in the region is estimated to be at 2 percent.

According UN estimates, the GCC population will reach nearly 52.9 million by 2020, while the total population of the Mena region will surge to 366 million.

The constant migration towards regional cities will put greater stress on limited and underdeveloped urban infrastructure and resources, the report says, urging governments to implement strategies that create resilient and sustainable cities for the future.

Ensuring cities’ well-being, growth and development will be the key message at the ‘Future Cities’ conference on October 8-10 in Dubai, alongside the Cityscape Global exhibition.

Organised by the Dubai Municipality, Environment Center for Arab Towns, the Arab Towns Organisation, and Informa Exhibitions, the three-day event has attracted global experts in urban planning to discuss the key pillars of a prosperous city: Security, water and waste management, tourism and hospitality, transport, energy management, disaster relief and green building.

[thepeninsulaqatar.com]
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Survey shows people expect cost of living to go up in Qatar (no replies)

September 15, 2013, 9:02 pm
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About two-thirds of respondents in Qatar expect the cost of living in the country will go up, and nearly 60 percent hope their financial situation will improve over the next few months, according to a survey by Bayt.com, a leading job site, and YouGov, a research and consulting organisation.

The latest Middle East and North Africa (Mena) Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) survey shows that respondents across the region, including Qatar, anticipate a rise in the cost of living in their countries in the next six months.

Qatar is no different; however, most respondents were positive that their financial situation will improve within the next six months.

According to the findings, six out of 10 (65 percent) Qatar respondents said their personal financial situation is now either the same as, or worse than it was six months ago, with 25 percent claiming it has improved.

Only 20 percent claimed that their savings had increased last year, compared to 36 percent whose savings have dropped.

“Respondents in the GCC countries seem to be especially happy with their current situation, in terms of job and the country’s economic stability.

“However, with the majority anticipating an increase in the cost of living and having experienced a drop in savings, it may be time to take an evaluative look at the stability of personal financial situations,” said Sundip Chahal, CEO, YouGov.

On big purchasing decisions in Qatar, about 44 percent of respondents said they did not have plans to buy a vehicle over the next 12 months, while 43 percent, who intend to purchase, will look for a used vehicle.

Three out of 10 (31 percent) respondents are looking to buy property within the coming year, with 47 percent looking for an apartment and 51 percent preferring new properties.

Consumers are looking at buying desktops or laptops (34 percent), furniture (21 percent), LCD or plasma TV (20 percent) and digital cameras (20 percent) in the coming six months.

Four out of 10 (43 percent) respondents believed that Qatar’s economy had improved in the past six months, while eight percent said it had receded.

Seven out of 10 (68 percent) anticipate better things to come in the coming months.

Business conditions in Qatar are believed to be ‘good’ (40 percent) or ‘very good’ (13 percent), with 34 percent saying they are ‘average’, while 73 percent expected conditions would improve in a year.

Reflecting on regional sentiments about the personal economic situation, almost a fifth (19 percent) of respondents said their financial situation had improved compared to six months ago.

But the majority, 43 percent, claimed their financial situation had remained unchanged, 29 percent saying it had become worse.

More than half (52 percent) of respondents said their savings had decreased compared to last year.

[thepeninsulaqatar.com]
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Chaos, anger as bus drivers go on strike (no replies)

September 15, 2013, 9:04 pm
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Worried parents speak to Doha Modern Indian School officials yesterday. RIGHT: Students of DMIS, who were stranded at the school following a flash strike by school bus drivers, going home with their parents yesterday. (Salim Matramkot)

DOHA: Hundreds of students of three prominent private schools here were stranded for hours yesterday after bus drivers transporting them went on a flash strike demanding pay hike.

The incident, the first of its kind in the country, led to chaotic scenes at the Doha Modern Indian School, the Cambridge School Doha and the Cambridge International School for Girls yesterday afternoon. All the three schools are owned by the Doha-based Taleb Group.

The first two schools are located in Abu Hamour and the third in Al Hilal.

The school management has filed a complaint with the police against the striking drivers. The police are investigating the incident, an official of the Taleb Group told this daily last evening.

About 120 bus drivers were involved in the strike, it has been learnt. They were employed by

Al Watan International Trading and Contracting Company, a subsidiary of the Taleb Group.

The school management has informed the parents to arrange transport for their children on their own “until the issue is sorted out.” The schools together have more than 4,000 students on their rolls and a majority of them were using school transport. The drivers brought the children to the school in the morning and declared a flash strike in the afternoon, refusing to ferry the children back home.

Caught in a messy situation, the school management sent text messages to the parents asking them to come and take the children home. However, many parents said yesterday they had received the message very late.

As children didn’t reach home, the panicked parents tried to call the school but many failed to get through because the telephones jammed. Many said they came to know about the situation from other parents.

“We learnt about the strike from another parent and rushed to bring our children home. The message which was sent by the school reached us after 4pm while the school closed at 1pm,” said a mother of two girls studying at the DMIS.

Many children were stranded at the school for two to three hours, because the parents were either not informed on time or they failed to make alternative arrangements within the short time. Some of the parents work in places like Dukhan, far away from Doha.

“We understand it was an unexpected situation and the school management had little control over it. But there should have been an effective method to inform parents, like the class teacher calling parents,” said a parent staying in the Corniche area.
Some parents also complained that their children starved until 3.30pm and the school management took steps to provide them with some snacks only after parents created a ruckus.

“We know that the school and the company that has provided the drivers are under the same management. I wonder why the school couldn’t anticipate the situation and take precautionary measures. At least they should have informed the parents earlier,” said another parent.

A senior official of the Doha Modern Indian School said that the school came to know about the strike only by noon yesterday and took all possible steps to handle the situation.

“The situation arose due to a problem between the drivers and their company. The school learnt about it only at noon and we called an emergency staff meeting, advised teachers to handle the situation and even arranged some food for children,” said DMIS principal Jaigopal Jindal.

He admitted that there was a delay in informing parents because “the text messages were sent in bulk.” The Taleb Group official said that the company was awaiting outcome of the police investigation to decide on future transport plans.

“The DMIS is closed tomorrow (Monday) while the other two schools are functioning. We have informed parents to make alternative transport arrangements until a decision is taken,” said the official..

The protesting drivers say that their salaries had not been raised for the past five years.

“Most of the drivers are getting about QR1,300 per month and we have been asking for a hike for more than five years,” said an Asian driver.

[thepeninsulaqatar.com]
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Depa venture launches Dh900 million claim against Qatar’s New Doha Airport (no replies)

September 16, 2013, 4:30 am
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Dubai listed interiors company Depa has filed a Dh900 million (US$250 million) arbitration claim against Qatar’s New Doha Airport as a bitter legal row over the unfinished airport escalates.

This morning Lindner Depa Interiors, a joint venture between Depa and German partner Lindner, said that it had commenced the claim in the International Court of Arbitration in Paris over its losses.

Depa, which is 24 per cent owned by Dubai’s largest contract Arabtec, was sacked from its contract to fit out 17 lounges at the long delayed new airport last June.

The new airport has suffered a series of delays which pushed back the completion of the $15.5 billion hub by nearly four years and has resulted in a $1bn overspend.

“We consider the termination of our contract to have been wholly unfounded and the subsequent lack of response by the New Doha International Airport has left Lindner Depa Interiors with no choice but to seek Dh900 million in compensation through international arbitration,” Mohannad Sweid, Depa chief executive said in a statement.

“We have spent significant time and effort over the last nine months to resolve this matter amicably with the New Doha International Airport but without success. We must protect the interests of our shareholders by seeking justice and are confident that the Tribunal will eventually find in our favour.”

Qatar Airways was not immediately available to comment when contacted by The National this morning.

Speaking at the Iata World Cargo Symposium in Doha earlier this year, the Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker said the airline would claim “a very large amount” for delays to the project.

Lindner Depa has always denied that it was responsible for the delays and said that it was prevented access to the site for much of the construction period.

In December Qatar’s national carrier Qatar Airways said it was filing a $600m legal claim against Lindner Depa for delaying the airport’s opening by up to a year.

However, it has so far not done so. According to Arabtec’s latest financial report, its legal advisers have said that as Qatar Airways was not a direct party to the contract it has no grounds for jurisdiction.

In March Depa, which is 24 per cent owned by Dubai’s largest contractor Arabtec, reported a Dh119.6 million (US$32.6m) loss which the Dubai-based fit-out contractor blamed on the legal row.

Depa said that the contract was cancelled and its performance bond and advance payment guarantee pulled due to the joint venture’s refusal to accept new, non-favourable contract terms and conditions. It said these included dropping all extension-of-time claims and related costs incurred as a result of very lengthy delays to our works caused by others and acceleration costs.

As a result of these delays, Depa said it had not been able to start all of its interior contracting work on site as planned and could not meet its original contract completion date.

In its statement today it added that “The termination of the contract and the subsequent public comments made against Lindner Depa by Mr. Akbar Al Baker, head of the NDIA steering committee and chief executive of Qatar Airlines in December 2012 and April 2013 caused significant financial and reputational damage to our company.”

Read more: [www.thenational.ae]
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Qatar is ‘committed’ to hi-tech systems to ensure road safety (no replies)

September 16, 2013, 7:24 pm
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Qatar is committed to installing hi-tech traffic signals and related equipment in line with the goals and objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims at putting things in a proper perspective while enhancing the capabilities of its people at different levels, said Ashghal director of infrastructure affairs Jalal Yousef Salhi.
The senior Qatari engineer was opening the ITS & Road Safety Forum, held under the aegis of Ashghal yesterday.
While highlighting the need for the best traffic and telecommunication systems, he said as part of the country’s infrastructural development in preparation for major events to be held in coming years, including the FIFA World Cup Final 2022, a series of works are to be executed all over the country.
The event held in partnership with the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the National Traffic Safety Committee alerted decision makers about the most important new developments and issues on roads.
Adviser of Ashghal’s roads operations and maintenance department Imad Nassereddine said: “The country’s Public Works Authority has 15 key initiatives and ‘Keep Doha Moving’ is one of its major initiatives. The ambitious plans include managing the traffic along the Corniche with the implementation of an effective ITS strategy.”
Nassereddine said Ashghal has already issued pre-qualification documents for procurement of ITS equipment and “is looking forward to participation from the global industry”. The official also spoke on the importance of additional CCTV coverage along important roads.
Nassereddine identified some roads where sweeping changes would be felt in coming years. “Besides the work on the Corniche, important roads like C-Ring Road, the expressways to Salwa and Dukhan will feature a host of top quality traffic systems in the next few years”, he said.
The three-day annual event has already attracted hundreds of participants, and will see discussions between ITS and road safety engineers, managers, consultants, contractors and suppliers.
Also speaking in a session later, Shell’s global road safety manager Mike Watson said: “Road safety needs are to be initiated by top management and implemented at different levels in an infrastructure development organisation.
“At Shell, the leadership commitment to safety does indeed come from the top. We have seen a significant decrease in road fatalities and incidents around the world due to a systematic implementation of road safety management systems.”
In the sessions the speakers answered an array of questions on the importance of strengthening the public transport system in Qatar. While highlighting the need for reducing public vehicles on the roads, one of the key speakers said it would not only help authorities complete a number of infrastructure projects on time but would also drastically reduce the traffic congestion experienced in the city.
Speaking earlier Conference director Ashley Philips said: “Roads and ITS will play pivotal and powerful roles in the country’s infrastructure development in the run up to the FIFA World Cup 2022.
“In its efforts to meet the country’s demands and development strategies for QNV 2030, the the annual ITS and Road Safety Forum Qatar gathers key decision makers whose judgements and expertise form the core of this multi-billion dollar industry,” he said.
The next sessions would focus on integrating ITS solutions to improve road safety, reduce fatalities and monitor progress, understanding driver behaviour and the most common distractions. It will also deliberate on actions that could be taken, including education and technology, and obtaining stakeholder outreach and participation when implementing ITS.

[www.gulf-times.com]
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Schools to get shorter summer break next year (no replies)

September 16, 2013, 7:26 pm
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Next years’ summer break for Independent schools in Qatar will begin on July 13 and end on September 7, according to the 2013-2014 academic calendar released by the Supreme Education Council (SEC) yesterday.

Private schools may also have to follow a similar schedule, following SEC’s decision to unify the annual holidays of all the schools in the country. As per the new academic calender, schools will have a shorter-than-usual summer break next year, spanning less than two months.

If the schools should start the summer vacation on July 13, they will be working for about two weeks during the holy month of Ramadan, that will begin early July, next year. This year all the schools were closed before the start of Ramadan.

The Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Mohammed Abdul Wahed Ali Al Hammadi, who is also the Secretary-General of the SEC approved the annual calendar for Independent schools for the 2013/2014 academic year.

An SEC statement issued yesterday explaining the examination and vacation schedules of the Independent schools didn’t specify whether they apply to the private schools.

This year and last year, only a few community schools were exempted from the SEC decision to unify the school holidays. Next year’s summer break for schools will be starting about two weeks late, compared to this year, when they were closed by the end of June.

The reopening date has also been advanced by three days, thus reducing the duration of the summer break. This year, schools in Qatar had one of the longest summer holidays, stretching more than 80 days.

Most private schools have also been following more or less a similar academic schedule, especially in the case of summer holidays. All the Independent schools and most private schools started their new academic session on September 10, with the exception of some community schools which resumed classes one or two days earlier.

The 2013-2014 academic year for Independent schools will see the introduction of a break at the second semester, for the first time. The first semester will end on January 26, followed by a 10-day break, and the schools will resume classes on February 6.

There will be another break during the second semester from April 13 to April 17.

Teaching and administrative staff of schools would return to duty on August 28. As for students, the 2014-2015 academic year will begin on September 7, after the summer break.

[thepeninsulaqatar.com]
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A smart way to fight fake goods (no replies)

September 16, 2013, 7:28 pm
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Officials and inspectors of the Anti-commercial Fraud Section of Consumer Protection Department (CPD) at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce will now be able to use their smartphones as an additional tool to combat counterfeiting.

As part of its efforts to prevent entry and sale of fake goods in Qatar, the CPD has hired services of a software company to help identify and seize such products quickly.

The interactive technology will enable inspectors to upload pictures of counterfeit products in ‘TrAC’ database to be verified by brand owners far away. The Transnational Anti-counterfeit (TrAC) database is the mobile version of the ‘ipwhiz’ website, developed by the Dubai-based company and can be accessed by iPhone and Android-based smartphone users with assigned passwords and usernames.

The Director of the section, Yousef Al Suwaidi, the Supervisor of inspectors, Sultan Marzooqui Al Nasr, and 20 inspectors yesterday attended a workshop on ‘Combating Counterfeiting Using Smartphones’, organised by the Dubai-based Bayet Al Hikma Consultancy, under the ministry’s patronage.

“The software designed to identify counterfeit products quickly will help us implement CPD laws more effectively and enhance the performance of our inspectors,” said Al Suwaidi.

The workshop trained inspectors how to use the technology and upload pictures of doubtful products for verification.

With the use of the technology, the process of verifying a counterfeit that usually takes days or weeks can be done within hours.

“Over the past five years we have been developing this system, which we started with the Saudi Customs and have perfected it recently. Officers can use it to verify any product they think is counterfeit. The uploaded data can be viewed by the brand owner sitting on the other side of the planet very quickly,” Gareth Davies, Managing Director of ipwhiz, told The Peninsula on the sidelines of the workshop.

Asked if the company had plans to make the application ‘free to use’ by consumers to make the fight against counterfeits more pervasive, Davies, said: “That wouldn’t be practical as it will require many employees and resources. Currently, we are catering to Saudi, the UAE and Qatar, and intend to introduce it to Chinese authorities as a lot of counterfeit products find their origin in China.”

With the expansion of Qatari market, foreign businesses are increasing their presence here, which has led to a surge in the number of cases of commercial fraud being heard by local courts.

Legal circles say illegal practices being resorted to by some retailers for profiteering, like replacing product labels and not complying with Qatari standards and specifications, are among common violations.

According to reports, in the first quarter of 2013, the CPD received about 900 consumer complaints and conducted 3,000 raids on retail outlets to check their compliance with the consumer protection law. In May, it detected 101 violations. It recently announced the seizure of 15,000 counterfeit building materials that had labels of Stanley, an Italian brand.

[thepeninsulaqatar.com]
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Ministry cancels promotion licence of Villaggio outlet (1 reply)

September 16, 2013, 11:30 pm
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The Consumer Protection Department (CPD) at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce has cancelled the licence of a retail outlet in Villaggio to offer special promotions.

The shop selling products of an international brand was found misleading customers regarding prices. It was selling products at prices higher than what was approved in the licence, Qatar News Agency reported yesterday.

The violation was detected during inspections by CPD officials.

QNA
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Egypt Returns $2B Worth of Aid to Qatar (no replies)

September 19, 2013, 7:58 pm
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Egypt's Central Bank paid back $2 billion in aid to Qatar despite its faltering economy and refused a request by Qatari airlines to increase flights, authorities said Thursday, marking a new low in relations between the two countries.

Over the past year, Qatar gave the government of Egypt's former President Mohammed Morsi some $8 billion in aid as it suffered through an economic slowdown. But since a popularly backed July 3 military coup in Egypt, relations have soured with the tiny Gulf nation, a main backer of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood group in the region.

On Thursday, Hesham Ramez, the head of Egypt's Central Bank, said $2 billion in aid money was returned to Qatar after its government asked Egyptian officials to postpone the conversion of the funds to bonds as earlier agreed. Ramez spoke to the Youm 7 news website. An official at Ramez's office later confirmed the comments.

Meanwhile, Egypt's civil aviation ministry turned down a request by its Qatari counterpart to increase the number of flights between Egypt and Qatar from 28 to 42 weekly flights via its national career, Qatar Airways. The decision comes even after a sharp drop in passengers coming into Egypt following the unrest that followed Morsi's overthrow. Tourism, which accounts for nearly 20 percent of Egypt's foreign currency revenues, also tumbled.

As far as aid, Qatar has been sidelined in Egypt by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Those nations, which view the Brotherhood as a threat to Gulf monarchies, have promised $12 billion in aid for Egypt. The aid, in a mix of grants, cash deposits and oil and gas products, have been used to avert gas and electricity shortages and shore up Egypt's foreign reserves.

Egypt's central bank recently reported that the country's foreign reserves had reached $18.8 billion, their highest level in almost two years. Still, the country's military-backed interim government faces increasing unemployment, widespread poverty and a burdensome and ill-distributed subsidy system.

The pressure Egypt's government has placed on Qatar isn't just economic, however. Authorities also have targeted the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite news network and its affiliates in Egypt by storming offices, detaining staffers, deporting correspondents and giving orders to take it off air. The government repeatedly cites what it sees as coverage biased toward the Muslim Brotherhood and Morsi's supporters as a reason for its actions.

Farag Abdel-Fatah, an economics professor at Cairo University, described the Central Bank's decision as "politically motivated."

"It's meant to reflect how Egypt has confidence in its ability to give up aid seen as means to support a certain group," he said.

[abcnews.go.com]
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‘Tricking’ families into ‘winning’ dream destinations (no replies)

September 19, 2013, 7:59 pm
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A large number of families have complained against a travel agency in Doha, which they accused of “tricking” them into believing that they have won a “special prize” to their dream destination; and then failing to deliver.
The agency has set up a stall at a leading local mall to promote their “packages”. The modus operandi is that a team of salespersons scouts for families and affluent individuals visiting the mall and persuade them to try their luck.
Gulf Times made an independent investigation into this model of business and found that the complaints were legitimate and the company representatives indeed promised the moon to families “for free”, when in fact they get nothing unless they agree to pay for one of the “discounted” packages that cost thousands of riyals.
When this reporter approached the travel agency’s kiosk at the mall as a potential customer, the salesperson, who identified himself as Mohamed, said that his company had the highest ranking among international travel agencies of the world.
He then promised to make my wish come true for a dream vacation with family if I answered a simple question, which was about naming four Arab countries whose names ended with the letter ‘N.’
Once the right answer was given, I was congratulated for winning the “prize” and a choice of three dream destinations were given. The prize included a week-long stay at a 5-star hotel in Bangkok for up to six people and a 40% discount on food. The prize did not include the plane tickets.
The salesperson then directed the “prize winner” to visit his company headquarters near the Sports Roundabout along with the family to collect the “reward.” He also said that there would be a “small party” arranged by the company to celebrate the event.
Matthew Chan, a Doha resident, who thought he had won a “gift” trip to Thailand with his family, said that once they reached the company’s office, they discovered that there were many families like them who too had been told that they have won prizes. “But there is no party for anyone there. Instead, they bring out papers to take our information, and begin to promote their services,” he said.
Chan said the company representatives gave an hour-long promotional presentation, which is summarised as: five weeks trip to anywhere in the world, excluding airfare; supposed actual cost is QR56,700 per package, but a special discount of QR 20,000 per package will be offered to the family.
The package can be paid either in full or in easy installments provided that the family pays at least QR 10,970 to activate the “first week” package. “When the installments are paid up to the amount enough for the second week package, the second week package will be released and so on. Validity of packages ranges from one to three years from the date of signing.”
Chan said he felt grossly cheated by the company. “If they would like to market or promote their products, they could have directly informed the customer and not used such tricks.”
Outside the company’s office, many other families such as Chan were found “disappointed” with similar feelings of being “tricked.”
One engineer of African descent who had brought his entire family of 10 people with him at the office said he felt extremely “embarrassed” in front of his family. “We really thought we won something and I told everyone about it, my friends and family back home. But now I realise it was such a waste of time and my family probably thinks I’m a fool to have fell for a scam,” he said.
Another Indian couple, who brought their barely one-year-old son along, said the company forced them to bring the entire family to their office. “Even though I had told them that my son was really young and it would be best if my wife stays back with him at home and I just come to pick the prize, the company said they will not hand me the prize. But now after going through all this, I feel stupid and angry,” he said.
The “Travel and Tours” company was repeatedly approached for an explanation but to no avail. The representative who answered the phone refused to even divulge the full name of the owner of the company, whose name was also missing from the company’s official website. “I will convey your message to our boss and he will get back to you,” a representative said. However, until the filing of this report, no one from the company contacted Gulf Times.

[www.gulf-times.com]
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Transport crisis in schools partially solved (no replies)

September 19, 2013, 8:00 pm
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The transport crisis at three private schools since Sunday was partially solved yesterday. Transport was available for students at two of the three schools from yesterday morning.

The problem is expected to get fully solved by Sunday, according to an official of the Taleb Group which manages Doha Modern Indian School (DMIS), the Cambridge School Doha and the Cambridge International School for Girls.

Bus drivers transporting students went on a flash strike demanding a pay hike on Sunday afternoon. More than 100 bus drivers employed by Al Watan International Trading and Contracting Company, a subsidiary of the Taleb Group, were involved in the strike.

The drivers brought children to schools on Sunday morning and declared a flash strike in the afternoon, refusing to transport them back home.

“Transport was available for DMIS students and one more school. It will be normal by Sunday and transport will be available for all three schools,” said a senior official at Taleb Group. However, he refused to comment on how the issue with drivers was solved and if they were given the demanded pay hike.

Parents at DMIS were informed by bus drivers early yesterday morning that they will come to pick their children to school. Later they were informed via a text message by the school management that transport will be available in the afternoon as well.

“The bus driver called us early in the morning around 5am and said that transport will be available,” said a father of a girl studying at DMIS.

“We received the text message early in the morning informing transport will be available in the afternoon. Finally the problem is solved. Hope it will not be repeated,” another parent said.

[thepeninsulaqatar.com]
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Commercial Bank signs an exclusive partnership with Manchester United, the world’s most famous football team (no replies)

September 19, 2013, 10:44 pm
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Legendary Manchester United football player Andrew Cole, along with Manchester United executives and Commercial Bank Chief Executive Officer Mr Abdulla Al Raisi, today announced a new five-year exclusive partnership with Manchester United, the world’s most famous sporting brand, to offer an exclusive range of financial services products. As Qatar readies itself for hosting the 2022 World Cup, Commercial Bank will offer to existing and new customers a range of Manchester United branded current accounts, savings accounts, debit cards and credit cards.

Manchester United’s Group Managing Director, Richard Arnold, commented, “Manchester United is delighted to welcome Commercial Bank as its first financial services partner in the country. Our two organisations share many common values and we are pleased to be teaming up with them to promote healthy living, sportsmanship, teamwork and the development of youth talent amongst the Club’s ever expanding fan base in the country".

Commenting on the partnership, Commercial Bank’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Abdulla Al Raisi said, “Commercial Bank continues to deliver innovative financial products for its customers, backed up by consistently top quality service. Our history and heritage has always demanded that we truly make everything possible for our customers, and our historic partnership with Manchester United further demonstrates our commitment to do just this. As Qatar prepares to host the World Cup in 2022, what better way is there to support our country’s vision than to bring to our customers financial products that will enable them to get closer to the world’s best football team, Manchester United, providing them with priceless experiences, and opportunities to get involved in football-related activities and promotions. We have every confidence that our relationship with Manchester United will go from strength to strength and that we will leverage our relationship over the coming years to further innovate and offer leading products to our customers.”

There are a range of Manchester United financial products available to consumers, which include a Current or Savings account with a debit card and two types of Manchester United credit card. All products come with attractive card designs branded with the Manchester United logo. Among many other features, Manchester United premier cardholders will also have access to the Commercial Bank rewards program which allows them to transfer Commercial Bank Reward Points to FlyMiles or Accolades. Additionally, access to over 450 airport lounges, travel insurance and exclusive merchant offers are part of the card offering.

In addition to the new range of products available, as part of the exciting launch activities, every customer who applies for a Manchester United credit card will automatically enter a prize draw to win top prize of an all-expenses-paid dream trip to watch Manchester United train and play at Old Trafford from the comfort of a top hospitality suite. Runners up will win tickets to games or signed shirts. Additionally, the first 200 new Manchester United credit card customers will be invited to attend a live screening of a Manchester United game at a fan event in Doha with a prominent team legend, giving fans an opportunity to get up close and personal with one of their sporting heroes. There will also be a host of activities at Commercial Bank branches where credit card applicants can win Manchester United goodies, such as photographic prints depicting the team in action and signed pennants.

Commercial Bank is also pleased to announce that it will be running annual Manchester United Football Schools, run by the Manchester United Football Schools coaching team, which will allow children (aged 12 and above) to undergo extensive football coaching from some of the best coaches in the world.

To engage in any of these exciting opportunities, just apply for a Manchester United credit card today, and you too can be part of the action.

[attachment 10791 ScreenShot2013-09-20at8.43.51.png]

- ILQ News -
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