Latest news with #Bahrain-based
Biz Bahrain
20 hours ago
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
Avli by tashas Opens in Bahrain, Bringing True Athenian Hospitality to Manama
Avli by tashas, developed by renowned restaurateur Natasha Sideris officially opens its doors in Bahrain on June 20. The restaurant is part of the portfolio of Harve, an initiative of Bahrain-based Infracorp. Following the success of its multi-award-winning flagship in Dubai, recognised by the Michelin Guide, Avli Bahrain brings the spirit of the Mediterranean to the heart of Bahrain. This distinctive experience has been brought to Bahrain by Harve, which specializes in refined hospitality and immersive cultural experiences. Harve aims to redefine the regional lifestyle scene by introducing innovative concepts that blend art, cuisine, and design. An intimate evolution of the Avli experience, the Bahrain space offers a lounge-style layout, inviting both convivial gatherings and quiet moments of connection. Guests are welcomed into an atmosphere of soulful elegance, featuring a large collection of antiques, meticulously curated by Tashas Group visual stylist Nicky Greig and founder Natasha Sideris, contributing to a space that feels richly layered and storied. The design journey is further enriched by collaborations with celebrated international artists. At the entrance, hand-drawn murals by artist Alexandra Ross, inspired by ancient Greek frescos, lend the space a timeless sensibility. Suspended above the main dining area is a poetic fabric installation by Elonah O'Neil Reid, reminiscent of laundry lines in a sunlit courtyard – a tribute to the name Avli, meaning 'courtyard' in Greek. Ceramic artist from Athens, Keti Anastasaki, contributes a striking three-dimensional artwork to the restaurant's exterior, while intricate mosaic designs by artist Marina Ehlers bring added texture and visual richness to the space. 'We're thrilled to become part of Bahrain's vibrant dining landscape,' said Tashas Group CEO and Founder, Natasha Sideris. 'There's such appreciation here for quality and genuine hospitality, which perfectly aligns with our philosophy that every guest should feel like family from the moment they step through our doors.' 'Avli embodies the kind of experience we're passionate about creating—spaces where guests feel immediately at ease, where the design and food invite connection,' commented Abdulaziz Tawfeeqi, the Senior Director of Project Development at Infracorp. 'It's a perfect reflection of the hospitality culture we value deeply in Bahrain.' At the heart of the experience is the à la carte menu crafted by Head Chef Vlassia Anagnostou. Drawing from the rich heritage of Greek cuisine, the menu features a refined mix of signature favourites and dishes that speak to the soul of Mediterranean cooking. Head Chef Vlassia commented, 'I want our guests in Bahrain to experience the soul of Greece – in a way that feels relevant today. Our menu honours timeless flavours, reimagined with contemporary presentation to spark conversation and bring people together.' Experience the soul of rich, Athenian culture at Avli Bahrain, where every meal is an occasion and every guest becomes family. To make your reservation, call +973 77 222111 or email [email protected].
Daily Tribune
21 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Al Baraka integrates faith and fintech
TDT | Manama Al Baraka Islamic Bank is demonstrating that Islamic finance can deliver cutting-edge performance, earning global praise for its seamless USD payment processing while staying true to Sharia principles. The Bahrain-based bank has received the Straight-Through-Processing (STP) Award from The Bank of New York Mellon (BNY), a leading global financial services firm. The award recognises institutions with highly automated and accurate cross-border payment systems, validating Al Baraka's ability to blend ethical banking with digital sophistication. Global validation BNY grants the STP Award to financial institutions that meet the highest benchmarks in straight-through-processing of payments, meaning transactions completed without manual intervention. The award was presented by Salman Alhashimi, Head of MEA NBFIs and Deputy Head of the GCC Region at BNY, to Dr. Adel Abdullah Salem, CEO of Al Baraka Islamic Bank, in the presence of Hussain Yousif Atiya, Chief Corporate and Institutional Banking Officer. 'We are proud to receive this recognition from BNY, which reflects our continued focus on operational excellence and innovation in financial services,' said Dr. Salem. 'It is the result of our ongoing investment in digital infrastructure and our commitment to delivering efficient and reliable banking experiences to our clients.' Ethical meets efficient Atiya added, 'This award underscores the competence of our teams and their dedication to providing solutions that meet the highest standards for international banking and executing global payments. We're well poised to expand our offering of digital banking services to corporate and financial institution clients.' Al Baraka's achievement challenges assumptions that Islamic banks may lag in technological adoption due to Sharia governance frameworks. On the contrary, the bank's systems are not only compliant but also competitive, proving that religious values and world-class fintech can coexist.
Biz Bahrain
a day ago
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
Tamkeen supports the Employment and Career Development of 36 Bahrainis at Sarens Nass Middle East
The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) announced its support for the employment and career development of 36 Bahrainis at Sarens Nass Middle East, a leading Bahrain-based provider of crane services, heavy lifting and transport solutions. This announcement comes in line with Tamkeen's efforts to support employment and career development for Bahraini talent within the private sector. This support aligns with Tamkeen's strategic priorities for 2025, which focus on enhancing the position and competitiveness of Bahrainis in the private sector, equipping Bahrainis with suitable skills for career development in the private sector, and prioritizing enterprise growth, digitization and sustainability and supporting the development of the ecosystem surrounding the labor market and private sector. On this occasion, Mr. Khalid Al Bayat, Chief Growth Officer at the Labour Fund (Tamkeen), stated: 'We are proud to support Bahraini companies that prioritize the employment and professional growth of local talent. Sarens Nass Middle East has consistently demonstrated its commitment by utilizing our programs since 2017 to hire, train and reward Bahraini employees.' Mr. Al Bayat reaffirmed Tamkeen's commitment to supporting Bahraini companies that focus on the employment and career development of local talent through strategic initiatives and partnerships. 'Tamkeen remains focused on supporting the development of Bahraini talent through its programs and partnerships, which enhance career opportunities and growth, allowing them to take on leadership roles within their companies and this is in line with our core mission to ensure they become the first choice for employers in the labor market,' added Mr. Al Bayat. On this occasion, Al Hanoof Nass Regional Director from Sarens Nass Middle East said: 'Tamkeen's programs align closely with our strategic vision to support the employment of national talents in addition to advancing their skill development, and since 2017 we have actively benefitted from Tamkeen's programs to train and qualify Bahraini talent. Today we are proud to report that 78% of our workforce is comprised of Bahraini nationals and at Sarens Nass we remain committed to fostering a professional and empowering work environment.' Ms. Nass added: 'We place great emphasis on developing Bahraini capabilities by enhancing their technical skills and equipping them with the tools necessary to meet evolving market demands as we firmly believe that investing in human capital is fundamental to the growth and sustainability of the private sector.' Sarens Nass Middle East was established in 2003 as a joint venture between Bahrain-based Nass Group and Belgium-based Sarens NV. The company delivers innovative and integrated solutions in crane services, heavy lifting and transportation across the Middle East. It also offers marine services, operational support, crane rentals and material handling services with regional offices in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and the UAE. Tamkeen has launched a range of programs aimed at supporting the employment and career development of national talent, with the goal of making Bahrainis the preferred choice for employment and making the private sector the engine of economic growth in the kingdom.
Gulf Weekly
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gulf Weekly
Art for paws
Bahrain-based artists and zoophilists with a soft-spot for strays are creating vibrant murals, eye-catching paper art, Dilmun-themed graphics and more, all to offer the kingdom's furry friends a better life. British creative Kylee-Jai Wright, who arrived in Bahrain with her family and chihuahuas, 16 years ago, has brought alive a colourful mural, beautifying one of the boundary walls of the Bahrain Animal Rescue Centre's (BARC) shelter in Hamala last month. 'My friend, who fosters many dogs for BARC and had painted a mural for them, suggested my name. I designed the mural on my iPad and sent it over and they really loved it,' the 42-year-old told GulfWeekly. Sadly, the abstract artist's 10-year-old son Elliot Walsh died tragically in his sleep last year. The stated cause was Sudden Unexplained Death in Children – a medical term for a death that remains unexplained even after a thorough investigation, including an autopsy. A grieving Kylee-Jai could not get herself to go anywhere or do anything but as time passed, she began expressing herself through art and poetry. 'It was peaceful for me to go and paint there and I enjoyed the process,' said the animal lover, who has rescued two cats that were rejected by their mums. Indian expatriate and marketing professional Joylyn Fernandes' childhood passion for paper art grew into something bigger last year, when she decided to donate some of her work for an exhibition raising funds for Palestine. 'Since then, I have continued to raise funds for causes I am passionate about. 'I hand-cut my 'paper illustrations' after I create a rough digital rendition,' the 40-year-old self-taught arist from Janabiya, who has called Bahrain home for the last decade, explained. Joylyn co-founded registered local feline rescue charity Rescat in 2019. Since then, the volunteers have rescued and rehomed around 500 cats, with another 500 having undergone TNR; 'trap- neuter-return' is a method of controlling stray cat population. 'I have just started making art for this cause, but I plan to continue and invite more commissions. I am working on more pieces to sell and raise funds for TNR.' Bahraini branding and design creative Jenine Sharabi was sensitised to animals from a very young age. 'My mother, raised on a farm in the US, taught us to cherish animals, and my father's kindness reinforced that. When my family moved to Bahrain in 1989, my parents adopted Dusty, a remarkable black-and-white Bahraini Dilmun cat. Today, I share my home with four of them, alongside my toddler, who already adores them,' the 39-year-old from Budaiya said. The graduate from Central Saint Martins art and design college in London organises paint-and-sip events, proceeds of which are donated to Rescat. Her latest creation for the charity is a tote bag featuring a Dilmun cat. 'The Dilmun cat is a local treasure. All proceeds of these bags go toward Rescat's rescuing, rehoming, and TNR efforts,' the artist, who also created Rescat's brand identity, added.
Gulf Weekly
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gulf Weekly
Tales for all
Bahrain-based author Tajammul Kothari has penned his way into the fiction genre with his latest collection of short stories, spanning themes like romance, crime, children's literature and more, writes Melissa Nazareth. The Indian expatriate, who works as an administration manager with a local construction company, launched Mixed Bag – Short Stories on Amazon in April. The 134-page collection of 16 tales caters to 'every taste' as it explores a gamut of sentiments, from love and betrayal to racism and power struggles. 'After publishing my poetry books, I took a break from full time writing due to work and life pressures, and was only concentrating on writing short articles for my blog: However, the idea of writing fiction was always there at the back of my mind,' said the creative talent from Riffa, who was born and raised in the kingdom and attended the Indian School. In a previous interview with GulfWeekly, Tajammul noted that his foray into writing began with his blog and when he saw his readership grow, it spurred him on to experiment with different styles; poetry came to him naturally and eventually, became a 'passion'. 'Seeing a positive response to An Ode to Life and Unanswered Verses, my confidence surged and I took a step forward and published Mixed Bag – Short Stories. I hope it will receive the same appreciation and support as my previous works.' Not one to rest on past laurels, Tajammul is currently working on a novella inspired by Bahrain. 'Bahrain holds a very special place in my heart as I have lived in this wonderful country for so many years. My next book will feature this beautiful island and its people; it will have an ensemble characters from all over the world with one of the characters residing here in Bahrain,' he revealed. An excerpt from Retribution, one of the short stories, reads: 'In the evening, Rupert goes through the photographs and sees something unusual. He takes out his magnifying glass from his desk drawer and zooms in. He notices the name of the bookstore in the background. Memories are recollected as it is the same bookstore he used to visit so regularly in his hometown, Riverwell. He scratches his head and wonders if he has seen the girl somewhere, but he cannot recall.'
