More than 100 students participate in Dubai Islamic Bank's first Iktaseb summer training programme

Source: Dubai Islamic Bank.

Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), the largest Islamic bank in the UAE, has inaugurated its annual Iktaseb summer training programme for young UAE nationals. The initiative is designed to train a new generation of banking professionals and support the country’s Emiratisation initiative by contributing to the development of the local community.

Iktaseb participants are introduced to the various concepts and principles surrounding shari'ah-compliant financial services, culminating in practical training in the day-to-day operations of a modern Islamic bank. Students completed two courses, Foundation and Principles of Islamic Finance which introduced them to the world of Islamic banking and finance, and Youth Empowerment, which focused on building self-motivation and accepting personal responsibility. 

Maryam Abdulla Ali, Manager-Talent Management, at Dubai Islamic Bank said: “DIB has always been a strong advocate of contributing to the local community by providing valuable training and practical work experience opportunities for UAE nationals. The Iktaseb programme is one component of our multi-faceted strategy that has been successful in creating a new generation of individuals interested in the Islamic banking industry. We are proud to continue training a new group of promising young students, as we look forward to building upon our extensive community engagement and enrichment efforts.”

In addition to gaining valuable insight and experience in the industry, graduates will receive a programme completion certificate and given priority in the bank’s future recruitment efforts. “Our programme provides these students the perfect platform to enhance their capabilities and launch a successful career in the industry,” noted Maryam.

Participating in the initiative for a second year running, AlAnoud Asaad Mohammad, said: “I would like to thank DIB for offering me the opportunity to receive this specialised training. A key challenge for any fresh university graduate is the practical skills and the theoretical knowledge required to start his/her career. Especially in today’s competitive market, a well-rounded education requires a good understanding of the basic skills currently demanded in the workplace. In this regard, the Iktaseb programme is an invaluable platform, as it will allow me to enhance my understanding of the Islamic banking industry, while increasing my knowledge of shari'ah-compliant products. Upon graduating, I look forward to an opportunity to join DIB and contribute to its ongoing growth.”

DIB has also created a range of comprehensive training programs across different levels of the bank. For the objective of engaging with the local job seekers, DIB has actively participated at the various career fairs across the country. 

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health gives overview of preparations for medical support at Hajj 2015

The Director General of Hospitals and Chairman of the Hajj Technical Supervising Committee, Dr Abdul Aziz bin Hamid Al-Ghamdi, said that the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Saudi Arabia continues to prepare for a safe Hajj and pilgrims' well-being during this year’s Hajj season.

The MOH is ready to provide pilgrims with high-quality preventive, therapeutic and ambulance services through the health facilities scattered over the different areas of the Kingdom, since the pilgrims’ entry into the Kingdom, passing by all roads they take to perform Hajj rituals, in addition to the Hajj sites and Madinah and until their departure for their countries.

Dr Al-Ghamdi stated in a press conference that the MOH has prepared 25 hospitals, with a total capacity of 5,250 beds (4,200 clinical beds, 500 intensive care [IC] beds, and 550 emergency beds) covering all Hajj areas, including seven hospitals in Makkah to provide health services for visitors and patients, four in Mina, four in Arafat, and nine in Madinah. These are in addition to King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah, which is used by the Ministry to provide specialised services within its lifesaving programme to reduce mortality rates amongst pilgrims.

Dr Al-Ghamdi added that the above-mentioned hospitals are further supported by 155 permanent and seasonal primary healthcare centres, disseminated throughout the Hajj sites as follows: 43 in Makkah, 78 in the Holy Sites*, 16 emergency centres in the Jamaraat Bridge (Jisr al-Jamart), and 18 health centres in Madinah. They are used to serve the pilgrims and the visitors of Madinah and all Hajj areas and main roads leading to them.

Dr Al-Ghamdi noted that the committee has coordinated with the Manpower Committee to distribute additional manpower, including physicians, nursing and administrative staff, to the hospitals and health centres operating during the Hajj. He added that six advanced teams and three mini teams were formed for the treatment of burn and injury cases in Makkah, Madinah and the Holy Sites, whilst coordination was made with the Visiting Manpower Committee to recruit consultants in the following specialties: neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, plastic surgery and vascular surgery.

Regarding the MOH preparations to treat cases of sunstroke and heat stress, he explained that 208 spray fans were secured in Makkah and 96 in Madinah, in anticipation of the expected high temperature during the Hajj season. Special rooms have also been prepared for these fans to ensure drainage of spray water.

Further, Dr Al-Ghamdi said that the committee has set work policies and procedures on how to deal with cases of heat stress and sunstroke that will be published on the Ministry's Portal. Additionally, he revealed coordination with the World Health Organization and the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to publish these policies and procedures on their websites, as well as designing and printing awareness brochures in Arabic and English to be distributed to pilgrims’ gathering areas (ports, the main roads leading to the Holy Sites) via luminous billboards.

Dr Al-Ghamdi additionally indicated that the Ministry has organised nine training courses to raise awareness of health cadres regarding the treatment of cases of sunstroke and heat stress, including a training course for the directors of hospitals of Makkah, the Holy Sites and Madinah, in addition to the heads of medical sections and physicians working in these hospitals.

“This training course was organised in Madinah on Dhul-Qa'dah 4th, 1436H (20 August 2015),” he said, adding that coordination and preparations are currently underway to organise a similar training course in Al-Nour Specialized Hospital in Makkah on Monday Dhul-Qa'dah 16, 1436 H (31 August 2015), as well as eight training courses to be organised on Dhul Hijjah 2 to 5 (mid September 2015) targeting the workers in the Holy Sites’ hospitals, in addition to a training course targeting the physicians and workers in the health centers in the Holy Sites.

Dr Al-Ghamdi said that the ministry has revised and printed the manual of health practitioners during the Hajj season, which contains the common diseases in Hajj and the cases expected to be received based on the MOH’s past experience.

*More about the Holy Sites

International Conference on Islamic Economics and Finance to be held this September

The 2nd International Conference on Islamic Economics and Finance (IIEFC) will be organised by İstanbul Sabahattin Zaim University International Research and Study Centre of Islamic Economics and Finance (IZU-ISEFAM) in collaboration with Participation Banks Association of Turkey (TKBB), the World Bank Global Islamic Finance Development Center and Borsa İstanbul from 11 to 13 September 2015 at the headquarters of İstanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, in Istanbul, Turkey.

The conference aims to satisfy the need for an institutional approach to Islamic economics and finance in Turkey, and to further research. The agenda includes:

Islamic economics and history;
Islamic finance;
Islamic insurance (takaful);
Islamic financial instruments;
Islamic commercial law.

Hajj pilgrims from the Maldives take chartered flights by MEGA Maldives Airlines to Saudi Arabia

Source: MEGA Maldives Airlines.

MEGA Maldives Airlines has begun its special charter flights for Maldivians making the pilgrimage to the Hajj this year. The first flight carrying 300 Maldivian passengers from the Maldives Hajj Corporation departed Ibrahim Nasir International Airport on 28 August and arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The special charter flights are in operation to 1 September. MEGA Maldives Airlines carried 1,766 Maldivians on six flights, comprising 1,300 passengers from the Hajj Corporation, 235 from the Minah Hajj Group and 231 from the Zaeema Hajj Group. This is the second year in which MEGA Maldives Airlines has offered its services to carry Maldivians directly to Jeddah from Male, given the challenges faced by Maldivians flying to Saudi Arabia in previous years.

MEGA Maldives and Hajj Corporation signed a charter agreement in July 2015, formalising the arrangements which made MEGA Maldives Airlines the principal carrier for the Hajj. During the signing ceremony in July, the CEO of MEGA Maldives George Weinmann stated that it was an honour for the airline to be providing Hajj services, which it hopes to continue in the years ahead.

The return flights from Jeddah to Male will commence on 28 September and end on 1 October 2015.

Fragrance Du Bois popup debuts niche fragrances at Singapore's Tangs

Source: Fragrance Du Bois.

Fragrance Du Bois has set up a popup at TANGS' flagship store in Singapore's Orchard Road shopping district, up till 4 September 2015. Making its second appearance of the year, the popup offers a firsthand experience of niche perfumery, and showcases Fragrance Du Bois' 100% pure, natural oud-based fragrances.

"We have observed a growing appetite for niche perfumery, and it's gratifying to note that at Fragrance Du Bois, we are perfectly placed to cater to a market that is increasing in sophistication. Returning to TANGS - one of the most recognised home-bred department stores in Singapore - gives us another great opportunity to increase brand recognition and to educate our customers on our philosophy, and, in particular, what sets us apart from the mainstream fragrance brands," said Nicola Parker, Brand Director of Fragrance Du Bois. 

Fragrance Du Bois, known as Parfums Du Bois in France and as Fragrance Du Bois in non-French speaking markets, works with French perfumers to create a full range of products, and also provides bespoke fragrance services. It has fragrance lounges in Dubai, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. The company is acknowledged as the only fragrance brand in the world that guarantees the use of sustainably sourced, pure oud oil, obtained from its own plantations, all of which are managed by Asia Plantation Capital.

Asia Plantation Capital processes agarwood products in a sustainable manner. The company is committed to ensuring that the sternest ethical and legal standards are applied and adhered to at every stage of the production process - from the planting, growing, and harvesting of agarwood, all the way through to producing fine and exquisite oud oil.

This time around, the popup will feature some of the world's finest, niche, luxury fragrances in the shape of brands that share Fragrance Du Bois' standards and core values, namely Xerjoff, Parfums de Marly, Illuminum, House of Sillage, Isabey and Jovoy. These eminent brands are making their debuts in Southeast Asia, and are being sold exclusively at Fragrance Du Bois. 

Adidas Originals launches fragrance duo celebrating originality

Source: adidas Originals.

Adidas Originals, the streetwear brand, is launching a new fragrance duo for men and women. Born Original offers two dynamic scents, one for men and one for women inspired by the courage to be the wearer's original self.

Born Original captures the energetic, empowering spirit of adidas Originals that’s rooted in individualism, authenticity and imagination. The Born Original fragrances For Him and For Her are an explosive mix of contrasting notes.

Born Original for Her begins with a bright cocktail of bergamot, apricot and orange zest. The top notes burst into a vibrant, candy apple accord. Tantalising tones of coconut, jasmine and tonka beans add an unexpected twist in the finish.

Born Original For Him is a classic oriental remixed with an ambery citrus accord. A fusion of violet leaves and rhubarb adds a green facet, juxtaposed with black pepper and orange oil.

The originality of the fragrance duo is echoed by bottle designs that blend fluid, organic shapes with rough, industrial elements. Both bottles are made from glass at an intense stage of fusion, creating tactile ripples that give the flacons a dynamic, incomplete look. In contrast, the bottles are sealed with angular industrial-inspired nut collars and pin in rose gold for Her and steel grey for Him. Each is decorated with a strikingly large TREFOIL logo in glossy metallic colors that match the bottles.

Hashtag: #adidasOriginals

StarHub's prepaid customers to enjoy seamless data roaming in Malaysia

Source: StarHub website. The S$18
StarHub prepaid topup card is
bundled with 30MB of local data.

StarHub is the first telco in Singapore to eliminate data roaming charges for travel in Malaysia. When crossing into Malaysia, StarHub Happy Prepaid customers can seamlessly use their existing prepaid data bundle, at Singapore data prices, with no additional fee for activation or subscription.

As a feature unique to StarHub, these customers can data roam on any mobile network in Malaysia without the hassle of manually selecting a partner network.

“We are excited to launch our new cross border service, offering our prepaid customers unparallelled convenience and complete peace-of-mind while data roaming in Malaysia,” said Tian Ung Ping, Assistant Vice President of Mobile Prepaid Business, StarHub. “More and more of our prepaid customers are relying on their smartphones primarily for getting online, and we believe our innovative data roaming offering is relevant for the tens of thousands who travel between Singapore and Malaysia daily.”

Source: StarHub website. The
S$25 Happy stars prepaid topup
card is bundled with 400MB of
local data.

Activating the service is easy and free of charge. Existing StarHub Happy Prepaid customers just simply dial *123*5*2# on their phone to enable data roaming. This opens their existing prepaid data bundle for overseas use.

Customers can thereafter top up their data bundle and track usage as they normally would, by dialing *123# or using the StarHub Happy Prepaid Android or iOS app wherever they are. Data bundle top-ups, for use in both Singapore and Malaysia, range from as low as S$1 for 10MB for 7 days to S$20 for 1.2GB for 30 days.

The StarHub Happy Prepaid SIM is available at all StarHub Shops and selected authorised dealers, including 7-Eleven, Cheers, SingPost post offices and at slimduet.

Editor's note: While this is very convenient for StarHub customers, particularly if they only visit Malaysia occasionally, anyone who travels often to Malaysia should check if the Malaysian telcos have introduced mobile data plans which are more competitive.  

SilkAir to fly to Male four times a week from October

Source: SilkAir. Male. From 25 October 2015, SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, will begin four times weekly services to Male. Previously, Singapore Airlines offered a variable frequency of 10 to 14 flights a week to the capital of the Maldives. Now, together with SilkAir’s new services, both airlines will offer a total of two round-trip services a day, subject to regulatory approval. Singapore Airlines’ Senior Vice President Marketing Planning Lee Wen Fen said: “By synergising the networks of both carriers, we are able to provide customers more choice and greater flexibility when planning their travel itineraries. This is another example of the Singapore Airlines Group’s commitment to continuously expanding our combined network and enhancing connectivity options for our customers.” SilkAir’s Chief Executive Leslie Thng, said: “The Maldives is a popular travel destination offering great beauty both above and below the water, with its stunning white sand beaches and equally beautiful underwater world. We are glad to be able to join Singapore Airlines to bring travellers from around the world to this picturesque island destination.” Details of flight numbers and schedules for services between Singapore and Male from October 25 are as follows (timings listed are local): Singapore (SIN) to Male (MLE) Flights Flight Days of Operation Departure Arrival SQ452 Daily SIN 2035hrs* MLE 2210hrs Operated by Singapore Airlines MI482 Mon Tue Wed Thu SIN 1005hrs MLE 1140hrs Operated by SilkAir SQ462 Fri Sat Sun SIN1005hrs MLE1140hrs Operated by Singapore Airlines *SQ452 timings from 25Oct15 to 20Nov15: SIN 2020hr MLE 2210hr Male (MLE) to Singapore (SIN) Flights Flight Days of Operation Departure Arrival SQ451 Daily MLE 2325hrs SIN 0715hrs (+1) Operated by Singapore Airlines MI481 Mon Tue Wed Thu MLE 1255hrs SIN 2045hrs Operated by SilkAir SQ461 Fri Sat Sun MLE 1255hrs SIN2045hrs Operated by Singapore Airlines

GUESS Double Dare celebrates the GUESS woman

Source: GUESS.

GUESS has introduced GUESS Double Dare, a floral woody amber scent that captures the GUESS woman’s vibrant energy.

Perfumer Marypierre Julien of Givaudan was inspired by Marilyn Monroe for the perfume. "She captured everyone’s imagination with her beauty, style, playful free-spiritedness and her bold daring attitude. Her immaculate look was always carefully crafted; she spent hours in front of the mirror perfecting her persona. I wanted to capture all of these qualities with a ‘bold’ attention to detail when crafting this new GUESS Double Dare fragrance,” she said.

Available worldwide this September, GUESS Double Dare gives a first impression of sparkling tangelo that mingles with juicy wild strawberries and sweet aromas of exotic lychee. The heart features a layer of jasmine blended with bright green notes of muguet and violet leaf. The ultimate culmination of the fragrance is revealed with base notes of amber, vanilla and vetiver.

Designed by Lance McGregor, the GUESS Double Dare bottle maintains the legacy of the Dare pillar. Its delicate, soft curves, and edgy faceting introduce the signature bottle in a new golden hue. The bottle’s neck is adorned with a gold chain featuring the GUESS logo, while the iconic GUESS triangle can be found in the shape of the cap.

Fanda Labs introduces the Driv energy drink

Source: Fanda Labs.

Driv, by Fanda Labs, is a halal-certified energy drink that helps athletes improve performance, accelerate recovery, and decrease brain fog, dry mouth and dry skin. 

Driv comes in five-calorie energy packs that help to replenish magnesium, potassium and sodium. Each pack also includes a 2g dose of Bioenergy Ribose, a five-carbon sugar that the body uses to make adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the source of all cellular energy, says Fanda Labs. 

"Pushing yourself to the limit – whether it's training, competing or just pursuing an active lifestyle – depletes your body's natural supply of ribose, creatine and electrolytes," explains Fanda Labs Co-Founder Frank Bayr. "Driv reboots the body's natural energy synthesis process by restoring ribose, creatine and electrolytes lost during exercise. It's a proven way to help your sore, stiff muscles recover – allowing you to push yourself further." 

Bioenergy Ribose is popular in a variety of sports nutrition, dietary supplement and functional food and beverage products. It works synergistically with a variety of other functional ingredients and helps increase and sustain their benefits. 

Interested?

Driv can be ordered online. A box of 30 packs costs US$29.99.

Ajman Palace Hotel MICE promotion features convenience, scale

Source: Ajman Palace Hotel website.

The Ajman Palace Hotel, boasting extensive meeting and conference venues including the largest ballroom in the Northern Emirates, has launched a MICE package* that will be on offer till 30 September 2015.

The resort, managed by HMH – Hospitality Management Holdings, is located 22 km from Dubai International Airport and 11 km from Sharjah International Airport. Set on a private beach, the resort offers 254 rooms, suites and serviced residences, restaurants and lounges, plus meeting and event venues.

Ferghal Purcell, General Manager, Ajman Palace Hotel said, “Ajman is transforming from a quiet emirate into a vibrant and progressive tourism and business destination. The Ajman Palace Hotel is one of the most prestigious addresses in Ajman conveniently located in close proximity to the city’s prime business and leisure attractions. We are equipped with top-notch five-star facilities offering the perfect setting for corporate and social events in Ajman. Our MICE Package is very attractively priced and provides groups with an array of value-added benefits.”

The MICE package includes a meeting room, coffee break and lunch. Prices start from AED120 per person for groups of 100 and above, and go up to AED180 per person for a meeting of 15 people. Additional coffee breaks can be arranged for AED40 per person, while additional dinners cost AED80 per person.

Groups are entitled to a suitable event room large enough to accommodate them with the client’s choice of set-up, still mineral water, conference stationery, confectionery, as well as standard technical equipment including flip chart, projector and screen. Shared Wi-Fi is complimentary.

*The rates are inclusive of the 10% tourism fee and 10% service charge. Food and beverage prices are based on a contracted number of guests; prices may change if there are fewer participants. Offer is subject to availability. Other standard terms and conditions apply.

IFSB, BIBF set second joint Islamic Finance Executive Programme series for October

The Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) and BIBF are organising the second joint IFSB-BIBF Islamic Finance Executive Programme (IFEP) series, themed Towards a Vibrant Islamic Capital Market: Opportunities and Challenges, on 5 to 6 October 2015 in Manama, Bahrain.

This second edition of the IFSB-BIBF Islamic Finance Executive Programme will focus on expected catalysts of Islamic capital markets into the next phase of growth and development from the perspectives of market practitioners, regulators and academia. It also aims to promote an informed analysis and understanding of Islamic capital markets through discussions of topical and contemporary issues as well as of prospects and challenges relating to Islamic capital market products and services.

The sessions will include analysis and deliberations on the current trends and developments of the Islamic capital markets, innovations in sukuk structures such as perpetual sukuk, and prospects for cross-border sukuk. Furthermore, the participants will be exposed to issues related to development of new markets, Islamic collective investment schemes (ICIS), shari'ah-compliant hedging, as well as the role of the regulatory and supervisory authorities in ensuring market integrity, transparency and protection of investors.

The panel session, as a key feature of this Islamic Finance Executive Programme will highlight key issues and challenges in Islamic capital markets relating to the shari'ah framework, the resilience of its infrastructures as well as develop policy recommendations drawing on the views and experiences of both supervisors and market practitioners.

The agenda includes:

• Development of the Islamic capital market (ICM): Progress and trends
• Innovative sukuk structures: A new path for the growth of ICM
• Islamic collective investment schemes (ICIS): Promoting strong foundations
• Islamic real estate investment trusts (I-REITs): An emerging Asset Class for wealth management
• Shari'ah-compliant hedging instruments: Addressing the market risk management needs of the industry
• Sound development of the ICM: the supervisory role
• Panel discussion on building a vibrant ICM: key issues and challenges

The IFEP is ideal for regulators and supervisors of ICMs, Chief Executive Officers and board members of investment companies, originators and issuers as well as arrangers/bookrunners of ICM products, senior management at credit rating agencies, senior management of ICM Associations, Senior Managers in risk management, shari'ah governance and compliance functions, auditors, lawyers, academicians and researchers in ICM.

Interested?

Contact Hamizi Hamzah at hamizi at ifsb.org with enquiries.

1 Market buffet more than satisfies

Diners pay before entering and get a
stamp on their arms for re-entry.

1 Market at Plaza Singapura bills itself as "the first big halal-certified buffet restaurant in Singapore by a celebrity chef". There are certainly other halal-certified buffets, but yes, there is only one Chef Wan, a celebrity chef from Malaysia who has also written by cookbooks and appeared on TV.

On researching this restaurant you will see quite a few negative reviews - on the overcrowding, food presentation, variety, freshness and quality of the food, that it is not value for money, basically everything that a buffet restaurant should be good at. All I can say is perhaps I am more easily pleased because I didn't find any of the above to complain about - and we paid full price, not by Groupon.

It took me a while to visit the restaurant because it was always fully booked in the past, and full-house when I finally did get a reservation. This second visit, on a Thursday evening, revealed much fewer diners, with one section closed off. I called on Wednesday at lunch time, and secured the reservation for dinner the next evening. I didn't try everything but what I did have was good.

Food presentation was average, but this is fine when I am more interested in how the food tastes. There were complaints online about the way the sashimi had been presented, but I didn't see anything out of the ordinary that evening. The lighting at all the tables could have been brighter though - I could have taken better photos then.

There was quite a bit of variety, with a sushi and sashimi section, cold seafood section, Hong Kong dimsum, a salad section, main dishes, drinks, desserts and special counters for Asian favourites - Teochew porridge, Hainanese chicken rice, prawn mee, and DIY fruit rojak. There was ice cream and a chocolate fountain as well.

Most of the dishes - in keeping with Asian cuisine - are heavy on the carbs and can be very filling very quickly, so pace yourself. Bargain hunters can fill up on the seafood and sashimi, neither of which I tried. 

The beef rendang was tender, fragrant, and
smothered in a rich, thick gravy.

I do recommend the satay, beef rendang, and Penang char kuay teow. I also like the Teochew porridge though there wasn't much of a choice for dishes so others might disagree.

The fruit rojak is a favourite for me, but then I like fruit. The dessert spread included durian and mangosteen. There were a lot of pastries for the chocolate fountain. What I especially liked is a chocolate ganache dessert they had in clear plastic containers, with a little bit of fruit at the top and I think brownies as the base. It is very rich and best shared. The custardy bread and butter pudding was also quite nice, especially accompanied by warm vanilla sauce, the kind that has real vanilla seeds in it. 

The Penang char kuay teow had a good amount of seafood in it and the kuay teow was just the right firmness for me. 

From left: mutton satay, chicken satay and beef satay with a drizzle of peanut sauce. The mutton was my favourite, but all were tender and juicy. Some bits are a bit on the charred side so choose your sticks carefully. This is hands-down the best satay I've had in recent times.

The fruit rojak before mixing. I didn't take any of taupok or the sambal, but did have, from 12 o'clock, pineapple, jambu, starfruit, turnip, green mango, and yew char kuay, plus ground peanuts and the rojak sauce. There is one more fruit that I don't remember around 2 o'clock - possibly apple.

If there is anything to complain about, it is that a lot of the sauces are sticky and one serviette may not be enough. I had extra tissues with me but wet tissues would have been so much better.

I left satisfied and would go again. It's possible that detractors were comparing how much you pay for Asian dishes at a traditional food centre and how much more you would pay to eat the same food in the comfortable, air-conditioned surroundings of a buffet restaurant in Orchard Road. Most of that food would however not be halal which is the key draw for 1 Market, and it's unlikely that you can get all of the same dishes at the same high quality in one place. I certainly hope 1 Market survives for a long time to come.

Interested?

1 Market is at Plaza Singapura (Dhoby Ghaut MRT station)
68 Orchard Road #04-45 to 49 (new wing)
Singapore 238839

Make a reservation at +65 63419159
Lunch: 11.30am to 2.30pm

Dinner: 6pm to 10pm (food will not be replenished after 9.30pm)

Weekend high tea: 3pm to 5.15pm 

Check out the promotions
Read the Suroor Asia review on Asian Market Cafe, another halal buffet in Singapore

AmMetLife Insurance and AmMetLife Takaful are moving in September

Effective 14 September 2015, AmMetLife Insurance and AmMetLife Takaful will be moving to new corporate premises in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

These are the new contact details:

AmMetLife Insurance Berhad
(15743 - P) Level 24, Menara 1 Sentrum,
No. 201, Jalan Tun Sambanthan,
50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: +603 2271 8000 (General Line)
Fax: +603 2272 3230

AmMetLife Takaful Berhad
(931074 – V) Level 23, Menara 1 Sentrum,
No. 201, Jalan Tun Sambanthan,
50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: +603 2271 8000 (General Line)
Fax: +603 2272 3229

For enquiries, please call +603 4047 8000 or +603 271 8000 before 12 September 2015, and the new numbers from 14 September 2015.

CrescentRating launches world's first halal travel glossary

Source: CrescentRating website.

CrescentRating, a specialist on halal tourism, has officially launched the world's first-ever Halal Travel Glossary. The new guide, available in English, is a collection of key terms and expressions related to the US$145 billion halal travel market. The travel sector is expected to be worth US$200 billion by 2020.

The e-book is expected to be of value to organisations involved in tourism, from government agencies to hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions. The Halal Travel Glossary features over 150 terms and expressions related to the halal travel market, with an explanation of each term in the context of lifestyle and travel. Faith-related concepts provide an introduction to the practices and requirements of Muslim travellers.

Future editions of the glossary in other languages are to be expected in the near future. Regular updates will be made to the glossary as the market matures, the company said.

Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of CrescentRating, said in a statement on the company's website: “Embracing the halal travel phenomenon is now a key focus of growth across the industry for both Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and non-OIC destinations.”

“With an increasing number of destinations and services looking to attract Muslim traveller, there is a need to better understand the terms used to describe the market needs and practices related to this segment.”

CrescentRating is committed to launching innovative solutions for the Muslim travel market to cement its position as a major authority on halal tourism. Earlier this year it released the MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2015. Malaysia took the top spot on the list for OIC destinations while Singapore came first for the non-OIC destinations.

The study also revealed that in 2014, this segment was worth US$145 billion with 108 million Muslim travellers representing 10% of the entire tourism economy. This is forecast to grow to 150 million visitors by 2020 and 11% of the market segment with a market value projected to grow to US$200 billion.

At this year’s ATM 2015 in Dubai, CrescentRating launched the first ever global platform to connect the industry to the growing demand for one of the fastest growing sectors in travel. The Muslim Travel Warehouse will provide the tourism sector with a bespoke portfolio of Muslim friendly tour packages, excursions and activities. Over 100 travel agents and tour operators from across the world have signed up as distribution partners for the Muslim Travel Warehouse following the launch.

Interested?

The free downloadable e-book will later be presented as an online resource. Download a copy of the Halal Travel Glossary

Read the Suroor Asia blog post on the MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2015

Read the Suroor Asia blog post on the Muslim Travel Warehouse

Hashtag: #HalalTravelTerms

AirAsia, AirAsia X introduce enhanced inflight menu

Source: AirAsia.

AirAsia and AirAsia X have launched a new inflight menu concept themed Santan, replacing AirAsia Café as part of the airline group’s move towards being a high value carrier and providing its guests with an enhanced gourmet experience while flying.

There are new items such as nasi dagang* and chicken curry, a Malaysian dish from the East Coast which is now available on for on-board purchase and pre-book on both AirAsia and AirAsia X flights. Other items available for on-board purchase on AirAsia flights include teriyaki chicken rice cake, smoked chicken pizza sandwich; while new pre-book meals are tomato rice with ayam percik*, chicken satay wrap and vegetable pasta with roast chicken.

AirAsia X has also included mee goreng mamak* in its pre-book selection as part of introducing more Malaysian and Asean dishes to its guests.

Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia commented, “Food is a big thing for us. Look at how we have made Pak Nasser nasi lemak* into a brand itself. We have people travelling from all across the region wanting to order our nasi lemak and this Malaysian dish is a standout in our inflight menu. 

"Our food is as good as restaurant food – it’s not just inflight food and this is what we want to achieve with Santan – introduce a new gourmet inflight dining experience which features cuisines from across ASEAN. We are starting with AirAsia and AirAsia X flights after the launch... but we will be implementing this across the whole group by October.”

Apart from the new pre-book meals on AirAsia Berhad (AK) flights, guests are now able to add a sweet ending to the meal of their choice with the introduction of the Maximise Your Meal option which includes a salted caramel cookie bar and a Kit Kat for RM7.

Those travelling with children on both AirAsia Berhad (AK) and AirAsia X Berhad (D7) flights can now pre-book the Kids Meal which consists of two mini chicken burgers and Ribena.

“While we continue to give low fares to our guests, we are increasing the value with new product offerings such as Premium Flex, Premium Flatbed, and the introduction of this new gourmet experience on board is part of us moving in that direction,” added Fernandes.

Interested?

All AirAsia and AirAsia X guests are encouraged to pre-book their meals to save up to 20% as compared to purchasing their meals on board, with a guarantee that their preferred meals are available. Guests who have booked their flights without meals can easily add them in via the Manage My Booking option after logging in to airasia.com.

*Food glossary
Ayam percik is grilled or roasted spiced chicken.
Mee goreng mamak is fried noodles, Indian style.
Nasi dagang consists of rice steamed in coconut milk, fish curry, and other dishes.
Nasi lemak consists of rice steamed in coconut milk, fried fish or chicken, and other dishes.

IFSB plans workshops for banking, takaful and the Islamic capital market

The Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) will be organising three FIS workshops for banking, takaful and the Islamic capital market in October and November 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

The workshops are designed to enhance participants’ understanding of the respective standards and guiding principles applicable to each sector. The workshops also aim to assist the participants in the practical application of the issues addressed in the particular standard through case studies, group exercises, and other interactive tools; and to promote the sharing of experiences among regulators and market players on the implementation of the respective IFSB standards. The organisation invites all regulatory and supervisory authorities from among IFSB member countries to participate.

FIS workshop for the Islamic capital market sector

19 to 21 October 2015

This workshop covers:

• Introduction to Islamic capital markets 
• Sharing of country experiences on the strategies and policies for developing vibrant Islamic capital markets
• Revised capital adequacy standard for institutions offering Islamic financial services (IIFS) (IFSB-15)
• Guiding principles on shari'ah governance systems for IIFS (IFSB-10) and Guiding principles on governance for Islamic collective investment schemes (ICIS) (IFSB-6)

FIS workshop for the takaful sector 

19 to 21 October 2015
This workshop covers: 

• Introduction to takaful
• Sharing of country experiences on the strategies and policies for developing a robust takaful industry
• Standard on risk management for takaful undertakings (IFSB-14)
• Standard on solvency requirements for takaful undertakings (IFSB-11), 
• Guiding principles on shari'ah governance systems for IIFS (IFSB-10) and 
• Guiding principles on governance for takaful undertakings (IFSB-8).

FIS workshop for the banking sector

16 to 20 November 2015

This workshop covers: 

• Revised guidance on key elements in the supervisory review process (IFSB-16) 
• Guiding principles on shari'ah governance systems for IIFS (IFSB-10) 
• Guidance note on quantitative measures for liquidity risk management (IFSB-6) 
• Recent developments in the supervisory review process framework and liquidity risk management at the global level

Interested?

Contact Hamizi Hamzah at hamizi at ifsb.org.

Singapore's RLAF opens up channels for donations to Myanmar flood victims

All 69 mosques in Singapore, in collaboration with Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF), are participating in a fund raising effort in aid of flood victims in Myanmar.

According to a statement by the RLAF, 12 out of 14 states and regions in Myanmar are suffering from the effects of severe flooding, with four regions designated as disaster zones. The cyclone-battered western state of Rakhine is the hardest hit. The RLAF notes that over 100 people have died and more than 1 million are deemed "critically affected" by the rising floods, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

"Thi s is the worst natural disaster since Cyclone Nargis killed nearly 140 ,000 people in May 2008," noted the RLAF in a statement.

Funds collected will be handed over to Mercy Relief which is currently on the ground to provide relief and aid in the form of food, clean water, medicine and basic necessities and possibly the rebuilding of homes devastated by the floods.

Interested?

Donation boxes have been placed at all 69 mosques and will be open up to Friday, 21 August 2015. All boxes will be marked Special Collection for Victims of Myanmar Floods.

Members of the public can also offer donations in cash or by cheque. All cheques should be made payable to RLAF with Special Collection In Aid of Victims of Myanmar Floods written on the back. Cash and cheques can be delivered to the Muis Building at the Singapore Islamic Hub, No 273, Braddell Road Singapore 579702. In addition, the public can make their contributions online up to 31 August 2015.

Malaysia Airlines begins Hajj flights

Malaysia Airlines’ Haj and Charter services have begun with the first flight departing from KL International Airport (KLIA) for Madinah at 12.35pm.

Flight MH8000, carrying a total of 279 pilgrims, is scheduled to arrive Madinah at 4.20pm on the same day.

Malaysia Airlines' Head of Haj and Charter, Yazid Mohamed said, “We remain fully committed in our duty to serve all our Hajj pilgrims and provide superior ground and in-flight service throughout the Hajj season. We hope that the pilgrims will find our arrangements convenient and we would also like to take this opportunity to wish our pilgrims a blessed journey to the Holy Land.”

For the first time, Malaysia Airlines and Tabung Haji will be mounting six feeder flights from Kota Bharu to Kuala Lumpur on the B737-800. The first departure of the feeder flight from Kota Bharu will arrive Kuala Lumpur at 2pm and will depart KLIA as MH8002 at 4.30pm on 16 August and will arrive Madinah at 8.15pm the same day.

This Hajj season, Malaysia Airlines will be operating 39 flights to Jeddah and Madinah, departing from seven Malaysian points, namely Kuala Lumpur (13 flights), Penang (five flights), Johor Bharu with six flights, Kuching (three flights), Kota Kinabalu (two flights), Kuala Terengganu and Alor Setar with two flights.

Sukuk from Malaysia could help to fund Indonesian power projects

The ringgit sukuk market can be a viable funding option for the Indonesian power sector, suggests RAM Ratings.

The Indonesian power sector is estimated to require US$132.2 billion for power infrastructure development over the next 10 years. While Indonesia’s national electricity utility company Perusahaan Listrik Negara will continue to be the key facilitator, private investments via independent power producers are expected to play a prominent role.

The private investments are likely to take the form of export credit and support from multilateral lending agencies, RAM Ratings said. “With a healthy appetite for project bonds, the ringgit sukuk market can also be a viable funding option for the Indonesian power sector,” said Chong Van Nee, Co-Head of Infrastructure and Utilities Ratings, RAM Ratings. 

A ready pool of long-term investors, ample liquidity and an established sukuk framework are some of the advantages for Indonesian project managers thinking of relying on the ringgit bond market for funding. “We have seen Indonesian corporations tap the ringgit market and there could be room for Indonesian project financing funding, particularly power sector bonds, in the market,” said Chong.

RAM has published a report on the Indonesian power sector, Power Up or Power Out, as part of the ASEAN Power Series. The industry is characterised by its robust electricity demand growth (CAGR of 7.1% from 2004 to 2014) and a pressing need for rapid electrification in support of the country’s aggressive economic growth ambition. Despite its population of more than 250 million, Indonesia’s electrification ratio is deemed low – at 84.3% as at end-2014 – relative to most of its ASEAN neighbours. 

Interested?

Non-subscribers may purchase the report at RM530 (inclusive of GST) per copy. For further enquiries, please contact Ms Ain at +603 7628 1108 or Mr Faiez at +603 7628 1104.

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about RAM Ratings' findings on sukuk in the Malaysian power market.

INCEIF to add new session of popular Time Series Econometrics workshop

Due to the overwhelming response, INCEIF’s Centre for Research and Publication has decided to hold a second Time Series Econometrics Workshop on campus on 29 to 30 September.

The first two-day workshop was conducted by the Dean of the School of Graduates, INCEIF, Professor Mansor Ibrahim.

The fully-subscribed workshop focussed on the application of econometrics as a tool to address empirical issues in Islamic banking and finance. It was attended by executives from financial institutions, and lecturers and PhD candidates from the local universities.

Attendees gave positive feedback after the workshop. “Professor Mansor covered the theories behind econometrics well. The understanding of theories leads to a proper application of the econometric techniques. The proper application of the techniques is important, as the more proper the techniques, the more precise the results would be. I really appreciate the workshop when it comes to theoretical coverage of econometrics. Professor Mansor also covered the use of the software, which allows the participants to immediately apply the knowledge they got from the workshop. From an industry perspective, these techniques are useful as a tool to support a decision making,” said bank executive Arshad Nuval Othman, who works at an Islamic bank.

Associate Professor Dr Lean Hooi Hooi from the School of Social Sciences (Economics Program) at a Malaysian university said: “Professor Mansor is a knowledgeable and resourceful person. He helped us to understand these few topics which are very important especially for the latest econometrics development skills.”

Interested?

Contact INCEIF about the workshop

*Pictures from INCEIF

Plantronics adds Apple Watch and Android Wear controls for premium headsets

Plantronics, an audio and wearable technology specialist, announced that the latest version of its Plantronics Hub for iOS and Android now supports the Apple Watch and Android Wear, broadening the company’s reach to include other devices within the growing mobile device ecosystem.

With the new smart watch extension, people can now manage the headset experience directly from their wrist. Plantronics Hub v3.5 for iOS and Android lets users manage, customise, and control premium Plantronics Bluetooth headsets, including the Voyager Focus UC headphones. Supported controls include muting and unmuting the headset, volume control, battery status, and ending calls. 

Interested?

Plantronics Hub v3.5 for iOS and Android with smart watch support is free and available* now at the Apple App store and Google Play.

*Plantronics Hub for iOS requires iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6, 6 Plus and iOS 8.3; Plantronics for Android requires OS v2.3.3 and later

Halal Navi adds prayer room location feature to app

Source: Halal Navi website.

Halal Navi has added a prayer room location feature for the iOS version of its mobile app.

The updated Halal Navi app allows users to search for mosques and prayer rooms by proximity, and also via keyword searches. Comments and pictures of mosques are supported.

The company is now working on adding the same feature to the Android version of the app. 

Interested?

Download the iOS app

Natural & Organic Products Asia returns to Hong Kong for second year

Source: NOPA website.

After a successful 2014 launch, Natural & Organic Products Asia (NOPA) will again offer visitors an exhibition floor dedicated to the contemporary healthy lifestyle. NOPA2015 is the place to source quality natural and organic foods in Asia, say organisers Diversified Communications Hong Kong. 

This year's NOPA is expected to host over 8,000 visitors at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. It is expected to feature natural and organic food, cosmetics products and other related services from around 200 exhibitors. More than 1,000 brands from over 50 countries will be present at the three-day exhibition. A number of new products are will be launched during the event, which runs from August 26 to 28:

SuperGreen pH Superfood 

A concentrated alkalising powder that provides naturally occurring green pigments from 24 sources of greens, flaxseed meal and alkalising ingredients to regulate the internal pH. 

Organic bean pasta 

An organic and gluten-free bean pasta made of soybean, black bean, adzuki and mung bean, the pasta is high-protein and low-fat.

Coconut mayonnaise 

HealthSource International's NUCO Coconut Mayonnaise contains 100% pure coconut oil with organic cage-free eggs and organic vinegar. 

Nesugar syrup 

A light syrup composed of equal parts of glucose and fructose, Nesugar produced from all-natural cane sugar through a proprietary enzymatic process. Health Factor Foods will display the Organic Lil Shuga, Hey Shuga and Pancake Shuga varieties of Nesugar, which is sweeter, moister and less prone to crystallisation than traditional sugar. 

Organic Shangrila white tea 

This tea is honey sweet and has a strong floral aroma, followed by a grassy finish. Research indicates white tea may have power against some cancers. 

 
Biotta Breuss juice 

This beverage is German, and consists of a blend of organic vegetables.

Stevianna health drinks 

Naturally-sweetened drinks using organic Rebaudioside-A 98% stevia extracts.

Buckwheat organic snack 

These snacks are gluten free, raw, vegan and are made with prebiotics and probiotics. Naturally low in sugar and fat, they are also excellent sources of fibre and magnesium.

Interested?

Register for a free trade only pass

Islamic trends for 2015 unveiled

The Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC), in partnership with Thomson Reuters, and in collaboration with DinarStandard has shared initial trends from the 2015-2016 edition of the State of the Global Islamic Economy report and the accompanying Global Islamic Economy Indicator ahead of the Global Islamic Economy Summit that will run in Dubai from 5 to 6 October, 2015.

Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar, CEO of DIEDC, said, "The launch of this year's State of the Global Islamic Economy report reiterates the commitment of Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre, along with Thomson Reuters and DinarStandard to nurture a knowledge-based Islamic economy within the emirate and wider UAE as part of our continued priority to develop Dubai as the capital of Islamic economy. We are confident the report will inspire and empower entrepreneurs, industry leaders and investors from within the Arab world and beyond to evaluate and develop an actionable, practical and high impact market strategy focused on growing the opportunities for Islamic economy in their own geographies."

The report, which is being compiled for the third consecutive year, is set for release in the fourth quarter of 2015. Examining latest development trends and statistics across a number of key sectors that comprise the US$2 trillion Islamic economy currently featuring predominantly Muslim consumers, the report focuses on categories such as Islamic finance, halal food, tourism, clothing & fashion, media & recreation, and pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Mustafa Adil, Acting Head of Islamic Finance at Thomson Reuters, said: "Through this report, we have introduced a first-of-its-kind, quantifiable measure of the development of the global Islamic economy."

The report will also feature an update to the Global Islamic Economy Indicator, which was introduced in 2014. The indicator is a composite index that presents the current outlook of the Islamic economy sectors across 70 countries beyond the growth of its assets, focusing on awareness, governance and social metrics. Furthermore, a special focus report on the Islamic digital economy will be launched this year alongside the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report.

Pointing out that 2015 is a significant year for Islamic economy, Rafi-uddin Shikoh, CEO and Managing Director of DinarStandard said, "2015 marks the tipping point for Islamic lifestyle economy services moving from establishing a business case to focusing on building successful business models and quality execution strategies. As more Islamic economy success stories emerge - such as the ones highlighted in the report - the momentum is also starting to shift towards solutions that have a wider, values-driven, global audience appeal for socially responsible products and services."

Key trends include:

Islamic finance

New markets are emerging, with African countries launching debut sovereign sukuk and East Asian countries enabling their domestic markets to tap into Islamic financing. The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have formally launched a US$500 million grant facility to address poverty and diseases in IDB member countries.

Halal food

As the demand for safe, wholesome and humane food grows around the world, producers of halal food who truly adhere to the concepts of halal (حلال) and tayyib (طيب) foods have an opportunity to become the global standard for this segment.

Tourism

There have been many success stories in the ever-burgeoning halal travel sector. HalalBooking.com, a travel search and booking website for halal-conscious travelers, has achieved tremendous success. The website's booking for Turkey-based hotel clients has exceeded millions per resort, and hopes to reach 10 million per hotel for many of its properties by end 2015 and through 2016. This is in addition to other success stories such as Yamsafer, a hotel booking startup from Palestine that raised US$3.5 million from Global Founders Capital.

Clothing & fashion

In stark contrast to the pressures the mainstream fashion industry faces in the aftermath of the global recession, the modest fashion space continues to expand. Muslim fashion e-commerce platforms such as HijUp and Modanisa are receiving further investments to grow their user base, while mainstream fashion players such as UNIQLO*, Mango and Tommy Hilfiger are following the lead of haute couture houses such as DKNY in tapping into the modest fashion market.

Islamic digital economy

A new frontier in the Islamic economy is its digital component. This segment has woven itself into the lives of many Muslims worldwide as an integral part of their lifestyle. From Quran and halal travel mobile apps to online Islamic education services and tools for locating the nearest halal restaurants, the Islamic digital economy has emerged as a high growth segment. Success stories include Zabihah.com, a leading location-based guide to halal restaurants and markets with a digital reach of 10 million unique users, MuslimPro, a prayer, and the qibla (‏قبلة) tracking mobile app with over 10 million Android downloads in 16 different languages.

Pharmaceuticals & cosmetics

This sector offers several success stories and opportunities for growth. The halal cosmetics sector in particular is growing quickly in the Asia Pacific through smaller brands, forcing large companies such as Unilever to start looking at halal cosmetics to ensure they maintain their strong presence in this region. South East Asia is leading the development of halal vaccinations for meningitis, hepatitis and meningococcal disease for Hajj pilgrims.

The Global Islamic Economy Summit 2015, organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, DIEDC and Thomson Reuters, will build on the momentum of the 2013 Summit and continue to serve as a thought leadership platform for over 2,000 policy makers and business leaders.

Interested?

Read the State of the Global Islamic Economy 2014-2015 Report

Hashtag: #2015GIES

*UNIQLO launched its modest wear collection, created in collaboration with designer and Internet personality Hana Tajima, on July 3 in Singapore. The UNIQLO X Hana Tajima Collection is available exclusively at UNIQLO 313@Somerset and online store. In line with UNIQLO’s LifeWear concept, the collection is designed to meet the needs of women who value comfortable and relaxed wear. This inaugural collection takes inspiration from an international approach in appreciation of diverse culture and style. The collection features office-appropriate pants (S$49.90), skirts (S$49.90), rayon blouses (S$49.90) and long dresses (S$49.90 to S$59.90) with a comfortable, relaxed fit. The collection also includes hijab headscarves (S$24.90 to S$29.90), as well as inner AIRism hijab headscarves (S$4.90) and headbands (S$14.90). AIRism is a UNIQLO-patented material that is thin, light and absorbs moisture for extraordinary comfort especially in tropical climates.