Batelco, part of the Beyon Group, has unveiled new standalone Digital Shops at three key locations around the Kingdom of Bahrain. Designed with the customer in mind, the Digital Shops give access to Batelco services around the clock to suit customers’ busy lifestyles, enabling them to complete transactions conveniently in just a few minutes.The Digital Shops give access to a wide range of Batelco services, including the ability to instantly register and activate a new Postpaid or Prepaid line and receive a new SIM card, as well as subscribe to Home Fiber Broadband services with just a few easy steps. Customers can also complete package upgrades, SIM/eSIM replacement, and check device availability. Everyday popular transactions are also part of the Digital Shop capabilities, such as paying bills and refilling vouchers. General Manager Consumer Division Aseel Mattar said, “We are proud that Batelco is the first in the Kingdom to launch these standalone telecom digital shops, an exciting milestone in line with our commitment to innovation and customer-centricity.”“With the rapid advancement of technology and the growing demand for digital interaction, Batelco recognizes the need for accessible telecom services. The launch of these state-of-the-art digital shops aims to elevate the customer’s digital experience by ensuring our customers can access Batelco’s services at their convenience, with no time constraints.”“By leveraging cutting-edge technology and advanced user experience design, Batelco is creating a seamless and immersive retail experience that aims to exceed customer expectations. We look forward to delighting our customers and setting new industry standards," Mrs. Mattar added.Batelco’s Digital Shops are located in Al Alawi Complex Carpark, In & Out Petrol station in Hidd, and The Station in Janabiyah, all operating 24/7.

The Beyon Group hosted Elevate 2023, its annual customer focussed technology forum introduced last year, bringing together over 300 invited enterprise customers from Bahrain’s public and private sectors.The major event, which was attended by Beyon Chairman Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, was held at the Ritz Carlton Bahrain on Wednesday 13th September.Under the theme, Digital Transformation Accelerated, Elevate is fast becoming the flagship technology event in the Kingdom of Bahrain, attended by business leaders, and bringing together expertise and resources from the Beyon digital companies and other local, regional and international organisations. To launch the day’s proceedings, Beyon Chief Digital Growth Officer, Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa gave a welcome address, highlighting the excellent progress made by Beyon’s digital companies during the past year, and outlining their key achievements and future plans. Following the opening remarks, iGA’s Chief Executive, Mr. Mohamed Al Qaed delivered a speech, where he addressed the upcoming partnership between the iGA and Beyon Connect, which is aimed at enhancing the current eKey system used by citizens and residents through the utilization of the OneID application, Beyon Connect's digital identity platform. Al Qaed highlighted that this application is in line with both local and international laws and standards, with a focus on further enhancing the system by authorization services for individuals engaging in electronic transactions.The event’s comprehensive agenda featured key presentations given by industry experts and international speakers, including Expel Co-Founder Yanek Koroff who discussed the changing paradigm of cyber defense, Nermin Hassan from Egypt Post who spoke on the topic of embracing digital postboxes for a sustainable future, and from Calligo - a provider of transformative data services, Adam Ryan and Tessa Jones gave a presentation about empowering data driven business through the lens of ESG.Throughout the day, Beyon’s enterprise focussed companies, Beyon Cyber, Beyon Solutions and Beyon Connect showcased their products and services range, and during breakout sessions introduced trending topics such as AI, Machine Learning, Cyber Security and more.Batelco Chief Digital Growth Officer, Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa said, ­“We were delighted to host Elevate for the 2nd year and very pleased with the excellent attendance from across the business sector. The event is an invaluable opportunity for us to engage with our customers and partners, while providing a platform to discuss emerging trends and how we can best support the enterprise sector. Furthermore, the wide range of presentations and panel discussions were informative and engaging and truly enriched the agenda.”“On behalf of the Beyon Group, I would like to offer huge appreciation to the individual experts and companies that helped to make Elevate 2023 a great event. We look forward to future collaborations with the enterprise sector building on the success of today’s event,” Shaikh Mohamed added. 

The Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority (BTEA), recently unveiled its latest statistics for the period of January to June 2023, showcasing remarkable growth in their tourism sector. According to the latest BTEA data, Bahrain welcomed a staggering 5.9 million visitors during the first six months of 2023, representing a remarkable 51% increase from the same period in the previous year when 3.9 million tourists visited the country. This substantial surge in arrivals emphasizes Bahrain's growing attraction as a premier tourist destination. The Kingdom of Bahrain, renowned for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant shopping scene, and diverse tourist attractions has emerged as a desirable destination for tourists across the globe. It continues to make significant strides in its tourism sector. Bahrain, an island nation situated in the heart of the Arabian Gulf, has become a favorite choice for tourists seeking a unique blend of culture, history, and modernity. Visitors are drawn to its historical sites, such as the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Bahrain Pearling Trail and the ancient Qal'at al Bahrain (Bahrain Fort), offering a glimpse into the nation's rich history dating back over 4,000 years. Moreover, Bahrain's cultural festivals, stunning architecture and warm hospitality attract visitors from around the world. This showcases the country's commitment to embracing global cultural diversity while preserving its own traditions. The nation's culinary scene is another highlight, with a plethora of restaurants offering a delectable fusion of Middle Eastern and international cuisines. From authentic local dishes to gourmet experiences, Bahrain satisfies every palate. One noteworthy trend observed during this period is the increasing number of tourists from India. The country witnessed 87% surge in the number of Indians visiting Bahrain. In the first half of 2023, the number of Indian visitors soared to 5,04,173 compared to 2,69,302 for the same period in 2022, showcasing the substantial growth in this tourist segment. The Indian market has shown tremendous interest in Bahrain as a preferred destination for weddings, vacations, and relaxation. The Kingdom's proximity to India, convenient connectivity, and a diverse range of offerings cater to the preferences of Indian travelers, making Bahrain an attractive choice for both leisure and business purposes.  Maryam Toorani, Director of Marketing & Promotion at BETA, said, “Bahrain's significant growth in tourism during the first half of 2023 is a testament to the enduring charm of our country. We are delighted to welcome 5.9 million visitors who have chosen Bahrain as their destination of choice. As we continue to evolve and welcome travelers from around the world, we remain committed to crafting unforgettable experiences that showcase our rich culture, history, and the warmth of our hospitality.” Bahrain's government continues to invest in its infrastructure and initiatives to ensure the sustainability and growth of its tourism sector. These efforts include enhancing accommodation options, expanding transportation networks, and promoting cultural and recreational activities. As Bahrain's tourism industry continues to flourish, it remains committed to providing exceptional experiences for visitors from around the world and nurturing its relationship with India, a key market in its tourism expansion strategy. 

Investcorp, a leading global alternative investment firm, has announced the successful exit of its investment in the publicly listed Safari Industries, one of the largest luggage brands in India.Investcorp invested in Safari in February 2021. During Investcorp’s ownership period, Safari Industries successfully increased its production capacity and expanded its physical stores footprint in new and under-served markets in India. This transaction marks another significant milestone in Investcorp’s journey of partnering with companies demonstrating high-growth potential in India.Yusef Al Yusef, Head of Investcorp’s Private Wealth, said: “As we expand our investments across India and continuously review and strengthen our portfolio, Safari is another example of how we invest and accelerate the growth in companies with an exceptional market position, solid fundamentals and strong growth potential. This is our fourth exit in India in just a few years, highlighting how our approach of working side by side with ambitious companies to help them generate and realise value pays dividends for both the companies and our investors.”Gaurav Sharma, Partner & Head of India Investments at Investcorp, added: "It gives us immense pleasure to witness Safari Industries' transformation into a leading luggage brand in India. Millions have trusted and chosen Safari for their travel needs over the years. Collaborating with Sudhir Jatia’s visionary leadership and dedicated team has been a rewarding journey, and this partnership is a testament to Investcorp's commitment to investing in companies with strong growth potential. We are confident of their continued success in their next phase of growth”.Sudhir Jatia, Chief Executive and Managing Director, Safari Industries, said: “Working with Investcorp has been an incredible journey. Their partnership and unwavering support have been crucial in propelling Safari Industries to new heights, bringing both scale and success to our endeavors."This transaction marks Investcorp’s fourth exit in India over the past two and a half years, following the sale of ASG Eye Hospital, a leading eyecare hospital chain, InCred, a leading tech-enabled financing company and Bewakoof, a leading direct-to-consumer online apparel brand.In India, Investcorp is an active investor in mid-market companies across consumption-linked sectors and in the real estate business. In the private equity space, Investcorp targets opportunities across the consumer tech, healthcare, financial services, and retail, SaaS, e-commerce, and technology sectors. Its investments over the last four years include V-Ensure, Intergrow Brands, Bewakoof.com, Freshtohome, Zolo, InCred, Citykart, NephroPlus, Unilog, XpressBees, and Safari Industries.

Manama: BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced a partnership with MediaZone, a subsidiary of Gulf Media International Bahrain (GMI), the digital marketing specialist in the Kingdom of Bahrain, to provide marketing and advertising agency services. MediaZone will serve as an intermediary between Benefit and third parties seeking to market their products and services on BENEFIT’s mobile application, BenefitPay.MediaZone was chosen for this initiative as a result of their proven expertise in offering marketing solutions, as well as their ability to ensure the seamless integration of advertisements within the app. The agreement will present innovative advertising spaces for those looking to market their products and/or services through the BenefitPay application. This partnership allows BENEFIT to leverage the full potential of their application and strengthen its overall impact.The collaboration is set to generate fresh opportunities for businesses; allowing them to reach their target audiences in Bahrain and aiding their marketing efforts . With BenefitPay’s increasing popularity and usage, it is an ideal platform to advertise on for companies wanting to boost their visibility and engagement in the Bahraini market. Third parties that join forces with BENEFIT through MediaZone will enjoy smooth, noninvasive integration into the user experience, as well as mass reach and impressions, giving them a competitive edge and increasing brand engagement    .Nezar Maroof, AGM Marketing & Communications at BENEFIT, commented, “We are excited to announce our partnership with MediaZone to broaden BenefitPay's features and bring innovative and impactful advertising solutions to the platform. By leveraging their expertise, this opportunity empowers us to further increase our brand's visibility and reach, while also providing our users with tailored and engaging content. We look forward to this engagement and the prospects it will provide.”Ribal Jureidini, Director of Operation & Sales at MediaZone one, commented, “We are thrilled to be part of this transformative partnership with BENEFIT. This collaboration aligns with our core mission to advance the digital advertising landscape in the Kingdom and enables us to provide strategic advertising spaces on the widely used BenefitPay app. Through this we are empowering Bahraini businesses while also enhancing the user experience with contextually relevant promotions. We are dedicated to the shared vision of digital innovation and this is definitely a significant step towards that goal.” It is worth mentioning that this engagement is part of BENEFIT's ongoing effort to further develop and improve its services in order to offer its users the best possible experience. BenefitPay remains a pioneer in terms of usage with 40 million access monthly and with more than 10 million Fawri transactions, more than 240 million Fawri+ and 468 thousand Fawateer transactions in 2022, beside other services such as petrol station payments, remittance and balance inquiry transactions.

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Arab Bank ranked first as the “Best Service Bank” in Bahrain as voted by Corporates according to the global Euromoney Cash Management Survey 2022, a reference survey for the global cash management industry.The Cash Management survey examines customer feedback around financial services provided by banks to evaluate best cash management service providers and rank them based on the survey results across financial and banking markets.The survey collects data from multiple qualitative and quantitative sources, including institutions and customers to build an objective assessment. The magazine’s team of editors then evaluate the data based on specific criteria and ranking across multiple categories and markets as a global benchmark for leading providers of cash management products and services across the banking and financial industry. This year, the survey collected responses from over 21,000 customers across different markets around the world, including Bahrain.  This ranking complements Arab Bank’s significant success record and recognizes the bank’s cash management offering in light of the digital transformation era. The ranking also reflects Arab Bank’s constant efforts in deploying the latest banking services and solutions in the industry for the corporate sector. Commenting on this achievement, Nadya Talhouni, Country Manager at Arab Bank – Bahrain, said: “This global recognition reaffirms Arab Bank’s constant efforts in providing the latest banking services to its customers across the corporate sector and others in Bahrain.” Talhouni added: “Arab Bank will continue to provide the most advanced banking solutions and services that meet the needs of its customers and provide them with an innovative banking experience in line with the latest technologies in the banking industry.”Arab Bank is one of the leading financial institutions locally and regionally in providing the latest banking solution for its customers across the different sectors. The bank recently received several international recognitions, most notably the “Best Bank in the Middle East 2022” award from New York-based Global Finance magazine for the seventh consecutive year.