Latest news with #Qannati
Daily Tribune
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Blue for a Cause: GFH leads autism awareness run with Bahrain Road Runners
TDT | Manama GFH Financial Group took centre stage yesterday as it partnered with Bahrain Road Runners to host the Ocean of Hope, a striking blue-themed colour run held at the Lost Paradise of Dilmun, raising vital awareness for autism as part of global Autism Awareness Month. Marking the first major corporate social responsibility (CSR) event of the year for GFH, the initiative brought together families, special education centres, and community supporters in a show of unity and inclusiveness. 'The idea for the Colour Run came as part of our plans for April, which is Autism Awareness Month,' said Sahar Qannati, Head of Corporate Communications at GFH Financial Group. 'We had a few ideas as part of our corporate responsibility, but eventually, we came up with the Colour Run.' What set the event apart was its distinctive choice to go monochrome. 'We're used to colour runs being vibrant, with all types of colours sprayed over runners during the marathon. But this one was different - we chose only blue, and that was for two reasons,' Qannati explained. 'First, because the Autism Awareness Month ribbon is blue. And second, because we wanted the kids to ask, 'Why are there no other colours?' That question becomes an opportunity for parents to explain what autism is, how autistic children are different, what they like and don't like, and how we can be more aware and inclusive.' Throughout the event, dozens of children on the autism spectrum participated alongside classmates and teachers from schools like Britus International School – Special Education and Nadeen International School - each known for their inclusive learning practices. 'It's also a chance to bring everyone together under one roof,' said Qannati. 'Today, we have a lot of autistic children with us... the kids are enjoying, and we're really pleased with the outcome.' Khalifa Al Najem, Vice Chairman of Bahrain Road Runners, praised GFH for enabling a cause-driven race that went beyond athletics. Speaking to TDT at the event venue, he said, 'Today is a special day. Bahrain Road Runners is organising a fun run. It's called the Blue Colour Run for Autism Awareness. This year, we planned it with our sponsor - thanks to GFH Financial Group for their sponsorship. This event is to increase awareness of the autism spectrum.' 'We've had a good number of people turn out today, participating in this important event,' he continued. 'Bahrain Road Runners is always serving the community in Bahrain in different aspects... but this race in particular is very unique—and honestly speaking, everybody loved it.' The decision to champion autism awareness stems from a deep sense of responsibility, shared by both GFH and its community partners. 'Autism is increasing worldwide, and we felt - with our sponsor GFH - that we needed to highlight this condition and its importance, and bring the whole community together,' said Al Najem. 'I'm happy that people are now asking, 'What is autism? How do we handle autism?'' He also acknowledged national stakeholders: 'We thank the autism centres that participated - they've come up with great ideas, along with the Ministry of Interior, on how to handle patients on the autism spectrum.' The run was held at the Lost Paradise of Dilmun, Areen - a venue chosen not only for its family-friendly environment but for its scenic and symbolic value. 'The Lost Paradise of Dilmun is a perfect place, actually, to host this kind of event,' Al Najem said. 'We are thankful they hosted us in this beautiful area, and we assure them we'll have more events here in future.' For GFH, the event signals a renewed focus on impactful, community-driven CSR programming. 'GFH Financial Group tries to create events around Bahrain that add real value in terms of corporate responsibility,' said Qannati. 'It might be sports events, it might be donations, or site visits— there are many initiatives. We always try to do something a lit- tle different with a unique GFH touch. This creativity is what keeps us going year after year.' 'This might be the first CSR event we're doing this year,' Sahar concluded, 'but many more are coming. We're just putting the pieces together, and we'll be announcing them soon.' GFH Financial Group's commitment to the cause was underscored by the personal presence of its Group CEO and Executive Director Hisham Alrayes, who took part in the run alongside his young son, Tariq Hisham Alrayes - a gesture that resonated deeply with families at the event and reflected the Group's values not just in words, but in action. As the final runners made their way across the blue-dusted finish line, it wasn't just the colour that lingered, it was the quiet clarity that GFH isn't treating social responsibility as a checkbox, but as a commitment that runs deep.
New York Times
07-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Building a Watchmaking Hub in Bahrain
Mahmood Qannati stood before a roomful of students at Bahrain Polytechnic and delivered the university's first-ever lecture on the fundamentals of watchmaking. The two-hour presentation in February opened the university's first undergraduate course on watches. Through May, Mr. Qannati and his team are providing lectures and hands-on training in key aspects of watchmaking, from history to assembly to marketing, to about two dozen college students, laying a foundation for the country's horological future. 'There was a huge demand for this course when we first put it on the roster in December,' Mr. Qannati said by phone from Manama, the capital of Bahrain, where he lives. 'But we decided to limit the size of the class because this is a first, and we didn't want it to get out of control.' Mr. Qannati, a marketing executive at a bank in Bahrain, is also a watch entrepreneur. In 2019, he founded Qannati Objet d'Art, a brand specializing in one-of-a-kind métiers d'art watches designed with intricate dials and sculpted details made from precious materials. Powered by Swiss movements, the Objet d'Art watches are crafted in France. Since introducing his debut collection in 2022, the Bahrain native has won awards in the Middle East and has sold timepieces to clients from Palm Beach, Fla., to Hong Kong. In 2024, he decided to pursue another vision: to locally develop Bahraini expertise in watches. 'I thought about producing a collection here in Manama,' he said. 'But the question was how can I do that and help Bahraini society at the same time. That is why I decided to invest in educating our first generation of watch professionals.' While Bahrain has no watchmaking tradition, the Middle East region is an important consumer of watches. Last year, exports of Swiss watches to the region were valued at 3.8 billion francs, or $4.3 billion, an increase of 622 percent in 25 years, according to figures published by the Swiss watch federation. Bahrain Polytechnic partnered with Mr. Qannati last year to introduce a watchmaking course led by him. In exchange for his time, he is allowed to use the classroom for his business outside of class hours to produce his Lab Edition watches, the brand's first generation of métiers d'art watches assembled in Bahrain, and a more affordable take on the brand's 'wearable art' timepieces. 'We call the space a lab, but it is a fully functional watchmaking workshop,' Mr. Qannati said. 'The collaboration with Qannati,' Ciarán Ó. Catháin, chief executive of Bahrain Polytechnic, wrote in an email, 'has opened avenues for students to delve into innovative business concepts that might otherwise be unattainable.' Mr. Qannati said, 'I have a staff of four Bahrainis for the Lab Editions; two in watch assembly, and two in dial customization. By the end of this semester, I hope to hire one of my students to help with watch servicing, which we outsource at the moment.' The strategy behind Qannati's Lab Edition watches was to expand the reach of the brand with a more accessible price point while preserving its exclusivity. Lab Edition watches retail for $2,000, while the higher-end métiers d'art watches are typically priced in the six figures, depending on the materials used. Made of stainless steel with a Swiss automatic Sellita SW100 movement, the Lab Edition watches come in two case options: a 41-millimeter round or a 44-millimeter tonneau, or barrel, shaped design, paired with a rubber strap. Above the watch dial, under the sapphire glass, a space is designed to accommodate a small bespoke sculpture, 3-D-printed in resin and designed using A.I.-based technology. 'We use A.I. to create any small three-dimensional design that the client requests,' Mr. Qannati said. 'I say this without shame, A.I. is the principal designer of our Lab Edition,' he said. 'For our Objets d'Art watches, nothing can replace the human touch.' Since the Lab Edition collection's debut in November, Mr. Qannati said, he has sold 102 pieces online or at trade fairs. The students enrolled in Mr. Qannati's class come from different educational backgrounds, but all are curious about watches. Half are women. 'Most of the students come from an engineering background,' Muhannad Alqassab, 22, a senior majoring in web media studies, said by phone from Manama. 'I am interested in luxury marketing and in 3-D techniques to design a watch.' 'Everyone here is interested in watches,' Mr. Alqassab said. 'Some dream of owning a watch brand.' The class curriculum covers the evolution of watch movements, with a comparative study of quartz and mechanical mechanisms. It also delves into watch design and modeling, precision assembly, and customization. Additional modules address luxury branding, A.I.-assisted design, as well as techniques in watch photography and digital presentation. Next, Mr. Alqassab said, 'We will be assembling our own custom-made watches.' To graduate from the program, 'every student must design and assemble their own Lab Edition watch,' Mr. Qannati said. 'We will provide only a Swiss quartz movement and a sapphire crystal. The rest is up to them.' For the hands-on training this month, Mr. Qannati retained the services of Pierre Christe, a seasoned Swiss watchmaker and instructor who taught at Bulgari for 30 years. The two met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November at a watchmaking seminar hosted by a Saudi influencer. 'I was invited to Riyadh to present a history of watches followed by a watch assembly demonstration to a group of 25 watch fans,' Mr. Christe said by phone from Lausanne, Switzerland, where he lives. 'There was a lot of enthusiasm in the class. Many of the students had expensive watches on their wrist, but few had any notion of what makes a watch tick.' In Bahrain, Mr. Christe will show the university students how to assemble a mechanical movement from the Swiss company ETA. 'We will do things properly, the Swiss way,' he said. 'It won't be tinkering.' Looking ahead, Mr. Qannati said he planned to expand this educational model beyond Bahrain and establish similar 'teaching labs' in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. 'The Bahraini government is aware of our partnership with the university,' Mr. Qannati said. 'If we produce tangible results, we might ask for state backing. For now, we are pushing forward on our own.' 'Being in the lab has become the most enjoyable part of my day,' he said. 'We are creating Bahrain's new generation of watch entrepreneurs.'
