Posted on

ABA Holding Group Learning and Development launches new digital platform

Revolutionizing the way our team members gain access to training at Ali Bin Ali Holding, the Group Learning and Development Department has introduced a digital learning platform – The ABA Learning Hub.

The platform was ceremoniously launched on February 26, 2023, at a small gathering held at the ABA Head Office in the presence of Senior Managers, the Learning and Development team and the users. There was also a significant online participation by ABA staff members in Kuwait, K.S.A and also Qatar.

The ABA Learning Hub is a storehouse of a wide range of courses and study modules that ABA employees can avail of at their own pace and in their own time. The easily navigable portal is user friendly and allows the user to check the modules available, select courses that suits her/his business need and even form groups to discuss topics. The e-learning platform is accessible from different gadgets beyond a desktop and laptop and can be accessed via an app on tablets or the mobile phones, whether they are in the workplace or at home.

500 ABA staff members from different divisions and departments of the Holding have been selected by their Managers to pilot the new e-learning platform. All users are being added in the backend by the Learning and Development Team and can set up a profile with the ABA email address.

The ABA Learning Hub is a part of the Group Learning and Development Department’s vision strategy to achieve learning autonomy, learning agility and to repurpose talent. The platform encourages ABA staff to consistently be curious to gain new knowledge and skills. The new platform is a breakthrough for the whole organization as we step into the future with the digitally advanced Learning and Development Department, which allows our staff the flexibility to keep learning as per their availability.

Speaking at the launch, Guest speaker Mr. Sébastien Farhat, emphasized the importance of Learning and investing in one’s own growth, while Ms. Gizelle Lacson – ABA Learning and Development Lead said: “Digitization is the future and it’s a proud moment for all of us to be able to offer this platform to our teams. The core of all these is learning – as it facilitates the resilience of the workforce. It is essential that we keep learning to advance in our professional as well as our personal lives. Learning can happen anytime, anywhere and we want to make it flexible, convenient and fun. The ABA Learning Hub is all of that and I am sure it will be an asset for the employees and the Group.”

 

 

Posted on

Dohatna Innovative Distribution partners with Samsung to showcase an immersive space at 21 High st, Katara Cultural Village

Further strengthening their long-standing partnership, Ali Bin Ali Holding’s Dohatna Innovative Distribution and Samsung Gulf Electronics joined hands to inaugurate an immersive experiential store in Doha’s Katara Cultural Village. Dohatna is the official partner of Samsung Mobile in Qatar.

Located in 21 High st – the ultimate outdoor shopping destination in Qatar, the new store is strategically positioned right opposite the main entrance of Galeries Lafayette Doha. It offers an exclusive space for visitors who wish to see all that is new and innovative in Mobiles, TVs, Home Appliances and Monitors.

The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Adel Ali Bin Ali, Chairman & President of Ali Bin Ali Holding, HE Lee Joon-Ho The ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Qatar, Mr. Doohee Lee, President of Samsung Gulf Electronics, Ali Bin Ali Holding’s Business Head for Consumer Electronics Retail and Distribution Mr. Ganesh Mithra Parthajee and other top officials from Ali Bin Ali Holding and Samsung Qatar team.

The showroom brings a unique design element to tell Samsung’s product story across a highly immersive customer journey, which intuitively, brings visitors closer to the product depending on individual taste and preferences. The approach was one of seamlessness so that visitors may be guided by their personal needs and even explore opportunities of personalization, from the design to the very software display.

Across the store, customers get to see the latest innovations of Samsung Galaxy Mobiles & Wearables portfolio. Its highly ambitious products offering will exhibit the latest Galaxy S Series, including the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23, marking a new era of Samsung Galaxy’s ultimate premium phone.

Softened by wooden slats, greenery and elegant accessories, The Frame and The Serif, both part of Samsung’s Lifestyle TV line-up, are showcased on a separate wall to help customers re-imagine their living rooms.

A must-see for visitors is the dedicated SmartThings space, featuring multiple day-to-day scenarios of connected device experiences, such as Gaming and Work from Home.  In addition, customers can see up-close and personal Samsung’s latest home appliances, including The Air Dresser, Bespoke Jet, and Bespoke Refrigerators.

 

Posted on

With a vision for a greener tomorrow, Monoprix Qatar introduces reusable shopping bags

After becoming the first supermarket in Qatar to start using paper bags, Ali Bin Ali Holding’s Monoprix Qatar introduced a more sustainable way of shopping with reusable bags. Making the right start to the New Year, on 1 January, 2023, Monoprix Qatar launched the permanent campaign, ‘Let’s be the change – reduce, reuse, recycle’. Leading the way in reducing the one-time use of shopping bags, Monoprix Qatar looks forward to saving trees and creating a greener environment.

Customers at any Monoprix store in Qatar can now purchase one re-usable bag for QR 1 and also get a voucher worth QR 1 in return, in effect getting the bag free of cost. This QR 1 voucher can be redeemed in any of the Monoprix stores on the next visit starting the next day.  The voucher is valid for 1 month.

The QR 1 cost of the reusable bag is just to make customers conscious about the number of bags they use and use them only when it’s necessary. Making the use of these bags even more sustainable, the supermarket will exchange any used or damaged Monoprix reusable bags for free, for life.

Monoprix as a brand has always committed itself to a sustainable development approach with organic products, local produce, recycling waste and using environment-friendly packaging options. With a proactive vision to save the environment and raise awareness about it, Monoprix takes innovative steps to preserve the nature for a greener future.

Speaking about this noble initiative, Regional General Manager of Monoprix Mr. Sébastien Farhat said: “Monoprix supermarket uses a large number of bags every year and this is not good news for the environment. We are always looking towards more sustainable, environment-friendly solutions and the reusable shopping bags seemed to be the perfect answer to this situation. Monoprix is much more than just a supermarket, we want to give back and do our humble bit for the community. I am sure this campaign will help raise awareness and the eco-friendly shopping option will be well-received and contribute substantially to a greener future for our planet.”

 

 

Posted on

Governance, Risk and Compliance practice set precedence for the future of Ali Bin Ali Holding

On January 17, 2022 Ali Bin Ali Legal Department announced the launch of its autonomous and reinvigorated Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) unit that will manage risks and ensure compliance of business requirements and government regulations. The evening event, held at W Hotel Doha, was attended by more than 100 ABA executives from across 18 business streams of the conglomerate.

In his maiden speech, ABA Vice President/General Counsel, Mr. Nabil Chamas, pointed to the fundamental significance of the GRC unit within ABA Holding as a support unit that would safeguard the company’s identity, its employees and consumers. Mr. Chamas noted that the world’s risk and compliance landscape is more complex than ever before, hence the need for the ABA Legal Department to introduce new policies and regulations, and modify existing ones so as to protect the company’s interest. “By implementing the GRC component, our company can make better decisions in a risk-aware environment. Our sustainable and yet effective approach towards GRC will help us and our stakeholders set guidelines and comply with requirements both at the national and international level,” Mr. Chamas stated.

It was noted in the meeting that the creation of the GRC unit came at an opportune moment when ABA Holding was rapidly expanding its functions and operations in the Middle East and across the globe. Key topics such as the importance of governance and cybersecurity; data protection; addressing risk and risk environments; and compliance practices were discussed by the notable staff and lawyers of the ABA Legal Department including: Mr. Benjamin Anafi, Ms. Janaina De Queiroz, Ms. Mahassen Al Taki, and Mr. Jean Michel.

The legal department, through Ms. Sarolta Kacso and Ms. Amina El Zein, proposed launching an App – App4Legal – that would help track and manage the entire life cycle of the company’s contracts, litigation, and corporate matters, thereby minimizing the company’s risk posture. The App is set to enhance efficiency in ABA’s workflow where every task can be organized, automated and streamlined.

To conclude the event, a plenary discussion was opened for participants to share their opinions, experiences and how to better implement the GRC program in their daily practices. As a follow-up to the conference, the GRC support unit will conduct trainings to enable employees better understand the GRC and App4Legal.

Posted on

ABA Beverages becomes the exclusive soft drink & water partner for Lusail Winter Wonderland

Ali Bin Ali Beverages, the sole manufacturer of Pepsi products in Qatar, has signed an agreement with Estithmar Holding to become the exclusive soft drink and water partner of Lusail Winter Wonderland. The newly realized partnership between the two entities will bridge the gap between supplier and buyer by providing direct access to Pepsi’s quality products, assuring reliability of supplied products, and ensuring a continuous supply of products.

Speaking during the signage, Mr. Marc Karam, the General Manager of Ali Bin Ali Beverages, shared ABA Beverages’ enthusiasm for the new arrangement between the two companies. “We are delighted to partner with Estithmar Holding for Lusail Winter Wonderland, the world-class creator of moments together and memories forever, who are bringing unique magical family experiences to Qatar. There is no better match for us than Lusail Winter Wonderland. We will, together, further contribute to the billion smiles a day PepsiCo puts on the faces of consumers worldwide with our wide range of snacks and beverages, as well as the amazing rides and activities found on Al Maha Island,” Mr. Karam stated.

Mr. Karam pointed that the new development was important in realizing Qatar’s Vision 2030 of promoting sustainability through environmentally responsible choices such as using recycled PET Aquafina water bottles, which ABA Beverages produces.

At the formalization of the contract, Mr. Henrik Christiansen, the Chief Executive Officer of Estithmar Holding, explained that the addition of Pepsi as one of the theme park sponsors further enhances the visitor experience in ensuring that a range of Pepsi products are available across the park for visitors to enjoy during their visit. “We are pleased to welcome Pepsi as our exclusive soft drink partner of Lusail Winter Wonderland. The unique attraction has become a must-visit spot and the place to be for families and communities in Qatar. Ultimately, our aim is to contribute to a lasting legacy in support of the national strategy for tourism in Qatar.”

Lusail Winter Wonderland is the latest entertainment hotspot located on Al Maha Island. The exceptional theme park by Estithmar Ventures, a subsidiary of Estithmar Holding, collaborates with international brands to bring unique experience to Qatar. The 100,000-square-metre state-of-the-art theme park features exciting branded amusement rides such as Ooredoo 5G Rollercoaster, a giant 53-meter Ferris Wheel named Ain QNB, the first outdoor Ice Rink in the region – Tazaloj Al Rayan, the Doha Bank View, the Qatar Airways Festive Forest in addition to the Snow Slope, Arctic Splash, Snow Rockets, Octo-Jet and more. Lusail Winter Wonderland offers an array of entertainment concepts and fun-filled activities that are age appropriate for various groups – children, teenagers, adults and families.

Posted on

World Cup 2022: 28 out of 32 teams train with Technogym

Thanks to the exceptional work of Technogym Qatar Team, Technogym – the world leading brand in products and digital technologies for fitness and wellness, Official Supplier of the last 8 Olympics, and globally recognized as the reference brand for the athletic preparation of champions from all over the world – will train 28 of the 32 teams participating in the Soccer World Cup in Qatar providing the most innovative equipment for their athletic training.

In addition to the +10 years partnership with the Brazilian national team and the most recent collaboration with Uruguay, Technogym will be in Qatar to support the training camps of also France, Germany, Holland, Spain, Argentina, England, United States and many other teams providing them with customized digital products and training solution to meet players’ specific training needs.

In fact, spot-on athletic condition of every player is an essential requirement that can really make the difference in a high-intensity event like the soccer World Cup where all teams must perform at the top of their game.

The tailor-made training solutions that Technogym has made available to champions for their cardiovascular training, strength, flexibility, and rehabilitation, include SKILL LINE – developed by Technogym for the specific needs of athletic training – which consists of SKILLRUN treadmill, the SKILLBIKE, the SKILLROW rowing machine and SKILLMILL, a unique solution for training speed and power at the same time.

In addition to the SKILL LINE, the Technogym bespoke gym will also include EXCITE and SELECTION lines, which encompass all the equipment needed for cardio and resistance training.

Posted on

Ali Bin Ali Medical unveils new storage facility at DLP

As part of its efforts to expand and provide quality healthcare products to businesses and residents of the State of Qatar, Ali Bin Ali Medical formally launched its new storage facility for medicines and medical supplies at the Dohatna Logistics Park (DLP) in Doha on October 31, 2022.

The memorable opening was attended by various heads of Ali Bin Ali divisions, including the General Manager of ABA Medical, Mr. Monzer Abdel Samad; General Manager of ABA IT, Mr. Youssef C. Moussa; Head of Supply Chain & Logistics-FMCG, Mr. Vincent Emmanuel; and Group Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Imad Hashim.

During the event, guests were taken through the storage facility, and shown the inventory procedures and regulations the facility adheres to as per the Qatar and international healthcare standards.

Sharing his thoughts about the 1,200sqm warehouse, Mr. Monzer credited the ABA IT division for supporting the facility by introducing the automated Warehouse Management System (WMS) which has modernized ABA Medical’s operations specifically in stock accuracy and optimizing lead time from stock receiving to order picking. He acknowledged the efforts of the Ministry of Health for supporting this milestone project as a campaign to meet the country’s need for quality service and capacity. “Ali Bin Ali Medical meets all the conditions and requirements stipulated for holding such a facility including government licenses and safety procedures,” he added.

To celebrate the moment, ABA Medical issued certificates of appreciation to its dedicated team of personnel that have ensured steady progress of the entity. A cake was also cut to commemorate the launch.

Dohatna Logistics Park (DLP), founded by Ali Bin Ali Holding, is an ideal storage space for ABA Medical as it provides high quality warehouse facilities and world class logistics services. The new warehouse is set to eliminate any shortage of medical supplies in the State of Qatar, increase storage of medical equipment for Ali Bin Ali and its clientele, streamline distribution, and increase profits.

Posted on

Ali Bin Ali Holding celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Ali Bin Ali (ABA) Holding once again stepped forward to raise awareness and honor October as the Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The ‘SHOW YOU CARE. BE AWARE’ campaign, which is a part of the Group’s CSR endeavor, was aimed at informing the staff about the disease, its prevention, detection and treatment.

Such initiatives are of great importance as, according to statistics, breast cancer is by far the most common cancer in Qatar, accounting for 31 percent of cancer cases in women. It is also the second leading cause of death in women worldwide.

Encouraging wider involvement in the campaign, Ali Bin Ali Holding joined hands with Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel to host a special Zumba session for the public on October 22. The proceeds from the initiative were donated to Qatar Cancer Society.

The goal of the charity campaign was to help raise awareness of breast cancer and to depict life, fun and energy through Zumbathon. All ABA employees were invited to join the event and their participation was sponsored by Ali Bin Ali Holding.

Organized at the Fitness Center of the hotel, the area was all dressed up in pink to commemorate the occasion. The event received an overwhelming response and was a great success. More than 100 people, including ABA employees, joined the session.

The evening was wrapped-up with an exciting raffle draw where the participants got a chance to win attractive prizes from Sheraton Fitness, Monoprix and Beauty Hive Salon.

 

Posted on

Popular global brand Wagamama opens third restaurant in Doha

In a memorable opening on October 16, 2022 at Doha’s Place Vendôme, Ali Bin Ali Hospitality opened its third outlet for Wagamama restaurant, one of the global brands it stewards in Qatar.

In his statement during the launch, Ali Bin Ali Hospitality Group General Manager, Mr. Bassel Salim Ammar, noted that he was thrilled about the opening of the new eatery. “Vendôme is one of Qatar’s best-known and luxurious shopping centers, and therefore a perfect choice for opening the new outlet,” he said. He added that the ambiance of the new location only adds to the allure of the restaurant and it is expected for more customers to visit.

The story of Wagamama began in early 1992 with the opening of the very first restaurant in London’s Bloomsbury, which was inspired by traditional Japanese noodle bars and Asian inspired flavors. In Qatar, the brand has captured the attention of its guests with its exciting and inclusive casual dining experience with a stylish and contemporary setting.

The new Wagamama restaurant promises unique experiences for diners as it offers exclusive menus, set-up, and ambiance, among other exquisite features that resonate with the Place Vendôme. The Place Vendôme is one of Qatar’s lavish malls that exudes grandeur and style.

The new branch reaffirms the restaurant’s continued dominance and popularity among food enthusiasts, who seek memorable experience with their most desired cuisines. The new joint will continue to reinforce Wagamama’s philosophy of a “positive eating and positing living” for all.

Posted on

MoPH Qatar, in association with ABATS, inaugurated electronic food safety system, ‘Watheq’

As one of the leading IT Systems Integrators in Qatar, Ali Bin Ali Technology Solutions (ABATS) joined hands with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to launch the electronic food safety system, ‘Watheq’. On September 25, 2022, HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari ceremonially inaugurated ‘Watheq’.

Apart from high-level officials and dignitaries from MoPH Qatar, present at the event were General Manager of ABATS Mr. Rami Majed Ammari, COO of Ali Bin Ali Holding ICT Mr. Mohamad A. Ebrik, General Manager – Ali Bin Ali Holding – Finance Mr. Adnan Suleiman, Head of Sales at ABATS Mr. Nasser Issa and Ali Bin Ali Holding – Group Corporate Communications Manager Mr. Imad Hashim.

The ABATS team has been at the helm of this project, coordinating between all parties to make sure the project was delivered flawlessly. They worked together with the MoPH to create the most effective and integrated electronic system, aiming to provide high-quality services to enhance the health and well-being of the community. ‘Watheq’ is a very strategic project for ABATS and is one of the most important national projects undertaken within the Qatar Public Health Strategy.

The electronic system involves a food control process based on standard operating procedures subject to international accreditation controls (ISO 17020), through three electronically linked systems: the system of control of imported and exported food, the system of control of food in the local market, and the electronic management of food analysis laboratories.

This comes under the strategic objective to “develop an integrated risk-based inspection service certified to relevant international standards such as ISO/IEC 17020:2012 for imported, locally produced and exported food products that are supported by modern electronic management systems, effective diagnostic services, and monitoring and surveillance systems”, the ministry said in a statement.

Speaking of the ‘Watheq’ solution, Mr. Ebrik said: “We are proud and happy to be part of such an important national project. ABATS, with all our knowledge and experience, made sure to deliver the best platform that will enhance Qatar’s food safety system manifold.”