Aliyah Marie is a new name in town. The company’s chief executive officer Ahmed Alkhuzaie spoke about his enterprise to Christiane Lasserre.
Ohlala magazine, April 2008
The holding company AliyahMarie (AMH) was established in Bahrain late last year but for such a new concern they already claim an extensive business profile. There’s a lot on their agenda. They’re introducing a chain of subsidiaries in fashion retail, management consultancy and international relations. They are also going into entertainment and the hospitality business.
Though based in the Kingdom of Bahrain, AMH are planning a chain of restaurants in China and Germany, a new concept uniting fast food with the Arabian food culture. “We are looking at the first opening in Beijing this summer and we hope to be in time for the Olympics – we’re doing our best but can’t promise a date yet,” Ahmed said apologetically!
Their idea is to open fast food restaurants selling traditional Arabian dishes such as tabouleh, mezza, shawarma and shish kebabs etc.; all of which are much healthier and tastier options than the burgers and pizza usually associated with fast food diners. But why choose Beijing I wondered? “There are lots of Muslims living in China,” Ahmed said, “And fairly a large number of Arabs too; but hardly any outlets for quality Arabian food. So we thought we’d give it a try. At the moment we’re trying to find a good name for the business – so any suggestions would be gratefully accepted!”
In the fashion field, AMH’s first lingerie shop is expected to open in Budaiya’s Country Mall shortly, followed by a second branch in the Financial Harbour. Ahmed recently attended the Salon de la Lingerie exhibition in Paris and selected three principal designers: Lise Charmel of France, the Spanish EA Lingerie and ID Sarrieri of Romania. “We will sell everyday lingerie, night-wear and the sexy stuff too!”
On the management side, AMH are concentrating their business in Nuremberg, Germany with “Hyperskill”, an agency designed to make the establishment up of business enterprises in the Gulf easier for German companies. “So far, our feed-back is excellent,” Ahmed reports. “I speak German, English, French, Japanese – and of course Arabic too, and I know the region well.” This 28-year old Bahraini certainly has an international background. He studied at Göttingen, Germany for his Bachelor’s degree in marketing; then went to Edinburgh, Scotland for his Master’s, before attending the University of Osaka in Japan for his PhD.
Ahmed is also an established writer in English and Arabic. He is soon to release his third book “Khuzaa”, which illustrates his family tree and their relations with the Prophet Mohammed. In closing, I asked the entrepreneurial Ahmed Alkhuzaie what he thinks about the prospect of setting up business in Bahrain:
“This country is jam-packed with opportunities - specially on the trade level. As well as being a member of the GCC Council, Bahrain’s Free Trade Agreement with the USA has led to a more diversified economy than some of our neighboring countries experience. This in turn allows Bahrain to position itself as a leader in the development of Islamic finance. The nation’s eased investments policies and improved tourist facilities encouraged us to establish our holding company here.”
“I really do think that Bahrain’s the financial hub of the Middle East,” Ahmed summed up. “It’s a good place to be. With a booming economy and rapidly increasing international population, Bahrain is a great location for our business base. At the end of the day, there are many potential customers in Bahrain - who hopefully all want to wear nice undergarments and who definitely all love to eat!” And on that positive note, Dr Alkhuzaie finally answered his telephones.
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