Vol.1/02

TOpening Times, Promotions and Eid Ideas

Store Directory

What’s New at Yateem Centre?

Be - Jewelled – The Luxury Stores Available in the Centre

A Family Business – The Secret Behind Al Zain’s Success

0604040WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU ...

Contact Yateem Centre Management Offi ce

(+973) 17215615

WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOU ... NEWLook for

the circle to

see what’s

coming soon.

Yateem Centre02

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Yateem Centre 03

he Yateem Centre, was the fi rst mall in Bahrain, and it celebrates

its 30th birthday next year. Once inside, the Centre unfolds around you. Loosely cylindrical in shape, it is a cavern of marble and a palace of commerce. The shops are unique and offer a range of products that you’re unlikely to fi nd in the larger malls.

Gold and jewellery play an important part here, dazzling visitors with their intricate designs. In total there are more than a dozen jewel and watch outlets, dealing in a full range of classic and modern jewellery

pieces to bargain watches and costume jewellery. Bringing things right up-to-date, there are a number of electronics shops, selling both specialist and mainstream items; and a

number of fashion stores that deal in the latest fashions.

The Yateem Centre was Bahrain’s fi rst fully air conditioned retail space and was designed so that people could shop in comfort all year

round. Whilst resolutely not a souq it retains some of the best of their qualities. There is camaraderie between store keepers not often seen in malls. They all know each

other and will watch out for each other’s stores when essential errands must be run. The store

owners love to talk and will be quick to offer hot sweet tea and a stool for you to sit on. The Yateem Centre feels like how shopping ought to feel ò

T“There is camaraderie between store keepers not often seen in malls. They all know each other, will watch out for each other’s stores when essential errands must be run.”

Just down the narrow winding road from Bab Al Bahrain, the original - or thereabouts - gate into old Bahrain, and a short walk in the other direction from Bahrain’s old and new souqs - the latter undergoing massive - and impressive - regeneration; the former a dusty, sun soaked fantasia of sights and sounds - another piece of Bahrain’s history awaits the inquisitive tourist looking to better understand this tiny island kingdom.

HISTORY

Yateem Centre04Opening Hours

Gift ideas fo

r

Eid

Ramadan TimingsOpening hours are at the

discretion of individual shops, but generally the Centre and majority of the stores will be open from 9am - 1pm and 6.30pm - late. Timings will revert back to normal shopping hours after Eid; 9am – 1pm / 4pm – 10pm.

PromotionThroughout Ramadan and Eid,

the Yateem Centre will be running a Mystery Scratch and Win promotion, together with a raffl e draw. For every BD5 spent within the centre - shoppers will receive a free immediate Scratch and Win, as well as an entry into the raffl e draw therefore giving you a chance to win fabulous prizes. The winners will be announced on 19th September 2010.

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SPO

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Spot the seven (7) differences in the second picture. Send your answers before 30th September to yateem@batelco.com.bh with ‘Competition’ in the subject. Three (3) lucky winners will win BD25 Gift Vouchers. Congratulations to our last winners: Kathrine, Ali and Haseen

COMPETITION

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Zahrat Al Khaleej

Women

Al Zarqaa Boutique

Bedaya Boutique

Clouds

Denim Chic

Jeans Apparel

Moh’d Saleh for Zary

Nina Fashion

Nortel Fashion

ODW Boutique

Paros Boutique

Whisper

Other Al Hilal Bookshop

Amazona Bookshop

Artbitz Gallery

Audit IT

Awal Stores (Luggage)

Aziz Kazerooni (Luggage)

Bahman Store Ltd

Gano Excel Gulf Centre

Immediate Printing

Mona Stamps

Perfect Eye Optician

Pronto Toys

JM Boutique

TNP Natural Products

Valentino Salon

Yateem Optician

Yateem Centre Management Office

Centre Point

Diplomat Corner

Faqihi Bros.

Jeans Apparel

Littlewoods

Marquis Fashion

Planet Fashion

Smash

Perfumes & Cosmetics Candy Country

Moon’s Top Shop

Reda

Shoes Seven Stars

Shoe Shine

Sport

ADIDAS Discount Store

Lee Sports

Mondial Sports

Olympia Sports

Telephones & Accessories Abeer Mobiles

Travel

Air Arabia

Al Amwaj Travel

Bahrain Air

Watches Pop Corner

City Corner

Happy Times

Majdi

Rayan

Watch Center

Electronics Electronics Mania

Gajria Electronics

Game Station

Food Costa Coffee

Jasmi’s

Penny’s Restaurant

Saffron Souk

Gifts & Handicrafts Abu Firas Antique

Kohinoor

Kashmir Valley

Household Al Yakaza Trading

Majestic Furniture

Sun Island

(Coming Soon)

Jewellery

Al Mahmood Pearls & Jewellery

Al Zain for Jewellery

Al Zain for Jewellery

Classic Jewellery

Gems

Gold Master Jewellery

Middle East Jewellery

New Silver Jewellery Shop

Ornamental Trading

Ramez Jewellery

Men

Abdulghaffar

Al Waseem

Cave Boutique

Store Directory11

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First Floor

to the Now Open New

Yateem CentreJasmi’sLook no further for the best burger! Bahrain’s favourite burger joint has opened their fi rst Manama outlet in the Yateem Centre.

Jeans ApparelFor him and her, look no further for affordable jeans. Stylish and modern trends are always to be found at this highly popular shop.

Nortel FashionsFor those of you whose passion is fashion - enhance your own individual style and head to this unique ladies boutique.

Majdi JewelleryIf you are looking for genuine quality watches at some of the best prices around, then this is the shop to come to!

TNPTNP provide internationally recognised Forever Living products for the health conscious. New in stock are a wide range of aloe vera products, which are astonishingly benefi cial for your skin, digestive system and energy levels.

Perfect Eye OpticianLook after your eyesight but still be fashionable and stylish by coming straight to Perfect Eye Optician.

Saffron SoukThe food court has expanded to include delicious Asian cuisine from Saffron Souk. Daily specials are available immediately from the lunchtime buffet and there is an extensive á la carte menu.

Perfect Eye Optician

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O.D.W BoutiqueThis exclusive shop offers beautiful, decorative hair accessories that are perfect for special occasions. Pieces can be made to order or bought off the shelf.

The GuruThis specialist gem stone shop is a must visit. Whether for adornment, lifestyle, good luck or warding off evil, or to centre your chi, The Guru can help.

JM BoutiqueThe newest kidswear shop on the block with the most competitive pricing seen.

Majestic Palace FurnitureCatering to all your furniture needs, Majestic Palace provides upmarket, luxurious and grand ethnic furniture pieces.

Audit IT SolutionsAllow all your IT problems to vanish in a second with Audit IT Solutions. Come to the store and fi nd an array of cool gadgets and handy computer accessories.

Pronto ToysTempt the tots and coddle the kids at Pronto Toys. Dubai’s largest wholesaler has fi nally come to Bahrain!

PenshoppeThis popular brand from the Philippines is opening the doors to its fi rst Middle East branch. For cool young male and female fashions at sensible prices, this is the place to come.

Ramez JewelleryBahrain’s biggest retailer is now expanding into jewellery by setting up a factory to produce locally made pieces. Find the striking results in the Yateem Centre soon.

Adidas Discount StoreFind all high-end Adidas sporting goods at highly discounted prices at this brand new discount store, opening soon!

Coming Sooncompetitive pricing seen.

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Saffron SoukJasmi’s

Be-Jewelled

DJewelleryJewelleryJewellery

Al Mahmood for PearlsAl Zain for JewelleryClassic JewelleryThe GuruGold Master JewelleryMiddle East JewelleryNew Silver Jewellery ShopRamez Jewellery (opening soon)

iamonds are man’s best friend at the Yateem Centre. Find fantastic, luxurious jewellery that is defi nitely on par with some of the most stunning pieces around the world but at a much more reasonable price! Within the Centre there are

13 jewellery and watch shops to choose from (with Ramez Jewellery soon to join), offering a wide range of styles from diamond-cut to sapphire-laden, elegant white gold to spangled yellow gold, digital watches to designer timepieces. Whatever your taste, you are certain to fi nd what you are looking for in the Yateem Centre. So why wait until Jewellery Arabia?

Furthermore, if you’re looking for something specifi c, you can visit one of the three refurbished watch dealers. Explain to them what you want and they will go on the hunt and fi nd it for you!

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City CornerHappy TimesMajdi (second-hand)Rayan (second-hand)Watch Center (second-hand)Zahrat Al KhaleejPop Corner

Watches

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A Family BusinessBuilding a good name and gaining trust and respect is the secret to success in any business, says Mohamed Hassan.

he first thing to report about Mohamed Hassan, GM at Al Zain Jewellery, one of Bahrain’s

most successful jewellers, is that he never really takes time off from plying his trade. Even when we are ensconced in his tiny corner office trying to conduct this interview, he is forced to break his line of thought in order to jab at the keys of a large calculator, to find the ‘best price’ for his customers or to confirm that his staff have not been too generous in their discounting.

It is telling that Mohamed works like this. Everyone thinks he is Mohamed ‘Al Zain’ - the

man after whom the business is named, but he’s not - he just works as if he is. “No, no, I started with Nabeel Al Zain, and have worked with him for years, but I am the manager not the owner.” He explains that, “in reality, this is the second iteration of the family business.

“Originally founded a long time ago, the business was passed down from grandfather to father.” Later on, the business ceased trading until Nabeel Al Zain - “the brains of the operation,” according to Hassan

- revived the company’s fortunes by opening the first of the modern era stores at the Yateem Centre.

“We have been here since November 1980, just after Bahrain’s original Mall opened its doors for the first time.” He describes the move as the

beginning of a new era for the company. “It was from this store that the company began its expansion.” Al Zain now has 16 branches throughout the region, and is always on the lookout for new ventures. He says that

TMohamed Hassan

“Those who take only short breaths will fall, you must have patience. You must always look before you leap, making sure you know what you are getting into before making any move.”

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the newest store will be open in Doha ‘soon’, but the Yateem Centre remains important to the company. “It was here that we saw a return to the good times, it reminds us of how far we have come.”

The company has travelled far. Not only are there stores throughout the Arab world, but the company is spreading the word of Arabic jewellery design far and wide. “We were the fi rst company from the Middle East to win a coveted Pertuzi Prize - the Oscars of the jewellery design world - in 2000, beating more than 3,000 companies.” He says that his company is one of the main designers and manufacturers of fi ne jewellery in the region, and that the process really is a family affair.

“The ideas for the pieces and collections are generated by Nabeel, but he draws them from design ideas put forward by his wife and children - as well as those he comes up with himself.” Mohamed says that Nabeel’s wife in particular is a

talented designer, and that one of his sons, Mohammed, has studied in New York in order to take over the business one day. “The children all knew that the business was there for them, but they were not pressured into believing that they must follow in their father’s footsteps.”

As if hearing his cue from the wings, having returned from the States the night before, in walks Mohammed Al Zain. He joins us as the conversation moves to the recent economic slowdown. Hassan is adamant that in Bahrain, “we have not been too badly affected when compared to elsewhere.” Mohammed explains the reason as the company having “roots that go deep in Bahrain.” He says that in order to be successful in good times or bad, “you must build up a name and build trust.”

When asked if they both believed that the good times of the past thirty years would continue, Hassan smiles saying: “those who take only short breaths will fall, you must have patience.” Mohammed expands on the theme, saying: “you must always look before you leap, making sure you know what you are getting into before making any move.”

Al Zain has had a long and illustrious past, and according to Hassan, the future is equally bright. “Because many generations are involved in its creation, our designs are relevant for the old and new generations alike.” With such universal appeal, this family business looks set to go from strength to strength. ò

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FREE PARKING FOR SHOPPERS

*2 Hours Free with minimum BD2/- receipt