His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa Inaugurates Riffa Views International School

His Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince of Bahrain and Chairman of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), today visited Riffa Views International School (RVIS) to perform the official inauguration. RVIS is now in its third year of successful operations. During the visit, HRH Prince Salman was conducted on a tour of the school’s facilities by Atif Abdulmalik, Chairman of the Board of trustees of RVIS, and Des Sjoquist, the Director of RVIS. In the course of the tour, His Highness visited classrooms, the new science facilities and the sporting amenities and he met many of the children and teaching staff.

RVIS opened its doors for the first time in 2008, with a clear commitment to bringing the very highest standards of international education to Bahrain, forming a partnership with International Schools Services (ISS) to oversee the development and implementation of the educational vision of the school. Two years after the first students were enrolled, the school has grown from 86 students to a total of 224 in the current academic year, drawn from more than 30 nationalities. During the tour, HRH Prince Salman witnessed how the school’s extensive use of information and communications technology is directed to enhance the learning, teaching and overall educational performance of Bahraini and foreign students alike.

Education is a key strategic pillar of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, the strategic plan developed for Bahrain by the EDB under the Chairmanship of HRH Prince Salman. After the tour, HRH Crown Prince stated that he was impressed with the high standards of education being offered at RVIS. “Under the guidance of his Majesty King Hamad, education occupies a place right at the heart of the government’s agenda in support of Bahrain’s long-term economic growth and development. I am pleased that schools of the high quality of Riffa Views International School are being attracted to Bahrain, and bringing with them the new methods and ideas which, combined with technology, will develop the educational standards of the country.”

Atif Abdulmalik, CEO of Arcapita and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, RVIS, said: “We are honored by the visit of HRH Prince Salman to our school. The founding principles that guided the development of RVIS were intended to support the vision of education promoted by HRH Prince Salman and Economic Vision 2030. We plan to ensure that the school will increasingly use its extensive resources and the experience of its international teaching faculty to play a broader role in influencing the standards of education in Bahrain.”

Des Sjoquist, Director of RVIS, commented: “We are very proud and honored to have been able to share our school community with HRH Prince Salman. After just two years of operation, the school has already earned a reputation as one of the leading schools in

Bahrain, offering a learning environment that encourages creative and critical thinking, teamwork, Arabic and English language for all students and personal development. We are building on this success as the school continues to grow, and also developing our role within the broader educational and social community of Bahrain.”

About Riffa Views International School (RVIS)

Riffa Views International School is an important part of the Riffa Views golf residential community. The school offers an American education founded on research and current best practice, facilitated by a highly experienced faculty. RVIS is the only International Schools Services (ISS) managed school in the Kingdom of Bahrain. ISS, is the world leader in international and overseas school development with over 50 years of experience.

Bahrain: Champion of the Arabian Gulf Cup

Bahrain RFC celebrated its return to the pinnacle of Arabian Gulf Rugby this week by thanking Senior Rugby Squad sponsors RIFFA VIEWS for their tremendous assistance in driving the Bahrain International Rugby Team forward over the past two seasons.

RIFFA VIEWS’ support was, from the start, not a purely financial one but more the establishment of a partnership that has allowed the Club to adopt a greater professional attitude, impacting positively on the performance of all of the playing squads.

As an immediate result of the partnership, the Bahrain RFC re-established its identity by returning to the national colours of Red & White across all of its various age group teams, leading to an outstanding improvement in the teams’ image and spirit.

RIFFA VIEWS’ financial support has been put to significant use on the rugby field, although not in a manner that many would have expected. After consultation with Club ‘stalwarts’, it was decided that the quality and, just as importantly, the average age of the playing squads needed to be improved. As a result, the Bahrain RFC conducted a search to bring three full time rugby playing coaches from the UK to fill key gaps in the senior team, whilst at the same time providing a quality of coaching to the junior players of an internationally expected level.

As a direct result, the playing squad has reduced its average age by almost 9 years, it has lifted the Arabian Gulf Cup for the first time in ten years and it is now placed in the top half of the AGRFU league for the first time since 2001. On a junior front, the Mini Rugby Program has seen several of its age groups go through the year undefeated and the Program is now entirely coached by internationally qualified coaches.

The knock on effect of the rugby teams’ successes and improvement has been a simultaneous lifting of quality in the other sports enjoyed by the 1,000 plus adults and juniors who actively participate within the Bahrain RFC’s sporting programs.. Bahrain RFC has become a centre of sporting excellence not just on the rugby field but also for football, netball, cricket and swimming.

This is perhaps where the true value of the RIFFA VIEWS sponsorship lies – allowing Bahrain RFC to regain its identity and spirit. As a result of this transformation, and the organizational changes undertaken by the Club, it is now once again well positioned to further its sporting ambitions across the multitude of sports in which it competes as part of putting Bahrain firmly on the sporting map.

Riffa Views: A benchmark development for the international golf business forum in Wales

Riffa Views took centre stage in panel discussion on the promising future of residential golf developments worldwide, at the KPMG Golf Business Forum 2009.

Bahrain’s position as a global real estate player and prime tourism destination was further confirmed on the international stage as Riffa Views took part in the 2009 Golf Business Forum, held in Wales from May 4 – 6.

For the third consecutive year, Richard Browning, CEO of Riffa Views, was asked to
share best practice and international industry insight relating to Riffa Views as a benchmark development. This year Mr. Browning presented a keynote speech as part of the panel: “Regional Focus: The Middle East is not all about Dubai.”

The discussion panel concentrated on relevant topics such as the status of golf in the Middle East, golf as a tourism strategy, new golf developments and golf operations in the Middle East region and hot markets in the region.

The annual Golf Business Forum, which is hosted by the Golf Advisory Services Practice of leading professional services provider KPMG, offered a unique platform for professionals involved in the golf business industry to meet, learn, exchange ideas and do business in an international environment.

This year, Riffa Views’ participation at this international forum was supported by the attendance of the management of the Royal Golf Club. This joint collaboration not only strengthen the visibility of Riffa Views as a leading development but is also part of the process of ownership and management transfer that is taking place as the project reaches completion.

Mr. Browning commented: “It was an honour to have the opportunity to present both the Kingdom of Bahrain and Riffa Views at such a high profile industry event. This indicates that we have truly positioned ourselves as a benchmark development that others wish to learn from. The Golf Business Forum gave us, once again, the opportunity to share our experiences with contemporaries across the world.”

“In Riffa Views, Bahrain has the benefit of a Colin Montgomerie designed Signature Golf Course at the Royal Golf Club; this, coupled with our destination’s unique lifestyle, has sparked a great deal of interest from our peers in the international golfing and real estate communities. Backed up by sound business principles and proven examples such as Riffa Views, the Golf Business Forum provided industry professionals with the inspiration to further refine the concept of golf real estate developments for the future.”

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