Coronavirus leads world’s elite to luxury disaster bunkers
March 16, 2020, 5:16 pm

Coronavirus leads world’s elite to luxury disaster bunkers

An outside view of Vivos xPoint survival bunker in South Dakota. (Courtesy Vivos Group)

The world’s elite are preparing for the worst-case scenario from the coronavirus pandemic by snapping up “survival” real estate in the US, including underground bunkers complete with swimming pools and years of food supplies. world’s

In a secret location in the state of Kansas, a 15-story luxury underground condominium complex has been built for secure “off-grid living in the event of a major disaster or emergency.” That includes coronavirus, technically called COVID-19.

Known as the “Survival Condo” project, its Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) air filtration can filter out pathogens like COVID-19.

“We can and do offer an environment where you are less likely to come in contact with the virus,” says Survival Condo on its website. “However, we cannot guarantee that you will not pick up the virus from direct or indirect contact with an infected person or object either before or after you arrive at our facility.”

An outside view of Survival Condo in Kansas. (Courtesy: Survival Condo)

The development includes a medical facility, pool, spa, movie theater, gym, rock climbing wall, and a dog park. It claims to be “one of the strongest manmade structures ever created” and is designed to withstand a nuclear blast. world’s

“The same quality of condo in New York would have cost me the same, if not more per square foot and you get peace of mind with this,” a Survival Condo client said according to a company press release.

This “peace of mind” costs $3 million for a full-floor unit and $1.5 million for a half-floor unit. Both units come with a three-year per person food supply.

The complex was previously a missile silo, set up by the American government during the Cold War.

Project developer Larry Hall told American magazine Vanity Fair he has seen a “spike” in inquiries amid the coronavirus pandemic.

A view inside a full-floor Survival Condo in Kansas. (Courtesy: Survival Condo)

Build your own private bunker

Those who can afford it also have the option of constructing their own private underground shelter.

US company Vivos, which builds private underground shelters, has seen a surge in inquiries and sales since the coronavirus outbreak.

“As a result of the current Coronavirus threat and the ripple of subsequent consequences, the demand for Vivos has exponentially grown,” the company’s media director told Al Arabiya English, adding that sales have recently gone up over 400 percent and the clientele “is shifting from middle class to upper class.”

The construction of a new bunker complex can take anywhere between three months to a year depending on the scale, location, and availability of materials and labor.

An interior view of Vivos xPoint in South Dakota. (Courtesy: Vivos xPoint)

The company also offers space in a “lifesaving shelter” named Vivos xPoint, located in the state of South Dakota. world’s

Formerly an US Army base, Vivos xPoint is now used to host 575 private bunkers that can accommodate more than 5,000 “like-minded survivalists.”

“Vivos xPoint is strategically and centrally located in one of the safest areas of North America,” according to the company’s website.

A private bunker is priced at $35,000 and comes unfurnished. To outfit the bunker, what the company calls “Bunker Glamping,” the price can range anywhere between an extra $25,000 to $75,000.

According to Vivos, each underground shelter complex is capable of caring for the long-term physical and psychological wellbeing of its residents “as they may need to ride out the extreme events that will be happening on the surface above.”

While the spread of the coronavirus has caused many Americans to stay at home, it has motivated the uber wealthy to seek new homes – ones they think will protect them against coronavirus and potential future disasters. LEVANT

source: Emily Judd LEVANT

Coronavirus: UAE suspends prayer in all houses of worship including mosques Turkey to temporarily close gyms, cafes, cinemas over coronavirus

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.