A reader suggests that Michael Clarke's surname may be linked to his success as a captain. Aamir Quresh / AFP
A reader suggests that Michael Clarke's surname may be linked to his success as a captain. Aamir Quresh / AFP

A name to suit the game



When 'short-term' parking creates a problem for others

The letter Space for flexibility over parking fines (February 20) caught my interest.

Every morning, I have a battle to find a parking spot in Khalifa Street, Abu Dhabi, where my office is located.

What irritates me the most is that I see lots of vehicles occupying paid parking spaces with their hazard lights on, and whose owners have not purchased a ticket.

I understand that buying a ticket for one full hour is not worth the expense or inconvenience for somebody who is just dropping something off or needs to wait two or three minutes to load a vehicle.

However, while I'm circling desperately to find a parking place, I notice that some of these vehicles are parked for 20 to 30 minutes, with their drivers waiting in the car or standing nearby smoking.

If I ask the driver whether he is leaving, he usually nods his head negatively or ignores me. When I ask if he can purchase a ticket or leave the space for somebody who wants to park and pay for a whole day's parking, I usually get sarcastic grimace.

I have complained about this, but to no avail.

G Hariz, Abu Dhabi

Surgery no end to a patient's ordeal

I am writing in response to Bariatric surgery is for extreme cases (February 24).

One thing people don't realise is that even if the insurance company pays for the operation, it does not pay for the removal of the acres of loose skin patients are left with.

It can run into hundreds of thousands of dirhams just to put your body back to normal. Most of the operations have to be repeated more than once.

Believe me, this is not a case of vanity. A patient can be left with hideous scaring, but leaving the excess skin can result in sores or the necessity to carry around kilograms of empty skin, which is very uncomfortable.

I think that if a patient is accepted into a programme in a government hospital, this aftercare should also be included.

Leaving people in this situation is mentally very damaging; they can't put their body back to normal because they don't have the money.

Name withheld by request

Driving home a point of definition

I have a question regarding Tailgating 'just doesn't make sense' (February 17).

Who "drives" in UAE? It seems to me that everyone just swerves.

Shawn Swart, Dubai

Evocative use of the language

I love the details given in Ayesha Al Khoori's blog post Diamond-studded abayas and lobster on the menu: a mountain to climb at Government Summit (February 14).

It was very descriptive. I hope Ms Al Khoori managed to finish all her duties.

B Yoder, US

Powder doesn't sound pleasant

I am writing in regard to the story about buying "natural Viagra" (Lizard powder: if you believe it, it might work, February 24).

Powdered lizard? The very fact that the pills are made out of such ingredients is a turn off.

It definitely would require a lot of courage from people who dare to consume it.

Fatima Suhai, Dubai

Some musings about the news

I'd like to share a few far-fetched observations conceived on a pleasant and lazy Dubai afternoon.

First: it was announced last week that musician Psy would soon be performing in Dubai

But then, Psy sent a tweet saying that he has no such plans for the near future.

Now, news reports say that another distinguished South Korean, Ban Ki-moon, has been visiting Dubai. So instead of Oppa Gangnam Style, Dubai has had Oppa UN Style.

Second: cricket captains whose surnames begin with the letter C - including England's Alastair Cook and Australia's Michael Clarke - seem to be performing spectacularly well against India in test matches.

In light of this development, we may see a lot of name changes, and soon there will be players called Brendon Ccallum, Darren Cammy, Misbah Ul Caq and Mahela Caywardene captaining teams playing against India.

Amitabh Saxena, Dubai

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Four%20scenarios%20for%20Ukraine%20war
%3Cp%3E1.%20Protracted%20but%20less%20intense%20war%20(60%25%20likelihood)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E2.%20Negotiated%20end%20to%20the%20conflict%20(30%25)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E3.%20Russia%20seizes%20more%20territory%20(20%25)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E4.%20Ukraine%20pushes%20Russia%20back%20(10%25)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EForecast%20by%20Economist%20Intelligence%20Unit%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
  • Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
  • Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
  • Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
 
 

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Last five meetings

2013: South Korea 0-2 Brazil

2002: South Korea 2-3 Brazil

1999: South Korea 1-0 Brazil

1997: South Korea 1-2 Brazil

1995: South Korea 0-1 Brazil

Note: All friendlies

Indoor cricket in a nutshell

Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai

16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side

8 There are eight players per team

There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.

5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls

Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership

Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.

Zones

A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs

B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run

Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs

Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full

if you go
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners