ABU DHABI // Nasser Al Attiyah is looking forward to swapping the steering wheel for the shotgun in the coming days after winning one of the "most difficult" rallies in the world, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.
The Qatari, a two-time Dakar Rally winner and also a bronze medallist in the men’s skeet shooting at the 2012 London Olympics, dominated the car category in his Toyota Hilux alongside French co-driver Mathieu Baumel, eventually finishing with an emphatic winning margin of 32 minutes, 13 seconds over Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al Rajhi.
Finland’s Mikko Hirvonen, making his Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge debut, finished a further six minutes behind in third, and was followed by American Bryce Menzies, Poland’s Jakub Przygonski, Frenchman Mathieu Serradori and the UAE’s Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi in the overall standings.
Read more on the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge:
• Abu Dhabi Desert Classic: Jutta Kleinschmidt's path to motorsport an unconventional one
• UAE in focus: Former Dakar and ADDC winner says Abu Dhabi desert 'feels like heaven'
• A two-week love affair 18 years ago has never ended for Mohammed Al Balooshi
“I am really so happy for winning this race,” said Al Attiyah, an eight-time Middle East Rally Championship winner.
“It is a very important race and we showed that we can win one of the most difficult races in the world.
“The good thing is we won four of the five stages and we controlled the race from the beginning. So yeah, I am quite happy.
“I go to every event hoping and trying to win the top position, and I always do my best, try and make the least mistakes.
“This is why we are always winning and we hope to keep going like this. We never made a mistake here, never got stuck. It was a great team effort to win this rally.”
Al Attiyah was also pleased to give Toyota their first win in Abu Dhabi.
“It’s a really good car and the team is really happy because they had never won here in Abu Dhabi,” he added.
The Qatari will now return home and spend nine days training for the Rio Olympics before getting back behind the wheel for the Sealine Cross Country Rally at home from April 17-22. That is the last rally on his schedule after which he will turn his complete attention towards his Olympic preparation.
“The Olympics is very important,” said Al Attiyah, who is hoping to bring more Olympic glory for Qatar.
“So after that I do the Qatar Sealine Cross Country Rally, I have a training camp in Italy for shooting. I will be completely free to focus on shooting until the Rio Olympics.”
In the other categories, the reigning Dakar Rally champion, Australia’s Toby Price, produced a great ride on the final leg to claim the bikes title at his first attempt, finishing ahead of Dubai-based Briton Sam Sunderland and Chile’s Pablo Quintanilla. Emirati rider Mohammed Al Balooshi finished fourth overall.
“That was good riding. I had a couple of close calls today,” Price said.
“I was pushing hard from the start. I was riding most of the time with Sam, which wasn’t the plan at first. We tried shaking the guys behind us, but weren’t really able to.”
Poland’s Aron Domzala, driving a Polaris RZR, was declared winner of the T3 buggies class after Emirati driver Ahmad Al Maqoodi was excluded from the rally by the FIA stewards for technical irregularities involving his Polaris buggy’s petrol tank housing and main roll bar.
Poland’s reigning FIM world champion Rafal Sonik won the quads title, while Qatar’s Adel Hussain Abdullah captured the T2 production class title alongside Egyptian Hakam Mohammed Rabeia in a Nissan Patrol.
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Leading positions
Cars
1. Nasser Al Attiyah / Mathieu Baumel (QAT / FRA) Toyota Hilux 17:14.49
2. Yazeed Al-Rajhi / Timo Gotschalk (KSA / DEU) Mini All4 Racing 17:47.02
3. Mikko Hirvonen / Michel Perin (FIN / FRA) Mini All4 Racing 17:53.02
4. Bryce Menzies / Andreas Schulz (USA / DEU) Mini All4 Racing 17:59.04
5. Jakub Przygonski / Tom Colsoul (POL / BEL) Mini All4 Racing 18:06.33
6. Mathieu Serradori / Didier Haquette (FRA / FAR) Buggy 18:39.00
7. Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi / Khalid Al Kendi (ARE /ARE) Mini All4 Racing 18:56.01
8. Marek Dabrowski / Jacek Czachor (POL / POL)
19:52.40
9. Yuriy Sazonov / Dmytro Tsyro (KAZ / RUS)
20:56.29
10. Ahmad Al Maqoodi / Obaid Al Kitbe (ARE /ARE) Polaris RZR 1000 T3 21:34.52
Bikes
1. Toby Price (AUS) KTM 450 Rally Factory 1
18:18.24
2. Sam Sunderland (GBR) KTM 450 Rally Factory 1
18:20.35
3. Pablo Quintanilla (CHL) Husqvarna 450 Rally Factory 1
18:21.47
4. Mohammed Al Balooshi (ARE) KTM 450 Rally Replica
18:56.38
5. Pierre Alexandre Renet (FRA)
18:57.02
6. Laia Sanz (ESP) KTM 450 Rally Factory 1/3
19:19.25
7. Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo (CHL)
19:19.28
8. Jakub Piatek (POL) KTM 450 Rally Replica 1/4
19:27.57
9. David McBride (GBR) KTM 450 Rally Replica 1
19:37.17
10. David Thomas (GBR) Husqvarna 450 Rally Replica 1
20:51.22
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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.”
Key 2013/14 UAE Motorsport dates
October 4: Round One of Rotax Max Challenge, Al Ain (karting)
October 1: 1 Round One of the inaugural UAE Desert Championship (rally)
November 1-3: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula One)
November 28-30: Dubai International Rally
January 9-11: 24Hrs of Dubai (Touring Cars / Endurance)
March 21: Round 11 of Rotax Max Challenge, Muscat, Oman (karting)
April 4-10: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Endurance)
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh132,000 (Countryman)
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
Company%20profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
BRAZIL%20SQUAD
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Formula%204%20Italian%20Championship%202023%20calendar
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Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
Results
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Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
