The winning photograph at this year's Xposure International Photography Awards is a portrait by Dutch photographer Hossein Fardinfard.
The work shows an elderly woman with slumped shoulders and large, forthright eyes sitting behind a table. A near-empty fruit bowl and a bunch of flowers are set in front of her. Sunlight streams into the room from the sheer-curtained windows, falling on to the table and emphasising the colour of the flowers.
In the drab, dilapidated room with chipped walls, the orange of the blossoms is piercing.
The woman's name is Merry. She is one of the victims of the 1992 war in Abkhazia, a conflict between the Georgian government and the Russian-backed Abkhaz separatist forces.
After seeing both her brother and her husband, aged 53, murdered by Abkhaz soldiers, Merry escaped into the forest with a wounded leg, hiding in a forest for two weeks. Eventually, she reached the Georgian town of Tskaltubo, making a home in a small room in an abandoned building that had been a sanatorium in the country's Soviet days. Merry has been living there ever since.
Fardinfard's portrait of Merry, entitled Blackout, stood out from more than 1,500 photographs featured at the 2021 Xposure International Photography Festival. It was selected as the overall winner of the Xposure awards during a ceremony, which was held on Saturday at the Expo Centre Sharjah.
The award ceremony marked the conclusion of the fifth iteration of the annual festival. According to organisers, there were more than 33,000 submissions from 125 countries for this year’s awards.
Winners in other categories include German photographer Anna Wacker, who won first place in the architecture category for her photograph Box of Crayons. The work shows the facade of the Ministry of Urban Development and Environment in Hamburg, streaked with crayon-like colours.
Bahraini photographer Fatima Qader was selected as a runner-up in the same category for her work In Red. The photograph shows a minute solitary figure with a red umbrella walking in a vastly white, minimally designed outdoor area of Spain's Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre.
Beauty of Greenland, an aerial photograph by Dutch artist Albert Dros, won first place in the drone category. The photograph shows two red sailboats idling by large blue icebergs near Greenland's Disko Bay.
Iranian photographer Ahmad Abbasi won second place in that category for his photograph Tree, which shows a branching pattern in a desert photographed from an altitude of 500 metres.
Emirati photographer Abdullah Alraese won first place in the junior category for his work The Dusk of Happiness City, which shows the Sharjah skyline canopied by a mass of red and yellow cloud.
Meanwhile, a picture of the Dubai skyline by Joel Josy was selected as the runner-up in the same category.
A photograph of the rolling grasslands in Xinjiang, China, called Prairie Song by Chinese artist Sheng Liu, won the prize in the landscape category.
The Dancing Mangroves II by Malaysian photographer Wong Choon Keat, showing a pair of mangrove trees twisting in a dancer's posture, was chosen as a runner-up.
Pedro Luis Saiz’s close-up portrait of a violet dropwing dragonfly won the Spanish photographer the award for best macro photograph. Saudi artist Riyad Hamzi was named runner-up for his close-up of a red potter wasp.
A photograph captured by Belgian artist Alain Schroeder called Saving Orangutans won the photojournalism award. The image was shot in Indonesia's Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme and shows a three-month old orangutan being prepared for surgery.
Hungarian photographer Simon Moricz-Sabjan won second prize for his work Uzsoki Hospital, which shows the hospital's medical staff taking care of a Covid-19 patient.
US photographer Kevin Shi won the award in the portraiture category for his image Girl Eagle Hunter. The photograph shows a Kazakh woman in traditional dress with an eagle perched on her arm.
Pakistani photographer Asim Ijaz was the runner-up in the same category for the portrait Cultural Portrait, which shows a man wearing a large red turban.
In the travel category, Thai photographer Wei Fu won the award for his photograph People on a Train, which shows travellers waiting to go home at Dhaka train station.
Chinese photographer Mingqian Wang was selected as the runner-up for the photograph Wait for Lunch, which shows a Tajik family sitting around a traditional kitchen hearth.
The award also had a short film category, won by Iranian filmmaker Zahra Kababian's Winter Memories. The film tells the story of an old woman with an impaired memory.
Nepalese filmmaker Tripty Tamang Pakhrin was selected as a runner-up for the film Across, set in ghetto of Gellerup in Denmark.
The award also had an open call for submissions from those working in the Sharjah government. Mohamed Noufal's photograph of the firework-spangled Sharjah corniche won first place, and Abdullah Aref's photograph of the Sharjah Mosque was selected as a runner-up.
Five winners of the Timothy Allen Photography Scholarship Award (Tapsa), an annual award that includes a 10-day residency opportunity, were also named during the Xposure International Photography Festival.
These included Michal Novotny, Kiran Ridley, F Dilek Uyar, Ata Ranjbarzeydanlou and Natalia Gorshkova. According to organisers, more than 1,600 applicants submitted their portfolios for this year’s Tapsa.
Speaking at the closing ceremony on Saturday evening, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed al Qasimi, chairman of Sharjah Media Council, told participating photographers that the pictures they take today would serve as lessons and messages of hope and kindness for future generations.
“As the journey of the fifth edition of the International Photography Festival – Xposure concludes, the stories behind each picture we saw will live in our memories forever. We learnt so much from these images … We learnt that we all have a bigger responsibility towards the world. We learnt that photographers are noble agents of change,” he said.
The four-day festival presented works by more than 400 photographers in 54 solo and group exhibitions. The festival, which was attended by more than 8,000 people, also held a number of seminars, talks, workshops and portfolio reviews that invited both seasoned and aspiring photographers to share their insights.
The festival concluded with the official launch of Gallery X, a new permanent international photography gallery in Al Majaz Amphitheatre. The venue houses a collection of works by world-renowned photographers who have participated in the Xposure International Photography Awards.
LIVERPOOL SQUAD
Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner, Naby Keita, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Joe Gomez, Adrian, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, Andy Lonergan, Xherdan Shaqiri, Andy Robertson, Divock Origi, Curtis Jones, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Neco Williams
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
RESULTS
6.30pm UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Final Song, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m
Winner Almanaara, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Grand Argentier, Brett Doyle, Doug Watson.
8.15pm Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Major Partnership, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
Winner Universal Order, Richard Mullen, David Simcock.
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.”
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Cagliari v AC Milan (6pm)
Lazio v Napoli (9pm)
Inter Milan v Atalanta (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Sampdoria v Brescia (6pm)
Fiorentina v SPAL (6pm)
Torino v Bologna (6pm)
Verona v Genoa (9pm)
Roma V Juventus (11.45pm)
Parma v Lecce (11.45pm)
Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30, December 1-2
International Vets
Christina Noble Children’s Foundation fixtures
Thursday, November 30:
10.20am, Pitch 3, v 100 World Legends Project
1.20pm, Pitch 4, v Malta Marauders
Friday, December 1:
9am, Pitch 4, v SBA Pirates
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Gender pay parity on track in the UAE
The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.
"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."
Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.
"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.
As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general.
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
