What can we say about a year that caused once-in-a-lifetime damage to all aspects of the music industry?
While it was tempting to call 2020 a write-off as early as March, Arab artists and those with links to the region managed to make the most of the situation by creating works underscoring our times.
From innovative songs to heart-warming viral videos and pioneering online music festivals, here are 20 standout musical moments of the year.
1. A 24K magic start to the year with Bruno Mars
The year began with finesse courtesy of Bruno Mars. The US pop star's concert at Abu Dhabi's du Arena was the region's biggest New Year's Eve celebration, with 20,000 people watching the diminutive singer bust out the moves and hits to kick off 2020 on a hopeful note. If only we had known what was in store ...
2. Stormzy wears the crown
He came, he saw and he conquered.
UK grime star Stormzy’s exhilarating show at the RedFestDXB festival in Dubai was not so much a concert as a coronation for one of the music industry's newest stars.
Stormzy knew it, too, with Dubai the first international stop of an extensive world tour, stretching from the region to South-East Asia, the US, Europe and Africa, and a platform for his latest album, the opus Heavy is the Head. However, those well-laid plans were scuppered when the encroaching pandemic slowly but surely cancelled his global victory lap.
3. The pandemic halts the Arab world’s biggest dance music festival
The region's entertainment industry first came face to face with the severity of the pandemic when hugely anticipated dance music festival Ultra Abu Dhabi was scrapped.
Set to take place in the capital in March, the event was expected to attract 40,000 people to see sets by some of the world's leading DJs. With travel restrictions imposed worldwide as a safety measure against Covid-19, the festival pulled the plug with a promise to return in "the near future".
4. Dance with Sara
With movement restricted in the region owing to the pandemic, Lebanese dance instructor Sara Karrit brought smiles to our faces in March with a viral video featuring herself, flanked by her husband and six-year-old son, dancing along to the sounds of Afrobeat DJ Neptune. Judging by its viral reception, it seemed the world wanted to groove along, too.
5. Elissa goes pandemic pop with new single
With Hanaghani Kaman Wa Kaman, the Lebanese singer gave us a tune for our times. Translated as "we shall sing again and again", the song, released in April, acted as a message of encouragement as well as a plea for people to stay home amid the pandemic.
The star-studded video was presented in the style of a Zoom call, with Elissa at home, in pink pyjamas, reaching out to friend and fellow pop star Haifa Wehbe, who was also isolating at home.
6. 'I'm proud to be Emirati': Hussain Al Jassmi performs at One World Together at Home concert
UAE pop music king Hussain Al Jassmi represented the region by being the only Arab artist tapped to perform at the One World Together at Home concert.
Held on April 18 and organised by both Global Citizen and the World Health Organisation, the epic affair hosted Al Jassmi dozens of international artists, including Beyonce, Elton John and Paul McCartney, who all performed their hits.
Wearing a white kandura, Al Jassmi took to the piano to play a two-song medley of Bahebek Wahashtini and Mohem Jedan. You can catch the performance by scrolling to minute 46 of the YouTube video above.
7. Saudi Arabian singers shine during all female online music festival
As part of The Beat DXB Lockdown online music series, more than a dozen artists from the kingdom's eclectic music scene teamed up for what was likely the first all-female Saudi music festival.
The April 22 event featured Jeddah RnB singer Sarah Chafei, Los Angeles soul singer Tamtam and UK soprano Sawsan Al Bahiti.
8. Nancy Ajram points the way with rooftop YouTube concert
As the pandemic raged on, Lebanese star Nancy Ajram delivered a concert both soulful and gently ground-breaking in terms of what the online medium offers regional artists.
While peers recorded their gigs in cold and stark studios, Ajram shot her May show on a Beirut rooftop as she delivered stripped-down version of her hits.
9. ‘Rona-rona-rona-virus’ with Mohamed Ramadan
Released in June, this arguably remains the catchiest Arabic ode to the pandemic. Actor and sometime rapper Mohamed Ramadan's song Corona Virus is as much a public safety message as a club banger.
The lyrics are full of vibrant Egyptian colloquiums and scatting. The chorus, teeming with snappy couplets, also referenced Ramadan's Ramadan drama series El Prince.
“I am the prince, I am the gentleman,” it begins. “A mask I wear and gloves as well. I say hello from afar and with no hugs. Coronavirus – that way I am safe.”
10. A message of hope from Baalbeck
To underscore the tumultuous period, the Baalbeck International Festival held a special July concert from one of the ancient city's most prestigious sites. Broadcast live online, The Sound of Resilience orchestral concert, held at the foot of the Temple of Bacchus, featured The Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra as well as some of Lebanon's top choirs.
With the festival cancelled in the wake of the pandemic, the one-off performance served to not only highlight the event's cherished place in the region's cultural landscape, but to provide moments of serenity in what had already been a torrid year.
11. Beauty amid the wreckage
An eminent Italian classical music festival paid tribute to the region in July. As part of the Ravenna Festival, the 24th Roads of Friendship concert was held at the Paestum archaeological site in southern Italy.
With this year's performance dedicated to Syrian archaeologist Khaled Al-Asaad and Kurdish-Syrian politician Hevrin Khalaf, both killed in Syria's civil war, nine musicians from Europe's Syrian diaspora performed as guests of the acclaimed Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra under the baton of founder and maestro, Riccardo Muti.
12. Classic Lebanese anthems give comfort in wake of modern tragedy
Lebanese citizens sought the voices of the past for comfort in the aftermath of the August 4 explosion at Beirut port.
From Wadih Al Safi's Ma'lesih Ya Lebnan to Fairouz's Bhebak Ya Lebnan, social media channels in Lebanon were flooded with songs by local legends whose humane lyrics provided light amid the darkness of despair.
13. Amr Diab and Dina El Sherbiny confirm they are a match
August finally revealed one of the Arab entertainment industry’s biggest open secrets.
After countless reports that pop star Amr Diab and fellow Egyptian actress Dina El Sherbiny had married, the pair somewhat confirmed their relationship status in a lavish music video.
While the visuals for Diab's single, Amaken El Sahar, show the couple without wedding rings, their connection appear to be the real deal to the delight of their fans.
14. Concerts return to Saudi Arabia
One of the Arab world's first large-scale music performances took place in Saudi Arabia throughout September to celebrate the kingdom's 90th anniversary. Arena concerts took place in Jeddah and Riyadh featuring the cream of the Arab pop world, including Egypt's Amr Diab and the UAE's Ahlam.
15. French President Emmanuel Macron meets Fairouz
The much-loved and enigmatic Lebanese singer Fairouz made a rare public appearance on August 31, hosting French president Emmanuel Macron in her home on the outskirts of Beirut.
Macron bestowed on Fairouz, 84, the Legion of Honour, France's highest order of merit for military and civil merits.
"I told her everything that she represented to me, of a Lebanon that we love and that many are expectant of, a nostalgia that many have," he said of the meeting.
16. Mika's ode to Lebanon is unforgettable
Mika has often spoken about his affection for Beirut, but he has never expressed it so clearly as in this entertaining and affecting online concert dedicated to his native Lebanon.
Blending performance with documentary-style images of Beirut's extensive destruction in the wake of the port explosion, as well as interviews with survivors, September's I Love Beirut concert remains a stirring tribute to a resilient city picking itself up from the wreckage.
“My irrepressible Beirut. Your flame has never been extinguished, it flickers on,” Mika said in the concert opening. “You witnessed my birth under the falling bombs in 1983 but I have never forgotten that I was also born of your grandeur. My beautiful Beirut, you are not alone.”
17. Mohamed Ramadan’s face in New York City lights
The Arab music scene notched another international moment on September 8 when Egyptian actor and pop star Mohamed Ramadan had his face projected on Spotify's billboard in New York City's Times Square.
The moment coincided with the Dubai launch of his single Ya Habibi, the video for which was also shot in the emirate.
Ramadan is the second Arab music artist to appear on the display, following fellow Egyptian singer Amr Diab’s appearance in November last year.
18. Kimaera makes Majida El Roumi see red with black metal cover of Lebanese pop music classic
When heavy metal group Kimaera released their thunderous version of Beirut Set El Donya, they got more than they bargained for.
As well as ecstatic reviews from the region's metal community, the group got a stern letter from El Roumi's management stating her intention to file a copyright claim against the group for what she alleges is an unofficial use of the song.
While legal discussions continue to take place between both parties, El Roumi's intervention only served to highlight one of the most interesting and innovative cover songs to come from the region. "The video doubled its number of views within two days of what happened," keyboardist Charbel Abboud told The National in November. "I think the more people see it, they will understand our artistic intentions."
19. Israeli musicians perform special concert at Dubai Opera
On December 8, a landmark concert take place at Dubai Opera.
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli flew into the UAE to perform a private concert alongside a number of Israeli musicians.
Dubbed A Celebration of Peace, the gala event was held in honour of the UAE and Israel's formal ties as part of the Abraham Accords. In attendance were a group of UAE dignitaries and Israeli officials, including the deputy mayor of Jerusalem, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, who documented the show on social media.
20. Giving 2020 the big Kiss-off
The UAE is gearing up to end this challenging year on a bright and explosive note with a Kiss concert in Dubai on New Year's Eve. The rock behemoths will perform on the grounds of Atlantis, The Palm, in front of a limited live audience.
Most fans will catch the mammoth gig on the small screen, with the concert being streamed live. Kiss will arrive in Dubai with 400 crew and the show will feature attempts to break the world record for the "largest-ever pyro display".
Speaking to The National, bassist Gene Simmons said the show will aim to turbocharge us into what will hopefully be a better year.
"Forget about 2020, it's been a pain in the butt,” he said. “2021 is going to be a much better time for planet Earth, for everybody.” Let’s hope he is right.
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Read more:
Lights, camera, no action: how the pandemic brought film industry to its knees
Covid Conversations: UAE artists explore emotions ignited by pandemic in new show
12 celebrity biopics coming in 2021: from Pamela Anderson and Elvis Presley to Whitney Houston and Madonna
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 480hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 570Nm from 2,300-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 10.4L/100km
Price: from Dh547,600
On sale: now
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh1,050,000
On sale: now
Will the pound fall to parity with the dollar?
The idea of pound parity now seems less far-fetched as the risk grows that Britain may split away from the European Union without a deal.
Rupert Harrison, a fund manager at BlackRock, sees the risk of it falling to trade level with the dollar on a no-deal Brexit. The view echoes Morgan Stanley’s recent forecast that the currency can plunge toward $1 (Dh3.67) on such an outcome. That isn’t the majority view yet – a Bloomberg survey this month estimated the pound will slide to $1.10 should the UK exit the bloc without an agreement.
New Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that Britain will leave the EU on the October 31 deadline with or without an agreement, fuelling concern the nation is headed for a disorderly departure and fanning pessimism toward the pound. Sterling has fallen more than 7 per cent in the past three months, the worst performance among major developed-market currencies.
“The pound is at a much lower level now but I still think a no-deal exit would lead to significant volatility and we could be testing parity on a really bad outcome,” said Mr Harrison, who manages more than $10 billion in assets at BlackRock. “We will see this game of chicken continue through August and that’s likely negative for sterling,” he said about the deadlocked Brexit talks.
The pound fell 0.8 per cent to $1.2033 on Friday, its weakest closing level since the 1980s, after a report on the second quarter showed the UK economy shrank for the first time in six years. The data means it is likely the Bank of England will cut interest rates, according to Mizuho Bank.
The BOE said in November that the currency could fall even below $1 in an analysis on possible worst-case Brexit scenarios. Options-based calculations showed around a 6.4 per cent chance of pound-dollar parity in the next one year, markedly higher than 0.2 per cent in early March when prospects of a no-deal outcome were seemingly off the table.
Bloomberg
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner: Dirilis Ertugrul, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ismail Mohammed (trainer)
2.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,400m
Winner: Kidd Malibu, Sandro Paiva, Musabah Al Muhairi
2.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,000m
Winner: Raakezz, Tadhg O’Shea, Nicholas Bachalard
3.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,200m
Winner: Au Couer, Sean Kirrane, Satish Seemar
3.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
Winner: Rayig, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,800m
Winner: King’s Shadow, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
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.”
SCHEDULE
December 8: UAE v USA (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
December 9: USA v Scotland (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
December 11: UAE v Scotland (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
December 12: UAE v USA (ICC Academy Oval 1)
December 14: USA v Scotland (ICC Academy Oval 1)
December 15: UAE v Scotland (ICC Academy Oval 1)
All matches start at 10am
The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
yallacompare profile
Date of launch: 2014
Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer
Based: Media City, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: 120 employees
Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)
The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
On sale: now
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
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
Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Fixtures and results:
Wed, Aug 29:
- Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
- Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
- UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs
Thu, Aug 30: UAE v Nepal; Hong Kong v Singapore; Malaysia v Oman
Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal
Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore
Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu, Sep 6: Final
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
FIGHT CARD
Sara El Bakkali v Anisha Kadka (Lightweight, female)
Mohammed Adil Al Debi v Moaz Abdelgawad (Bantamweight)
Amir Boureslan v Mahmoud Zanouny (Welterweight)
Abrorbek Madaminbekov v Mohammed Al Katheeri (Featherweight)
Ibrahem Bilal v Emad Arafa (Super featherweight)
Ahmed Abdolaziz v Imad Essassi (Middleweight)
Milena Martinou v Ilham Bourakkadi (Bantamweight, female)
Noureddine El Agouti v Mohamed Mardi (Welterweight)
Nabil Ouach v Ymad Atrous (Middleweight)
Nouredin Samir v Zainalabid Dadachev (Lightweight)
Marlon Ribeiro v Mehdi Oubahammou (Welterweight)
Brad Stanton v Mohamed El Boukhari (Super welterweight
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
THE%20SWIMMERS
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The five pillars of Islam
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%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3EDiet%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E7am%20-%20Protein%20shake%20with%20oats%20and%20fruits%0D%3Cbr%3E10am%20-%205-6%20egg%20whites%0D%3Cbr%3E1pm%20-%20White%20rice%20or%20chapati%20(Indian%20bread)%20with%20chicken%0D%3Cbr%3E4pm%20-%20Dry%20fruits%20%0D%3Cbr%3E7.30pm%20-%20Pre%20workout%20meal%20%E2%80%93%20grilled%20fish%20or%20chicken%20with%20veggies%20and%20fruits%0D%3Cbr%3E8.30pm%20to%20midnight%20workout%0D%3Cbr%3E12.30am%20%E2%80%93%20Protein%20shake%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20intake%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204000-4500%20calories%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESaidu%E2%80%99s%20weight%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20110%20kg%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStats%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Biceps%2019%20inches.%20Forearms%2018%20inches%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Tom Fletcher on 'soft power'
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin
WEST ASIA RUGBY 2017/18 SEASON ROLL OF HONOUR
Western Clubs Champions League
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Five films to watch
Castle in the Sky (1986)
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Only Yesterday (1991)
Pom Poki (1994)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
RACE CARD
6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200
7.05pm Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 1,400m
9.25pm Handicap Dh175,000 (D) 2,000m
The National selections:
6.30pm Underwriter
7.05pm Rayig
7.40pm Torno Subito
8.15pm Talento Puma
8.50pm Etisalat
9.25pm Gundogdu
Pearls on a Branch: Oral Tales
Najlaa Khoury, Archipelago Books
SWEET%20TOOTH
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The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16. first leg
Atletico Madrid v Juventus, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20electric%20motors%20with%20102kW%20battery%20pack%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E570hp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20890Nm%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Up%20to%20428km%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C700%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog
Age: 32
Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.
Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas
Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska
