Expo 2020 Dubai is just around the corner and it has already been announced that a number of global and regional music maestros will descend to the emirate for the star-studded opening ceremony.
The show will draw inspiration from the Expo’s theme of "connecting minds, creating the future," and its sub-themes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability. It will present the values of the UAE to the watching world.
Follow the latest updates on Expo 2020 Dubai here
It will be staged at Al Wasl Plaza, in a vast, circular theatre that will house the largest immersive sound installation in the world and the world’s largest blended video projection installation. The 90-minute performance will set the scene for the six-month world fair, with the show to be broadcast live on Expo TV, Virtual Expo and TV stations around the world.
So for those who can't wait any longer, here’s a look at the stars announced for the opening ceremony so far:
Andrea Bocelli
The famed Italian tenor is no stranger to the UAE, having performed in the country numerous times over the years. He is known as one of the most successful crossover performers, helping to bring classical music to the top of the charts. He’s recorded 15 solo albums since 1982, selling more than 75 million records worldwide. Bocelli’s classics include The Prayer, Ave Maria and Time to Say Goodbye.
Ellie Goulding
The British electropop singer broke on to the scene with her 2009 debut single Under the Sheets, and her debut album Lights was released the next year, topping the UK Albums Chart. A single of the same name also reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100. She followed that up with her second album, Halcyon, with its lead, Anything Could Happen, topping Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart. Other notable hits for Goulding include Burn, Love Me Like You Do and Starry Eyed. The hitmaker was due to perform in Dubai last year but it got postponed.
Andra Day
The American singer is most known for her 2015 hit single Rise Up from her debut album Cheers to the Fall, which was nominated for the Best R&B Album at the 2016 Grammys. However, she has also found success in acting, taking on the role of singer Billie Holiday in the biopic The United States vs Billie Holiday, for which she won the Golden Globe for Best Actress. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for her performance.
Lang Lang
The Chinese classical pianist has toured the world performing with leading orchestras such as the Berlin, Vienna and Moscow Philharmonics, as well as other top ensembles in the US. Dubbed a “classical rock star”, Lang Lang is known for his theatrical pieces and showmanship while on stage. He has also performed in the UAE in the past, most recently at Emirates Palace as part of the 2016 Abu Dhabi Festival.
Angelique Kidjo
The four-time Grammy winner is no stranger to opening ceremonies, having sung during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games opening ceremony in July. The Beninese singer-songwriter released her first album, Pretty, in 1981, but it would be her 1991 album Logozo that would earn her acclaim, with it topping the Billboard World Albums chart. Over her career, she’s collaborated with artists in myriad genres, including Alicia Keys, Yo-Yo Ma, Josh Groban and Burna Boy. Kidjo's hit songs include Agolo, We We, Batonga, and her version of Miriam Makeba's 1969 song Malaika.
Mohammed Abdu
The Saudi singer has had a music career that’s spanned four decades. He was discovered on the Baba Abbas radio show in 1960, and has since released thousands of songs and more than 30 albums. Dubbed “the artist of the Arabs”, Abdu is most celebrated for his preservation of mawrouth (heritage songs), doing so without changing much of their musical arrangements and build-up.
Ahlam Alshami
The Emirati songstress, who goes by the mononym Ahlam, has released 14 albums and numerous singles since her first album in 1995. In January, she released her latest album, Fedwat Oyounak – Part 1, after a five-year absence. Known as one of the biggest names in Khaleeji pop, her hits include Malhofa Le Sotek and Ana Hoby Rekadah. In addition to singing, she’s also known for being a judge on Arab Idol and The Voice: Ahla Sawt.
Hussain Al Jassmi
The Emirati singer is an Expo 2020 Dubai ambassador and one of the Middle East’s top-selling artists. He released his first single Bawada'ak in 2002, followed by Wallah Mayiswa and Bassbour Al Fourgakom. However, it was 2014’s Egyptian Shaabi tune Boshret Kheir that he is most known for. Al Jassmi also has the honour of being the first Arab artist to perform at the Vatican’s annual Christmas concert, in 2018, and took part in a collaborative effort for the 2019 Special Olympics theme song Right Where I’m Supposed To Be.
Mayssa Karaa
The Lebanese-American singer, who simply goes by Mayssa, was nominated for a Grammy in 2015 for Best Compilation Soundtrack as the featured vocalist for the Arabic version of White Rabbit from the film American Hustle. She also scored a No 1 hit on Apple Music in India with her song Hayati, which was produced by Oscar-winner AR Rahman. In 2019, her first single Call Me a Stanger was released, followed shortly by her full-length English debut Simple Cure. She’s also currently the artistic director of Berklee Abu Dhabi.
Almas
The rising Emirati talent started her career at aged 15 with a song called Shousaawi Bih, which reached 29 million views on YouTube. She collaborated with fellow Emirati singer Fayez Al Saeed for the song Allah ma yirdaha. She sings in Arabic and English and was a part of the Spotify initiative Sawtik, which aimed to help promote young talented women from the Middle East by putting their music in the spotlight.
Take a behind-the-scenes look at preparation for Expo 2020 Dubai's opening ceremony:
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Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
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Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
Barings Bank
Barings, one of Britain’s oldest investment banks, was
founded in 1762 and operated for 233 years before it went bust after a trading
scandal.
Barings Bank collapsed in February 1995 following colossal
losses caused by rogue trader Nick Lesson.
Leeson gambled more than $1 billion in speculative trades,
wiping out the venerable merchant bank’s cash reserves.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
WHEN TO GO:
September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.
WHERE TO STAY:
Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 5 (Lenglet 2', Vidal 29', Messi 34', 75', Suarez 77')
Valladolid 1 (Kiko 15')
SUE%20GRAY'S%20FINDINGS
%3Cp%3E%22Whatever%20the%20initial%20intent%2C%20what%20took%20place%20at%20many%20of%20these%20gatherings%20and%20the%3Cbr%3Eway%20in%20which%20they%20developed%20was%20not%20in%20line%20with%20Covid%20guidance%20at%20the%20time.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22Many%20of%20these%20events%20should%20not%20have%20been%20allowed%20to%20happen.%20It%20is%20also%20the%20case%20that%20some%20of%20the%3Cbr%3Emore%20junior%20civil%20servants%20believed%20that%20their%20involvement%20in%20some%20of%20these%20events%20was%20permitted%20given%20the%20attendance%20of%20senior%20leaders.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22The%20senior%20leadership%20at%20the%20centre%2C%20both%20political%20and%20official%2C%20must%20bear%20responsibility%20for%20this%20culture.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22I%20found%20that%20some%20staff%20had%20witnessed%20or%20been%20subjected%20to%20behaviours%20at%20work%20which%20they%20had%20felt%20concerned%20about%20but%20at%20times%20felt%20unable%20to%20raise%20properly.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%22I%20was%20made%20aware%20of%20multiple%20examples%20of%20a%20lack%20of%20respect%20and%20poor%20treatment%20of%20security%20and%20cleaning%20staff.%20This%20was%20unacceptable.%22%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
Civil%20War
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alex%20Garland%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kirsten%20Dunst%2C%20Cailee%20Spaeny%2C%20Wagner%20Moura%2C%20Nick%20Offerman%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000
On sale: 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.”
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