How do you interpret some of Arabic popular music’s most dense and poetic lyrics into sign language?
According to Raja Hasan, you need to put your body into it.
In what could be a UAE first, the Jordanian interpreter will share the stage with Mohammed Abdu during his concert at Etihad Arena on Saturday, as he translates the revered Saudi singer’s songs to audience members who are hearing impaired.
There are no UAE statistics about the prevalence of deafness and hearing disabilities. According to the World Health Organisation, more than five per cent of the world’s population — about 430 million — suffer from debilitating hearing loss.
Speaking to The National before the show, organised by UAE company X Culture Events, Hasan reveals he received the set list in advance from Abdu’s team a fortnight ago and has been practising at home ever since.
“I also went into a deep dive of Abdu’s songs, in general, because it is not only enough to translate the lyrics literally,” he says. “But I also have to really channel the deep emotions he expresses in many of his songs.
“Abdu’s work is very deep and really melancholy. To capture that in sign language requires not just the movement of my hands, but different parts of my body — from my facial reactions to the shoulders — to really express the emotions of the lyrics.”
A way of expression
Hasan welcomes the challenge as he is a seasoned hand.
Currently working independently, he was a former sign language interpreter for Abu Dhabi TV’s current affair show Oloum Al Dar, completing a 15-year stint in January.
After leaving, he took freelance jobs at business and government events, including being part of the team interpreting the near nightly Covid-19 updates by the UAE authorities in the first months of the pandemic in 2020.
“It was really then I felt what myself and colleagues did really resonated with society,” he says. “I would get stopped sometimes in the street, here in Abu Dhabi, and people would thank me and encourage me to keep going.
“Now, don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy what I do. But I never forget there are a group of people solely dependent on people like me to give them the right information, it is this responsibility that pushes me forward.”
Hasan's interest in sign language dates back nearly 20 years.
“None of my family members are hearing impaired, so I entered this field out of fascination and this feeling of wanting to help and contribute in some way,” he says.
“So I studied the field in the University of Jordan where we would also use our skills to help deaf students. It was a very beautiful experience.”
It also remains a challenging endeavour with sign language following a set principles that doesn’t always mesh with the spoken word.
Some of these differences will become apparent when Hasan takes the stage on Saturday.
“Certain idioms can be tricky as not everything translates, especially some of the way we say things in Arabic, which is very descriptive,” he says.
“So if I translate the phrase ‘I will come to you like a plane,’ meaning, 'I will see you soon’, it doesn’t make sense. So in certain situations I will need to make it more literal and say that ‘I am on my way’ or ‘I will be there shortly’.”
That doesn’t mean sign language is dry, Hasan says.
“Like any language, the more skilled you are the more expressive you can be,” he says. “While certain sayings can be difficult, sign language is capable of capturing a lot of things.
“So when I translate the question whether someone wants a Pepsi or Coke, I use the movement similar to opening a soft drink can.”
Mohammed Abdu performs at the newly built super dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia — in pictures
A human rights issue
Hasan says he does not know what proportion of audience require his services at the Abdu concert.
Then again, that’s beside the point.
“The fact that I am there on stage is important because it sends a message that everyone should feel included and for this, I have to state my gratitude to concert organisers X Culture Events for coming up with the idea” he says.
“Maybe at first people will find it strange that I am there on stage the whole time, but after a few songs I think they will welcome the idea of what I am doing.”
Hasan says he is confident that he and his colleagues will become a permanent feature of the UAE entertainment scene.
“I am positive it will be mandatory for some kind of interpretation to be made available at all UAE live events,” he says. “At the end of the day, we are not talking here about entertaining people. This is a human rights issue and that means anyone shouldn’t feel like they are shut out of any part of society.”
When more concert promoters, hopefully, see the value of what he provides, Hasan is ready for the next big gig.
“You know, with Mohammed Abdu I am starting with probably one of the hardest Arabic concerts to translate,” he says. “After this, doing any other Arabic pop concert should be relatively easier.”
Mohammed Abdu performs at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on June 25. Doors open at 6.30pm; tickets starting at D788 are available at etihadarena.ae. You can also watch a live stream of the concert for Dh99 on Basita.live
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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.”
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Indoor Cricket World Cup
Venue Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
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Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
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Prophets of Rage
(Fantasy Records)
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 5
Keita 1', Mane 23', 66', Salah 45' 1, 83'
Huddersfield 0
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