Egyptian singer Tamer Hosny says a positive mindset is key to success. Satish Kumar / The National
Egyptian singer Tamer Hosny says a positive mindset is key to success. Satish Kumar / The National
Egyptian singer Tamer Hosny says a positive mindset is key to success. Satish Kumar / The National
Egyptian singer Tamer Hosny says a positive mindset is key to success. Satish Kumar / The National

Tamer Hosny recalls tough childhood years when he worked 'in the streets'


Saeed Saeed
  • English
  • Arabic

Tamer Hosny has offered fans a reminder of his tougher days long before he became one of the Arab world’s biggest celebrities.

The Egyptian singer and actor uploaded a lengthy post in Arabic on his Facebook and Instagram accounts on Sunday, recalling when he worked odd jobs to support his single mother.

Hosny's father is Egyptian singer Hosni Sharif, who separated from Syrian wife Fatima Al Sabbagh when Tamer was 7, leaving her to raise him and older brother Hossam, with limited means.

Hosny recalled working various jobs, including playing professional football, to support the household.

“I went to work in the streets from a petrol station worker to a supermarket and then an actor,” he said.

“When I was playing soccer, my salary was 22 [Egyptian] pounds per month, of which I spent on water and electricity and my brother’s operations because he was ill for a long time.”

Hosny said he kept alive his dreams of being either a professional football player or singer throughout his youth. He followed “the signs” that ultimately pointed towards a career in the arts.

He explains the post is meant to inspire his young fanbase, who in their comments on his social media accounts exhibited signs of "despair from a lack of success and hurting those closest to you”.

To overcome dark moments, Hosny urges his followers to stay the course, keep the faith and remain optimistic.

"For those frustrated by others, remember that it is you listening to them and allowing them to affect you," he said.

"So don't be the reason for hurting yourself. Positive people will find good things in this world, so don't be a negative person."

This is not the first time Hosny has sent encouraging messages to Arab youth. In a rare in-depth interview with Egyptian TV host Amr Adib on the talk show El Hekaya, he warned against the destructive effects of inaction.

The feeling of being stuck, he said, is a killer of creativity and people should strive to remove themselves from unhealthy situations.

“If you don't like your place in life right now, then only you can change that because you are not a statue or a tree,” he said.

“I have learnt this from my experiences where there were so many times that things didn’t work and I felt lost.

“I had to make as many changes as I could until I got to a stage where I was blessed with success.”

Hosny certainly has a lot to be positive about at the moment.

He was the king of the Saudi box office during the Eid Al Adha holidays with romantic comedy Bahebek (I Love You), which grossed $2.3 million over four days in the kingdom, Variety reported.

The film's success comes on the back of Hosny launching his latest album Aashaangy at Al Alamein Festival on Egypt's north coast.

Hosny recently announced a return concert date in Saudi Arabia in the Jeddah Superdome on August 26. Tickets are now available at www.ticketmx.com.

Ten times Arab musicians teamed up with international stars, from Nancy Ajram to Elissa — in pictures

  • Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram is collaborating with DJ Marshmello on new song 'Sah Sah'. EPA
    Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram is collaborating with DJ Marshmello on new song 'Sah Sah'. EPA
  • Egyptian pop sensation Tamer Hosny's song 'Smile' with Shaggy was uninspired at best. AFP
    Egyptian pop sensation Tamer Hosny's song 'Smile' with Shaggy was uninspired at best. AFP
  • Iraqi singer Kadim Al Sahir contributed to the Arabic version of the Quincy Jones charity single 'Tomorrow/Bokra'. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Iraqi singer Kadim Al Sahir contributed to the Arabic version of the Quincy Jones charity single 'Tomorrow/Bokra'. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • The late funk singer James Brown teamed up with Egyptian singer Hakim for the impressive 'Leila'. Getty
    The late funk singer James Brown teamed up with Egyptian singer Hakim for the impressive 'Leila'. Getty
  • Moroccan-Swedish producer RedOne scored a hit with English/Arabic single 'Don't You Need Somebody', featuring Saudi singer Aseel Omran. Leslie Pableo for The National
    Moroccan-Swedish producer RedOne scored a hit with English/Arabic single 'Don't You Need Somebody', featuring Saudi singer Aseel Omran. Leslie Pableo for The National
  • Lebanese singer Elissa found success with 'Baddy Doub', featuring French singer Gerrard Ferrer. Getty
    Lebanese singer Elissa found success with 'Baddy Doub', featuring French singer Gerrard Ferrer. Getty
  • Not even Akon's midas touch could save the awful 'Yalli Naseeni', with Lebanese singer Melissa. Reuters
    Not even Akon's midas touch could save the awful 'Yalli Naseeni', with Lebanese singer Melissa. Reuters
  • British musician Sting and Algerian rai singer Cheb Mami scored a global hit with the 1999 track 'Desert Rose'. AFP
    British musician Sting and Algerian rai singer Cheb Mami scored a global hit with the 1999 track 'Desert Rose'. AFP
  • Egyptian singer Hisham Abbas's 2001 single 'Habibi Dah' was inspired by Bollywood films. AFP
    Egyptian singer Hisham Abbas's 2001 single 'Habibi Dah' was inspired by Bollywood films. AFP
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

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Sinopharm vaccine explained

The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades. 

“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.

"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."

This is then injected into the body.

"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.

"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."

The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.

Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.

“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.

Results

6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m

Winner: Celtic Prince, David Liska (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer).

7.05pm: Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

7.40pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m

Winner: Grand Argentier, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

8.15pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m

Winner: Arch Gold, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.

8.50pm: The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m

Winner: Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.

9.25pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner: Ibn Malik, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.

10pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m

Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

MATCH INFO

What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)

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

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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The biog

Age: 19 

Profession: medical student at UAE university 

Favourite book: The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman

Role model: Parents, followed by Fazza (Shiekh Hamdan bin Mohammed)

Favourite poet: Edger Allen Poe 

Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199

Red Joan

Director: Trevor Nunn

Starring: Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Tereza Srbova

Rating: 3/5 stars

 

 

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
While you're here

Like a Fading Shadow

Antonio Muñoz Molina

Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez

Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)

Abaya trends

The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.

The specs: 2019 Mini Cooper

Price, base: Dh141,740 (three-door) / Dh165,900 (five-door)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder (Cooper) / 2.0-litre four-cylinder (Cooper S)
Power: 136hp @ 4,500rpm (Cooper) / 192hp @ 5,000rpm (Cooper S)
Torque: 220Nm @ 1,480rpm (Cooper) / 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (Cooper S)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 4.8L to 5.4L / 100km

Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

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Updated: August 17, 2022, 5:56 AM