Emirati singer Hussein Al Jassmi is set to perform at the newly inaugurated Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre this New Year's Eve. Wam
Emirati singer Hussein Al Jassmi is set to perform at the newly inaugurated Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre this New Year's Eve. Wam
Emirati singer Hussein Al Jassmi is set to perform at the newly inaugurated Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre this New Year's Eve. Wam
Emirati singer Hussein Al Jassmi is set to perform at the newly inaugurated Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre this New Year's Eve. Wam

Music

Hussain Al Jassmi and Angham set to perform inaugural concert at Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre

The New Year's Eve concert will be the first event held at the recently inaugurated venue

Razmig Bedirian
Razmig Bedirian

December 20, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Arab singers Hussain Al Jassmi and Angham are set to perform at the newly opened Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre in a New Year's Eve concert.

Emirati musician Al Jassmi will perform some of his most popular hits, including Sittah Al Sobh, Bel Bont el Areed and Mohem Jedan, while Egyptian superstar Angham will take to the stage with the immensely popular Shantet Safar, as well as Ya Reitak Fahimni and Sidi Wesalak.

But the real star of the concert, which kicks off at 8.30pm on Thursday, December 31, and will end with a countdown to ring in the New Year, may be the venue itself.

Egyptian superstar Angham is set to perform her chart-toppers at the newly inaugurated Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre. Andre Forget / The National
Egyptian superstar Angham is set to perform her chart-toppers at the newly inaugurated Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre. Andre Forget / The National

Built at the foot of Al Sayed mountain, the sprawling 17,650-square-metre amphitheatre looks towards the Khor Fakkan corniche, giving events at the venue a stunning backdrop of the city’s natural allure.

The site was inaugurated by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, on December 14. The Roman-style semicircular structure has an imposing stone facade that includes 234 arches and 295 columns.

It can hold up to 3,600 people and has a special cooling system in place to ensure the venue can be used year-round.

“The artistic and cultural landmark marks a new milestone in the emirate’s cultural journey,” Tariq Saeed Allay, director of Sharjah government media bureau, said in a statement.

"We intend to celebrate Sharjah's newest cultural landmark with a memorable night of music featuring two prominent superstars. This will be an occasion for the people of the emirate to enjoy an exceptional evening of beautiful music and joy at the emirate's latest cultural and entertainment destination, while ensuring the safety and well-being of all those attending the concert."

Tickets start at Dh75 and can be purchased at platinumlist.net. Seating capacity at the venue has been limited to comply with coronavirus-related precautionary measures.

Health and safety measures, such as sterilisation of the premises and social distancing, will also be in place.

Hussain Al Jassmi and Angham will perform on Thursday, December 31, at 8.30pm; tickets start at Dh75; Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre, Sharjah; platinumlist.net

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How to register as a donor

1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention

2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants

3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register. 

4) The campaign uses the hashtag  #donate_hope

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.”

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

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