British singer Robbie Williams will perform at The Pointe in Dubai next month. EPA
British singer Robbie Williams will perform at The Pointe in Dubai next month. EPA
British singer Robbie Williams will perform at The Pointe in Dubai next month. EPA
British singer Robbie Williams will perform at The Pointe in Dubai next month. EPA

Music

Let him entertain you: Robbie Williams to perform in Dubai in January 2020

The British chart-topper will take to the stage at The Pointe to celebrate the Dubai Shopping Festival

Emma Day
Emma Day

December 30, 2019

  • English
  • Arabic

His latest album is entitled The Christmas Present, and it looks like Robbie Williams has got a belated one to gift to his UAE fans.

The British singer-songwriter is set to perform in Dubai next month, taking to the stage at The Pointe for a one-night-only show.

The Rock DJ hit-maker will put on a solo show at the waterfront venue on Friday, January 24, as part of celebrations for Dubai Shopping Festival's 25th anniversary.

Williams, who rose to fame as part of 1990s pop five-piece Take That before embarking on a solo career, will treat fans to a range of his most renowned tracks, such as Let Me Entertain You and Angels.

Tickets for the event, which kicks off from 4pm, cost Dh295, are currently available at www.ticketmaster.ae. The show is standing-room only, and will feature a post-concert fireworks display.

The Pointe gig marks Williams's return to the UAE in five years, having last performed in Abu Dhabi in 2015 as part of a world tour.

“Entertainment has always been a key pillar and cornerstone of DSF, and hosting an internationally recognised artist such as Robbie Williams is a reflection of our commitment to deliver the most exceptional festival to date," said Ahmed Al Khaja, chief executive of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment.

Free shuttle buses will be available on the day to and from The Pointe from select points at Palm Jumeirah.

Williams, who holds the title of the best-selling British solo artist in the UK, has a record 18 Brit Awards to his name, as well as 13 studio albums.

The star, who left Never Forget group Take That in 1995, briefly reunited with the band in 2010 on an album and world tour.

His most recent work, November's The Christmas Present, saw Williams collaborate with the likes of Rod Stewart and Bryan Adams on a number of festive tracks.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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.”

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

 

 

While you're here
While you're here
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Buy farm-fresh food

The UAE is stepping up its game when it comes to platforms for local farms to show off and sell their produce.

In Dubai, visit Emirati Farmers Souq at The Pointe every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, which has produce from Al Ammar Farm, Omar Al Katri Farm, Hikarivege Vegetables, Rashed Farms and Al Khaleej Honey Trading, among others. 

In Sharjah, the Aljada residential community will launch a new outdoor farmers’ market every Friday starting this weekend. Manbat will be held from 3pm to 8pm, and will host 30 farmers, local home-grown entrepreneurs and food stalls from the teams behind Badia Farms; Emirates Hydroponics Farms; Modern Organic Farm; Revolution Real; Astraea Farms; and Al Khaleej Food. 

In Abu Dhabi, order farm produce from Food Crowd, an online grocery platform that supplies fresh and organic ingredients directly from farms such as Emirates Bio Farm, TFC, Armela Farms and mother company Al Dahra. 

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