Two of Lebanon’s biggest musical names are going online this week to treat fans to live concerts.
Composer and poet Oussama Rahbani announced that a piano performance will take place on Monday, May 11 on his Facebook page.
This will be followed by a virtual gig from Maya Diab, who will hop on her YouTube page to play a selection of hits and fan favourites on Thursday, May 14.
While online concerts have fast become the norm in the wake of the coronavirus, what makes these shows significant is the pedigree of the acts.
With the exception of Syrian singer Asaala and Elissa's isolation-inspired music video for Hanaghani Kaman Wa Kamam, high-profile Arab pop stars have largely stayed away from the virtual space during the pandemic, preferring to either work on upcoming albums or record new Ramadan-inspired songs.
Let’s take a look at the two shows coming our way this week.
Monday, May 11: Oussama Rahbani, 7pm on Facebook
He hails from Lebanon's arguably most distinguished music family.
The son of Lebanese composer and poet Mansour Rahbani (who, with his brother Assi, formed the celebrated songwriting duo The Rahbani Brothers), Oussama forged his own creative path by melding jazz and classical music with traditional Middle Eastern music.
Oussama has played a prevalent role in the Lebanese entertainment industry. As a composer, he wrote a number of musicals and operas, including a 2004 Arabic adaption of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, The Return of the Phoenix ,which was staged in Dubai in 2009, and a gala concert celebrating his family's legacy as part of the 2013 Abu Dhabi Festival.
He was also a mentor in the TV talent quest Star Academy from 2004 to 2007. Those who followed the series would have remembered Oussama's no-nonsense approach when it came to his advice for contestants.
In a 2013 interview with The National, he hinted that his stint on the show was not creatively fulling. When describing his tough teaching regimen to aspiring musicians in Beirut, he explained that he is looking for more than just a good voice.
"Your voice has to have character; that's one of the keys to success and this is what will distinguish you from the rest," Oussama said. "You have to have intelligence to withstand the intensity. It is a very challenging experience. If some people don't like it, well, there are plenty of television programmes they can join."
Thursday, May 14: Maya Diab, 12am on YouTube
The Lebanese singer is keeping hush about her performance, only promising that it will be the "first virtual live show in the region".
Whatever it is, fans should expect Diab to play a bunch of her regional hits. She began her career in 2001 as part of the all-girl group The 4 Cats before going on to launch a solo career four years later. An artist not enamoured with the album format (her only effort is 2015's #MyMaya), Diab is known for her pop singles Habibi, Tawel Balak and Hiya Di Donia.
In 2016 she duetted with US RnB singer Jason Derulo on the music programme Coke Studio. Both performed the track Talk to Me, an Arabic-English remix of Derulo's 2013 hit Talk Dirty.
Diab is also active on the regional fashion scene. In 2018 she began her two-year role as the regional face of cosmetics giant L'Oreal.
Other online shows this week
The addition of Oussama and Diab’s shows makes for an eclectic week of virtual performances.
On Tuesday, May 12, the instrumental group Canella Trio will showcase their fusion of western classical and oriental melodies in a concert streamed on Dubai Opera's Instagram account from 9pm.
On Wednesday, May 13, British spiritual singer Sami Yusuf will conclude the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (Admaf) Ramadan performance series with a bespoke concert titled Journey of Solidarity.
The intimate set will feature pieces inspired by both Islamic history and spirituality, such as Hasbi Rabbi, Meditation, You Came to Me and the soaring The 99 Names. The show will stream on Admaf's Facebook page from 9.30pm.
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
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How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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.”
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
List of alleged parties
May 15 2020: PM and Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at
least 17 staff members
May 20 2020: PM and Carrie attend 'bring your own booze'
party
Nov 27 2020: PM gives speech at leaving do for his staff
Dec 10 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary
Gavin Williamson
Dec 13 2020: PM and Carrie throw a flat party
Dec 14 2020: London mayor candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff party at Conservative
Party headquarters
Dec 15 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
Dec 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,470,000 (est)
Engine 6.9-litre twin-turbo W12
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 626bhp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,350rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.0L / 100km
Meydan Racecourse racecard:
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes Listed (PA) | Dh175,000 | 1,900m
7.05pm: Maiden for 2-year-old fillies (TB) | Dh165,000 | 1,400m
7.40pm: The Dubai Creek Mile Listed (TB) | Dh265,000 | 1,600m
8.15pm: Maiden for 2-year-old colts (TB) | Dh165,000 | 1,600m
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) | Dh265,000 | 2,000m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh190,000 | 1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh190,000 | 1,600m.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
