What constitutes Emirati culture needs to be re-examined, Omar Saif Ghobash, UAE ambassador to Vatican and Letters to a Young Muslim author, said during his speech on the final day of Culture Summit Abu Dhabi.
“I see that there are general directions for considering and determining what constitutes culture in the Emirates,” said Ghobash. “First can we have those members of our society who limit culture to ancient arts that predate the discovery of oil — songs, poetry, the culture surrounding pearling diving, desert crossing and ancient forts. It is much to be admired and enjoyed.”
However, while there is great value in bolstering the country’s traditional heritage, Ghobash said it shouldn’t come at the expense of pigeonholing what qualifies as Emirati culture. There is another tendency in local society, he says, and that is to be open to the country’s present moment.
“This is a culture that recognises that Emirati doesn't mean just the passport holder, as it once used to," he said. "This version of what our culture is includes everyone now who lives and breathes and works here. This is when our leaders begin publicly speaking about Emirati society as opposed to Emirati citizens, with the emphasis on all being included, irrespective of religion or ethnicity.
“This is an Emirati culture that says: ‘We are who we are because you are here with us’. Because we all created this society together and because we aren’t afraid of difference and change and mixing things up. It's a culture that needs to be recognised more fully. It's a culture that reflects a specific mentality, and a mentality that has its roots in the wisdom of our elders.”
This openness to change and willingness to adapt and grow dates further back than many may think, Ghobash said. The country’s founding fathers did not have the material wealth or educational resources that many today benefit from, but Ghobash said they did have “a sense of justice”.
“They brought together a strong identity and pragmatism,” he said. “When members of the tribe objected to outsiders in their presence, our founding fathers eased their fears and calmed their anger in order for all of us to benefit.
“Outsiders would certainly affect our self-understanding, and with time, our identities would begin to mix with that of the other. The founders knew it would all work out. From the early Canadian missionaries in Abu Dhabi and the Indian and Pakistani traders in the other Emirates all the way to the policies of today where all are welcome.
“We should celebrate our traditional customs and practices. A new generation of Emiratis might come to these traditions and rediscover them in a new way, maybe add to them. At the same time, we support a broader set of cultural movements. Our culture evolves beyond our control, and we should delight in its twists and turns.”
Scroll through the gallery below to see more from days one and two of the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi
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Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, founder of Barjeel Art Foundation, takes part in the discussion on the third and final day of Culture Summit Abu Dhabi. All photos: Victor Besa / The National -

Manal Ataya, director general at Sharjah Museums Authority, also took part in the panel. -

Maya Allison, executive director and chief curator at the NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery, joined the discussion. -

A panellist speaks during the event. -

The New Canon was one of the panels held on day three of the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi. -

Famed pianist, composer and educator Danilo Perez waves to the crowd. -

Former minister and now diplomatic advisor Anwar Gargash. Victor Besa / The National -

Visitors were treated to a traditional Al Ayala dance, where performers hold thin bamboo canes and move to steady drum rhythms. -

Al Ayala is often performed at weddings and other celebrations. -

Chris Dercon in conversation with architect Sir David Adjaye. -

A session on Taking Bollywood Global: Dynamics of Diversity, moderated by Hans Fraikin, Abu Dhabi Film Commissioner. -

Kabir Khan, director of '83', in the conversation on Bollywood. -

Taking Bollywood Global: Dynamics of Diversity - Aashish Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Lyca Productions. -

Andre Timmins, founder and director of Wizcraft and IIFA, as part of the discussion on Bollywood. -

A member of the audience watching a panel called 'Taking Bollywood Global: Dynamics of Diversity'. -

Day three of the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi opened with a traditional performance from the mountain regions. -

The event was a meeting of minds, with visitors from across various sectors sharing their thoughts on the post-Covid cultural world. -

Omar Saif Ghobash, UAE ambassador to Vatican, speaks at the event. -

Grammy Award-winning producer Jimmy Jam discussed the regional music scene. -

Mohamed Al Mubarak in conversation with Frank Gehry, Architect, Gehry Partners. -

Robot artist Ai-Da, left, in conversation with The National's Hareth Al Bustani, far right, with her creator Aidan Meller, looking on. -

Performance by Iraqi oud virtuoso Naseer Shamma. -

The audience listens to Mohamed Al Mubarak in conversation with Frank Gehry, Architect, Gehry Partners. -

Harvey Mason Jr, chief executive of Recording Academy, lecturing on 'Music and Influence on Global Culture'. -

An attendee on day two of the Culture Summit in Abu Dhabi. -

A discussion on 'Mentoring for Impact', with moderator Fiammetta Rocco, senior editor and culture editor of The Economist, and speakers Erica Love, director of Culture Central, Eric Wainaina, artist and founder of The Nairobi Musical Theatre Initiative, and Gael Hedding, director of Berklee Abu Dhabi. -

A peformance of 'The Roots' by French Algerian choreographer Kader Attou, a dance performance in which he returns to the origins of hip-hop with an acrobatic celebration of the genre. Eleven dancers perform different facets of the former underground culture and show how the body can bend to different beats: from breakdance to Smurf, electric boogie to popping. -

A discussion on 'AI and the Future of Culture', with moderator Priya Khanchandani, head of curatorial + interpretation at the Design Museum, and speakers Aidan Meller, director of Ai-Da Robot and Oxfordians, and Suhair Khan, founder and director of Open/Ended Design. -

Artificial intelligence-powered robot artist Ai-Da at the Culture Summit in Abu Dhabi. Ai-Da's work reflects human aesthetic tastes and the conditions by which they are shaped. -

Ai-Da in conversation with Tim Marlow, chief executive and director of London's Design Museum, who analysed the creative philosophy of the world’s first humanoid artist. -

Mr Marlow introduces Ai-Da at the summit. -

Eyal Weizman, director of research agency Forensic Architecture, speaks on the use of technology such as machine learning, as well as the importance of modelling and simulations. -

UAE Minister of Culture and Youth Noura Al Kaabi gives the keynote address. -

This year’s Culture Summit will be attended by 1,000 people while another 5,000 will take part online. -

The summit seeks to identify ways in which culture can transform societies and communities around the globe. -

The conference brings together decision makers in culture, heritage, public policy and technology, as well as artists, thinkers and performers from around the world. -

The summit is now in its fifth year. -

It is organised by Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism. -

The theme of this year's event is 'A Living Culture'. -

The summit has returned with a more extensive programme. -

UAE Minister of Culture and Youth, Noura Al Kaabi at the summit. -

In-person attendance returned to the event after it moved online for two years owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. -

In only five years, the summit has grown from a noble idea into a staple of the international cultural calendar. -

Mohamed Al Mubarak, chairman of DCT — Abu Dhabi, arrives with Steve Harvey. -

Zaki Nusseibeh, cultural adviser to the President, attends the event. -

Mr Nusseibeh moderated a discussion on 'The role of culture in making resilient and shared societies', featuring former Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite, former Malawian president Joyce Banda and former Croatian president Ivo Josipovic. -

Mr Al Mubarak makes the welcome speech and opening remarks. -

Ms Banda, former president of Malawi, takes part in the discussion moderated by Mr Nusseibeh.
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
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What is the Supreme Petroleum Council?
The Abu Dhabi Supreme Petroleum Council was established in 1988 and is the highest governing body in Abu Dhabi’s oil and gas industry. The council formulates, oversees and executes the emirate’s petroleum-related policies. It also approves the allocation of capital spending across state-owned Adnoc’s upstream, downstream and midstream operations and functions as the company’s board of directors. The SPC’s mandate is also required for auctioning oil and gas concessions in Abu Dhabi and for awarding blocks to international oil companies. The council is chaired by Sheikh Khalifa, the President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi while Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is the vice chairman.
The Indo-Pacific
Rashmee Roshan Lall: US-India chemistry can no longer be dismissed
Brahma Chellaney: South China Sea has become Asean's Achilles heel
Brahma Chellaney: Trump's unpredictability is making China great again
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.”
If you go
The biog:
Languages: Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, basic Russian
Favourite food: Pizza
Best food on the road: rice
Favourite colour: silver
Favourite bike: Gold Wing, Honda
Favourite biking destination: Canada
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
Plastic tipping point
Education reform in Abu Dhabi
The emirate’s public education system has been in a constant state of change since the New School Model was launched in 2010 by the Abu Dhabi Education Council. The NSM, which is also known as the Abu Dhabi School Model, transformed the public school curriculum by introducing bilingual education starting with students from grades one to five. Under this new curriculum, the children spend half the day learning in Arabic and half in English – being taught maths, science and English language by mostly Western educated, native English speakers. The NSM curriculum also moved away from rote learning and required teachers to develop a “child-centered learning environment” that promoted critical thinking and independent learning. The NSM expanded by one grade each year and by the 2017-2018 academic year, it will have reached the high school level. Major reforms to the high school curriculum were announced in 2015. The two-stream curriculum, which allowed pupils to elect to follow a science or humanities course of study, was eliminated. In its place was a singular curriculum in which stem -- science, technology, engineering and maths – accounted for at least 50 per cent of all subjects. In 2016, Adec announced additional changes, including the introduction of two levels of maths and physics – advanced or general – to pupils in Grade 10, and a new core subject, career guidance, for grades 10 to 12; and a digital technology and innovation course for Grade 9. Next year, the focus will be on launching a new moral education subject to teach pupils from grades 1 to 9 character and morality, civic studies, cultural studies and the individual and the community.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
The biog
Born: near Sialkot, Pakistan, 1981
Profession: Driver
Family: wife, son (11), daughter (8)
Favourite drink: chai karak
Favourite place in Dubai: The neighbourhood of Khawaneej. “When I see the old houses over there, near the date palms, I can be reminded of my old times. If I don’t go down I cannot recall my old times.”
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
New Zealand 15
Tries: Laumape, J Barrett
Conversions: B Barrett
Penalties: B Barrett
British & Irish Lions 15
Penalties: Farrell (4), Daly
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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While you're here
Damien McElroy: It's too early to say who will win the vaccine hurdle race
Mustafa Alrawi: To get the 'jab' done, governments must show patience and empathy
Editorial: The fight against Covid-19 should be guided by science
COMPANY PROFILE
The specs
While you're here
The National Editorial: Annexation would solve absolutely nothing
Ex-Israeli diplomats: Israelis hear the UAE's message on annexation
Shaddad Attili: Palestine is not short on water - just the right to use it
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
World Cup final
Who: France v Croatia
When: Sunday, July 15, 7pm (UAE)
TV: Game will be shown live on BeIN Sports for viewers in the Mena region

