A long time ago (March last year), in a desert not so far away, rumours starting circulating that the movie event of 2015 – Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens – might be filming among Abu Dhabi's sand dunes.
At first we thought it was just speculation, or a cruel joke, and that we were being over-optimistic. After all, although Abu Dhabi’s Film Commission and twofour54 have been making great strides in attracting more local and international production to the emirate, this was one of the biggest films of all time. Could it really be true?
As the rumours refused to die and more and more sources began to suggest we were onto something, we began to realise that, yes, this was really happening.
When The National photographer Mona Al Marzooqi captured what appeared to be the very first photos of the set in April – an image of what was widely presumed to be the foot of an AT-AT (All Terrain Armoured Transort) being wheeled out of storage in the Western Desert, it seemed pretty conclusive.
It took about two weeks for Disney to finally confirm the Abu Dhabi shoot, but chairman Alan Horn did so on April 23. His initial claim that “some second unit work” had taken place began to look increasingly like an understatement when we learnt that filming was likely to continue until about the end of May.
As we discovered the use of multiple large sets in the desert, mock-up crash sites and a host of extras and crew gagged by non-disclosure agreements, it became clear that Abu Dhabi was going to play a major role in the eagerly anticipated movie.
As time went on and leaked and official photographs and videos from the set featuring big names, including director J J Abrams and franchise newcomer Daisy Ridley, began to surface online, the theory was confirmed.
Fast forward 18 months to today and rarely, if ever, has a movie attracted so much hype for such a sustained period. Finally, the moment of truth is almost upon us, with the film due to have its regional premiere in Abu Dhabi on December 16 and go on general release the following day, following its world premiere in Los Angeles on December 14.
Will it live up to the hype? How big a role will Abu Dhabi play? We’ll know for sure very soon, but here’s a round up of what we know so far.
The premiere
The rumour mill went into hyperdrive this year when movie website IMDB listed the worldwide release dates for Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. While its debut in most territories was listed as the previously announced December 18, the date in a few territories, including Italy and the United Kingdom, was December 16. Ahead of the pack, though, was the UAE, with a reported release date of December 15. Did that mean the movie would have its world premiere here? The date was quickly and quietly removed from the site, but the speculation had started. Would the UAE be hosting the movie event of the decade? Could a collaboration involving the Star Wars team, Abu Dhabi and the Dubai International Film Festival, which is running that week, be possible? Would that mean J J Abrams and the cast might walk the red carpet at Yas Mall or Emirates Palace?
Alas, the world premiere was eventually announced for Los Angeles on December 14. And although we understand that preliminary conversations did take place about the possibility of hosting it in the capital, in the end, it was revealed that an invitation-only regional premiere would take place at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, two days after the film’s LA debut.
The trailers
The first teaser was screened in December last year and, in true Abrams style, he has been teasing fans with trailers ever since. That first preview didn’t give too much away. Fans were impressed (though not without technical doubts) by a glimpse of villain Kylo Ren’s new-look crossbar lightsaber. We learnt there had been “an awakening”, Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber appeared to be at the centre of some sort of galactic quest, and John Boyega’s rogue stormtrooper, Finn, seemed to be very scared of something. Regular updates since, usually timed to coincide with major American holidays and events, including the Super Bowl and Thanksgiving, have revealed a few more details.
The baddies
We have learnt that the character providing the voice-over on the first trailer was Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis). He is leader of the First Order, which appears to be a new, updated version of the Empire from the original movies. He seems to be aided in his evil plans for galactic domination by Darth Vader fanboy Ren (Adam Driver), who is not a Sith lord, but rather a member of the Knights of Ren, whose mission is to finish the work Vader started. Snoke and Ren may not be Sith lords, but their relationship harks back to the Vader/Palpatine dynamic of the earlier movies. Ren even gets John Williams's doom-laden Darth Vader theme tune when he's on screen in the latest trailer. The pair are ably supported by legions of stormtroopers and Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie's chrome-armoured Captain Phasma. It seems that 35 years after the defeat of the Empire in Return of the Jedi, things are still not all sweetness and light in the galaxy far, far away.
The merchandise
The original, 1977, movie Star Wars: A New Hope, virtually created the modern concept of movie tie-in merchandising. Lucas had the foresight to spot a huge cash cow in the form of action figures, models and more. Over the years, the merchandising operation around the films has grown ever slicker, with toys and action figures for younger viewers, high-end replicas and costumes for serious collectors, and cross-marketing deals with companies such as Lego to keep the receipts rolling in long after opening weekends. There has also been an "Extended Universe" range of books and graphic novels delving deeper into the franchise's characters and worlds.
When Force Friday was announced for September 4 – the day on which the toys and collectables linked to The Force Awakens hit stores – it should have come as no surprise that lines of eager fans queued up for hours to get their hands on the latest goodies. But it seems to have come as a surprise to retailers though, who were accused of underestimating demand. Items featuring popular newcomers Kylo Ren and the spherical droid BB-8 sold out in seconds, and the internet was predictably aflame with disappointed fans bemoaning the bare shelves at their local shops.
The merchandise hype hasn't stopped with toys either. We've also seen an Episode VII prequel novel, Imperial-branded laptop computers, coin collections, a set of commemorative postage stamps from the Royal Mail in the UK, and even Google got in on the act, with X-Wings appearing on Google Maps and the Gmail loading bar replaced with a lightsaber.
The goodies
Boyega’s Finn and Ridley’s Rey are the heroes of the new films. Finn appears to be a force-sensitive stormtrooper who has deserted the First Order. He is seen wielding a lightsaber in trailers and on the official poster. Rey is a nomadic scavenger who collects scrap from the war-ravaged deserts of Jakku (the scenes for which were filmed in Abu Dhabi). It seems likely that Rey (and possibly Finn) is the child of Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and/or Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) – who is now General Leia. Abrams has admitted that there is a very good reason why Rey’s and Finn’s surnames have not yet been revealed. Several other old favourites from the original trilogy also make a return, including R2-D2, Chewbacca and C-3P0.
The lack of Luke
We know that the last surviving Jedi Knight, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), appears in the new movie (and also Episode VIII, judging by the actor's Twitter feed). But so far he has been conspicuous by his absence in the trailers and poster. He seemed to provide the voice-over for the second trailer, released in April, which also included what looked like a glimpse of his gloved hand resting on R2-D2. But that's all we have seen or heard of him so far. The accepted wisdom is that Luke has gone into hiding (much like Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars when Luke found him), perhaps in fear of the incredible power he now possesses, and that much of the movie will be dedicated to finding him and enlisting his help in the battle against the First Order. Hamill addressed the issue in an interview with Empire magazine following the release of the Thanksgiving trailer, though he didn't give much away: "Obviously you're seeing him in a very different time in his life. There are lots of surprises in this movie. You're going to love it."
The expectations
Star Wars fans could be forgiven for feeling apprehensive every time a new instalment is announced. Creator George Lucas's prequel trilogy was widely scorned by diehard fans of the franchise for a variety reasons: from the inclusion of Jar Jar Binks to over-reliance on green-screen CGI filming and unusually wooden acting from Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen, who played Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader respectively. Then Disney bought the rights to the franchise and promptly announced a host of sequels, prequels and spin-offs over the next few years.
So far there seems to be a lot of goodwill towards the new movies and hopes among fans remain high (at times, perhaps impossibly high, but that's par for the course with such a beloved series). Abrams, who previously revitalised the ageing Star Trek franchise, was a popular choice of director, and the news that The Empire Strikes Back co-writer Lawrence Kasdan would be back on scripting duties was well-received (Empire is regarded by many fans as the best of the films to date). The trailers look genuinely stunning, and the fact that Abrams has remained respectful to the original trilogy and successfully reunited all the main cast, has won him much respect from the Star Wars fan community.
The Millennium Falcon returns
The trailers have revealed that many of the iconic spacecrafts from the earlier movies will be back in Episode VII, including TIE Fighters, X-wings, Imperial Cruisers and even something that looks a bit Death Star-like. The biggest cheer, however, was saved for the return of Han Solo and Chewbecca's smuggling ship, Millennium Falcon, the old favourite that can make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs.
Abrams had teased fans not to get their hopes up, most notably by posting a note on Twitter saying the Falcon would not be in the new movie. Eagle-eyed fans, however, spotted that the note was sitting on top of the Falcon's holochess desk. When Han and Chewie were seen on board the Falcon in the second trailer, accompanied by Han's line: "Chewie, we're home", fans were ecstatic. It seems Rey will be a go at the helm, too. She told German YouTube channel Movie Maniacs last week: "Flying the gimble was quite difficult, when I'm piloting the Falcon. That was difficult because it's weird being alone in a space and then trying to make it look like you're flying a spaceship. But I always felt very safe and encouraged and supported by everyone around me."
The future
Episode VII is likely to break global box-office records – it is already the most heavily advance-booked film in history, having taken more US$50million (Dh183.65m) in the United States alone. But that is most likely just the beginning. Episode VIII has already been on a location shoot on the island of Skellig Michael in Ireland. Writer and director Rian Johnson (Looper) takes over at the helm, and several cast members have been confirmed, including a return for Mark Hamill and new baddie Benicio Del Toro.
As with previous films, the bulk of filming will take place at London's Pinewood Studios. Part of The Force Awakens was also shot on Skellig Michael, believed to be the location for scenes featuring Luke's hiding place. Episode VIII will be released in May 2017.
Jurassic World's Colin Trevorrow has been confirmed as director of Episode IX, which will also be written by Johnson. Disney has also announced a series of self-contained spin-off films that will be released in the years between the main sagas. The spin-offs will focus on specific characters, their origins or important events. The first, Rogue One, tells the story of the mission to steal the plans to the first Death Star, which were hidden in R2-D2 in the original film. It will be released in December next year, with a film telling the story of young Han Solo due in 2018 and another featuring bounty hunter Boba Fett reportedly planned for 2020.
Of course, it’s possible the new movie could flop and cause a massive rethink, but on a scale of “don’t be ridiculous” to “no, really, don’t be ridiculous”, that seems very unlikely.
cnewbould@thenational.ae
UAE FIXTURES
October 18 – 7.30pm, UAE v Oman, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 19 – 7.30pm, UAE v Ireland, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 21 – 2.10pm, UAE v Hong Kong, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 22 – 2.10pm, UAE v Jersey, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 24 – 10am, UAE v Nigeria, Abu Dhabi Cricket Oval 1
October 27 – 7.30pm, UAE v Canada, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 29 – 2.10pm, Playoff 1 – A2 v B3; 7.30pm, Playoff 2 – A3 v B2, at Dubai International Stadium.
October 30 – 2.10pm, Playoff 3 – A4 v Loser of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Playoff 4 – B4 v Loser of Play-off 2 at Dubai International Stadium
November 1 – 2.10pm, Semifinal 1 – B1 v Winner of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Semifinal 2 – A1 v Winner of Play-off 2 at Dubai International Stadium
November 2 – 2.10pm, Third place Playoff – B1 v Winner of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Final, at Dubai International Stadium
How they line up for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix
1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
3 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
4 Max Verstappen, Red Bull
5 Kevin Magnussen, Haas
6 Romain Grosjean, Haas
7 Nico Hulkenberg, Renault
*8 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull
9 Carlos Sainz, Renault
10 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
11 Fernando Alonso, McLaren
12 Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren
13 Sergio Perez, Force India
14 Lance Stroll, Williams
15 Esteban Ocon, Force India
16 Brendon Hartley, Toro Rosso
17 Marcus Ericsson, Sauber
18 Charles Leclerc, Sauber
19 Sergey Sirotkin, Williams
20 Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso
* Daniel Ricciardo qualified fifth but had a three-place grid penalty for speeding in red flag conditions during practice
The Programme
Saturday, October 26: ‘The Time That Remains’ (2009) by Elia Suleiman
Saturday, November 2: ‘Beginners’ (2010) by Mike Mills
Saturday, November 16: ‘Finding Vivian Maier’ (2013) by John Maloof and Charlie Siskel
Tuesday, November 26: ‘All the President’s Men’ (1976) by Alan J Pakula
Saturday, December 7: ‘Timbuktu’ (2014) by Abderrahmane Sissako
Saturday, December 21: ‘Rams’ (2015) by Grimur Hakonarson
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%203-litre%20V6%20turbo%20(standard%20model%2C%20E-hybrid)%3B%204-litre%20V8%20biturbo%20(S)%0D%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20350hp%20(standard)%3B%20463hp%20(E-hybrid)%3B%20467hp%20(S)%0D%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20500Nm%20(standard)%3B%20650Nm%20(E-hybrid)%3B%20600Nm%20(S)%0D%0D%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh368%2C500%0D%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Lowdown
Kesari
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Anubhav Singh
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Parineeti Chopra
Company%20Profile
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MATCH INFO
Who: UAE v USA
What: first T20 international
When: Friday, 2pm
Where: ICC Academy in Dubai
Mountain%20Boy
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Zainab%20Shaheen%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Naser%20Al%20Messabi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Profile of Tarabut Gateway
Founder: Abdulla Almoayed
Based: UAE
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 35
Sector: FinTech
Raised: $13 million
Backers: Berlin-based venture capital company Target Global, Kingsway, CE Ventures, Entrée Capital, Zamil Investment Group, Global Ventures, Almoayed Technologies and Mad’a Investment.
Straightforward ways to reduce sugar in your family's diet
- Ban fruit juice and sodas
- Eat a hearty breakfast that contains fats and wholegrains, such as peanut butter on multigrain toast or full-fat plain yoghurt with whole fruit and nuts, to avoid the need for a 10am snack
- Give young children plain yoghurt with whole fruits mashed into it
- Reduce the number of cakes, biscuits and sweets. Reserve them for a treat
- Don’t eat dessert every day
- Make your own smoothies. Always use the whole fruit to maintain the benefit of its fibre content and don’t add any sweeteners
- Always go for natural whole foods over processed, packaged foods. Ask yourself would your grandmother have eaten it?
- Read food labels if you really do feel the need to buy processed food
- Eat everything in moderation
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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.”
25%20Days%20to%20Aden
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The%C2%A0specs%20
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Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
HER%20FIRST%20PALESTINIAN
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THE TWIN BIO
Their favourite city: Dubai
Their favourite food: Khaleeji
Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach
Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll
The specs: 2019 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
Price, base: Dh1.2 million
Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 725hp @ 6,500pm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.3L / 100km (estimate)
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
%E2%80%98FSO%20Safer%E2%80%99%20-%20a%20ticking%20bomb
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Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
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
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Glossary of a stock market revolution
Reddit
A discussion website
Redditor
The users of Reddit
Robinhood
A smartphone app for buying and selling shares
Short seller
Selling a stock today in the belief its price will fall in the future
Short squeeze
Traders forced to buy a stock they are shorting
Naked short
An illegal practice
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
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Who is Ramon Tribulietx?
Born in Spain, Tribulietx took sole charge of Auckland in 2010 and has gone on to lead the club to 14 trophies, including seven successive Oceania Champions League crowns. Has been tipped for the vacant New Zealand national team job following Anthony Hudson's resignation last month. Had previously been considered for the role.
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
