In a darkened cinema one winter’s night in 1977, I was transported to a galaxy far, far away.
Watching Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope, life was never quite the same again. The sci-fi fantasy film's special effects were out of this world and we were transfixed by the outlandish characters and plot.
As a child however, one of the most spellbinding features of the film was the princess. This was no ordinary Disney princess from our fairy tales but for the first time, we had a heroine who did not wait around to be rescued.
Princess Leia, played by Carrie Fisher, was the smart, resilient, feisty princess we all wanted to be as she battled the Empire in this timeless, universal tale of good versus evil.
A few years later, during my teens, she even got to kiss Harrison Ford (Han Solo and Indiana Jones), in The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V). Dressed as a bounty hunter she helped to rescue him from his deep-freeze in carbonite in Return of the Jedi (Episode VI), effectively turning the role of the fairy tale princess on its head.
Princess Leia was my childhood heroine. And I was fortunate enough to meet her in March 2007.
I had flown to the Atlantic island of Bermuda a week earlier to start a new position as a journalist for the daily newspaper, The Royal Gazette. Colleagues invited me to the Bermuda International Film Festival party that weekend, in "the big, pink hotel down the road" — the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.
It’s always a strange, surreal moment meeting your idol, and as I walked in, I felt like I was in a parallel universe. There, before my eyes, was Fisher. Shocked and in awe, I had to quell my nerves just to approach her, but as I said “Hello” and asked if I could take a photo with her, she exuded a relaxed, friendly warmth, something that was at odds with the image of Hollywood superstar royalty.
Fisher it seemed, was certainly not a "princess" when it came to meeting her fans, in fact she positively embraced us, perhaps a part of still living in the Star Wars universe.
My childhood heroine has died and millions of us are mourning her loss across the planet Earth, the Milky Way Galaxy in the Laniakea Supercluster.
Her passing is particularly bittersweet following her role in last year's sequel, The Force Awakens (Episode VII), parts of which were filmed in Abu Dhabi.
And then there is Rogue One, the prequel where it all began, in a galaxy far, far away.
Rest in peace Carrie Fisher, forever in our hearts. Lightspeed.
adale@thenational.ae
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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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.”
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'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
MATCH INFO
Norwich 0
Watford 2 (Deulofeu 2', Gray 52')
Red card: Christian Kabasele (WatforD)
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
