Your daily guide to community and cultural activities across the Emirates for February 26, 2017, including performances, festivals, art exhibitions, film screenings, health and fitness events, talks, classes, workshops and family fun. Ellen Fortini rounds up 10 things to do today in the UAE.
Want to see your event listed here? Email us with the details and contact information at listings@thenational.ae
Abu Dhabi
Fitness event
The Color Run returns to the capital. Take part in what is billed as “The Happiest 5K on the Planet”, which now features an island-style tropical paradise theme that includes scented powders, inflatable palm trees and a rainbow beach with sand, beach chairs, dancing, activities and more – all in the name of fun and fitness.
March 25, gates open at 7am, from Dh160, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, www.thecolorrun.ae
Nationwide
New movie
In the film Trespass Against Us, Chad Cutler (Michael Fassbender) looks to escape the criminal ways of his outlaw family after an elaborate heist goes bad. But Chad's father, crime patriarch Colby (Brendan Gleeson), wants to further tie his son to the business, even as the police are closing in. Drama, also starring Lyndsey Marshal, Rory Kinnear and Killian Scott.
Screening at cinemas across the UAE. (15+)
Abu Dhabi
Craft market
Attend the Shopping Soirée and find quality, handmade crafts and gift items from local vendors at pop-up shops featuring jewellery, home decor, clothing, toys, baby products, skincare, furniture and handbags.
Today, 10am to 4pm, The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and Spa, Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, info@shoppingsoiree.ae
Abu Dhabi
Racing offer
Valentine’s Day celebrations continue till the end of the month with adrenaline-fuelled motorsport experiences for couples at Yas Marina Circuit. Choose the SST Radical passenger experience, where driving instructors put cars to the test, head-to-head; or choose to get behind the wheel yourself of a Chevrolet Camaro on a custom-built drag strip approved by the National Hot Rod Association.
Offer valid until Tuesday, from Dh695 for two SST Radical passenger experiences; from Dh995 for two Chevrolet Camaro Drag Racing driving experiences, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, 800 927, www.yasmarinacircuit.com
Abu Dhabi
Fitness event
Sign up for the 13th edition of the Wadi Adventure Race, which features 25 natural and man-made hurdles such as water elements, wired fences cargo netting and other obstructions at the foot of Al Ain’s Jebel Hafeet. The event is open to amateur and elite athletes in the 5km, 10km and 15km distances.
March 18, 8am, Wadi Adventure, Al Ain, www.premieronline.com
Abu Dhabi
Art exhibition
Rebirth features works by Ukrainian artists Petro Bevza and Oleksiy Lytvynenko. The exhibition addresses miracles in everyday life through flower buds and water. Pictured: Fountain 8 by Petro Bevza
Until Wednesday, 10am to 10pm, N2N Gallery, first floor, Nation Towers Galleria, Corniche, Abu Dhabi, 055 283 2642, www.n2nartgallery.com
Dubai
Concert
Buy tickets for the Justin Bieber concert in Dubai. The Canadian pop star returns to the UAE in May with his Purpose world tour. Hits include Baby, Boyfriend, As Long as You Love Me and One Time.
May 6, gates open at 4pm, from Dh335, Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai Outlet Mall, Dubai. www.800tickets.com
Dubai
Art exhibition
Desert Tales by Farah Coolman, an artist from Trinidad and Tobago, features acrylics and oil pastels. The artworks represent a visual journey through the UAE's past, present and beyond, emphasising its richness, diversity and tranquillity. Pictured: Green Hope
Daily until March 31, 10am to 10pm, Z Gallery, first floor, Four Points by Sheraton, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, 04 323 0333, www.fourpointssheikhzayedroad.com
Dubai
Art exhibition
Catch the final days of Splashes, an exhibition in which Syrian artist Osama Nassar presents works that reflect on humanity and focus on the truth of being optimistic in times of trouble, artificiality and vulgarity. Pictured: Preparedness
Ends tomorrow, from 12.30pm to 3.30pm and 7pm to midnight, Coya Dubai, Four Seasons Resort, Jumeirah Beach, Dubai, 04 316 9600, www.facebook.com/CoyaDubai
Dubai
Kids’ fun
Sign up children, ages 5 to 12, for the Kids HQ talent contest. Singers, dancers, magicians, poets and youngsters with other expertise are invited to perform in front of judges – including Magic Phil and Esther Eden (pictured) – for friendly and encouraging feedback. The goal is to help children develop confidence, learn about commitment and have fun. Semi-finalists will be announced on March 13. The semi-finals are on March 20, when 10 kids will be selected for the final on April 15.
Starts tomorrow, 4pm to 6pm on Mondays and Wednesdays until March 12, Dh20 application fee, Kids HQ, Umm Suqeim Street, Dubai, 04 379 4233, www.facebook.com/kidshq
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Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
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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Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
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
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Muguruza's singles career in stats
WTA titles 3
Prize money US$11,128,219 (Dh40,873,133.82)
Wins / losses 293 / 149
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Five ways to get fit like Craig David (we tried for seven but ran out of time)
Start the week as you mean to go on. So get your training on strong on a Monday.
Train hard, but don’t take it all so seriously that it gets to the point where you’re not having fun and enjoying your friends and your family and going out for nice meals and doing that stuff.
Think about what you’re training or eating a certain way for — don’t, for example, get a six-pack to impress somebody else or lose weight to conform to society’s norms. It’s all nonsense.
Get your priorities right.
And last but not least, you should always, always chill on Sundays.
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