Your daily guide to community and cultural activities across the Emirates for June 1, 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.
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Abu Dhabi
Ramadan festivities
Yas Mall welcomes families to gather and embrace the spirit of Ramadan through a variety of cultural activities and events, including the immersive 360-degree Cosmic Dome, a simulated spaceship that features lunar and nature content in three entertaining and educational programmes. Plus there are holy Quran lessons for children, daily Taraweeh prayers and new Ramadan menus at the Cascade Dining area, 21 outlets open from sunset, including Al Fanar, which features Emirati dishes and specialities.
Mall open 10am to midnight, 3pm to 1am for Cosmic Dome sessions, Dh45 per sesson, Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.yasmall.ae
Dubai
Kids’ camp
Register your children ages 5-9 for Julia Donaldson Summer Camp: A Picture Book Journey, where they can enjoy exploring five picture books by the award-winning children's author including Superworm, Charlie Cook's Favourite Book, The Gruffalo's Child, The Highway Rat and Tyrannosaurus Drip, through activities including poetry, puppetry, games and more.
June 25-29 and July 2-6, 10am-1pm or 2-5pm, Dh1,100 per week, The Courtyard Playhouse Theatre, Al Quoz, Dubai, register at 0550 986 1761, kylie@courtyardplayhouse.com
Abu Dhabi
Cultural event
Warehouse421 presents Project Warehouse as part of the Festember events. Visit a showcase of fashion retail outlets, nine dining options, creative installations, live performances from glass-harp musicians, a 3-D artist and an illusionist, and an entertainment majlis featuring traditional Ramadan games.
Daily until Sunday, 9pm to 2am, Dh50 entry, Warehouse 411, beside Warehouse421, Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, www.warehouse421.ae
Abu Dhabi
Fitness event
Stay active this Ramadan with Marina Mall Abu Dhabi, where residents can enjoy fun bootcamp activities to prepare them for The Ultimate Challenge, an obstacle course to test their physical fitness. The bootcamp takes place next to Etisalat Marina Mall, while The Unique Challenge is held at the main exhibition area.
Mall open 10am to 2am, bootcamp daily from 8pm, Dh10 with proceeds donated to an autism centre in line with the UAE's Year of Giving, Marina Mall Abu Dhabi, Breakwater, Abu Dhabi, 800 6623, www.marinamall.ae
Dubai
Spa offers
Visit Talise Spa and enjoy a variety of specials during Ramadan and the summer months, including a free 30-minute add-on treatment with every 60-minute treatment booked; access to the Burj Al Arab indoor wet facilities when booking any 90-minute treatment; free meditation classes from 5pm to 5.30pm; unlimited yoga for one month for Dh500; and a monthly membership for Dh889 that includes a massages, treatments, infrared sauna, beach yoga, full-moon yoga, spa pool access, health consultation, food and beverage discounts and more.
Available until June 25, various prices, Talise Spa, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, book at 04 366 6818, mjtalise@jumeirah.com
Abu Dhabi
#YearofGiving
Deerfields Mall is supporting the Emirates Red Crescent and Dubai Municipality initiative For Your Sake, Somalia, which aims to raise Dh500 million in humanitarian aid, and encourages shoppers to donate newly purchased or unused donations of dry food, homeware, footwear, body-care products, children’s essentials and clothing suitable for people of various ages. Collection points can be found in front of Carrefour on Level 2 of the mall. Plus take advantage of free nutrition counseling and vitals checks by Burjeel Medical Centre, donate blood from 8pm to midnight on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and visit the mall’s Ramadan night souk and light show.
Mall open 10am to midnight, Deerfields Mall, Abu Dhabi-Dubai Road, Abu Dhabi, 02 501 0826, www.deerfieldsmall.com
Dubai
Art exhibition
Catch the opening of the Ramadan Art Bazaar, a group exhibition of more than 30 UAE-based artists, each showing four works in a variety of media at affordable prices, with no works priced higher than Dh4,000. Find fine art, traditional pieces and furniture. Pictured: Letters by Mais Naddaf
Opens today, then runs daily until July 6, 11am to 5pm, Sundays to Thursdays (closed Fridays and Saturdays) and after iftar by appointment, Citizen E Art Gallery, Dubai Design District, Dubai, www.citizene.net
Dubai
Iftar
Head to Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club for iftar at Palermo and enjoy the stunning scenery across the polo field as you dine in the club’s signature restaurant. Enjoy traditional Arabic dishes, including hot and cold mezze, soup, fresh-carved lamb, mixed grill, chicken biryani, grilled hammour and more.
Daily until June 25, sunset to 9pm, from Dh149; Dh70 for children ages 6-11; free for children ages 5 and younger, Palermo, Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, Al Qudra Road, Dubai, 04 362 7880, info@poloclubdubai.com
Nationwide
New movie
In the film A Family Man, Dane Jensen (Gerard Butler) is a successful Chicago headhunter who battles Lynn Vogel (Alison Brie), his rival colleague, for control of their company after their boss Ed (Willem Dafoe) retires. But soon, the needs of his neglected family start to clash with his dreams. Drama, also starring Gretchen Mol, Dustin Milligan, Alfred Molina and Anupam Kher.
Screening at cinemas across the UAE. (18+)
Dubai
Charity social
Plan to attend the Gulf for Good Summer Social on June 7 and celebrate the G4G community, which supports underprivileged children’s charities through adventure destination challenges, including Gokyo Lakes in the Everest region. Hear the inspiring stories of past challengers, explore the charities G4G supports, make new friends, enjoy refreshments and enter the drawing for a waived registration fee when signing up for a challenge.
Wednesday, 7.30pm, Level 42, Media One Hotel, Dubai, register at marketing@gulf4good.org
More on animal trafficking
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
More on animal trafficking
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
MATCH INFO
Liverpool v Manchester City, Sunday, 8.30pm UAE
Company%20Profile
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
As You Were
Liam Gallagher
(Warner Bros)
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
more from Janine di Giovanni
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
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.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Book%20Details
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ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
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.”
The five pillars of Islam
Results
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1hr 32mins 03.897sec
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) at 0.745s
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 37.383s
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) 46.466s
5.Sergio Perez (Red Bull-Honda) 52.047s
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 59.090s
7. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) 1:06.004
8. Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) 1:07.100
9. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri-Honda) 1:25.692
10. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:26.713,
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Zayed Sustainability Prize
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
