Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. Courtesy Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo.
Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. Courtesy Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo.

5 things to do today: Enjoy a day at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo and celebrate Brazil’s national day



Enjoy a day with your little ones at the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo. Ideal for children 3 and younger, guests will enjoy unlimited access to the research experience as well as the Toddler Touch Pool that features several hands-on activities, including a meet and greet with some of the resident animals. Daily until September 27, 10am to 1pm, Dh100 per adult and children under the age of three, Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, Level 2, The Dubai Mall, 04 448 5200, www.thedubaiaquarium.com

Rejuvenate your mind and body with Radisson Blu Resort Fujairah's daily yoga sessions. Set against the backdrop of the Arabian Gulf, a range of yoga classes and training – suitable for amateurs and professionals – are on offer. Daily, from 7.30am to 8.30am, free for hotel guests, Dh50 per hour for non-hotel guests, O2 Spa, Radisson Blu Hotel Fujairah, 09 244 9700, www.radissonblu.com

Celebrate Brazil's national day with an evening of fun, food and samba. Guests can choose from a range of dishes at the starter buffet, 18 different cuts of meat along with a number of yummy drinks. The evening's entertainment will be a live performance of Latin music, accompanied by samba dancers. Until Thursday, 6pm to midnight, Dh295 per person, Chamas Churrascaria and Bar, Crowne Plaza Dubai, 800 276 963, www.fundining.ae

Book ahead to mix and mingle at the Miranda Davidson Studios' open house. The evening will include information on all things related to MDS courses and a 10 per cent discount code for the attendees. There will also be an open casting call for future feature-film opportunities. Wednesday, 6.30pm to 9.30pm, Park Rotana building, twoFour54, Abu Dhabi, www.mirandadavidsonstudios.com

Make a reservation at British Michelin-star chef Jason Atherton's new restaurant, Marina Social. The menu includes Mediterranean-inspired platters. Daily, InterContinental Hotel Dubai Marina, 04 446 6777, www.ihg.com

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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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One in nine do not have enough to eat

Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.

One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.

The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.

Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.

It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.

On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.

Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.

 

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.