It’s a challenging, troubling time right now, but one heartening side effect of the coronavirus crisis are the acts of kindness we’ve seen spread across the world.
Among those doing their part to help those in need are some of the globe’s most famous faces, with actors, singers and sporting stars all banding together to help, whether with generous donations or relief packages for hospitals.
While many have donated considerable sums of money or protective equipment, such as Rihanna, Angelina Jolie and Amal and George Clooney, some have taken their efforts to the front lines of the fight against Covid-19.
While practising social distancing measures is advised for the vast population, here are some of the celebrities who have been volunteering to help those in need.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The British former royal and the actress recently relocated to Los Angeles, and the couple have already volunteered with Project Angel Food, a non-profit organisation that delivers meals to people with critical illnesses. They spent two days ferrying deliveries across the city.
“It was their way to thank our volunteers, chefs and staff who have been working tirelessly since the Covid-19 crisis began,” a statement from the charity detailed.
"What Meghan said is she wanted to show Harry Los Angeles through the eyes of philanthropy ... Our clients are clients who are often forgotten," Project Angel Food's executive director, Richard Ayoub, told People magazine. "They really wanted to go visit these people. They wanted to see them and talk to them and hopefully put a smile on their faces."
Princess Sofia
The Swedish royal, who is married to Crown Prince Carl Philip, has completed training to become a medical assistant at Sophiahemmet hospital.
Princess Sofia, a mother of two, underwent basic nursing education in order to volunteer at the centre in Stockholm. The royal is the honorary chair of the private hospital, and now works in one of Sophiahemmet’s care units, where her duties involve taking care of patients, cleaning and cooking.
Princess Sofia, 35, shared a photo of her new hospital scrubs on Instagram as she announced her new endeavour.
“To have the opportunity to help in this difficult time is extremely rewarding,” she wrote.
Sean Penn
The Oscar-winning actor has been working on the front lines as part of his non-profit organisation Community Organised Relief Effort, which has been providing free drive-through testing for the coronavirus.
The charity has been working with the government of Los Angeles, and has so far administered more than 20,000 tests throughout the city.
Penn founded the organisation in 2010, in response to the Haiti earthquake, and Core has since aided in the relief of the island’s cholera outbreak, as well as offering post-earthquake aid around the US.
The Milk star has been photographed on the ground, meeting emergency workers across Core's testing sites.
Jon Bon Jovi
He may be best-known as a chart-topping rocker, but Bon Jovi, 58, is also a passionate restaurateur. The Livin' on a Prayer star owns a non-profit restaurant, JBJ Soul Kitchen, in New Jersey, and it's not just about funding the operation.
Bon Jovi was pictured washing dishes at the restaurant earlier this month. JBJ Soul Kitchen offers take-out meals to those in need. “If you can’t do what you do ... do what you can!” the caption of the Instagram post read.
JBJ Soul Kitchen typically is open for dine-in customers, though is operating a take-out policy amid social distancing measures. The restaurant does not charge for meals or advertise prices; instead, customers who can pay are asked to make a donation, which subsidises the cost for diners who cannot afford a meal.
Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson
The singers decided to show their appreciation for local healthcare workers by delivering free meals to a nearby hospital. On My Mind hitmaker Simpson, 23, described essential workers as "the heroes of our time" as he filmed the delivery.
He was joined by his partner, Slide Away singer Cyrus, to make the drop-off, with the pair scrawling hand-written messages on the meal bags.
“Tacos for the incredible healthcare workers at our local hospital! So grateful for these true legends of our time dedicating their lives to battling this pandemic,” Simpson’s Instagram post stated. “Show some love to yours in your community!”
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
She may have been self-isolating after her husband, Prince Charles, contracted Covid-19, but the royal was still keen to give back during quarantine.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, took part in a new NHS initiative earlier this month, which called upon volunteer responders to carry out essential duties for the most vulnerable.
As well as delivering groceries and medicine, the scheme also urges volunteers to make contact with people in isolation. Camilla, 72, took part in the programme by calling Doris, 85, who had spent the past two weeks self-isolating, Clarence House said.
Rita Ora
The Kosovo-born singer has also signed up as an NHS volunteer, after being inspired by her mother, who has returned to work as a psychiatrist and GP following the outbreak.
"I think my mum ... thrives off doing her duty, and what made me want to volunteer is that I just found seeing it first hand, this is so real, that I felt like what could I possibly do?" Ora, 29, told TV show This Morning last week.
“I just think it’s truly heroic, seeing all the doctors on the front line. It goes to show we as a humanity can still come together and be unified, it’s truly truly an amazing time to come out the other end and think we can do this together.”
Ora told Hello magazine that she will "deliver medical supplies, collect prescriptions, check on the elderly and make phone calls to lonely and vulnerable members of the community" as part of her volunteering.
Sarah Ferguson and Princess Eugenie
The mother and daughter have also been busy making deliveries for those in need, taking fresh food and treats to hospital workers in the UK.
The Duchess of York and Eugenie, 30, were photographed loading up a car with pastries, designated for healthcare employees.
“This is intended for the doctors and staff of London hospitals, who are currently working up to their limits,” said Hermann Buehlbecker, who shared the image on Instagram. “The Duchess called us about this; she sent us the pictures when the shipment arrived.”
Princess Eugenie also shared photos on her Instagram Stories last week, which showed healthcare workers in London hospitals receiving care packages of fresh fruit and vegetables.
“I'm so happy to have been a part of getting fresh fruit and vegetables delivered to all those working on the front line of this pandemic,” the royal captioned one image.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Results
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStage%203%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Einer%20Rubio%20(COL)%20Movistar%20Team%20-%204h51%E2%80%9924%E2%80%9D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%20-%2014%22%3Cbr%3E3.%20Adam%20Yates%20(GBR)%20UAE%20Team%20Emirates%20-%2015%22%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EGeneral%20classifications%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3E1.%20Remco%20Evenepoel%20(BEL)%20Soudal%20Quick-Step%3Cbr%3E2.%20Lucas%20Plapp%20(AUS)%20Ineos%20Grenaders)%20-%207%22%3Cbr%3E3.%20Pello%20Bilbao%20(ESP)%20Bahrain%20Victorious%20-%2011%22%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
How will Gen Alpha invest?
Mark Chahwan, co-founder and chief executive of robo-advisory firm Sarwa, forecasts that Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024) will start investing in their teenage years and therefore benefit from compound interest.
“Technology and education should be the main drivers to make this happen, whether it’s investing in a few clicks or their schools/parents stepping up their personal finance education skills,” he adds.
Mr Chahwan says younger generations have a higher capacity to take on risk, but for some their appetite can be more cautious because they are investing for the first time. “Schools still do not teach personal finance and stock market investing, so a lot of the learning journey can feel daunting and intimidating,” he says.
He advises millennials to not always start with an aggressive portfolio even if they can afford to take risks. “We always advise to work your way up to your risk capacity, that way you experience volatility and get used to it. Given the higher risk capacity for the younger generations, stocks are a favourite,” says Mr Chahwan.
Highlighting the role technology has played in encouraging millennials and Gen Z to invest, he says: “They were often excluded, but with lower account minimums ... a customer with $1,000 [Dh3,672] in their account has their money working for them just as hard as the portfolio of a high get-worth individual.”
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.”
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner: Arjan, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Jap Nazaa, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi.
6pm: Al Ruwais Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 1,200m
Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinal.
6.30pm: Shadwell Gold Cup Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Sanad, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
7pm: Shadwell Farm Stallions Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Patrick Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Canal, Harry Bentley, Satish Seemar.
