Shamma Hamdan performs at Beats on the Beach on the Ab Dhabi Corniche on November 24, 2016. The Dubai-based Emirati singer emerged on to the scene in 2012 as a finalist in Arab Got Talent.
Shamma Hamdan performs at Beats on the Beach on the Ab Dhabi Corniche on November 24, 2016. The Dubai-based Emirati singer emerged on to the scene in 2012 as a finalist in Arab Got Talent.

Review: Beats on The Beach in Abu Dhabi kicks off with Yeng Constantino and Shamma Hamdan delivering crowd-pleasing sets



The Abu Dhabi F1 party got started on Thursday on the Abu Dhabi Corniche.

The free music festival, Beats on The Beach, kicked off with over 20,000 people in attendance to see a varied programme featuring the likes of Filipino pop sensation Yeng Constantino, Emirati singer Shamma Hamdan and UK rap duo Krept and Konan.

With all the artists blessed with their own dedicated fan base, the opportunity to perform in front such an eclectic crowd — with nationalities ranging from Emirati, Egyptian and Lebanese to Filipinos, Nepalese, Pakistani and Indians — was an opportunity to have their music reach new ears.

It was a chance and challenge, according to the night’s headliner Constantino. The 27-year-old, who arrived in Abu Dhabi on the back of a greatest hits tour celebrating 10 years in the industry, admitted to feeling the jitters moments before hitting the stage. “This kind of show is very different,” she said. “I really had to plan for this show and make the programme different so that it appeals to as many people as I can, and not just Filipinos here. This makes me nervous because I really want to entertain people and get them all involved.”

Constantino had nothing to worry about. The crowd was friendly enough when they welcomed her on stage, but they were truly in her corner once she began to showcase her show-stopping voice. In addition to her Filipino hits, including the bubbly Ikaw and the folksy Pag Ibig, Constantino did a fine job of covering the Aretha Franklin classic (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.

Earlier in the evening saw an energetic performance of Krept and Konan.

For the South London duo, the Beats on The Beats gig was one of the biggest shows of their career in terms of audience numbers. Normally used to playing in more intimate and rowdy club surroundings, Casyo "Krept" Johnson and Karl "Konan" Wilson (both 27-years-of age), kept the crowd active with a fast moving set that included the boisterous hit Freak of the Weak and edgy trap music sounds of Last Night.

“We did this show because it was good challenge for us,” said Krept backstage after the show. “We had to go out there, to a new audience, play 45 minutes with no swearing. I think we did OK.”

Conan added: “It’s like training for us. Every show we do is like training for us, we learn what not to do and how to make it all better.”

Shamma Hamdan was the first of Thursday’s main live performance. The Dubai based Emirati singer was relaxed through out her fan favourite set.

A marked difference this time around is just how loose her band sounded musically. Ever since emerging on to the scene in 2012 as a finalist in Arab Got Talent, the 22-year-old had seemingly hidden her world music influences to instead focus on a more streamlined Khaleeji pop sound. While her new single Afeker Fiki (I Think of You) remains a standard pop song, rock and flamenco elements were apparent in its live treatment.

“I am happy with the show,” she said backstage. “The crowd seemed to be enjoying themselves and despite the different backgrounds a lot of them seemed to have know my songs. That surprised me and it just made me even more grateful.”:

Beats on The Beach continues Friday with performances by the Jamaican Dance Hall King Sean Paul, Arab boyband The 5, US hip-hop star Big Sean and Dubai based emerging talent Esther Eden.

For more information go to www.yasalam.ae/beats-on-the-beach.html

Results

Stage seven

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 3:20:24

2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 1s

3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 5s

General Classification

1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates, in 25:38:16

2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers, at 22s

3. Pello Bilbao (ESP) Bahrain-Victorious, at 48s

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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.”

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)