The UAE's 50th National Day celebrations. Entrepreneurs can learn valuable lessons from the Emirates' vision and strategy. EPA
The UAE's 50th National Day celebrations. Entrepreneurs can learn valuable lessons from the Emirates' vision and strategy. EPA
The UAE's 50th National Day celebrations. Entrepreneurs can learn valuable lessons from the Emirates' vision and strategy. EPA
The UAE's 50th National Day celebrations. Entrepreneurs can learn valuable lessons from the Emirates' vision and strategy. EPA

Key lessons from the UAE that inspired my entrepreneurship journey


  • English
  • Arabic

This week, we will be celebrating the UAE’s 51st National Day. Over the past decades, the country developed on many fronts and today, it serves as a leading example for numerous nations to follow.

I have been an entrepreneur for more than a decade now. While my journey is shaped and inspired by the people I meet and the experiences I go through, I have learnt valuable lessons from the UAE’s vision and strategy.

In a way, the country is my go-to business guru.

Watch: the world's biggest flag to be unfurled on UAE National Day

No dream is too big

I was raised by parents who did not believe in the word impossible.

Whenever I had my doubts, they shook me and reminded me that if others were able to realise their dreams, then so can I.

What also helped me was growing up in a country that defied the impossible, and shattered naysayers every single day.

How far it has come in the past 51 years is testimony that great leadership, vision and strong will can get you far in life — and literally have you shoot for the moon and beyond.

We rise by lifting others

As the UAE developed on various fronts, it did not forget those in need.

The UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, once said: “Foreign aid and assistance is one of the basic pillars of our foreign policy. For we believe that there is no true benefit for us from the wealth that we have unless it does not also reach those in need, wherever they may be, and regardless of their nationality or beliefs.”

Since its founding, the UAE has been a major contributor of emergency relief to regions and nations affected by disasters, poverty and conflict.

The country continues to rank among the largest suppliers of official development assistance (ODA) relative to national income worldwide, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

This should reflect in the way we conduct our business. Once our business develops, we should always remember to help budding entrepreneurs to climb up the entrepreneurial ladder.

Flag Day 2022 — in pictures

  • President Sheikh Mohamed walks with his grandchildren at the Sea Palace before Flag Day. Seen with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office. Photo: UAE Presidential Court
    President Sheikh Mohamed walks with his grandchildren at the Sea Palace before Flag Day. Seen with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office. Photo: UAE Presidential Court
  • Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed raises the UAE flag at the Abu Dhabi Executive Office in the presence of members of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, to celebrate UAE Flag Day and honour the nation’s symbol of unity, loyalty and pride. Photo: AD Media Office
    Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed raises the UAE flag at the Abu Dhabi Executive Office in the presence of members of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, to celebrate UAE Flag Day and honour the nation’s symbol of unity, loyalty and pride. Photo: AD Media Office
  • The UAE flag is raised at Abu Dhabi Executive Office. Photo: AD Media Office
    The UAE flag is raised at Abu Dhabi Executive Office. Photo: AD Media Office
  • Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Group, raises the UAE Flag at the group's headquarters. Photo: Emirates
    Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Group, raises the UAE Flag at the group's headquarters. Photo: Emirates
  • Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, greets schoolchildren at Expo City Dubai on UAE Flag Day. Photo: Expo City Dubai
    Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, greets schoolchildren at Expo City Dubai on UAE Flag Day. Photo: Expo City Dubai
  • Jumeirah International Nursery students take part in the Emirates Group's UAE Flag Day ceremony. Photo: Emirates
    Jumeirah International Nursery students take part in the Emirates Group's UAE Flag Day ceremony. Photo: Emirates
  • Vendors selling flags and other related items in Satwa, Dubai to celebrate flag day. Ruel Pableo / The National
    Vendors selling flags and other related items in Satwa, Dubai to celebrate flag day. Ruel Pableo / The National
  • Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, Maj Gen Saif Al Shamsi, attends the force's Flag Day celebrations.
    Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, Maj Gen Saif Al Shamsi, attends the force's Flag Day celebrations.
  • UAE University celebrates with a flag-raising ceremony attended by Prof Ghaleb Al Hadrami, acting vice chancellor, academic staff and students. Photo: UAE University
    UAE University celebrates with a flag-raising ceremony attended by Prof Ghaleb Al Hadrami, acting vice chancellor, academic staff and students. Photo: UAE University
  • Flags for sale in Satwa, Dubai. Ruel Pableo / The National
    Flags for sale in Satwa, Dubai. Ruel Pableo / The National
  • The flag is raised at Al Ain Zoo at a ceremonyu attended by the zoo's director, Ghanim Al Hajeri, and all staff. Photo: Al Ain Zoo
    The flag is raised at Al Ain Zoo at a ceremonyu attended by the zoo's director, Ghanim Al Hajeri, and all staff. Photo: Al Ain Zoo
  • Youssef Al Abri, undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, led the department's celebrations. Photo: ADJD
    Youssef Al Abri, undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, led the department's celebrations. Photo: ADJD
  • Vendors selling flags and other related items in Satwa, Dubai to celebrate flag day. Ruel Pableo / The National
    Vendors selling flags and other related items in Satwa, Dubai to celebrate flag day. Ruel Pableo / The National
  • Abu Dhabi City Municipality celebrates Flag Day.
    Abu Dhabi City Municipality celebrates Flag Day.
  • Vendors sell flags in Satwa, Dubai. Ruel Pableo / The National
    Vendors sell flags in Satwa, Dubai. Ruel Pableo / The National
  • Union Coop celebrates UAE Flag Day 2022
    Union Coop celebrates UAE Flag Day 2022
  • A pupil celebrating the flag day at Raffles World Academy in Dubai. Ruel Pableo / The National
    A pupil celebrating the flag day at Raffles World Academy in Dubai. Ruel Pableo / The National
  • Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, raises the UAE flag at Expo City Dubai. Photo: Expo City Dubai
    Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, raises the UAE flag at Expo City Dubai. Photo: Expo City Dubai
  • Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, raises the UAE flag at Abu Dhabi’s Qasr Al Watan. Wam
    Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, raises the UAE flag at Abu Dhabi’s Qasr Al Watan. Wam
  • Dubai Police raise the flag. Photo: @DubaiPoliceHQ / Twitter
    Dubai Police raise the flag. Photo: @DubaiPoliceHQ / Twitter
  • Flags on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Flags on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Pupils at the Indian High School, Dubai, celebrate UAE Flag Day. Pawan Singh / The National
    Pupils at the Indian High School, Dubai, celebrate UAE Flag Day. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A staff at Adnoc petrol station proudly wears a UAE scarf to celebrate UAE flag day in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    A staff at Adnoc petrol station proudly wears a UAE scarf to celebrate UAE flag day in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • UAE flag raised at at Abu Dhabi’s Qasr Al Watan, in the presidential palace compound. Wam
    UAE flag raised at at Abu Dhabi’s Qasr Al Watan, in the presidential palace compound. Wam
  • Pupils at the Indian High School, Dubai, celebrate UAE Flag Day. Pawan Singh / The National
    Pupils at the Indian High School, Dubai, celebrate UAE Flag Day. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The flag-raising ceremony is the attended by Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Ruler’s Office, and a number of government figures and employees. Photo: Sharjah National Day Celebrations Committee
    The flag-raising ceremony is the attended by Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Ruler’s Office, and a number of government figures and employees. Photo: Sharjah National Day Celebrations Committee
  • Pupils at the Indian High School, Dubai, celebrate UAE Flag Day. Pawan Singh / The National
    Pupils at the Indian High School, Dubai, celebrate UAE Flag Day. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Sharjah marked UAE Flag Day with a flag-raising ceremony on The Flag Island. Photo: Sharjah National Day Celebrations Committee
    Sharjah marked UAE Flag Day with a flag-raising ceremony on The Flag Island. Photo: Sharjah National Day Celebrations Committee
  • Pupils at the Indian High School, Dubai, celebrate UAE Flag Day. Pawan Singh / The National
    Pupils at the Indian High School, Dubai, celebrate UAE Flag Day. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A display of UAE flags on Kite Beach in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    A display of UAE flags on Kite Beach in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A display of UAE flags on Kite Beach in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    A display of UAE flags on Kite Beach in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A display of UAE flags on Kite Beach in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
    A display of UAE flags on Kite Beach in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Al Dhafra Club executive management and staff celebrate UAE flag day at the entrance to Hamdan bin Zayed Stadium in Zayed City, Al Dhafra region. Twitter/AlDhafra
    Al Dhafra Club executive management and staff celebrate UAE flag day at the entrance to Hamdan bin Zayed Stadium in Zayed City, Al Dhafra region. Twitter/AlDhafra
  • Dubai Police raise the flag at their headquarters in Deira.
    Dubai Police raise the flag at their headquarters in Deira.
  • Essam Issa Al Humaidan, Dubai attorney general and employees of Dubai Public Prosecution take part in UAE flag day. Photo: DPP
    Essam Issa Al Humaidan, Dubai attorney general and employees of Dubai Public Prosecution take part in UAE flag day. Photo: DPP
  • Members of Al-Nasr Sports Club in Dubai celebrate the flag day.
    Members of Al-Nasr Sports Club in Dubai celebrate the flag day.
  • Dubai Electricity and Water Authority members of staff attend the flag raising ceremony at the headquarters in Umm Hurair.
    Dubai Electricity and Water Authority members of staff attend the flag raising ceremony at the headquarters in Umm Hurair.
  • Federal Authority For Government Human Resources members of staff at the UAE flag day celebrations.
    Federal Authority For Government Human Resources members of staff at the UAE flag day celebrations.
  • Etihad Rail painted a locomotive in the colours of the UAE in honour of flag day. "We raise the flag of the United Arab Emirates, a symbol of sovereignty, unity, and pride. We are proud of our contribution to the advancement of the nation's transport sector," the transport company said on Twitter.
    Etihad Rail painted a locomotive in the colours of the UAE in honour of flag day. "We raise the flag of the United Arab Emirates, a symbol of sovereignty, unity, and pride. We are proud of our contribution to the advancement of the nation's transport sector," the transport company said on Twitter.
  • Abu Dhabi Pension Fund employees participated in the UAE flag day celebration. Photo: Supplied.
    Abu Dhabi Pension Fund employees participated in the UAE flag day celebration. Photo: Supplied.
  • Federal Authority For Government Human Resources celebrates UAE flag day.
    Federal Authority For Government Human Resources celebrates UAE flag day.
  • Dr Abdul Nasser Al Shaali, UAE's ambassador to India, raise the flag at the embassy in New Delhi.
    Dr Abdul Nasser Al Shaali, UAE's ambassador to India, raise the flag at the embassy in New Delhi.
  • Sharjah Consultative Council raises the flag in front of its building in Sharjah
    Sharjah Consultative Council raises the flag in front of its building in Sharjah
  • A man arranges the flags at Raffles World Academy in Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National
    A man arranges the flags at Raffles World Academy in Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National
  • Flag outside a coffee shop in Dubai to celebrate flag day. Ruel Pableo for The National
    Flag outside a coffee shop in Dubai to celebrate flag day. Ruel Pableo for The National
  • Flag Day in Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National
    Flag Day in Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National

This could take different forms, such as funding their business, providing mentorship and guidance, or simply by working with them as suppliers and service providers.

We shouldn’t forget that we are all working towards a common goal and that when small and medium enterprises and freelancers prosper, so will our economy and our overall livelihood.

Embrace change as part of your overall plan

One of the key lessons I learnt as an entrepreneur is that the only thing constant in business is change.

If things are static, then something isn’t right. Your business should be continuously developing. Great leaders know how to turn challenges to valuable opportunities.

One of the key lessons I learnt as an entrepreneur is that the only thing constant in business is change
Manar Al Hinai

When change and challenges are thrown our way, the UAE pivots and demonstrates that as much as we may feel hesitant about change, it is not always a bad thing.

The Covid pandemic brought with it disruptions to manufacturers and logistics.

This year, Abu Dhabi unveiled the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy, which will provide increased access to financing and attract more foreign investment.

The government will invest Dh10 billion ($2.72 billion) in six industrial programmes to double the size of Abu Dhabi’s manufacturing sector to Dh172 billion by 2031.

Learning is part of an entrepreneur’s journey. As we celebrate the UAE’s 51st National Day this week, I invite you to seek valuable business lessons from the UAE’s success story.

Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer and communications consultant based in Abu Dhabi

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

GRAN%20TURISMO
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Squad for first two ODIs

Kohli (c), Rohit, Dhawan, Rayudu, Pandey, Dhoni (wk), Pant, Jadeja, Chahal, Kuldeep, Khaleel, Shami, Thakur, Rahul.

SQUAD

Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Adel Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Mohammed Barghash, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Hassan Al Mahrami, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Yousef Jaber, Saeed Ahmed, Majed Sorour, Majed Hassan, Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Khalil Al Hammadi, Fabio De Lima, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Ali Saleh, Caio Canedo, Muhammed Jumah, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri

SPAIN SQUAD

Goalkeepers Simon (Athletic Bilbao), De Gea (Manchester United), Sanchez (Brighton)

Defenders Gaya (Valencia), Alba (Barcelona), P Torres (Villarreal), Laporte (Manchester City), Garcia (Manchester City), D Llorente (Leeds), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)

Midfielders Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Thiago (Liverpool), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Ruiz (Napoli), M Llorente (Atletico Madrid)

Forwards: Olmo (RB Leipzig), Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Morata (Juventus), Moreno (Villarreal), F Torres (Manchester City), Traore (Wolves), Sarabia (PSG)

Important questions to consider

1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?

There are different types of travel available for pets:

  • Manifest cargo
  • Excess luggage in the hold
  • Excess luggage in the cabin

Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.

 

2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?

If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.

If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.

 

3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?

As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.

If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty. 

If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport. 

 

4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?

This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.

In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.

 

5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?

Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.

Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.

Source: Pawsome Pets UAE

Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier

UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs

Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)

1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0

Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am

The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte

Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000

Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8

Transmission Eight-speed automatic

Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm

Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm

Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km

If you go...

Flying
There is no simple way to get to Punta Arenas from the UAE, with flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi requiring at least two connections to reach this part of Patagonia. Flights start from about Dh6,250.

Touring
Chile Nativo offers the amended Los Dientes trek with expert guides and porters who are met in Puerto Williams on Isla Navarino. The trip starts and ends in Punta Arenas and lasts for six days in total. Prices start from Dh8,795.

The specs: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor

Price, base / as tested Dh220,000 / Dh320,000

Engine 3.5L V6

Transmission 10-speed automatic

Power 421hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque 678Nm @ 3,750rpm

Fuel economy, combined 14.1L / 100km

NYBL PROFILE

Company name: Nybl 

Date started: November 2018

Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence

Initial investment: $500,000

Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)

Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up 

Fatherland

Kele Okereke

(BMG)

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

Panipat

Director Ashutosh Gowariker

Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment

Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman

Rating 3 /stars

RESULTS

5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Tathoor, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 1,000m
Winner: Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: Aiz Alawda, Fernando Jara, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 2,000m
Winner: ES Nahawand, Fernando Jara, Mohammed Daggash
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Winked, Connor Beasley, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7.30pm: Al Ain Mile Group 3 (PA) Dh350,000 1,600m
Winner: Somoud, Connor Beasley, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
8pm: Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Al Jazi, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

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GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

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The specs

Price, base: Dh228,000 / Dh232,000 (est)
Engine: 5.7-litre Hemi V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 552Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.5L / 100km

Museum of the Future in numbers
  •  78 metres is the height of the museum
  •  30,000 square metres is its total area
  •  17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
  •  14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
  •  1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior 
  •  7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
  •  2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
  •  100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
  •  Dh145 is the price of a ticket
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

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.”

if you go

The flights
Fly direct to Kutaisi with Flydubai from Dh925 return, including taxes. The flight takes 3.5 hours. From there, Svaneti is a four-hour drive. The driving time from Tbilisi is eight hours.
The trip
The cost of the Svaneti trip is US$2,000 (Dh7,345) for 10 days, including food, guiding, accommodation and transfers from and to ­Tbilisi or Kutaisi. This summer the TCT is also offering a 5-day hike in Armenia for $1,200 (Dh4,407) per person. For further information, visit www.transcaucasiantrail.org/en/hike/

Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt

Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure

Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers

Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised

Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels

THE DETAILS

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Dir: Ron Howard

Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson

3/5

If you go

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes. Portland is a 260 km drive from Seattle and Emirates offers codeshare flights to Portland with its partner Alaska Airlines.

The car

Hertz (www.hertz.ae) offers compact car rental from about $300 per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.

Parks and accommodation

For information on Crater Lake National Park, visit www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm . Because of the altitude, large parts of the park are closed in winter due to snow. While the park’s summer season is May 22-October 31, typically, the full loop of the Rim Drive is only possible from late July until the end of October. Entry costs $25 per car for a day. For accommodation, see www.travelcraterlake.com. For information on Umpqua Hot Springs, see www.fs.usda.gov and https://soakoregon.com/umpqua-hot-springs/. For Bend, see https://www.visitbend.com/.

SPECS

Nissan 370z Nismo

Engine: 3.7-litre V6

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Power: 363hp

Torque: 560Nm

Price: Dh184,500

The Africa Institute 101

Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction. 

Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

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Factfile on Garbine Muguruza:

Name: Garbine Muguruza (ESP)

World ranking: 15 (will rise to 5 on Monday)

Date of birth: October 8, 1993

Place of birth: Caracas, Venezuela

Place of residence: Geneva, Switzerland

Height: 6ft (1.82m)

Career singles titles: 4

Grand Slam titles: 2 (French Open 2016, Wimbledon 2017)

Career prize money: $13,928,719

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: N2 Technology

Founded: 2018

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Startups

Size: 14

Funding: $1.7m from HNIs

Updated: May 29, 2023, 1:29 PM