Abba
They certainly do not need the money, so Swedish pop group Abba’s comeback may actually be all about the music. Together, the awesome foursome have a net worth of more than $1 billion, with each member’s fortune estimated at between $200 million and $300 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Having sold nearly 400 million albums over the decades, Abba's total net worth places them just behind The Beatles. Royalties account for a significant percentage of their wealth, with a major share thought to come from their work as Abba.
As a movie producer and composer of musicals, Bjorn Ulvaeus has a net worth of $300m. He has an extensive portfolio of real estate investments across Europe, in addition to the homes he shares with his wife Lena Kallersjo in Sweden.
Anni-Frid Lyngstad’s wealth is also estimated at $300m and derives from her work with Abba as well as earnings from her solo career.
Benny Andersson, who co-produced Chess and Mamma Mia! with Ulvaeus, has a fortune of about $230m, including earnings from Abba and his traditional Swedish band, the Benny Andersson Orkester, and from writing music for films and TV.
Agnetha Faltskog’s net worth is estimated at $200m, which comes mostly from earnings from Abba and her solo music career.
They are certainly well off enough to have turned down several lucrative reunion offers over the years. In 2000, a British-American consortium offered the band, which broke up in 1982, $1bn to perform 100 shows around the world, but they turned it down.
At the time, Lyngstad said: “No amount of money would change our minds. Maybe we sometimes say it would be good to do a song together again, just a recording and nothing else, but I don't know if that will happen – so don't say that we will.”
Abba’s latest song, Just a Notion, was released on Friday, their third release after the chart-topping Don't Shut Me Down and I Still Have Faith In You, were released in September. All three tracks will appear on Abba Voyage, their first new album in more than 40 years, which will be released in November.
Ashton Kutcher
Disruptive business backer Ashton Kutcher has expanded his investment portfolio with new forays into cultivated meat production and paediatric health services.
Earlier this month, the actor participated in a Series B funding round totalling $219m in telehealth start-up Elemy. The US-based venture provides in-home and online care services for children with autism and other behavioural health conditions. The investment vaulted Elemy to unicorn status with a valuation of $1.15bn.
The That ’70s Show actor participated in the funding round alongside talent manager Guy Oseary through their Sound Ventures company.
The round, led by SoftBank’s Vision Fund 2 and co-led by Goodwater Capital and Premji Invest, drew additional investments from Amity Ventures, Avidity Partners, Chelsea Clinton’s Metrodora Ventures and Whale Rock Capital.
Launched in 2020 under the name Sprout Therapy, Elemy offers autism diagnosis and in-home behavioural therapy support in more than 30 cities across the US.
Also this month, a collective led by Kutcher, Mr Oseary and their Sound Ventures colleague Effie Epstein announced a partnership with MeaTech 3D to accelerate the Israeli start-up’s growth in developing and commercialising its proprietary cultured meat production technologies.
MeaTech positions itself as a sustainable alternative to industrialised animal farming and has developed alternative protein cell lines for beef, chicken and other meats. Their total investment was not disclosed.
The investors will also support MeaTech with business development and marketing, Kutcher said in a statement.
"We intend to work closely with MeaTech's management to help MeaTech implement its strategy and achieve its goals and global success by leveraging our marketing, strategic expertise and network,” he said. “The engagement with MeaTech is in line with our group's mission to provide sustainable solutions through company building, investment and acceleration of companies and technologies across various sustainability domains.”
MeaTech began operations in 2019 and is based in Ness Ziona, Israel, with a subsidiary in Antwerp, Belgium. The company focuses on bioprinting premium, centre-of-plate meat products, such as structured marbled steaks.
Kutcher, 43, may not have had a major film outing since 2013’s Jobs – notwithstanding Netflix’s The Ranch – but he has, nevertheless, built an enviable investment portfolio.
As one of Hollywood’s most famous side hustlers, the actor is estimated to have a net worth in excess of $200m thanks to investments through Sound Ventures and its predecessor, A-Grade Investments, which he launched with Mr Oseary in 2010. A-Grade investments included high-flying start-ups such as Uber, Shazam, Spotify, SoundCloud and Airbnb.
As an investor, Kutcher appears to target disruptive companies in the technology sector. “I look for companies that solve problems in intelligent and friction-free ways and break boundaries,” the actor told The New York Times in 2011.
Martha Stewart
Businesswoman and TV star Martha Stewart is homing in on the craze for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) with the launch of a digital boutique, Fresh Mint, on martha.com.
The inaugural collection, which Stewart curated in collaboration with top artists, photographers and designers, features a dozen Halloween-themed pieces and was launched in partnership with NFT provider Tokns Commerce.
The move has proved a success. Several art pieces priced between $66 and $266 were marked "sold out" within hours of going live on October 19.
Others, such as photographs of Stewart in Halloween outfits or pumpkin portraits of the home interiors star, are open for auction bids until October 31. As of the first day, they had already received bids ranging from one to three Ether, or between about $3,812 and $11,437 at that day’s exchange rates.
I see NFTs as a new canvas for creativity and blockchain as a vehicle to protect artists' IP and support their incredible work
Martha Stewart
“I've been so fortunate to collaborate with talented artists, creators and entrepreneurs throughout my life. I see NFTs as a new canvas for creativity and blockchain as a vehicle to protect artists' IP and support their incredible work,” Stewart said. “By collaborating with Tokns, we reached an approach that feels authentic and aligned with my vision.”
Stewart, 80, was once a billionaire but her net worth is now estimated at $400m. The former Chanel model and stockbroker made her fortune by taking her media and merchandising company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, public in 1999.
The initial public offering raised $1.9bn, with the stock reaching an all-time high of $39.75 per share the following day, according to ABC News.
Salman Khan
Over in Bollywood, Salman Khan is moving into the NFT space with endorsements and tokens of his own. Earlier this week, the A-list actor tweeted the launch of static NFTs using a new token, Bollycoin, on a marketplace of the same name.
Seven million Bollycoin were sold within five days of launch, the company said in a Twitter post. As of October 19, 1 Bolly equals $0.1.
Khan has also been named brand ambassador of $Gari, an Indian cryptocurrency token that rolled out earlier this month. The token, launched by short video app Chingari, will be available on its own NFT marketplace.
The token has been developed in collaboration with the Solana blockchain and is being positioned as a social token rather than a financial one, with users able to accumulate coins based on their content and merchandise.
“The creators are shaping the future of entertainment," Khan said. "With the incorporation of $Gari reward programme, the creators will further get motivated to create newer and more engaging videos on the Chingari app. It's going to be an interesting journey hereon.”
Khan, 55, is thought to be worth $260m, although previous estimates have put that figure above $300m. His wealth principally comes from acting and production credits, as well as endorsement deals.
Khaby Lame
Silence is golden, but staying quiet has helped Khaby Lame to amass a net worth of $5m, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Considered the most popular man on TikTok with 116 million followers, the 21-year-old shot to fame and fortune during the pandemic.
Lame lost his job at a factory near Turin when Italy first went into lockdown last year and started tinkering with TikTok from his parents’ bedroom soon after.
While his early videos were in the same vein as others on the platform, he has achieved popularity with deadpan video responses that personify the term "shaking my head", or SMH in internet slang.
The Senegalese citizen, who does not have Italian citizenship despite living in the country since the age of one, has cashed in on his fame, earning millions from endorsements, appearance fees and merchandise.
This month alone, he is thought to have earned 20m Indian rupees ($266,975) for an Indian Premier League 2021 advertisement campaign for sports gaming company Dream11. Lame’s web shop currently sells a variety of products including "magic" candles, clothing and kitchen gadgets, such as a popcorn machine and a watermelon cutter.
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Cabriolet
Price, base: Dh429,090
Engine 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 510hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 700Nm @ 1,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.2L / 100km
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20M3%2C%208-core%20CPU%2C%20up%20to%2010-core%20CPU%2C%2016-core%20Neural%20Engine%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2013.6-inch%20Liquid%20Retina%2C%202560%20x%201664%2C%20224ppi%2C%20500%20nits%2C%20True%20Tone%2C%20wide%20colour%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F16%2F24GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20256%2F512GB%20%2F%201%2F2TB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thunderbolt%203%2FUSB-4%20(2)%2C%203.5mm%20audio%2C%20Touch%20ID%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wi-Fi%206E%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2052.6Wh%20lithium-polymer%2C%20up%20to%2018%20hours%2C%20MagSafe%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECamera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201080p%20FaceTime%20HD%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Support%20for%20Apple%20ProRes%2C%20HDR%20with%20Dolby%20Vision%2C%20HDR10%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAudio%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-speaker%20system%2C%20wide%20stereo%2C%20support%20for%20Dolby%20Atmos%2C%20Spatial%20Audio%20and%20dynamic%20head%20tracking%20(with%20AirPods)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Midnight%2C%20silver%2C%20space%20grey%2C%20starlight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20MacBook%20Air%2C%2030W%2F35W%20dual-port%2F70w%20power%20adapter%2C%20USB-C-to-MagSafe%20cable%2C%202%20Apple%20stickers%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh4%2C599%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Apple product price list
iPad Pro
11" - $799 (64GB)
12.9" - $999 (64GB)
MacBook Air
$1,199
Mac Mini
$799
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Three ways to boost your credit score
Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:
1. Make sure you make your payments on time;
2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;
3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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
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.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes 58-10 Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers 5-39 Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons 16-56 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
