Al Mazaya Holdings is targeting growth in annual net profit of a 10 per cent through 2020, as the Kuwait-based property developer expands its projects in the Arabian Gulf and Turkey, its chief executive said on Tuesday.
Al Mazaya, which is listed in Dubai and Kuwait, posted a 15.2 per cent increase in full year net profit for 2015 attributable to equity holders, reaching 9.3 million Kuwaiti dinars, up from 8m dinars a year earlier.
Al Mazaya’s fourth quarter net profit rose 7 per cent to 2.5m dinars from 2.4m dinars in the year-earlier period as it boosted sales of its projects in Dubailand and the fair value of its investment properties rose. Total operating revenue reached 20.8m dinars in the fourth quarter, up from 1.36m dinars the previous year, beating forecasts from Kuwait’s NBK Capital.
The company is focusing this year on nine major projects spread across Oman, Kuwait, UAE and Turkey, said Ibrahim Al Soqabi, the group chief executive.
With regard to its debt, the property developer said converted all its borrowings into Sharia-compliant financing last year as part of a five year debt plan.
“Al Mazaya’s current borrowing stands at 81m dinars,” said Mr Al Soqabi. “This is subject to change depending on new projects. However, the group currently has no immediate plans to increase its borrowing.”
dalsaadi@thenational.ae
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The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
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Racecard
5pm: Al Maha Stables – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m
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Transgender report
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
While you're here
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Abandon
Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay
Translated by Arunava Sinha
Tilted Axis Press
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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.
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