In 2019, Yas Island introduced another attraction to its already-impressive collection of parks and entertainment destinations. What Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi offers in terms of fun escapism for the family, Clymb Abu Dhabi delivers for adrenalin seekers.
The venue offers an indoor skydiving flight chamber as well as a range of indoor climbing walls, so you can gauge how daring you're feeling on the day. The walls vary in size and difficulty, depending on the guest's experience with the sport.
Recently, Clymb Abu Dhabi was recognised with two Guinness World Records, one for the largest indoor skydiving wind tunnel and one for the world's tallest indoor climbing wall. To celebrate the awards and to mark World Climbing Day on Monday, August 24, The National was invited to try out the wall.
Climbing the world's tallest indoor wall seems easy enough, but once the harness is on and the instructor tells you to get going, the nerves are likely to kick in.
It's very much a psychological game. You are strapped in and there's a solid rope attached to you, which is controlled by the instructor – so falling is unlikely. Once you get around that, it should be easier. Slipping off the holds is possible, but the irony is that when you do you, your confidence will return.
Here are a few tips to consider:
1. Stretch and warm up beforehand. Your muscles will strain if you aren't used to the sport. Stretch afterwards, too.
2. When you're on the wall, focus on your leg strength and not your arms.
3. Listen to the instructor's guidance. It will help.
4. If you slip off the wall, take a minute to gather yourself and then try again. The second attempt is much better.
PPE and social distancing to keep guests safe
Like many other locations around the UAE, the venue was forced to shut its doors temporarily due to the coronavirus pandemic, but fans of Clymb will be happy to know that the venue has reopened its doors (and walls).
Acting head of Yas Theme Parks, Bianca Sammut, says the venue is keeping the wellness of guests a top priority.
"We have a lot of safety measures in place. One of those is that it is mandatory to book in advance before you come. We have sanitisation and we have social distancing so that everybody has enough space."
Capacity has been reduced in order to limit the spread of the virus. In order to access the facilities, guests need to book slots ahead of time. Upon arrival, there is thermal screening and hand sanitiser is available throughout the venue. Additionally, the premises undergo extensive cleaning and are regularly sterilised throughout the day. Guests will also need to wash their hands after traversing the indoor walls, as liquid chalk is required for climbing.
"We're finding in the first few weeks it has been great," says Sammut. "We have had great guest feedback and it's great to be able to share the facility with everyone who has been at home or on lockdown."
As things begin to return to normal once again, the venue is another location in the UAE capital that is hoping to draw in visitors and tourists alike.
"Being a completely indoor venue, Clymb Abu Dhabi offers an entirely new dimension for visitors and tourists, as it means they can get their fill of adventure any time of the year," says Sammut.
"Experiential travel is on the rise in the UAE, and we can see Clymb adding to that appeal in a big way."
If you go
Flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.
The stay
Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.
Dubai World Cup factbox
Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)
Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)
Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)
Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)
Wenger's Arsenal reign in numbers
1,228 - games at the helm, ahead of Sunday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
704 - wins to date as Arsenal manager.
3 - Premier League title wins, the last during an unbeaten Invincibles campaign of 2003/04.
1,549 - goals scored in Premier League matches by Wenger's teams.
10 - major trophies won.
473 - Premier League victories.
7 - FA Cup triumphs, with three of those having come the last four seasons.
151 - Premier League losses.
21 - full seasons in charge.
49 - games unbeaten in the Premier League from May 2003 to October 2004.
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.”
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
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'Panga'
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Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
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The specs
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Company profile
Company: Rent Your Wardrobe
Date started: May 2021
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Sector: Clothes rental subscription
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