For pageant hopefuls around the world, dreams don’t get much bigger than one day being crowned Miss Universe. But for Harnaaz Sandhu, that wasn’t always quite the case.
“I honestly had no idea about Miss Universe when I was young,” Sandhu tells The National from New York, a month after winning the coveted crown in Israel. “I never planned my life to be competing in beauty pageants."
In fact, Sandhu’s pageant journey did not begin until she was aged 17, when she won her first title of Miss Chandigarh 2017 in her home city.
“I went from representing my city, to representing Punjab state, then to representing India, my country, and now to representing the whole universe,” she says.
“I realised that I wanted to serve society. My mum as a gynaecologist has been doing that, and my grandfather was a lawyer, so he also used to serve the community and the state, so I also want to do something like that. I just didn’t know where to start.”
And as Sandhu’s pageantry journey excelled, so too did her passionate advocacy for women’s empowerment, a cause she feels privileged to have been able to take to the world’s stage at December’s Miss Universe pageant.
“It’s really very close to my heart, so I am excited to take that advocacy forward and to every country possible wherever I go, so that I talk about female empowerment and continue to learn from every individual I meet, learn from their experiences and to take them and spread them back to the world,” she says.
While being crowned Miss Universe may not have always been her dream, the moment turned out to be greater than any she could have imagined.
“When presenter Steve Harvey said ‘India’, I let go of my emotions. I was so confused like, ‘What has just happened?’ But at the same time, I knew that I was just so grateful to be standing in front of the audience and to speak. That was my ultimate goal, to say something I believe in,” Sandhu says. “It was so surreal, but when Steve said, ‘Take your first walk’, something which none of us had rehearsed, that was the time I realised ‘this is real’ and I was just trying to control my emotions. I was crying with happiness.”
But as amazing as that moment was for Sandhu, it wasn’t the most standout one. It was the moments she experienced in the build-up to the pageant’s grand finale that will really stay with her.
“I think the best thing about the Miss Universe pageant is that you are empowered by each one of the individuals you surround yourself with and to represent your country is a huge thing. It was an honour to represent 1.4 billion people,” she says.
“I could see a huge transformation in me from day one and how beautifully I got to make new friends from different countries and learn from their cultures, their strengths and their talents. That’s the beauty of Miss Universe, that we celebrate sisterhood, and every single day we were helping each other.”
Remember everything happens for a reason. I took that belief with me everywhere I've been so far and I think that is what has made me unstoppable
Harnaaz Sandhu,
Miss Universe 2021
In being crowned Miss Universe 2021, Sandhu is the third woman to ever win the title for India, and the first to bring it home in 21 years, making it all the more special for her. Naturally, the support from her country has been overwhelming, and with a homecoming celebration on the cards in the near future, Sandhu can’t wait to celebrate her success in the place where it all began.
“India has not won for 21 years, so it’s going to be really grand,” she says. “I am excited to go to Punjab, my home town, and to eat local food, go to the Golden Temple, one of the holy sites of India, and to meet my team and as many people as possible.
“I haven’t been able to see my father and brother yet or had the chance to visit my home town, so I am just so excited to be there and have this big celebration, I can’t wait for that to happen.”
Before her success in beauty pageants, Sandhu starred in a series of television and small film productions in India. With her background in acting and her newfound global status, talk has naturally turned to a future in cinema, and in particular, Bollywood.
“I am an actress for sure, I have done TV for the last five years, and I would pursue acting – it could be globally. My vision for acting is really different. I want to be an actress who breaks stereotypes of women and what they can be if given the chance, by choosing strong characters. That is what I want to do, so fingers crossed,” she says.
“Life is unpredictable so you should plan less and just keep going with the flow. Dig deep, breathe, and remember everything happens for a reason. I took that belief with me everywhere I've been so far and I think that is what has made me unstoppable.”
For now, Sandhu is getting used to her new title as she works with the Miss Universe Organisation in New York, where she’s also enjoying her downtime by squeezing in visits to some of the city’s most famous landmarks.
“I'm in New York for the first time, so I am still exploring the city and exploring the organisation. I got to go out and visit Central Park,” she says. “It’s a very beautiful moment for me.”
And with the universe now, quite literally, her oyster, where is the next stop for Sandhu?
“You will be surprised to know that the UAE is one of my dream destinations and I have been waiting to go there,” she says. “Let’s hope that I get to visit this year. It’s a beautiful, beautiful place, you have no idea – it’s like my dream destination.”
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.”
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
THE%20HOLDOVERS
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Fifa%20World%20Cup%20Qatar%202022%20
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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
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin
Scoreline
Syria 1-1 Australia
Syria Al Somah 85'
Australia Kruse 40'
The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
On sale: now
How to get exposure to gold
Although you can buy gold easily on the Dubai markets, the problem with buying physical bars, coins or jewellery is that you then have storage, security and insurance issues.
A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.
Alternatively, BlackRock Gold & General seeks to achieve long-term capital growth primarily through an actively managed portfolio of gold mining, commodity and precious-metal related shares. Its largest portfolio holdings include gold miners Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp, Agnico Eagle Mines and the NewMont Goldcorp.
Brave investors could take on the added risk of buying individual gold mining stocks, many of which have performed wonderfully well lately.
London-listed Centamin is up more than 70 per cent in just three months, although in a sign of its volatility, it is down 5 per cent on two years ago. Trans-Siberian Gold, listed on London's alternative investment market (AIM) for small stocks, has seen its share price almost quadruple from 34p to 124p over the same period, but do not assume this kind of runaway growth can continue for long
However, buying individual equities like these is highly risky, as their share prices can crash just as quickly, which isn't what what you want from a supposedly safe haven.
The 15 players selected
Muzzamil Afridi, Rahman Gul, Rizwan Haider (Dezo Devils); Shahbaz Ahmed, Suneth Sampath (Glory Gladiators); Waqas Gohar, Jamshaid Butt, Shadab Ahamed (Ganga Fighters); Ali Abid, Ayaz Butt, Ghulam Farid, JD Mahesh Kumara (Hiranni Heros); Inam Faried, Mausif Khan, Ashok Kumar (Texas Titans
A%20QUIET%20PLACE
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Results
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Rawat Al Reef, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Noof KB, Richard Mullen, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Seven Skies, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qaiss Aboud
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Jabalini, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm: UAE Arabian Derby – Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Dergham Athbah, Richard Mullen, Mohamed Daggash
7.30pm: Emirates Championship – Group 1 (PA) Dh1,000,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
8pm: Abu Dhabi Championship – Group 3 (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Irish Freedom, Antonio Fresu, Satish Seemar
RESULTS
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $49,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner RB Frynchh Dude, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
7.05pm Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner El Patriota, Vagner Leal, Antonio Cintra
7.40pm Zabeel Turf – Listed (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,000m
Winner Ya Hayati, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm Cape Verdi – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Althiqa, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm UAE 1000 Guineas – Listed (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Soft Whisper, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
9.25pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Bedouin’s Story, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
