• Lady Gaga wore a dress made of meat by Franc Fernandez for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, California on September 12 that year. Reuters
    Lady Gaga wore a dress made of meat by Franc Fernandez for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, California on September 12 that year. Reuters
  • Appearing on 'Saturday Night Live', Lady Gaga wore a Haus of Gaga fashion installation called The Orbit, which was made in collaboration with British designer Nasir Mahzar and rotated around her as she performed. Getty Images
    Appearing on 'Saturday Night Live', Lady Gaga wore a Haus of Gaga fashion installation called The Orbit, which was made in collaboration with British designer Nasir Mahzar and rotated around her as she performed. Getty Images
  • Meeting Queen Elizabeth II following the Royal Variety performance in Blackpool, England, the singer wore a Atsuko Kudo latex gown which took two weeks to construct. AFP
    Meeting Queen Elizabeth II following the Royal Variety performance in Blackpool, England, the singer wore a Atsuko Kudo latex gown which took two weeks to construct. AFP
  • Lady Gaga attended the 20th Annual MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto, Canada wearing a dress made out of hair on June 21, 2009. WireImage
    Lady Gaga attended the 20th Annual MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto, Canada wearing a dress made out of hair on June 21, 2009. WireImage
  • Lady Gaga wears a dress made from Kermit the Frog puppets by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac to appear on German TV in August 2009. Of the look she said: 'I really loved this one in particular because I thought it was commentary on not wearing fur, because I hate fur and I don’t wear fur. We were all laughing in the haus about how it looks like a pile of dead Kermits.' YouTube
    Lady Gaga wears a dress made from Kermit the Frog puppets by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac to appear on German TV in August 2009. Of the look she said: 'I really loved this one in particular because I thought it was commentary on not wearing fur, because I hate fur and I don’t wear fur. We were all laughing in the haus about how it looks like a pile of dead Kermits.' YouTube
  • Lady Gaga wore a Francesco Scognamiglio caped dress with a lace mask by Philip Treacy for The Brit Awards 2010 at Earls Court on February 16, 2010 in London, England. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga wore a Francesco Scognamiglio caped dress with a lace mask by Philip Treacy for The Brit Awards 2010 at Earls Court on February 16, 2010 in London, England. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga is carried into the 53rd Grammy Awards in an egg on February 13, 2011. EPA
    Lady Gaga is carried into the 53rd Grammy Awards in an egg on February 13, 2011. EPA
  • Lady Gaga dressed as her male alter ego Jo Calderone for the MTV Video Music Awards 2011 in Los Angeles, California on August 28, 2011. EPA
    Lady Gaga dressed as her male alter ego Jo Calderone for the MTV Video Music Awards 2011 in Los Angeles, California on August 28, 2011. EPA
  • Lady Gaga wears Elizabethan-style Alexander McQueen, with Bradley Cooper for the 'A Star Is Born' UK Premiere at Vue West End on September 27, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga wears Elizabethan-style Alexander McQueen, with Bradley Cooper for the 'A Star Is Born' UK Premiere at Vue West End on September 27, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga certainly made an entrance as she arrived on the red carpet for the 2019 Met Gala on May 6, 2019. She wore a Brandon Maxwell dress that turned out to be four different looks, starting with this larger-than-life pink gown with a 25-foot cape. EPA
    Lady Gaga certainly made an entrance as she arrived on the red carpet for the 2019 Met Gala on May 6, 2019. She wore a Brandon Maxwell dress that turned out to be four different looks, starting with this larger-than-life pink gown with a 25-foot cape. EPA

Lady Gaga's wildest fashion choices: It's been 10 years since she arrived at the Grammy Awards in an egg


Farah Andrews
  • English
  • Arabic

While she is certainly an outrageously talented musician, Lady Gaga is best known for her wild fashion moments. When you think about her statement sartorial snapshots, it's likely that a few key words spring to mind: egg, meat and, possibly, Kermit the Frog.

The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards took place in Los Angeles on Sunday night, making it 10 years since the Poker Face singer arrived at the 2011 awards in an egg.

To see more of Lady Gaga's wildest wardrobe choices, click through the gallery above.

On February 13, 2011, the singer opted not to walk the red carpet herself, choosing instead to be carried down it in an egg-shaped carriage by five scantily-clad men and one woman. She described it as a "vessel", not an egg.

Lady Gaga is carried into the 53rd Grammy Awards in an egg on February 13, 2011. EPA
Lady Gaga is carried into the 53rd Grammy Awards in an egg on February 13, 2011. EPA

"I was in there for about 72 hours, and it was a very creative experience, and it was time for me to prepare and really think about the meaning of Born This Way and get prepared for the performance. I really wanted to be born on stage," the singer said of the meaning behind her 2011 wardrobe choice at the time.

And born she was. When she took to the stage for her performance of Born This Way, she dazzled the crowd as she emerged from the alien-like vessel wearing flesh-coloured latex, to match her dancers.

Watch Lady Gaga's 2011 Grammy Awards performance here: 

Lady Gaga in 2021

At this year's ceremony, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande's Rain On Me became the first female duet to win in the Best Pop Duo/Group category.

But the performer was not there to wow the crowds with her wild sartorial choices, as she's currently shooting her new film, House of Gucci, alongside Adam Driver, in Rome.

She tweeted hours before the ceremony began: “Watching the Grammy’s from Italy! So honoured just to be nominated! Love you little monsters! Love you music, love you art, love you world. God bless health and happiness to all the nominees!”

From 2009 and beyond

From the latex gown she wore to meet Queen Elizabeth II to her Elizabethan-style outfit she donned for the UK A Star Is Born premiere, via an orbiting installation and, of course, her meat dress – in the gallery above we have looked back on the singer's wildest fashion to date.

To see more of Lady Gaga's general style evolution since 2009, click through the gallery below:

  • Lady Gaga, in a black dress with plastic detailing, attends the DLD Star Night at Haus der Kunst on January 26, 2009 in Munich, Germany. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in a black dress with plastic detailing, attends the DLD Star Night at Haus der Kunst on January 26, 2009 in Munich, Germany. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in Bernard Chandran, poses backstage during the Brit Awards at Earls Court on February 18, 2009 in London, England. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in Bernard Chandran, poses backstage during the Brit Awards at Earls Court on February 18, 2009 in London, England. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in swirling prints, at IFA Fair on September 7, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in swirling prints, at IFA Fair on September 7, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in head-to-toe black, makes an in-store appearance at HMV on September 8, 2009 in London, England. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in head-to-toe black, makes an in-store appearance at HMV on September 8, 2009 in London, England. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in Atsuko Kudo, meets Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Variety Performance on December 7, 2009 in Blackpool, England. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in Atsuko Kudo, meets Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Variety Performance on December 7, 2009 in Blackpool, England. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in Francesco Scognamiglio, attends The Brit Awards at Earls Court on February 16, 2010 in London, England. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in Francesco Scognamiglio, attends The Brit Awards at Earls Court on February 16, 2010 in London, England. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in structured trousers, arrives at Narita International Airport on April 13, 2010 in Narita, Japan. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in structured trousers, arrives at Narita International Airport on April 13, 2010 in Narita, Japan. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in a taupe gown, at a press conference ahead of her performance at the ArtScience Museum on June 7, 2011 in Singapore. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in a taupe gown, at a press conference ahead of her performance at the ArtScience Museum on June 7, 2011 in Singapore. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in modern corsetry, attends the MTV Video Music Aid Japan press conference on June 23, 2011 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in modern corsetry, attends the MTV Video Music Aid Japan press conference on June 23, 2011 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in a studded leather jacket, during the MTV Video Music Aid Japan on June 25, 2011 in Chiba, Japan. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in a studded leather jacket, during the MTV Video Music Aid Japan on June 25, 2011 in Chiba, Japan. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in a voluminous-sleeved white gown, arrives at Sydney Airport on July 9, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in a voluminous-sleeved white gown, arrives at Sydney Airport on July 9, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in a ruffled midi and veil, arrives at Nevermind Nightclub on July 11, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in a ruffled midi and veil, arrives at Nevermind Nightclub on July 11, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in Antonio Berardi, arrives at the Stamford Plaza on June 5, 2012 in Auckland, New Zealand. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in Antonio Berardi, arrives at the Stamford Plaza on June 5, 2012 in Auckland, New Zealand. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in a purple midi, arrives at Brisbane Airport ahead of her Australian tour, on June 11, 2012 in Brisbane, Australia. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in a purple midi, arrives at Brisbane Airport ahead of her Australian tour, on June 11, 2012 in Brisbane, Australia. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in a floral Philip Treacy headpiece, attends the Philip Treacy show at London Fashion Week on September 16, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in a floral Philip Treacy headpiece, attends the Philip Treacy show at London Fashion Week on September 16, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in a leather-topped gown, attends her perfume launch at Sephora Champs-Elysees on September 23, 2012 in Paris, France. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in a leather-topped gown, attends her perfume launch at Sephora Champs-Elysees on September 23, 2012 in Paris, France. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in Alaia, attends the launch of her new fragrance at Harrods on October 7, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in Alaia, attends the launch of her new fragrance at Harrods on October 7, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in Versace, attends the Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball at 02 Arena on December 8, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in Versace, attends the Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball at 02 Arena on December 8, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in Versace, attends the Atelier Versace show at Paris Fashion Week on January 19, 2014 in Paris, France. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in Versace, attends the Atelier Versace show at Paris Fashion Week on January 19, 2014 in Paris, France. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in Versace, arrives for the 86th annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on March 2, 2014. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Versace, arrives for the 86th annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on March 2, 2014. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in a leather jacket, meets and greets fans inside Crown Metropol on August 17, 2014 in Perth, Australia. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in a leather jacket, meets and greets fans inside Crown Metropol on August 17, 2014 in Perth, Australia. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in a gold beaded gown, arrives at Dubai International Airport on September 8, 2014. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in a gold beaded gown, arrives at Dubai International Airport on September 8, 2014. EPA
  • Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, in Brandon Maxwell, attend a press conference about their album 'Cheek to Cheek' at City Hall on September 22, 2014 in Brussels, Belgium. Getty Images
    Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, in Brandon Maxwell, attend a press conference about their album 'Cheek to Cheek' at City Hall on September 22, 2014 in Brussels, Belgium. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in Brandon Maxwell, arrives for the 57th annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2015. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Brandon Maxwell, arrives for the 57th annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2015. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Alaia, arrives for the 87th annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on February 22, 2015. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Alaia, arrives for the 87th annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on February 22, 2015. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Alexander Wang, arrives for the Met Gala in New York on May 4, 2015. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Alexander Wang, arrives for the Met Gala in New York on May 4, 2015. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Balenciaga, attends the Balenciaga show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 6, 2015 in Paris, France. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in Balenciaga, attends the Balenciaga show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 6, 2015 in Paris, France. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in a shimmering maxi, and Tony Bennett at the Royal Albert Hall on June 8, 2015 in London, England. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in a shimmering maxi, and Tony Bennett at the Royal Albert Hall on June 8, 2015 in London, England. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in Tom Ford, attends the British Fashion Awards at London Coliseum on November 23, 2015 in London, England. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in Tom Ford, attends the British Fashion Awards at London Coliseum on November 23, 2015 in London, England. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in Versace, arrives for the 73rd annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 10, 2016. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Versace, arrives for the 73rd annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 10, 2016. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Saint Laurent, arrives for the Saint Laurent fashion show at the Palladium in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2016. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Saint Laurent, arrives for the Saint Laurent fashion show at the Palladium in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2016. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Marc Jacobs, arrives for the 58th annual Grammy Awards ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on February 15, 2016. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Marc Jacobs, arrives for the 58th annual Grammy Awards ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on February 15, 2016. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Brandon Maxwell, arrives for the 88th annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on February 28, 2016. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Brandon Maxwell, arrives for the 88th annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on February 28, 2016. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Brandon Maxwell, arrives for the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on November 20, 2016. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Brandon Maxwell, arrives for the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on November 20, 2016. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in a lace two-piece, poses backstage during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on November 30, 2016 in Paris, France. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in a lace two-piece, poses backstage during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on November 30, 2016 in Paris, France. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in Brandon Maxwell, attends The Fashion Awards on December 5, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in Brandon Maxwell, attends The Fashion Awards on December 5, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in Colin Horgan, arrives for the screening of the documentary 'Gaga: Five Foot Two' during the 42nd annual Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, on September 8, 2017. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Colin Horgan, arrives for the screening of the documentary 'Gaga: Five Foot Two' during the 42nd annual Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, on September 8, 2017. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Armani, arrives for the 60th annual Grammy Awards ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York on January 28, 2018. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Armani, arrives for the 60th annual Grammy Awards ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York on January 28, 2018. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Alaia, attends 'A Star Is Born' photocall during the 75th Venice Film Festival at Sala Casino on August 31, 2018 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in Alaia, attends 'A Star Is Born' photocall during the 75th Venice Film Festival at Sala Casino on August 31, 2018 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in feathered Valentino, walks the red carpet ahead of the 'A Star Is Born' screening during the 75th Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on August 31, 2018 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in feathered Valentino, walks the red carpet ahead of the 'A Star Is Born' screening during the 75th Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on August 31, 2018 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in Armani, arrives for the screening of 'A Star Is Born' during the 43rd annual Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, on September 9, 2018. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Armani, arrives for the screening of 'A Star Is Born' during the 43rd annual Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, on September 9, 2018. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Alexander McQueen, attends the UK premiere of 'A Star Is Born' at Vue West End on September 27, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images
    Lady Gaga, in Alexander McQueen, attends the UK premiere of 'A Star Is Born' at Vue West End on September 27, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images
  • Lady Gaga, in Givenchy, arrives for the premiere of 'A Star Is Born' at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on September 24, 2018. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Givenchy, arrives for the premiere of 'A Star Is Born' at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on September 24, 2018. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Valentino, arrives for the 10th Annual Governor's Awards in Hollywood, California, on November 18, 2018. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Valentino, arrives for the 10th Annual Governor's Awards in Hollywood, California, on November 18, 2018. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Valentino, arrives for the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, California, on January 6, 2019. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Valentino, arrives for the 76th annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, California, on January 6, 2019. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Ralph Lauren, arrives at the National Board of Review in New York on January 8, 2019. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Ralph Lauren, arrives at the National Board of Review in New York on January 8, 2019. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Dior, arrives for the 25th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on January 27, 2019. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Dior, arrives for the 25th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on January 27, 2019. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Celine, arrives for the 61st annual Grammy Awards ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2019. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Celine, arrives for the 61st annual Grammy Awards ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2019. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Alexander McQueen, arrives for the 91st annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on February 24, 2019. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Alexander McQueen, arrives for the 91st annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on February 24, 2019. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Brandon Maxwell, arrives for the Met Gala in New York on May 6, 2019. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Brandon Maxwell, arrives for the Met Gala in New York on May 6, 2019. EPA

_________________

Read more: 

Who is Bad Bunny? The Puerto Rican rapper who won a Grammy with a sunflower in his hand

Grammys 2021 fashion: the best dressed on music's biggest night

11 things we learnt from the 2021 Grammy Awards

_________________

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Series info

Test series schedule 1st Test, Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka won by 21 runs; 2nd Test, Dubai: Play starts at 2pm, Friday-Tuesday

ODI series schedule 1st ODI, Dubai: October 13; 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 16; 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 18; 4th ODI, Sharjah: October 20; 5th ODI, Sharjah: October 23

T20 series schedule 1st T20, Abu Dhabi: October 26; 2nd T20, Abu Dhabi: October 27; 3rd T20, Lahore: October 29

Tickets Available at www.q-tickets.com

Stat Fourteen Fourteen of the past 15 Test matches in the UAE have been decided on the final day. Both of the previous two Tests at Dubai International Stadium have been settled in the last session. Pakistan won with less than an hour to go against West Indies last year. Against England in 2015, there were just three balls left.

Key battle - Azhar Ali v Rangana Herath Herath may not quite be as flash as Muttiah Muralitharan, his former spin-twin who ended his career by taking his 800th wicket with his final delivery in Tests. He still has a decent sense of an ending, though. He won the Abu Dhabi match for his side with 11 wickets, the last of which was his 400th in Tests. It was not the first time he has owned Pakistan, either. A quarter of all his Test victims have been Pakistani. If Pakistan are going to avoid a first ever series defeat in the UAE, Azhar, their senior batsman, needs to stand up and show the way to blunt Herath.

England's Ashes squad

Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes. 

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Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

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Key facilities
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  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Where to buy

Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com

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.”

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Bugatti Chiron Super Sport - the specs:

Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 

Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto 

Power: 1,600hp

Torque: 1,600Nm

0-100kph in 2.4seconds

0-200kph in 5.8 seconds

0-300kph in 12.1 seconds

Top speed: 440kph

Price: Dh13,200,000

Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport - the specs:

Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 

Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto 

Power: 1,500hp

Torque: 1,600Nm

0-100kph in 2.3 seconds

0-200kph in 5.5 seconds

0-300kph in 11.8 seconds

Top speed: 350kph

Price: Dh13,600,000

Elvis
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Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi

From: Dara

To: Team@

Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT

Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East

Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.

Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.

I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.

This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.

It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.

Uber on,

Dara

The Kites

Romain Gary

Penguin Modern Classics

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

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RESULTS
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LILO & STITCH

Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Rating: 4.5/5

How to help

Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:

2289 - Dh10

2252 - Dh50

6025 - Dh20

6027 - Dh100

6026 - Dh200

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

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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

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'Gehraiyaan'
Director:Shakun Batra

Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa

Rating: 4/5

Company profile

Name: GiftBag.ae

Based: Dubai

Founded: 2011

Number of employees: 4

Sector: E-commerce

Funding: Self-funded to date

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

RESULT

Argentina 0 Croatia 3
Croatia: 
Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90' 1)

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics