For about a decade and a half, British-Lebanese actress Razane Jammal has been charming film and television audiences around the world. Her recent successes include a star turn as Sara in MBC’s 2023 hit Al Thaman and as Emily in record-breaking blockbuster Kira & El Gin.
She is the only Arab actress to enter the DC Comics Universe, appearing in Netflix’s Neil Gaiman adaptation The Sandman as Lyta Hall. She is also a Dior ambassador across fashion and beauty and a brand ambassador for Cartier.
She is currently shooting Mohamed Diab’s coming Black Lion, in which she stars alongside Mohamed Ramadan. On the set of her latest film, we ask her to answer Luxury magazine’s One Last Thing.
What is your favourite time of day and why?
I love the sunset. It gives me a sense of peace.
What is your favourite restaurant anywhere in the world?
Em Sherif has the best Lebanese food in the world.
When was the first time you realised your parents were human?
My parents will always be superhuman to me.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
An astronaut, of course!
Do you have any hidden talents?
That is for me to know and for you to find out.
What is your favourite book?
It is a tie between The Little Prince and The Prophet. The Little Prophet.
What type of music can’t you stand?
Any type when I’m trying to focus on a task.
What puts you in a bad mood?
Politics.
What can’t you live without?
Human connection.
Who are your dream dinner guests?
If I could invite anyone from the past, it would be my favourite movie stars to chat about cinema. Otherwise, I’d gather world leaders for a serious discussion – though, honestly, that sounds more like a nightmare.
On the sofa or out with friends?
On the sofa with friends.
What smell takes you straight back to childhood?
Lavender reminds me of my sitto (grandmother).
What food takes you back to childhood?
Merry Cream. Specifically strawberry and vanilla.
Which city do you love but would hate to live in?
I can find magic anywhere.
Have you ever been on a motorcycle?
When my sister and I were children, my dad would take us to school on his bike every day.
Can you play a musical instrument?
Born to be a drummer, raised to play the piano.
Any words to live by?
If it’s meant to be, it will be. And if it isn’t, something bigger and better is waiting for you.
Biggest pet peeve?
Make chewing sounds or loud noises when we’re on the phone if you want to sever ties with me.
Do you believe in aliens?
I am an alien.
Your favourite Arabic word?
Yalla!
How do you take your tea?
No sugar and as often as a typical Brit.
What makes you cry?
Full moons and cartoons.
What do social algorithms think you’re interested in?
The algo thinks I’m a cat with a degree in psychology who loves the cosmos, has a deep interest in mental health and a penchant for before/after celeb photos. Only one of these is incorrect.
The most niche thing you watch on YouTube?
Baby sloths getting showered and then hung to dry.
TikTok or Instagram?
TikTok for fun, Instagram for work.
Something about you that would surprise people?
If I did stand-up comedy, I’d be cancelled.
The last thing you did for the first time?
I did skydiving for the first time. And the last time.
A version of this interview first appeared in Luxury magazine in print on September 12.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
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.”
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”.
