We live in a region tailor-made for rugged recreational pickups. We’re hemmed in by coastline, sand dunes and mountains, making these action-focused haulers a no-brainer for anyone with outdoorsy inclinations.
There are two broad subgenres within the pickup category. The lower end is populated by bare-boned load luggers with little in terms of style or performance. They’re purely utilitarian devices for commercial use. Further up the scale are the lifestyle-oriented offerings that offer fun and functionality in equal measure.
Here are our top eight contenders for those seeking a go-anywhere chariot that can tow a boat, and haul jet-skis, mountain bikes, quad bikes, kitesurfing gear or whatever else you get your kicks from.
Chevrolet Silverado
The hulking Silverado has been around for the past two decades, and more than 12 million examples have been sold in the US since its 1999 introduction. An all-new generation debuted in 2019, ushering in edgy styling and much improved driving dynamics, thanks to a new T1XX platform that also underpins the latest Chevy Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade. The Silverado is offered in 4x2 and 4x4 guises, and there’s a range of powertrain options, spearheaded by a thumping 420hp 6.2-litre V8, mated to a 10-speed auto.
Pricing starts at just over Dh150k
Ford F-150
The F-Series lineage dates back to 1948, and the F-150 has been the highest-selling vehicle overall in the US since 1981. Ford recently rolled out a vastly improved 14th-gen model, which gains 92 per cent new components as part of its thorough revamp.
The big Ford can tow up to 6,350 kilograms and carry up to 1.5 tonnes, so the F-150 doesn’t shy away from hard work. There’s a choice of four engines, including a potent 3.5-litre hybrid PowerBoost V6 with 430hp and 772Nm. The cabin, too, is much more cosseting than before.
Pricing starts at Dh183,120
Ford Ranger 3.2 Wild Trak 4x4
If you’re a Blue Oval fan but don’t fancy something as gargantuan as the F-150, there’s also the South African-built Ranger Wild Trak, offering much of the same functionality as its big brother. The range-topping model is equipped with a 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbodiesel with 197hp and 470Nm, so it’s adequately sprightly.
It can’t match the payload or towing capacity of the F-150, but the Wild Trak offers 237mm of ground clearance and can wade through 800mm of water, so it’s still a genuine all-terrainer.
Pricing starts at Dh165k
GMC Sierra
The Sierra is the posh cousin of the Chevrolet Silverado, as it shares the same mechanicals. Befitting its higher price tag, the GMC has more upmarket styling and an in-your-face chrome-laden grille. The cabin is also plusher than its Chevy stablemate. It’s offered in regular, crew and double-cab formats, so you can opt for whatever best suits your need.
As with the Silverado, there’s a range of engine options, from a 2.7-litre turbo four-cylinder to a 6.2-litre V8. Driver aids such as Jack-Knife Alert and Trailer Length Indicator are also on the menu.
Pricing starts at Dh197k
Jeep Gladiator
Arguably the most off-road-capable contender in this list, the recently launched Gladiator is a more versatile derivative of the popular Wrangler. It is Jeep’s first offering with a cargo bed since the early 1990s and has been keenly awaited in our region.
Powered by a 284hp 3.6-litre V6, the Gladiator can tow over 3.5 tonnes (more than double the Wrangler’s capacity), so it’s a sound choice if you have a large boat to haul. More fun still is that the doors and roof panels can be removed, making it a true open-air vehicle.
Prices start at about Dh180k
Nissan Navara 2.5L 4WD
The Navara is by far the cheapest entrant in this list, so look this way if you’re on a tight budget. There’s a choice of petrol and diesel power – both are 2.5-litre units – but neither is especially potent. Acceleration isn’t a strong point, but cabin ambience is decent for a vehicle of this price. Standard features include keyless entry, power windows, fog lamps, parking sensors and LED indicators.
Reliability is a forte, and the Navara is no slouch off-road, thanks to 224mm of ground clearance and low-range gearing.
Prices range from Dh89,775 to Dh98,700
RAM 1500
In past years, RAM’s large pickups offered ruggedness and utility, but little in terms of comfort and refinement. That changed with the 2018 launch of the vastly improved fifth-gen model, which brought supple air suspension, built-in cargo-bed bins, a split-folding tailgate and a giant 12.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. Also available are a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror and a steering-assist function when backing up with a trailer.
More exciting still is the debut of the ballistic new 1500 TRX flagship, powered by a 702hp supercharged Hellcat engine.
Pricing starts at just over Dh205k, with the TRX kicking off at Dh370k
Toyota Hilux Adventure
The Hilux is renowned for its bulletproof durability, but the range-topping Adventure adds a dash of luxury and panache to the recipe. Foregoing pedestrian four-cylinder motors in lieu of a 240hp 4.0-litre V6, it serves up lively performance and has the grunt to charge up towering dunes.
A six-speed auto is standard, as are parking sensors, a reversing camera, 18-inch alloys, wheel arch flares, side steps, climate-control AC, roll-up tonneau cover and an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Unlike utilitarian versions of the Hilux, the Adventure lives up to its name.
Prices range from Dh143k to Dh167k
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety
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 rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Stage 2
1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix 4:18:30
2. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:06
3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma 0:00:06
4. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:06
5. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:08
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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.”
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
