Emirati Women’s Day is annually celebrated on August 28, offering an opportunity to highlight the achievements of many talented women.
This will be the event's sixth year and, with 2021 the Year of the 50th, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak has announced that this year’s theme will be "Women: Ambitions & Inspiration for the Next 50 Years".
Here's a look at some empowering events and limited-edition products launched to mark the day.
In Abu Dhabi
Yas Marina Circuit
For all Emirati women with a need for speed, Yas Marina Circuit has launched the Farasha Cup, a Yas Kartzone powered by Adnoc competition on Wednesday.
Open to those 13 years and older, the three-stage race will begin with a qualifier to determine the rankings for race one. Race two and three will be 12 laps with points awarded based on the final standings of each race. The racer with the highest cumulative points will be crowned winner, with prizes and a trophy up for grabs for the top three competitors.
For safety reasons, only those who are fully vaccinated can participate (this applies to those 16 years and over).
Wednesday, August 25; free for all Emirati women; open to drivers on a first-come-first-serve basis; to participate call 800 927; yasmarinacircuit.com.
Clymb Abu Dhabi
Those looking to reach new heights can head to indoor climbing destination Clymb Abu Dhabi, which will host two ladies-only nights in celebration of Emirati Women’s Day. This Tuesday, and on Tuesday, August 31, get the adrenalin pumping as you tackle the various indoor skydiving and climbing experiences, with full privacy and an all-female staff.
Tuesday, August 24 and Tuesday, August 31; 5pm-9pm; prices from Dh120 for the beginner climbers experience; clymbabudhabi.com
Yas Waterworld
The Emirati-themed waterpark is celebrating Emirati Women’s Day with a ladies-only day on Thursday. There will be loads of activities to make a splash – from roaring rides to slides – and all-female staff as well.
Thursday, August 26; 10am-8pm; Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; 02 414 2000; yaswaterworld.com
Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi
The indoor theme park is bringing back its popular ladies-only Women of Warner event on Saturday. Apart from an all-female staff, ladies can look forward to a fun day with their favourite female characters doing the rounds, as well as plenty of rides, celebrations and party lights.
Saturday, August 28; 5pm to 9pm; wbworldabudhabi.com
In Dubai
Zabeel House by Jumeirah
Why not spend the day discovering work by a talented Emirati artist? Zabeel House The Greens will host Emirati abstract artist Mouza Al Mansoori until Sunday, September 5, in honour of Emirati Women’s Day. Browse through the self-taught artist’s creations, known for their simplicity and creativity, at the hotel. You can also catch Al Mansoori for a live painting experience at the hotel this Saturday, from 11am-1pm.
Daily, until Sunday, September 5; Zabeel House The Greens; 04 519 1111; contactgreens@jumeirah.com
Deliveroo
Up-and-coming Emirati artist Maryam Alzaabi has taken this year’s theme and created a special illustration to emphasise the accomplishments of Emirati women. Even better, everyone can get their hands on this inspiring artwork in the form of a complimentary jute bag. In order to do so, you’ll have to order from Deliveroo Editions HSS (Hessa South) on Saturday, which will deliver it along with the cool limited-edition accessory. Deliveroo Editions includes brands such as Urth Caffe, Dan’s Home Food, Burro Blanco, La Serre, Mythos Kouzina & Grill, The Great Wall Chinese Takeaway, Puns Sandwiches by Pinza!, Gyroz by Pinza! and Banh Mi & More.
Saturday; August 28; free bag with every delivery, until stocks last; Order via Deliveroo
Mondoux
If you’re looking to learn something new this Emirati Women’s Day, the Dubai restaurant has two masterclasses coming up. On Tuesday the Matcha Masterclass will be led by an expert tea sommelier who will educate guests about the benefits and origins of matcha. The hands-on session will also allow women to walk away with three recipes on how to brew the perfect matcha drink at home.
There’s also a Tea Tasting masterclass on Saturday that will take guests on a journey across the globe with different types of teas, their characteristics and origins. Both classes are organised by Tchaba Tea, are free to attend and for women only.
The Matcha Masterclass is on Tuesday, August 24, 7pm onwards; The Tea Tasting Masterclass is on Saturday, August 28, 4pm onwards; free; call Mondoux to reserve a spot at 04 584 5177; mondoux.ae
Restaurant Secrets Inc
For Emirati women looking to launch their own restaurants in the UAE, Restaurant Secrets Inc has a pretty sweet deal. The female-owned restaurant consultancy firm will be offering its services, worth Dh500,000, to one winning applicant. Those interested can apply directly via restaurantsecretsinc.com, or find the link to apply via RSI’s Instagram page @restaurantsecretsinc, where an application pack can be downloaded from the link in bio. Pro-bono services offered include everything from conceptualisation and feasibility studies to recruitment, pre-opening support and restaurant launch.
Saturday, August 28 to Monday, September 27; restaurantsecretsinc.com
match details
Wales v Hungary
Cardiff City Stadium, kick-off 11.45pm
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
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
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The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
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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Unresolved crisis
Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east.
Fighting between the Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed more than 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict.
The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kiev of sabotaging the deal, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it in full would hurt Ukraine.
RESULT
Bayern Munich 5 Eintrracht Frankfurt 2
Bayern: Goretzka (17'), Müller (41'), Lewandowski (46'), Davies (61'), Hinteregger (74' og)
Frankfurt: Hinteregger (52', 55')
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre flat-six twin-turbocharged
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 445bhp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh474,600
On Sale: Now
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
The Comeback: Elvis And The Story Of The 68 Special
Simon Goddard
Omnibus Press
THURSDAY FIXTURES
4.15pm: Italy v Spain (Group A)
5.30pm: Egypt v Mexico (Group B)
6.45pm: UAE v Japan (Group A)
8pm: Iran v Russia (Group B)
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Director: Shady Ali
Cast: Boumi Fouad , Mohamed Tharout and Hisham Ismael
Rating: 3/5
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
The Ashes
Results
First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
Third Test, Perth: Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
Fourth Test: Melbourne: Drawn
Fifth Test: Australia won by an innings and 123 runs