• Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed visits the 2022 Liwa International Festival. All photos: Wam
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed visits the 2022 Liwa International Festival. All photos: Wam
  • He was informed about the events and activities taking place during the festival
    He was informed about the events and activities taking place during the festival
  • Cody Walker and Steve Harvey were among the celebrities that Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed met at Liwa Village
    Cody Walker and Steve Harvey were among the celebrities that Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed met at Liwa Village
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed greets Harvey in Liwa
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed greets Harvey in Liwa
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed and Harvey chat during the sheikh's visit at Liwa International Festival
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed and Harvey chat during the sheikh's visit at Liwa International Festival
  • The festival combines sports, adventures, culture and more, all set in Al Dhafra's desert
    The festival combines sports, adventures, culture and more, all set in Al Dhafra's desert
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed was accompanied by Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police and Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi
    Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed was accompanied by Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police and Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi
  • The festival will culminate in a two-day desert hill climb event at Moreeb Dune
    The festival will culminate in a two-day desert hill climb event at Moreeb Dune

Lifestyle

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed visits Liwa International Festival

Ruler's Representative in the western region met several celebrities at the desert festival, including Steve Harvey, Tyrese Gibson and Cody Walker

Hayley Skirka
Hayley Skirka

December 18, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler's Representative in the western region, visited the Liwa International Festival, a two-week cultural extravaganza taking place in Al Dhafra desert.

Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi and Liwa Sport Club, the family event runs until December 31.

During his visit, Sheikh Hamdan toured several locations and found out more about the activities, tournaments, heritage events and entertainment on the festival's agenda.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed visits this year's Liwa International Festival, with a stop at Liwa Village. Photo: Wam
Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed visits this year's Liwa International Festival, with a stop at Liwa Village. Photo: Wam

He also paid a visit to the recently opened Liwa Village, where he met several celebrities including Steve Harvey, Tyrese Gibson and Cody Walker.

The US stars are in the UAE capital for FuelFest Arabia, the Middle East debut of the car and music festival founded by Walker, brother of the late Fast & Furious star Paul Walker.

Ludacris and Gibson will perform as part of the event.

Sheikh Hamdan praised the festival for the huge turnout it recorded, and stressed the importance of providing all the necessary support to ensure its success.

The festival has become an important part of the UAE and Al Dhafra region's calendar, attracting visitors who come for the culture, adventure, camping, motorsports and more.

The last two days of the festival revolve around an epic hill climb tournament, in which cars take on Moreeb Dune.

About a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Abu Dhabi, Liwa Village is made up of six zones, each with a range of things to do.

At the Souq, visitors can enjoy a night market and traditional Emirati practices such as henna art and khoos basket-weaving. The Oasis offers a place for tranquillity and relaxation with activities such as terrarium-making and jewellery-designing on offer.

There's also a central Pavilion, a play zone filled with e-gaming machines and an arcade zone and an immersive dining space showcasing regional and international restaurants and where visitors can enjoy a meal under the desert sky.

Several live performances are scheduled throughout the festival including by regional artists Abdallah Al Rowaished, Khaled Al Mulla, Hamad Alameri, Abadi Al Johar and more.

Liwa Village opens in Abu Dhabi — in pictures

  • Liwa Festival has opened in Liwa Village in the Abu Dhabi desert. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Liwa Festival has opened in Liwa Village in the Abu Dhabi desert. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The event celebrates Emirati culture with art, concerts, shopping, cultural workshops, a night market and more
    The event celebrates Emirati culture with art, concerts, shopping, cultural workshops, a night market and more
  • The family-friendly experience is ongoing until January 8
    The family-friendly experience is ongoing until January 8
  • Liwa Village is made up of six zones
    Liwa Village is made up of six zones
  • The main stage will host a number of performances
    The main stage will host a number of performances
  • There’s an expansive majlis seating at the main stage where live shows will take place
    There’s an expansive majlis seating at the main stage where live shows will take place
  • The Souq in Liwa Village
    The Souq in Liwa Village
  • The Souq area is rooted in heritage and tradition and includes a night market, where things such as spices and oud are sold
    The Souq area is rooted in heritage and tradition and includes a night market, where things such as spices and oud are sold
  • Live cooking sessions will also be held at The Souq
    Live cooking sessions will also be held at The Souq
  • The Pavilion is an area to relax, rest and reconnect
    The Pavilion is an area to relax, rest and reconnect
  • The Pavilion
    The Pavilion
  • Arabic coffee at the festival
    Arabic coffee at the festival
  • Gaze, the immersive dining venue at The Souq
    Gaze, the immersive dining venue at The Souq
  • The immersive dining experience
    The immersive dining experience
  • The oasis
    The oasis
  • The pirate play area
    The pirate play area
  • The e-gaming area
    The e-gaming area
  • A vistor plays Liwa Treasure Hunt in the e-gaming area
    A vistor plays Liwa Treasure Hunt in the e-gaming area
  • Musicians play the hand pan at Liwa Village
    Musicians play the hand pan at Liwa Village
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Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.

Based: Riyadh

Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany

Founded: September, 2020

Number of employees: 70

Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions

Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds  

Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices

The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre V6

Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km

Price: Dh179,999-plus

On sale: now 

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Rating: 1/5

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Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

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Abu Dhabi race card

5pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) | ​​​​​​​Dh80,000 | 1,400m
6pm: Liwa Oasis (PA) Group 2 |​​​​​​​ Dh300,000 | 1,400m
6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-2 (PA) Group 3 | Dh300,000 | 2,200m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap | Dh70,000 | 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) |​​​​​​​ Dh80,000 | 2,200m

The biog:

Favourite book: The Leader Who Had No Title by Robin Sharma

Pet Peeve: Racism 

Proudest moment: Graduating from Sorbonne 

What puts her off: Dishonesty in all its forms

Happiest period in her life: The beginning of her 30s

Favourite movie: "I have two. The Pursuit of Happiness and Homeless to Harvard"

Role model: Everyone. A child can be my role model 

Slogan: The queen of peace, love and positive energy

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

if you go

The flights

Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.

The hotel

Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.

The tour

Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg

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Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

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Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

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4.35pm: Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m; Winner: Walton Street, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

5.10pm: Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Canvassed, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

5.45pm: Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

6.20pm: Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m; Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O’Meara

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7.30pm: Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Final Song, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

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  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
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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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Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)

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Sector: E-commerce 

Size: 50 employees

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Brief scoreline:

Toss: South Africa, elected to bowl first

England (311-8): Stokes 89, Morgan 57, Roy 54, Root 51; Ngidi 3-66

South Africa (207): De Kock 68, Van der Dussen 50; Archer 3-27, Stokes 2-12

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Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm

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WWE TLC results

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Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women's Championship against Nia Jax

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Updated: December 18, 2022, 12:08 PM
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