September is shaping up to be a busy month, with plenty on the horizon for art aficionados, fitness buffs and
Here, The National rounds up seven things to do in the Emirates from September 11 to 17.
Monday
ME Dubai in Business Bay is hosting Art in Shades of Gold by Ukrainian artist Yana Rusnak. The exhibition showcases her take on animals and abstract art to symbolise human ambition.
The contemporary artist often utilises bold geometric shapes and vivid colours.
Daily until October 9; free; level three, ME Dubai, Business Bay; skayagallery.com
Tuesday
Those who head to Java, the in-house cafe at Novotel Al Barsha, and say: “Thank you, chef,” to the cooks will receive a Nutella crepe on the house.
The offer runs as the hotel joins in Chef Appreciation Week.
Tuesday, 1pm-3pm; Novotel Al Barsha; 056 999 4822
Wednesday
Fans of stage productions can head to Dubai Opera on Wednesday for Madama Butterfly by the Hungarian State Opera.
Considered one of the most enduring tales on unrequited love in the opera world, it tells the story of Cio Cio San, a young Japanese girl who falls for US Navy officer Pinkerton, and the consequences that follow.
Tuesday and Wednesday, 7.30pm; from Dh375; Downtown Dubai; dubaiopera.com
Thursday
Former America's Got Talent contestants James Harrington and Marina Liani are returning to Dubai with their double act Mind2Mind.
The couple, who live in the UAE, are known for their mind-reading and mentalism act, which judge Simon Cowell described as “mind-blowing”. Thursday's show will last for 75 minutes.
Thursday, from 8pm; from Dh109; Theatre by QE2; dubai.platinumlist.net
Friday
End the working week with a barre class by Physique 57 in Jumeirah on Friday.
The New York-based fitness studio is back after a short hiatus, with Friday's three sessions running at Cultivate Mind and Body studio.
Barre workouts are known for small, pulsing movements that build strength and endurance. It also puts an emphasis on form and core engagement.
Friday, 7am, 9am and 6.30pm; from Dh153 per class; Al Safa, Al Wasl road; cultivate.fit
Saturday
Make Saturday family day. In Dubai, take the children to the Coca-Cola Arena for a live production of Peppa Pig's Adventure, which will feature the beloved cartoon character alongside other popular characters, including George and Suzy Sheep.
Saturday and Sunday, 10.30am, 2pm, 4.30pm; from Dh125; Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk; dubai.platinumlist.net
In Abu Dhabi, take the little ones to the annual Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, which is heading to Etihad Arena with performances and a whole lot of slime. British singer Jessie J will host the occasion, with many regional artists also set to attend, including Saudi pop artist Bader AlShuabi, Palestinian-Chilean singer Elyanna and Jordanian singer-songwriter Issam Alnajjar.
Saturday, from 3pm; from Dh100; Etihad Arena, Yas Island; etihadarena.ae
Sunday
A documentary screening at Dubai's Cinema Akil will take a dive deep into the life and work of Moroccan band Nass El Ghiwane.
Ahmed El Maanouni's Transes depicts the band's career and what they are best known for: rebellious lyrics. The film includes clips of live performances as well as intimate conversations with the band members in Tunisia, Morocco and France.
Sunday, 7pm; Dh56.5; Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz; cinemaakil.com
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Barcelona 3
Messi (27’, 32’, 87’)
Leganes 1
El Zhar (68’)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Ajax v Real Madrid, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
The years Ramadan fell in May
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.”
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan 2 (Vecino 65', Barella 83')
Verona 1 (Verre 19' pen)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, semi-final result:
Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate
Champions Legaue final: June 1, Madrid
