There's nothing like a night out socialising with family and friends teamed with a competitive edge. Enter the traditional pub quiz.
Across the capital, there are various quiz nights throughout the week, with plenty of prizes up for grabs. For keen quizzers and those ready to try something new, here are some places to check out in Abu Dhabi.
Monday: McCafferty's
The Irish pub on Yas Bay is a good place to kick off the week. Every Monday, radio presenter Lorna Bancroft hosts the Big Fat Quiz, and teams can register from 7pm. The evening is interactive, and prizes include lunch and brunch tokens. The top prize is a brunch for four. The weekly quiz is teamed with a steak dinner and drink offer that starts at Dh129.
Guests who take part every week can also enter a champions league quiz and be in with a shot to win more extravagant prizes, such as holidays, jet ski experiences, yacht parties and more.
Every Monday, from 8pm; Hilton Yas Island
Tuesday: Loca
The quiz hosted by Mexican restaurant Loca every Tuesday comes with an evening brunch. Prices start at Dh135, with quiz entry included. While brunch starts at 7pm (and includes chips with tableside-made guacamole, a selection of appetisers, one main and one dessert), the quiz begins one hour later. Prizes include vouchers to redeem in the restaurant.
Every Tuesday, 8pm-10pm; The Galleria Al Maryah Island
Wednesday: Ma Buckley's
Promising questions from across the eras, this weekly quiz is a good option for the whole family. It is free to enter, and takes place alongside the Irish bar's curry night. Pub-goers can indulge in a curry and drink for Dh89 from 7pm, while the quiz starts an hour later.
Every Wednesday, from 8pm; Souk Qaryat Al Beri
Thursday: Porter's English Pub
A maximum of four people per team can enter at this English-themed pub. The general knowledge trivia contest is hosted by DJ and radio presenter Sonya Mac. It is free to enter and prizes include brunch vouchers and bottled drinks. The food menu includes a mix of British pub classics such as fish and chips and Tex Mex dishes such as tacos and meaty grills, including a selection of steak cuts.
Every Thursday, from 7.30pm; Grand Millennium Al Wahda
Friday: Victor's
There are different themes at the Victor's quiz, held twice a month. As well as regular bar prizes, Victor's has been known to put flights and Dh3,000 vouchers up for grabs. Once the questions have wrapped up, a DJ takes over the reins.
First and last Friday of every month, 8.30pm-11pm; Millennium, Al Rawdah Hotel
Friday: McGettigan's
Making her way across the emirate, Sonya Mac will host a weekly quiz at McGettigan's every Friday, too. The high-energy event starts at 8pm and is free to enter. Prizes include a selection of free meals and drinks. Happy hour operates between 3pm and 8pm for those arriving early, and the Irish pub chain also hosts a Friday drunch between 2pm and 11pm, starting at Dh125.
From November 15, every Friday, from 8pm; Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi
Sunday: Alton
What better way to finish up the week than with a Sunday roast accompanied by a pub quiz? It is a weekly event at Alton, with the roast available from 2pm. Prices start at Dh99 for a roast and one drink, and upgrade options for free-flowing drinks begin at Dh99. Quiz questions kick off at 4pm, and are also led by Sonya Mac.
Every Sunday, from 4pm; Souk Qaryat Al Beri
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
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.”
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
