Dubai
Light show
Visit Downtown Dubai, where Emaar will showcase its Light Up 2018 spectacle, which won the Guinness World Records title for the largest light and sound show on a single building. Staged on Burj Khalifa, the laser display kicked off on New Year’s Eve and will now run Tuesdays to Saturdays until the end of March. A highlight of the show is the tribute to Sheikh Zayed, Founding President of the UAE, to coincide with the start of the Year of Zayed.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8pm; Thursdays and Fridays at 10pm, free, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, www.mydubainewyear.com
Abu Dhabi
Family fitness
Register to take part in the Yas Family Fit Day, and join in the free classes, attend talks and try some healthy foods. Try yoga, Zumba, BodyAttack, BodyPump, and children’s activities including gymnastics and Kids’ Zumba. There will be visits from fitness ambassadors, an obstacle course, an outdoor gym, nutritionist advice, arts and crafts, face painting and more.
January 26 and 27, 9am to 5pm, Gateway Park South, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.fitfest.ae
Dubai
Concert
Book tickets for The Golden Saxophone as part of the World Classical Music Series. Saxophonist Theodore Kerkezos and pianist Elena Christodoulou join to present an entertaining programme of classical music, including works by Debussy, Ravel, Maurice, Gershwin and Theodorakis.
February 3, doors open at 7pm, concert starts at 8pm, One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai, www.platinumlist.net
Abu Dhabi
Kids’ fun
Orange Wheels indoor entertainment centre at Al Wahda Mall presents a special Kite Day, where children can make their own kites that will dance and fly in the wind, as well as the tricks of staying airborne. Plus, kids can have fun in the venue’s various play zones.
Today, 10am to 10pm, Orange Wheels, Ground Floor Extension, Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi, www.facebook.com/orangewheelsuae
Dubai
Wellness event
Register to take part in the Discover Your Light – A Wellbeing Event open day at The LightHouse Arabia, which features a full day of interactive workshops, informal discussions and activities that aim to enhance well-being and mindfulness. There will be free check-ups, personal development stands, healthy snacks and a kids’ zone.
January 27, 10am to 3pm, from Dh105 for ages 12+; free for ages 4-11, Center for Wellbeing, The LightHouse, 821 Al Wasl Road, Al Safa 2, Dubai, 04 380 2088, www.lighthousearabia.com/events
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75th Golden Globe Award winners list
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Dubai
Film screening
Catch a screening of the Indian comedy film Newton as part of the Diff365@Vox series. Directed by Amit V Masurkar, it offers a take on political satire through the story of Newton (Rajkummar Rao), a government clerk sent on election duty to the jungles of Chhattisgarh, where he faces apathetic security and the visit from a foreign minister in his attempt to conduct a fair voting process.
Daily until January 24, 4pm; 6.45pm, from Dh45, Cinema 9, Vox Cinemas, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, uae.voxcinemas.com
Abu Dhabi
Exhibition
Department of Tourism and Culture – Abu Dhabi presents the exhibition 10 Years of Emirates Photography Competition. The winning works from the past ten years will be showcased, with the exhibition divided into two sections: Spotlight, which features works by 10 of the best Emirati and international photographers in areas such as nature, wildlife, portraits, sports, colour and travel, and Through Time, a selection of shortlisted photographs from the previous years.
Daily until March 31, 9am to 8pm, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, 02 657 5800, www.saadiyatculturaldistrict.ae
Dubai
Exhibition
XVA Gallery presents Interlud, an exhibition by husband and wife artists Gazmend Kalemi and Miriam Humer. This collection represents the moment when their practise changed and new types of works were produced, in particular Kalemi's abstract watercolours on paper and Humer's use of recycled and new materials in geometric patterns.
Opens today, 6pm, then runs daily until March 4, 10am to 6pm daily, XVA Gallery, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Bur Dubai, 04 353 5383, www.xvagallery.com
Abu Dhabi
Football term
Children ages 3 to 18 can still join the current City Football Schools term, where boys and girls can learn football skills and techniques as well as the importance of good fitness. Sessions are organised based on ability level, allowing each player to be challenged to their full potential.
Runs until March 1, various prices and timings, Zayed Sports City; Emirates Palace; NYU Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, 056 420 5685, www.uae.cityfootballschool.com
Abu Dhabi & Dubai
Comedy show
The Laughter Factory kicks off the new year in a grand way with nine shows as part of the Dysfunctional Family Tour. Enjoy comedy by Carmen Lynch from New York, English comedian Luke Toulson with his laid-back style and dark humour from Scot Mark Nelson.
Tonight, 9pm, Movenpick JBR, Dubai; Tomorrow, 7pm (early show), Senara, The Palm Island, Dubai; 9pm (late show), Movenpick JBR, Dubai; Monday, 8pm, Jekyll & Hyde, Currency House, DIFC, Dubai; Wednesday, 8pm, Park Rotana, Abu Dhabi; January 18, 7pm (early show), ON42, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City; 9pm (late show), Grand Millennium Barsha, Dubai; January 19, 7pm (early show), Jumeirah Golf Estate, Dubai; 9pm (late show), DoubleTree by Hilton Business Bay, Dubai, Dh140, ages 21+, www.platinumlist.net
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
More Iraq election coverage:
Tomb%20Raider%20I%E2%80%93III%20Remastered
%3Cp%3EDeveloper%3A%20Aspyr%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Aspyr%0D%3Cbr%3EConsole%3A%20Nintendo%20Switch%2C%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20series%20X%2FS%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Terminator: Dark Fate
Director: Tim Miller
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis
Rating: 3/5
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
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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Federer's 11 Wimbledon finals
2003 Beat Mark Philippoussis
2004 Beat Andy Roddick
2005 Beat Andy Roddick
2006 Beat Rafael Nadal
2007 Beat Rafael Nadal
2008 Lost to Rafael Nadal
2009 Beat Andy Roddick
2012 Beat Andy Murray
2014 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2015 Lost to Novak Djokovic
2017 Beat Marin Cilic
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
Afcon 2019
SEMI-FINALS
Senegal v Tunisia, 8pm
Algeria v Nigeria, 11pm
Matches are live on BeIN Sports
Final scores
18 under: Tyrrell Hatton (ENG)
- 14: Jason Scrivener (AUS)
-13: Rory McIlroy (NIR)
-12: Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP)
-11: David Lipsky (USA), Marc Warren (SCO)
-10: Tommy Fleetwood (ENG), Chris Paisley (ENG), Matt Wallace (ENG), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR)
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TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Zayed Sustainability Prize
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WandaVision
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany
Directed by: Matt Shakman
Rating: Four stars
Results
2pm Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,800m
Winner AF Al Baher, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner Alla Mahlak, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
3pm Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner Davy Lamp, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly.
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner Ode To Autumn, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
4pm Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner Arch Gold, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
4.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,800m
Winner Meqdam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
5pm Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner Native Appeal, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
5.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner Amani Pico, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
