• Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attends the 31st Arab Summit as the head of the UAE delegation. Photo: The Government of Dubai Media Office
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attends the 31st Arab Summit as the head of the UAE delegation. Photo: The Government of Dubai Media Office
  • The two-day summit commenced in the Algerian capital Algiers. Photo: The Government of Dubai Media Office
    The two-day summit commenced in the Algerian capital Algiers. Photo: The Government of Dubai Media Office
  • Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Arab League secretary general Ahmed Aboul Gheit attend a session at the 31st Arab League summit in Algiers. Reuters
    Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and Arab League secretary general Ahmed Aboul Gheit attend a session at the 31st Arab League summit in Algiers. Reuters
  • The two-day summit ended on Wednesday. EPA
    The two-day summit ended on Wednesday. EPA
  • Arab leaders issued a communique in which they renewed their support for Palestinians and rejected 'foreign interference' in the domestic affairs of their nations ― a thinly veiled reference to Iran and Turkey. Reuters
    Arab leaders issued a communique in which they renewed their support for Palestinians and rejected 'foreign interference' in the domestic affairs of their nations ― a thinly veiled reference to Iran and Turkey. Reuters
  • This was the first Arab League summit since a string of normalisation deals with Israel that have divided the region. AFP
    This was the first Arab League summit since a string of normalisation deals with Israel that have divided the region. AFP
  • Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati arrives to attend the closing ceremony of the summit. AFP
    Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati arrives to attend the closing ceremony of the summit. AFP
  • Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi arrives to attend the closing ceremony. EPA
    Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi arrives to attend the closing ceremony. EPA
  • Sudanese leader Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan arrives at the venue of the summit to attend the closing ceremony. EPA
    Sudanese leader Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan arrives at the venue of the summit to attend the closing ceremony. EPA
  • Arab leaders pose for a group photo during the summit. EPA
    Arab leaders pose for a group photo during the summit. EPA
  • Tunisian President Kais Saied speaks during the opening ceremony. EPA
    Tunisian President Kais Saied speaks during the opening ceremony. EPA
  • Mr El Sisi attends the opening ceremony. EPA
    Mr El Sisi attends the opening ceremony. EPA
  • Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas leaves after the opening ceremony. AFP
    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas leaves after the opening ceremony. AFP
  • Mr Tebboune reaches for the microphone after the opening ceremony. AFP
    Mr Tebboune reaches for the microphone after the opening ceremony. AFP
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, is greeted by Algerian Prime Minister Aymen Benabderrahmane upon his arrival in Algiers for the summit. Photo: Dubai Media Office
    Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, is greeted by Algerian Prime Minister Aymen Benabderrahmane upon his arrival in Algiers for the summit. Photo: Dubai Media Office
  • Mr El Sisi shakes hands with Mr Tebboune before the start of the summit in Algiers. Reuters
    Mr El Sisi shakes hands with Mr Tebboune before the start of the summit in Algiers. Reuters
  • Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, right, receives UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres before his appearance at the summit as a guest of honour. AP
    Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, right, receives UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres before his appearance at the summit as a guest of honour. AP
  • Mr Tebboune, right, welcomes Gen Al Burhan in Algiers. AFP
    Mr Tebboune, right, welcomes Gen Al Burhan in Algiers. AFP
  • Mr Tebboune, right, welcomes President of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh at Houari Boumediene International Airport in Algiers. EPA
    Mr Tebboune, right, welcomes President of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh at Houari Boumediene International Airport in Algiers. EPA
  • Mr Tebboune receives Mr Saied, the Tunisian leader, upon his arrival in Algiers. EPA
    Mr Tebboune receives Mr Saied, the Tunisian leader, upon his arrival in Algiers. EPA
  • Ministers and delegates attend a preparatory meeting on Tuesday before the start of the two-day summit. AP
    Ministers and delegates attend a preparatory meeting on Tuesday before the start of the two-day summit. AP
  • Ministers and delegates attend a meeting before the 31st Arab League summit begins. AP
    Ministers and delegates attend a meeting before the 31st Arab League summit begins. AP
  • Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, centre, arrives in Algiers to attend the summit. AP
    Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, centre, arrives in Algiers to attend the summit. AP
  • Mr Tebboune, right, greets Mr Abbas at Houari Boumediene International Airport before the start of the summit. EPA
    Mr Tebboune, right, greets Mr Abbas at Houari Boumediene International Airport before the start of the summit. EPA
  • Mr Tebboune, right, receives Mohamed Al Menfi, President of the Libyan Presidential Council. EPA
    Mr Tebboune, right, receives Mohamed Al Menfi, President of the Libyan Presidential Council. EPA
  • Mr Tebboune, right, greets Macky Sall, African Union President, President of Senegal and guest of honour at the Arab League summit. EPA
    Mr Tebboune, right, greets Macky Sall, African Union President, President of Senegal and guest of honour at the Arab League summit. EPA

Arab League leaders meet in Algiers for their first summit since 2019


  • English
  • Arabic

Arab leaders began their first summit in three years in Algeria on Tuesday, facing the daunting challenge of finding common ground on diverse issues including food shortages, climate change, the Palestinian question and foreign meddling in their nations' domestic affairs.

The 22-member, Cairo-based Arab League last held a summit in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic struck.

"Whether we like it or not, the Arab region is placed in the eye of so many crises," lamented Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit in an address to the summit's opening session.

The region, he explained, was central to global energy supplies and their prices, a primary victim of climate change and water scarcity, and one whose food security faces a "grave danger".

"Our Arab states are in a dire need for a comprehensive strategy to deal with this state of extended crisis," he said.

As with most of the previous 30 Arab summits, there is little prospect that this one will produce a breakthrough on any of the issues bedevilling the region for years, and in some cases decades.

These range from the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to the turmoil in Syria, Yemen and Libya and the perceived interference in Arab affairs by Iran and Turkey, two Muslim but non-Arab nations.

"It's our duty, more than at any time in the past, to put out those burning Arab crises and not just reduce their gravity or learn to live with them," said Mr Aboul Gheit.

Hossam Zaki, the Arab League's assistant secretary general, said there were differences among the leaders in Algiers on how to phrase the summit's proposed resolution on the question of foreign meddling.

“We have contained those differences in a technical and professional way,” said Mr Zaki, who explained that the resolution would renew the participants' previous agreement to condemn Iranian and Turkish meddling.

“But this does not mean that there is complete consensus. Some countries have different perspectives,” he retorted.

Algeria chose the date of the summit to coincide with the 68th anniversary of the start of its War of Liberation from French rule, giving the two-day meeting added significance and bolstering its image as a champion of Arab causes.

Also addressing the summit's opening session, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune repeated the long-standing call for a resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on a two-state solution, with the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

He also issued a rallying cry for Arabs to step up their efforts to help the cause of the Palestinians.

"I am looking forward to the creation of an Arab commission of co-ordination and communication to support the Palestinian cause," he said. "Algeria stands ready to call for an extraordinary meeting of the UN General Assembly to accord the state of Palestine full UN membership."

The summit comes at a time when Algeria’s large oil and gas exports to western Europe have boosted the country’s international standing, given the energy crisis created by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In the same vein, the summit will be preoccupied with the effect of the war on the economies of several league members, like Egypt, Lebanon and Sudan, where soaring food and fuel prices have compounded the suffering of their populations.

Algeria initially wanted the summit to witness the return of Syria to the Arab League, 11 years after its membership was suspended to protest against its brutal handling of its 2011 uprising. Syria said in September it would not attend the summit, arguing that it did not want its readmission to the league to become a divisive issue.

Despite its location thousands of kilometres from Israel, Algeria regards itself as a front-line state. It views Israel as an enemy, takes exception to the normalisation of relations between Arab nations and Israel and vigorously champions the cause of the Palestinians. Its forces joined the Egyptian army in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

Algerian women in traditional costume during a parade held on the eve of the 31st Arab summit in Algiers. EPA
Algerian women in traditional costume during a parade held on the eve of the 31st Arab summit in Algiers. EPA

Algeria has billed the summit as one for "closing ranks" and the "Palestine summit", explaining that the focus would be on the intractable and decades-old Palestinian question.

Last month, Algeria hosted reconciliation talks between the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority, which controls parts of the occupied West Bank, and the militant Hamas group that rules the Gaza Strip.

The deal is the latest in a long series of similar agreements brokered by Arab nations that have proven ineffective. But its announcement by Algeria in the days ahead of the summit was meant to signal its return to Middle East diplomacy as a key player.

“Palestine is burning under the feet of the occupiers,” Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a letter to the Arab leaders meeting in Algiers.

He called on them to support Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and “condemn the occupation and its crimes and work for its political and diplomatic isolation.”

Arab leaders will be monitoring the results of Israel’s parliamentary election on Tuesday to see if former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his extremist allies return to power.

The vote comes at a time of heightened tensions in the West Bank, where Israel’s security forces conduct nightly raids in search of Palestinian militants and dozens of Palestinians have also been killed by the Israelis in recent weeks.

Only 13 of the Arab League's 22 members are represented in Algiers by heads of state, according to Mr Zaki. The rest are prime ministers, foreign ministers and crown princes.

Tensions between neighbours Algeria and Morocco have surfaced in Algiers. Algiers severed diplomatic ties with its North African neighbour last year.

The enduring feud between the two countries is rooted in a dispute over the Western Sahara, a territory annexed by Morocco in 1975.

Sahrawis from the Polisario Front are backed by Algeria and have sought independence for decades.

King Hassan VI of Morocco has reversed his decision to attend the summit, staying away in response to an intensely publicised diplomatic tiff with the host nation that erupted during a meeting of Arab foreign ministers on Monday.

Morocco's foreign minister told a television interview on Tuesday that a map of Morocco shown by a state-controlled, Algerian television network "compromised" his country's territorial integrity, an apparent reference to placing the Sahara outside Morocco's borders.

Speaking in a television interview, the minister, Nasser Bourita, suggested that the error was intentional. "Why there was no doctoring with the maps, for example, of Saudi Arabia, Tunisia or Jordan?" he asked rhetorically.

He said another perceived slight was the decision by Algerian authorities to deport 40 of Morocco's 52-strong official media delegation.

"They arrived and were sent back to Morocco without leaving the airport." Mr Zaki said the Arab League tried to contain the diplomatic quarrel between Morocco and Algeria and lamented the decision by the Moroccan monarch to stay away from the summit.

"We had hoped that his majesty would be present, but that's his decision,” said Mr Zaki.

“We wanted to soften relations between the two nations, but we remain hopeful that we can reach a point where the two countries can regain a suitable level of dialogue,” he told the Saudi-owned Al Arabiyah television network in an interview.

Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a message to the summit saying Moscow is committed to co-operation with the Arab League to boost “security.”

He called for conflicts to “be resolved on the basis of generally accepted international law and a commitment to strict respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries.”

Most Arab states have taken a neutral position on the Russia-Ukraine war, although the Russian invasion of its neighbour in February brought about many hardships they now have to endure.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres arrived in Algiers on Tuesday to attend the summit as an observer. Azerbaijan's president Ilham Aliyev was also in Algiers on Tuesday as a guest of honour and as the current chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Mostafa Haroon is a special correspondent for The National in Algiers. Hamza Hendawi reported from Cairo

  • A model of Burj Al Arab, in Algiers. Landmarks from countries due to take part in the Arab League Summit on November 1 and 2 have been placed in the Algerian capital. All photos: EPA
    A model of Burj Al Arab, in Algiers. Landmarks from countries due to take part in the Arab League Summit on November 1 and 2 have been placed in the Algerian capital. All photos: EPA
  • A model of the Friday Mosque in Moroni, Comoros.
    A model of the Friday Mosque in Moroni, Comoros.
  • The Hamidiya Clock tower of Lebanon.
    The Hamidiya Clock tower of Lebanon.
  • Sudan's Pyramids of Moroe.
    Sudan's Pyramids of Moroe.
  • The Bahrain World Trade Centre.
    The Bahrain World Trade Centre.
  • The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.
    The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.
  • Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Centre.
    Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Centre.
  • Kuwait Towers.
    Kuwait Towers.
  • Tunisia's Clock Tower.
    Tunisia's Clock Tower.
  • The Ishtar Gate of Iraq.
    The Ishtar Gate of Iraq.
  • The Martyr's Memorial of Algeria.
    The Martyr's Memorial of Algeria.
  • The Lighthouse Tower of Somalia.
    The Lighthouse Tower of Somalia.
  • The Pyramids of Egypt.
    The Pyramids of Egypt.
  • The Red Castle of Libya.
    The Red Castle of Libya.
  • Mococco's Kutubiyya Mosque Marrakesh.
    Mococco's Kutubiyya Mosque Marrakesh.
  • The Azm Palace of Syria.
    The Azm Palace of Syria.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs

  Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now

THE APPRENTICE

Director: Ali Abbasi

Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong

Rating: 3/5

Coffee: black death or elixir of life?

It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?

Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.

The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.

The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.

Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver. 

The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.

But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.

Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.

It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.

So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.

Rory Reynolds

The Kingfisher Secret
Anonymous, Penguin Books

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206-cylinder%203-litre%2C%20with%20petrol%20and%20diesel%20variants%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20286hp%20(petrol)%2C%20249hp%20(diesel)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E450Nm%20(petrol)%2C%20550Nm%20(diesel)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EStarting%20at%20%2469%2C800%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder

Transmission: CVT auto

Power: 181bhp

Torque: 244Nm

Price: Dh122,900 

The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S

Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000

Engine: 3.0-litre V6

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm

Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L / 100km

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: CVT auto

Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km

On sale: now

Price: from Dh195,000 

Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

Top Hundred overseas picks

London Spirit: Kieron Pollard, Riley Meredith 

Welsh Fire: Adam Zampa, David Miller, Naseem Shah 

Manchester Originals: Andre Russell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sean Abbott

Northern Superchargers: Dwayne Bravo, Wahab Riaz

Oval Invincibles: Sunil Narine, Rilee Rossouw

Trent Rockets: Colin Munro

Birmingham Phoenix: Matthew Wade, Kane Richardson

Southern Brave: Quinton de Kock

List of alleged parties

 

May 12, 2020: PM and his wife Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at least 17 staff 

May 20, 2020: They attend 'bring your own booze party'

Nov 27, 2020: PM gives speech at leaving party for his staff 

Dec 10, 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson 

Dec 13, 2020: PM and his wife throw a party

Dec 14, 2020: London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff event at Conservative Party headquarters 

Dec 15, 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz 

Dec 18, 2020: Downing Street Christmas party 

Racecard
%3Cp%3E1.45pm%3A%20Bin%20Dasmal%20Contracting%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh50%2C000%20(Dirt)%201%2C200m%3Cbr%3E2.15pm%3A%20Al%20Shafar%20Investment%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(TB)%20Dh60%2C000%20(D)%201%2C200m%3Cbr%3E2.45pm%3A%202023%20Cup%20by%20Emirates%20sprint%20series%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh84%2C000%20(D)%201%2C200m%3Cbr%3E3.15pm%3A%20HIVE%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh68%2C000%20(D)%201%2C400m%3Cbr%3E3.45pm%3A%20Jebel%20Ali%20Mile%20Prep%20by%20Shadwell%20%E2%80%93%20Conditions%20(TB)%20Dh100%2C000%20(D)%201%2C600m%3Cbr%3E4.15pm%3A%20JARC%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(TB)%20Dh60%2C000%20(D)%201%2C600m%3Cbr%3E4.45pm%3A%20Deira%20Cup%20by%20Emirates%20Sprint%20series%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh76%2C000%20(D)%201%2C950m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Australia World Cup squad

Aaron Finch (capt), Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Getting%20there%20
%3Cp%3E%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Ftravel%2F2023%2F01%2F12%2Fwhat-does-it-take-to-be-cabin-crew-at-one-of-the-worlds-best-airlines-in-2023%2F%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3EEtihad%20Airways%20%3C%2Fa%3Eflies%20daily%20to%20the%20Maldives%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi.%20The%20journey%20takes%20four%20hours%20and%20return%20fares%20start%20from%20Dh3%2C995.%20Opt%20for%20the%203am%20flight%20and%20you%E2%80%99ll%20land%20at%206am%2C%20giving%20you%20the%20entire%20day%20to%20adjust%20to%20island%20time.%20%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERound%20trip%20speedboat%20transfers%20to%20the%20resort%20are%20bookable%20via%20Anantara%20and%20cost%20%24265%20per%20person.%20%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
European arms

Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons.  Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2015%20PRO%20MAX
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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.”

if you go

Getting there

Etihad (Etihad.com), Emirates (emirates.com) and Air France (www.airfrance.com) fly to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Return flights cost from around Dh3,785. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Paris to Compiègne by train, with return tickets costing €19. The Glade of the Armistice is 6.6km east of the railway station.

Staying there

On a handsome, tree-lined street near the Chateau’s park, La Parenthèse du Rond Royal (laparenthesedurondroyal.com) offers spacious b&b accommodation with thoughtful design touches. Lots of natural woods, old fashioned travelling trunks as decoration and multi-nozzle showers are part of the look, while there are free bikes for those who want to cycle to the glade. Prices start at €120 a night.

More information: musee-armistice-14-18.fr ; compiegne-tourisme.fr; uk.france.fr

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

What is an FTO Designation?

FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes. 

It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.

Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.

Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.

Source: US Department of State

Zakat definitions

Zakat: an Arabic word meaning ‘to cleanse’ or ‘purification’.

Nisab: the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay zakat. Traditionally, the nisab threshold was 87.48 grams of gold, or 612.36 grams of silver. The monetary value of the nisab therefore varies by current prices and currencies.

Zakat Al Mal: the ‘cleansing’ of wealth, as one of the five pillars of Islam; a spiritual duty for all Muslims meeting the ‘nisab’ wealth criteria in a lunar year, to pay 2.5 per cent of their wealth in alms to the deserving and needy.

Zakat Al Fitr: a donation to charity given during Ramadan, before Eid Al Fitr, in the form of food. Every adult Muslim who possesses food in excess of the needs of themselves and their family must pay two qadahs (an old measure just over 2 kilograms) of flour, wheat, barley or rice from each person in a household, as a minimum.

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Avatar%3A%20The%20Way%20of%20Water
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ESSENTIALS

The flights 

Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Mykonos, with a flight change to its partner airline Olympic Air in Athens. Return flights cost from Dh4,105 per person, including taxes. 

Where to stay 

The modern-art-filled Ambassador hotel (myconianambassador.gr) is 15 minutes outside Mykonos Town on a hillside 500 metres from the Platis Gialos Beach, with a bus into town every 30 minutes (a taxi costs €15 [Dh66]). The Nammos and Scorpios beach clubs are a 10- to 20-minute walk (or water-taxi ride) away. All 70 rooms have a large balcony, many with a Jacuzzi, and of the 15 suites, five have a plunge pool. There’s also a private eight-bedroom villa. Double rooms cost from €240 (Dh1,063) including breakfast, out of season, and from €595 (Dh2,636) in July/August.

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

WandaVision

Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany

Directed by: Matt Shakman

Rating: Four stars

Results

2.15pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Arrab, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).

2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mahaleel, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel.

3.15pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum handicap (TB) Dh200,000 2,000m; Winner: Dolmen, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

3.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Amang Alawda, Sandro Paiva, Bakhit Al Ketbi.

4.15pm: The Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 1,200m; Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.

4.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: Al Jazi, Jesus Rosales, Eric Lemartinel.

Karwaan

Producer: Ronnie Screwvala

Director: Akarsh Khurana

Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar

Rating: 4/5

Results

5pm: Warsan Lake – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m; Winner: Dhaw Al Reef, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer) 

5.30pm: Al Quadra Lake – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Mrouwah Al Gharbia, Sando Paiva, Abubakar Daud 

6pm: Hatta Lake – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: AF Yatroq, George Buckell, Ernst Oertel 

6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Ashton Tourettes, Adries de Vries, Ibrahim Aseel 

7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship – Listed (PA) Dh180,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami 

7.30pm: Zakher Lake – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Alfareeq, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.  

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The%20specs
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The biog

Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns

Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins

Food of choice: Sushi  

Favourite colour: Orange

Book%20Details
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Kandahar%20
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Brief scoreline:

Wolves 3

Neves 28', Doherty 37', Jota 45' 2

Arsenal 1

Papastathopoulos 80'

Key developments

All times UTC 4

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

The specs: Macan Turbo

Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

ENGLAND SQUAD

Joe Root (captain), Dom Sibley, Rory Burns, Dan Lawrence, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes (wicketkeeper), Moeen Ali, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad

Australia (15-1): Israel Folau; Dane Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, Kurtley Beale, Marika Koroibete; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; David Pocock, Michael Hooper (capt), Lukhan Tui; Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda; Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tom Robertson.

Replacements: Tolu Latu, Allan Alaalatoa, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Pete Samu, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Jack Maddocks.

EA Sports FC 24
Updated: November 01, 2022, 9:39 PM