Nathan Toronto's article Simple ways to help expatriate pupils learn Arabic, December 9) must be applauded. These steps are surely not too difficult to implement.
I attempted to learn the local dialect, with the help of an established 16-week course here in Abu Dhabi, and I have far more confidence in conversing with Emirati people than my two children who have been taught Arabic at their international school for 10 years.
It is a missed opportunity for them.
Perhaps more involvement between community schools and established international schools could bridge the gap to improve conversation and confidence about how to chat in the playground or the park.
A monthly visit by expatriate children to local community schools may reveal that the expatriates have learnt more than they let on; the problem is they have nowhere to test their knowledge and practise what they have been taught.
Regrettably it may be too late for the current generation of expatriate pupils, but simple ways implemented now could help the next generation.
Suzy Jane, Abu Dhabi
I would say that 90 per cent of my Arabic-language knowledge and vocabulary comes from watching Arabic television channels and cartoons dubbed into Arabic.
I think television is a very important medium that often gets overlooked when we think about education.
Samia Iftekhar, Abu Dhabi
Cyclist worries about safety
I agree with the suggestions made in the news story, Improve road safety by encouraging people to walk and cycle, UAE conference hears (December 8).
I would really like to ride my bike to work and back but it is far too dangerous on city streets.
Lynda Suzanne, Abu Dhabi
The current infrastructure that caters mostly to car users needs to be changed to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians.
The authorities should invest further in footbridges, underpasses and more paved space for those on foot.
This will not only encourage people to use public transport and ditch their cars, but will also help them stay fit and healthy by walking regularly.
Name withheld by request
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are great places, but comparing it with Europe, there is no respect at all for cyclists and pedestrians.
A great start would be to start fining motorists for not stopping at zebra crossings and for not using their indicators.
After that, the authorities should start creating more bicycle paths. They should also make sure that there is some follow up after roadworks. Quite often, the temporary barriers are just left there.
Paolo Masell, Dubai
Proper pavements – ones that don’t have cars parked on them – and dedicated bicycle lanes would be great.
Also cars should be required to reduce their speed in residential areas. Nicloas Benoit, Dubai
Islamophobia rules Trump out
I refer to Damac sticks by Trump Organization amid anti-Muslim tirade (December 8).
The Muslim community worldwide should loudly condemn Donald Trump and his incendiary views.
His entire presidential campaign is now resting firmly on a platform of out-of-control Islamophobia.
Mairam Ahmed, Dubai
What an immature act by Mr Trump. He thinks that targeting Muslims and restricting them will bring him people's support.
However, as far as I know, his supporters are already fed up with him.
Mursalan Khan, Abu Dhabi
It is absolutely ridiculous for Mr Trump to show intolerance and hatred towards all Muslims and propose barring them from entering the United States.
He is wrong to hold the entire Muslim population responsible for the acts of a few twisted individuals who defamed Islam.
Name withheld by request
The joke that is his presidential campaign is no longer funny.
Mr Trump has just become an embarrassment to his country.
Holly T, Dubai
Can we please put in place a travel ban for Mr Trump? Put him on a no-fly list and see how he likes it. Jean Francois Ng Lewis, Dubai
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
'Champions'
Director: Manuel Calvo
Stars: Yassir Al Saggaf and Fatima Al Banawi
Rating: 2/5
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.”
