As the Saudi Pro League edges closer to the halfway point, the title race, the battle for the top four places and the relegation picture are starting to take shape. With that, the next round of fixtures brings some intriguing match-ups, including a highly-anticipated encounter between Al Hilal and Al Ahli.
Al Khaleej v Al Taawoun (Thursday, 7pm)
Following a three-match winless run, Al Khaleej welcome high-flying Al Taawoun who sit in second place, having only lost one match so far this season. Momentum is on the side of the away team and it is very difficult to envisage them dropping points in Dammam.
Prediction: Al Khaleej 1-3 Al Taawoun
Damac v Al Okhdood (Thursday, 7pm)
With just three points separating the two teams occupying 12th and 14th place, this is a match that could likely have a significant impact on the relegation battle come the end of the season. Both teams have lost their most recent games and will be looking to bounce back, but in the attacking duo of Georges-Kevin Nkoudou and Assan Ceesay, the pair who have scored nine goals between them this season, Damac have the assets to help them overcome their opponents.
Prediction: Damac 2-0 Al Okhdood
Al Ittihad v Al Hazem (Thursday, 10pm)
Things are not looking great for coach Nuno Espirito Santo’s Al Ittihad side who have fallen into a slump, failing to win any of their last three matches in the league and needing a late winner in the Asian Champions League to overcome Iraq’s Air Force Club in midweek.
On paper, a home fixture against 17th-place Al Hazem should offer a perfect opportunity for Al Ittihad to bounce back, but the away side showed promising signs in their first match under new coach Jose Carreno, beating Al Raed 4-3, for their first win of the campaign.
Prediction: Al Ittihad 0-0 Al Hazem
Al Raed v Al Fateh (Friday, 7pm)
Rooted to the foot of the table after losing against their direct rivals Al Hazem last time out, Al Raed will go into their eighth match in a row chasing an elusive second win of the season, and despite the home advantage, it will not be an easy task.
Slaven Bilic’s Al Fateh have been on a scoring spree, bagging 14 goals in their last four matches, with Mourad Batna, in particular, in red-hot form alongside Cristian Tello, Djaniny and Lucas Zelarayan. Al Raed will have to play the game of their lives if they are to stop the side from Al Ahsa.
Prediction: Al Raed 1-3 Al Fateh
Al Tai v Al Riyadh (Friday, 7pm)
Despite finishing a respectable ninth place last season, things have not looked great for Al Tai this term. They find themselves languishing in 16th place and have already made a managerial change, bringing in Laurentiu Reghecampf to replace Kresimir Rezic, but to little impact, having lost their last four matches.
Al Riyadh stunned Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq last week to pick up their third win of the season and move up to 11th in the table, and they could further distance themselves from the drop zone with a victory in Hail.
Prediction: Al Tai 0-0 Al Riyadh
Al Hilal v Al Ahli (Thursday, 10pm)
The pick of matchweek 11, the hugely popular fixture features two of the most exciting front lines in the league. Al Hilal, spearheaded by Aleksandar Mitrovic who showed his quality with a midweek hat-trick in the AFC Champions League against Mumbai City, and Al Ahli led by the electric trio of Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino and Allan Saint-Maximin.
The hosts are yet to lose a game this term, sitting three points clear at the top of the table, but Al Ahli could close that gap to one point should they manage a third win in a row, having beaten Jeddah rivals Al Ittihad in the derby and then Al Wehda last time out.
Prediction: Al Hilal 3-2 Al Ahli
Abha v Al Shabab (Saturday, 7pm)
Things are not looking bright in Asir, where the home team have only collected one point from the last 21 available, leaving them in a precarious position, with just goal difference keeping them above the drop zone at this point of the season.
Al Shabab have been reinvigorated with the opening of their new stadium last week and won their first match under new boss Igor Biscan, beating Al Tai 2-0. Momentum will be on their side as they travel south in pursuit of a fourth win in six matches to bring them closer to the top six.
Prediction: Abha 0-3 Al Shabab
Al Fayha v Al Nassr (Saturday, 7pm)
Both teams will be suffering from a continental hangover, having played AFC Champions League football in midweek, although their experiences have been different. Al Nassr edged out Qatar’s Al Duhail 4-3 in Riyadh with Ronaldo scoring a brace, while Al Fayha were dismantled by UAE’s Al Ain 4-1.
At home, both teams are on solid unbeaten runs, Al Fayha’s stretching to four games, while Al Nassr’s, the second longest in the league, is up to seven matches now, following their most recent win against Damac.
Prediction: Al Fayha 1-3 Al Nassr
Al Wehda v Al Ettifaq (Saturday, 10pm)
Following a strong start to the season, Steven Gerrard’s men have dropped to seventh place, making their game against Al Wehda an important mid-table clash, with four points separating the two sides. Defeat for Al Ettifaq could send them further down the table, while a win could see them move level with Al Ittihad.
In turn, Al Wehda will be looking to arrest a three-match winless streak and cement their place in the top half of the table, and will be looking for Odion Ighalo as a source of goals once more.
Prediction: Al Wehda 2-2 Al Ettifaq
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.”
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
Managing the separation process
- Choose your nursery carefully in the first place
- Relax – and hopefully your child will follow suit
- Inform the staff in advance of your child’s likes and dislikes.
- If you need some extra time to talk to the teachers, make an appointment a few days in advance, rather than attempting to chat on your child’s first day
- The longer you stay, the more upset your child will become. As difficult as it is, walk away. Say a proper goodbye and reassure your child that you will be back
- Be patient. Your child might love it one day and hate it the next
- Stick at it. Don’t give up after the first day or week. It takes time for children to settle into a new routine.And, finally, don’t feel guilty.
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The lowdown
Bohemian Rhapsody
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Rating: 3/5
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Al Montaqem, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m | Winner: Daber W’Rsan, Connor Beasley, Jaci Wickham
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m | Winner: Bainoona, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m | Winner: AF Makerah, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 | Winner: AF Motaghatres, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,600m | Winner: Tafakhor, Ronan Whelan, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
New schools in Dubai
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Copa del Rey
Semi-final, first leg
Barcelona 1 (Malcom 57')
Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')
Second leg, February 27
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
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The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Brief scores:
Manchester City 2
Gundogan 27', De Bruyne 85'
Crystal Palace 3
Schlupp 33', Townsend 35', Milivojevic 51' (pen)
Man of the Match: Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace)
On the menu
First course
▶ Emirati sea bass tartare Yuzu and labneh mayo, avocado, green herbs, fermented tomato water
▶ The Tale of the Oyster Oyster tartare, Bahraini gum berry pickle
Second course
▶ Local mackerel Sourdough crouton, baharat oil, red radish, zaatar mayo
▶ One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Quail, smoked freekeh, cinnamon cocoa
Third course
▶ Bahraini bouillabaisse Venus clams, local prawns, fishfarm seabream, farro
▶ Lamb 2 ways Braised lamb, crispy lamb chop, bulgur, physalis
Dessert
▶ Lumi Black lemon ice cream, pistachio, pomegranate
▶ Black chocolate bar Dark chocolate, dates, caramel, camel milk ice cream
The five types of long-term residential visas
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
