Manchester City head into the penultimate game of a troubled campaign with their Uefa Champions League hopes for next season hanging in the balance.
Pep Guardiola's team face Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday knowing that victory will see them jump from their current sixth spot in the Premier League up to third.
The top five clubs all secure a place at European club football's top table but there is currently only one point between Newcastle United in third and seventh-place Nottingham Forest.
Having relinquished the Premier League title to Liverpool and been knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid at the play-off stage, City's last hope of silverware evaporated at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
A shock 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace – in which Egyptian attacker Omar Marmoush missed a first-half penalty – meant City had lost in the FA Cup final for a second successive season.
Just three days later, much to the frustration of Guardiola who wanted the game put back at least 24 hours, City are back in action against a Bournemouth team still in the hunt for a European place themselves – albeit in the third tier Europa Conference League.
Set for his final game at the Etihad will be Kevin de Bruyne with the Belgian playmaker heading for pastures new with City deciding against awarding one of the Premier League all-time greats a new contract.
While falling short of guaranteeing De Bruyne a starting berth on Tuesday, manager Guardiola insisted the 33-year-old will be given the send-off he deserves, which will include a guard of honour from teammates and coaches after the game.
“We want to win the game so we can qualify for the Champions League next season – this is what Kevin wants, it couldn't be otherwise,” said Guardiola on Monday.
“I am going to decide what is the best for us to win the game against Bournemouth, that is for sure.
“Kevin will get what he deserves, and what he deserves is the best moment and the best compliment for his incredible trajectory.
“What he has done along with some incredible other legends in this club will not be possible in the 10 to 15 years since Sheikh Mansour took over the club and run this club to reach another level.”
Worst case scenario and City finish seventh, it would represent their worst campaign since Mark Hughes' side ended up 10th in 2008/09 – the season when Abu Dhabi's City Football Group first took charge.
Finishing outside the top five means City will not play in the Champions League for the first time since 2010/11.
“For the last 13 or 14 or 15 years we want to be in the Champions League but if we are not there then we don't deserve it and will be in the Europa League,” said Guardiola, whose team finish the season away to Fulham on Sunday. “It is what it is.
“But I'm thinking we're going to qualify. I control my mind and I think that. The first step is to finish in third position in the Premier League and that is the main target.”
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, are also in action on Tuesday when they entertain Wolves at Selhurst Park, before taking on champions Liverpool on Merseyside at the weekend.
A first-half goal from Eberechi Eze earned Palace their first ever major trophy after 119 years of trying. And manager Oliver Glasner admitted he was unsure how hard it will be to motivate his players after such a historic victory.
“I don't know to be honest,” said the German who, like counterpart Guardiola, also wanted the match day moved back.
“We cancelled Sunday's training. Of course though we have to find the right motivation, the right commitment altogether how we want to start this week and how we want to end this week with two games.
“They are human beings with emotions and sometimes it is not as easy to get the turnaround. That's why I was fighting for the Wolves game on Thursday not Tuesday.
“We have to play this game tomorrow – it's our last home game. It will be a great atmosphere. Many fans are still celebrating and it's what they deserve. We will go for a good end of the season at home.”
For a season that started so badly – Palace failed to win any of their first eight games until beating Tottenham Hotspur on October 27 – the turnaround under Glasner has been hugely impressive.
The South London club are currently 12th in the table and have already matched their highest ever points total of 49. Beating that tally would be a fitting end to an unforgettable season for the Eagles.
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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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.”
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
