ABU DHABI // Mahmoud Al Mas, the Al Ain goalkeeper, played the heroic role to rescue his team from a second defeat in two weeks against Al Wahda on Friday night at the Al Nahyan Stadium.
Al Ain went down 2-1 in the Arabian Gulf League, but last night they survived to settle for a scoreless result in the Arabian Gulf Cup, taking their tally to two points from three matches. For Wahda, it was their third draw and took their tally to three.
Al Mas denied Wahda from taking a first-half lead.
He blocked three shots repeatedly from inside the area, the first from Sebastian Tagliabue and twice on the rebound from Amer Omar.
Al Mas made another excellent save 10 minutes into the second half by pushing out a close range first time effort from Tagliabue.
He saved a third by fisting a powerfully struck shot from substitute Sultan Saif over the crossbar eight minutes left.
Al Ain, already severely depleted because of players called up for national duty, suffered a blow even before the game started. Helal Saeed, the veteran midfielder, was ruled out after suffering a muscle spasm while warming up.
“In the cup competition, we have to provide chances to the reserve players, particularly a team like Al Ain, where a majority of the players are called up for national team duties,” Al Ain coach Zlatko Dalic said.
“Under the circumstances we did well to share a point. We are still in the race and still have a chance to reach the semi-finals in this cup competition.”
“It was a balanced game played by both teams although we had more scoring opportunities than them,” Dalic’s Wahda counterpart Javier Aguirre said.
“The goalkeeper (Mahmoud Al Mas) made all the difference with his excellent work between the posts.
“We played eight from the reserves because players were on national duties and more injured players.
“I thought it was a good result. We have three points from three games and still hold a chance to reach the semi-finals.”
In the other games, Al Wasl moved three points clear at the top of Group A after a 2-0 victory over Baniyas at the Zabeel Stadium.
Fabio de Lima beat the Baniyas defence with a darting run to volley in a cross from his Brazilian teammate Caio Caneda for a second minute lead.
Caneda the provider then turned into the scorer by doubling the lead on the hour, a lead they preserved until the end and leave Baniyas winless in two cup games.
Al Dhafra won their first points in the cup competition with a 3-1 triumph over Al Shaab at the Hamdan bin Zayed stadium.
Makhete Diop put his side ahead in the 22nd minute but it lasted only eight minutes before Matias Donoso struck the equaliser.
Ahmed Ali regained the lead five minutes into the second half and David Barral, the Spaniard who came in as a substitute, struck four minutes from time to ensure the three points for Dhafra.
apassela@thenational.ae
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if you go
The flights
Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav.
The tour
While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).
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.”
The biog
Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”
Favourite film: “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”
Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”
Company profile
Name: Oulo.com
Founder: Kamal Nazha
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2020
Number of employees: 5
Sector: Technology
Funding: $450,000
ICC T20 Rankings
1. India - 270 ranking points
2. England - 265 points
3. Pakistan - 261 points
4. South Africa - 253 points
5. Australia - 251 points
6. New Zealand - 250 points
7. West Indies - 240 points
8. Bangladesh - 233 points
9. Sri Lanka - 230 points
10. Afghanistan - 226 points
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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
Tour de France 2017: Stage 5
Vittel - La Planche de Belles Filles, 160.5km
It is a shorter stage, but one that will lead to a brutal uphill finish. This is the third visit in six editions since it was introduced to the race in 2012. Reigning champion Chris Froome won that race.
