The late deals in the Premier League

QPR were the Barclay's Premier League's biggest spenders on transfer deadline day with almost £9million (Dh52m) invested on strikers Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cisse.

Most of the day's money went on forwards, with Everton bringing in Rangers' Nikica Jelavic, Fulham signing Stuttgart's Pavel Pogrebnyak and Chelsea taking teenager Patrick Bamford from Nottingham Forest.

There was also some traditionally late business for Tottenham who completed a surprise short-term move for Everton's injury-troubled striker Louis Saha, allowed Roman Pavlyuchenko to join Lokomotiv Moscow and gave loans to defenders Vedran Corluka (Bayer Leverkusen) and Sebastian Bassong (Wolves) with midfielder Steven Pienaar returning to Goodison Park until the end of the season.

But there was no late escape for Manchester City's wantaway forward Carlos Tevez as interest from the continent failed to manifest itself into anything stronger, leaving the Argentina international in limbo again.

Mark Hughes, the QPR manager, made the most of the budget given to him by owner Tony Fernandes, whose takeover of the club in August came too late to broker any major deals, by forking out two of the highest fees in the final few hours of the January window.

With only the Premier League's bottom side Wigan having scored fewer (19) in the first 22 matches, the Loftus Road boss identified goals as an area for improvement.

The 30-year-old Cisse, formerly of Liverpool and Sunderland, returned to England after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract to leave Lazio in a deal Press Association Sport understands is worth around £4.1million.

Zamora, who Hughes managed during his spell at Craven Cottage last year, cost the west London club an initial £4.5million after the 31-year-old signed a two-and-a-half-year contract - although that figure will rise based on performances

"QPR are certainly a club that are looking to go forward," Zamora told the club's official website..

"That's something that I'm looking forward to being a part of. I got on really well with the manager at Fulham [and] he's looking to take the club forward.

"I think this was the right time for me to have a fresh challenge."

Cisse is relishing the prospect of playing in the Premier League again.

"I have unfinished business here in England. The English league is the best in the world. It is the league that suits me the most," he said.

"For the type of player I am I need space, I like fast football in a good atmosphere and all these things are in England."

Zamora's replacement at Craven Cottage was Stuttgart's Pogrebnyak, who arrived on a six-month deal, but Spurs boss Harry Redknapp's move for Saha, 34 in August, came as something of surprise considering his chequered fitness record.

The Frenchman, who had just six months remaining on his current deal, has managed 20 appearances this season, scoring just twice.

Redknapp was also awaiting confirmation of a deal to take Ryan Nelsen, who has played just once since April 9, from Blackburn.

Everton finalised a four-and-a-half-year deal for Jelavic and the 26-year-old hopes to be able to continue his good goalscoring form now he is in England.

"It is a big thing for me and it is a new step in my career, a step forward," said the Croatia international, who scored 36 times in just 55 appearances for Rangers and 40 goals in 93 games for Rapid Vienna.

Another former Liverpool player also returned to England as Sotirios Kyrgiakos, who only left Anfield in the summer, became Sunderland's second signing of the day.

The 32-year-old centre-half joined on loan from Wolfsburg to follow Manchester City left-back Wayne Bridge to the Stadium of Light after the England international agreed a temporary spell in the north-east.

"I'm hoping that with Wayne's experience and ability he can be a big help to the team until the end of the season," said manager Martin O'Neill.

"Sotirios offers a real physical presence, coupled with a wealth of experience, which will be an undoubted benefit to us in the next few months."

Chelsea completed a five-and-a-half year contract for 20-year-old Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne - before loaning him back to Genk until the end of the season - and also signed Bamford later in the day.

Blackburn brought in former Halmstad winger Marcus Olsson, the twin brother of Rovers' Swedish wideman Martin, and QPR defender Bradley Orr while Arsenal signed 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder Thomas Eisfeld and allowed Japanese midfielder Ryo Miyaichi, 19, to go on loan to Bolton.

Bolton also completed the signing of striker Marvin Sordell from Watford for an undisclosed fee subject to confirmation from the Football Association and Premier League, the Trotters announced just before deadline.

Manchester City signed Roma's 32-year-old Chilean midfielder David Pizarro on loan but lost Switzerland Under-17 captain Frederic Veseli, 19, to near neighbours United, who themselves allowed teenage midfielder Ravel Morrison to leave for West Ham on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

West Brom signed defender Liam Ridgewell from Birmingham, Norwich brought in Peterborough defender Ryan Bennett but Stoke allowed Danny Higginbotham to join npower Championship side Nottingham Forest on loan.

Only Stoke City and Liverpool failed to sign anyone in January.

Overall, spending was down massively compared to 12 months ago as clubs tightened their belts with one eye on UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations.

Alan Switzer, director of the sports business group at accountancy giants Deloitte said the 2012 fall could partially be attributed to the onset of UEFA's financial fair play regulations, which dictate that clubs wishing to take part in European competitions will only be allowed to spend what they earn.

"Financial fair play has definitely had an impact. The 2011/12 season does now count towards the UEFA rules and that will be part of the consideration which clubs will be giving to any transfer," he said.

Premier League January 2012 transfers

ARSENAL
Ins: Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls, loan), Thomas Eisfield (Borussia Dortmund, undisclosed).
Outs: Emmanuel Frimpong (Wolves, loan), Vito Mannone (Hull, loan), Sead Hajrovic (Barnet, loan), Luke Freeman (Stevenage, undisclosed), Daniel Boateng (Swindon, loan), Sanchez Watt (Crawley, loan), Gavin Hoyte (AFC Wimbledon, loan), Ryo Miyaichi (Bolton, loan).

ASTON VILLA
Ins: Enda Stevens (Shamrock Rovers, undisclosed), Robbie Keane (Los Angeles Galaxy, loan).
Outs: Fabian Delph (Leeds, loan), Elliot Parish (Cardiff, undisclosed), Nathan Delfouneso (Leicester, loan), Shane Lowry (Millwall, undisclosed).

BLACKBURN
Ins: Anthony Modeste (Bordeaux, loan), Marcus Olsson (Halmstad, free), Bradley Orr (QPR, undisclosed).
Outs: Jason Roberts (Reading, undisclosed), Keith Andrews (West Brom, free).
BOLTON
Ins: Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls, undisclosed), Ryo Miyaichi (Arsenal, loan).
Outs: Gary Cahill (Chelsea, undisclosed), Jack Sampson (Southend, loan).

CHELSEA
Ins: Gary Cahill (Bolton, undisclosed), Kevin de Bruyne (Genk, undisclosed), Patrick Bamford (Nottingham Forest, undisclosed).
Outs: Nicolas Anelka (Shanghai Shenhua, undisclosed), Rhys Taylor (Rotherham, loan), Josh McEachran (Swansea, loan), Ben Gordon (Kilmarnock, loan), Sam Walker (Yeovil, loan), Alex (Paris St Germain, undisclosed), Philipp Prosenik (AC Milan, undisclosed), Kevin de Bruyne (Genk, loan), Milan Lalkovic (ADO Den Haag, loan).

EVERTON
Ins: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy, loan), Darron Gibson (Manchester United, undisclosed), Nikica Jelavic (Rangers, undisclosed), Steven Pienaar (Tottenham, loan).
Outs: Aristote Nsiala (Accrington, loan), James Wallace (Stevenage, loan), Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (Spartak Moscow, undisclosed), Louis Saha (Tottenham, undisclosed).

FULHAM
Ins: Jack Grimmer (Aberdeen, undisclosed), Lasse Vigen Christensen (FC Midtjylland, undisclosed), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Stuttgart, undisclosed)
Outs: Bobby Zamora (QPR, undisclosed)

LIVERPOOL
Ins: Jordan Ibe (Wycombe, undisclosed)
Outs: Danny Wilson (Blackpool, loan), Martin Hansen (Viborg, undisclosed).

MANCHESTER CITY
Ins: David Pizarro (Roma, loan).
Outs: Kieran Trippier (Burnley, undisclosed), Harry Bunn (Preston, loan), Chris Chantler (Carlisle, undisclosed), Loris Karius (Mainz, undisclosed), Alex Nimely (Coventry, loan), Ben Mee (Burnley, undisclosed), Nedum Onuoha (QPR, undisclosed), Wayne Bridge (Sunderland, loan), Frederic Veseli (Manchester United, undisclosed).

MANCHESTER UNITED
Ins: Paul Scholes (free agent), Frederic Veseli (Manchester City, undisclosed).
Outs: Federico Macheda (QPR, loan), Darron Gibson (Everton, undisclosed), Joshua King (Hull, loan), Mame Biram Diouf (Hannover, undisclosed), Danny Drinkwater (Leicester, undisclosed), John Kofie (Royal Antwerp, loan), Ravel Morrison (West Ham, undisclosed), Scott Wootton (Nottingham Forest, loan).

NEWCASTLE
Ins: Papiss Demba Cisse (Freiburg, undisclosed).
Outs: Alan Smith (MK Dons, loan), James Tavernier (MK Dons, loan).

NORWICH
Ins: Jonny Howson (Leeds, undisclosed), Ryan Bennett (Peterborough, undisclosed).
Outs: George Francomb (Hibernian, loan), Korey Smith (Barnsley, loan), Oli Johnson (Oxford, free).
QPR
Ins: Federico Macheda (Manchester United, loan), Taye Taiwo (AC Milan, loan), Nedum Onuoha (Manchester City, undisclosed), Samba Diakite (Nancy, loan), Djibril Cisse (Lazio, undisclosed), Bobby Zamora (Fulham, undisclosed).
Outs: Matthew Connolly (Reading, loan), Martin Rowlands (released), Petter Vaagan Moen (released), Bradley Orr (Blackburn, undisclosed).

STOKE
Ins:
Outs: Danny Pugh (Leeds, undisclosed), Tom Soares (Hibernian, loan), Michael Tonge (Barnsley, loan), Ryan Brunt (Tranmere, loan), Florent Cuvelier (Walsall, loan), Ben Marshall (Leicester, undisclosed), Danny Higginbotham (Nottingham Forest, loan).
SUNDERLAND
Ins: Wayne Bridge (Manchester City, loan), Sotirios Kyrgiakos (Wolfsburg, loan).
Outs: Nyron Nosworthy (Watford, undisclosed), Ryan Noble (Derby, loan), Blair Adams (Northampton, loan), John Egan (Crystal Palace, loan), Trevor Carson (Hull, loan), Jordan Cook (Carlisle, loan), Louis Laing (Wycombe, loan), Liam Noble (Carlisle, free).

SWANSEA
Ins: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Hoffenheim, loan), Rory Donnelly (Cliftonville, undisclosed), Darnel Situ (Lens, £250,000), Josh McEachran (Chelsea, loan), Curtis Obeng (Wrexham, undisclosed).
Outs: Lee Lucas (Burton, loan), Thomas Butler (released), Craig Beattie (released), David Cotterill (released), Daniel Alfei (Wrexham, loan).

TOTTENHAM
Ins: Yago Falque (Juventus, undisclosed), Louis Saha (Everton, undisclosed).
Outs: Harry Kane (Millwall, loan), Ryan Mason (Millwall, loan), Andros Townsend (Leeds, loan), David Button (Doncaster, loan), Dean Parrett (Yeovil, loan), Yago Falque (Southampton, loan), Tom Carroll (Derby, loan), Adam Smith (Leeds, loan), John Bostock (Sheffield Wednesday, loan), Kudus Oyenuga (St Johnstone, loan), Vedran Corluka (Bayer Leverkusen, loan), Sebastien Bassong (Wolves, loan), Steven Pienaar (Everton, loan).

WEST BROM
Ins: Scott Allan (Dundee Utd, undisclosed), Liam Ridgewell (Birmingham, undisclosed), Keith Andrews (Blackburn, free).
Outs: Joe Mattock (Portsmouth, loan), Chris Wood (Bristol City, loan), Lateef Elford-Alliyu (Tranmere, loan), Roman Bednar (Blackpool, free), James Hurst (Chesterfield, loan), Romaine Sawyers (Shrewsbury, loan).

WIGAN
Ins: Jean Beausejour (Birmingham, undisclosed).
Outs: Nouha Dicko (Blackpool, loan).

WOLVES
Ins: Eggert Jonsson (Hearts, undisclosed), Emmanuel Frimpong (Arsenal, loan), Sebastien Bassong (Tottenham, loan).
Outs: David Davis (Chesterfield, loan), Sam Winnall (Inverness, loan), Adlene Guedioura (Nottingham Forest, loan), Andy Keogh (Wolves, undisclosed), Sam Vokes (Brighton, loan), Jamie Reckord (Scunthorpe, loan), Matt Doherty (Hibernian, loan).

Tamkeen's offering

Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
Option 2: 50% across three years
Option 3: 30% across five years

Bill Gates: How the world can end the coronavirus pandemic

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.”

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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net

Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.

Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.

A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.

Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.

GREATEST ROYAL RUMBLE CARD

The line-up as it stands for the Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia on April 27

50-man Royal Rumble

Universal Championship
Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns

Casket match
The Undertaker v Rusev

Intercontinental Championship
Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe

SmackDown Tag Team Championship
The Bludgeon Brothers v The Usos

Raw Tag Team Championship
Sheamus and Cesaro v Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy

United States Championship
Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal

Singles match
Triple H v John Cena

To be confirmed
AJ Styles will defend his WWE World Heavyweight title and Cedric Alexander his Cruiserweight Championship, but matches have yet to be announced

Electric scooters: some rules to remember

Riders must be 14-years-old or over
Wear a protective helmet
Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
Do not drive outside designated lanes

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