Etihad Airways unveils world's first Warner Bros aircraft in Abu Dhabi

Travellers flying with Etihad Airways could be in for a fun-filled surprise the next time they fly from Abu Dhabi.

On Thursday, the national airline of the UAE unveiled the world's first Warner Bros-branded aircraft, in partnership with Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi.

Sporting characters from Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry on one side, the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner is emblazoned with DC superheroes on the other. A jet model was revealed at an event at the Yas Island attraction.

It will make its maiden voyage on Saturday, bound for London Heathrow. The aircraft will rotate service to other destinations including Dublin, Amsterdam, Vienna, Bangkok and Manilla, meaning not only UK-bound passengers can join the ride.

Children onboard the flight will get special Warner Bros World-theme amenity kits. Victor Besa / The National

And that's not all folks. Starting Saturday, Etihad will roll out new Warner Bros-themed gift packs featuring DC superheroes. Infants on board flights will be given a baby blanket depicting the likes of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, while bigger children can look forward to a backpack filled with a superhero cape, water bottle and activity kit. The new gift packs will be rolled out across all Etihad flights over the summer months.

Young travellers can also get inspired by Warner Bros before they fly at the newly opened lounge at Zayed International Airport. Dedicated to children, the space is packed with immersive activities, designed to give passengers a taste of what awaits at Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi.

“We are absolutely delighted to partner with Etihad Airways to bring the first-ever Warner Bros World-branded aircraft to fans," said Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, group chief executive of Miral, which operates the park. "This collaboration not only expands the customer experience but also extends the thrill of Warner Bros World beyond our park’s walls, creating a super vacation with long-lasting unforgettable memories for passengers of all ages."

A view of Etihad Airways' Warner Bros-branded aircraft, in partnership with Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi. Photo: Etihad Airways

Etihad first teamed up with the US entertainment company in 2022 to launch its Little VIP campaign, promoting family-friendly flights. Children flying with Etihad are currently offered Warner Bros-themed goodies such as Tweety blankets and Scooby-Doo backpacks.

“Building on the strong reputation we have built as a family-friendly airline, we’re thrilled to take our partnership with Warner Bros World to the next level," said Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive at Etihad. "Our Looney Tunes and DC superhero-themed aircraft will take our brands to destinations worldwide promoting one of Abu Dhabi’s many attractions."

Abu Dhabi is no stranger to the magic of Warner Bros. The UAE capital is the only destination in the world to have a Warner Bros-themed hotel. Located on Yas Island, the five-star WB Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection by Hilton is filled with film memorabilia, screens cartoons by the swimming pool and allows guests to order room service that comes hand-delivered by Bugs Bunny.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Sri Lanka v England

First Test, at Galle
England won by 211

Second Test, at Kandy
England won by 57 runs

Third Test, at Colombo
From Nov 23-27

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RESULTS

Men
1 Marius Kipserem (KEN) 2:04:04
2 Abraham Kiptum (KEN) 2:04:16
3 Dejene Debela Gonfra (ETH) 2:07:06
4 Thomas Rono (KEN) 2:07:12
5 Stanley Biwott (KEN) 2:09:18

Women
1 Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) 2:20:16
2 Eunice Chumba (BRN) 2:20:54
3 Gelete Burka (ETH) 2:24:07
4 Chaltu Tafa (ETH) 2:25:09
5 Caroline Kilel (KEN) 2:29:14

Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

MATHC INFO

England 19 (Try: Tuilagi; Cons: Farrell; Pens: Ford (4)

New Zealand 7 (Try: Savea; Con: Mo'unga)

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)

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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.

What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

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.”

It's up to you to go green

Nils El Accad, chief executive and owner of Organic Foods and Café, says going green is about “lifestyle and attitude” rather than a “money change”; people need to plan ahead to fill water bottles in advance and take their own bags to the supermarket, he says.

“People always want someone else to do the work; it doesn’t work like that,” he adds. “The first step: you have to consciously make that decision and change.”

When he gets a takeaway, says Mr El Accad, he takes his own glass jars instead of accepting disposable aluminium containers, paper napkins and plastic tubs, cutlery and bags from restaurants.

He also plants his own crops and herbs at home and at the Sheikh Zayed store, from basil and rosemary to beans, squashes and papayas. “If you’re going to water anything, better it be tomatoes and cucumbers, something edible, than grass,” he says.

“All this throwaway plastic - cups, bottles, forks - has to go first,” says Mr El Accad, who has banned all disposable straws, whether plastic or even paper, from the café chain.

One of the latest changes he has implemented at his stores is to offer refills of liquid laundry detergent, to save plastic. The two brands Organic Foods stocks, Organic Larder and Sonnett, are both “triple-certified - you could eat the product”.

The Organic Larder detergent will soon be delivered in 200-litre metal oil drums before being decanted into 20-litre containers in-store.

Customers can refill their bottles at least 30 times before they start to degrade, he says. Organic Larder costs Dh35.75 for one litre and Dh62 for 2.75 litres and refills will cost 15 to 20 per cent less, Mr El Accad says.

But while there are savings to be had, going green tends to come with upfront costs and extra work and planning. Are we ready to refill bottles rather than throw them away? “You have to change,” says Mr El Accad. “I can only make it available.”

Match info

Manchester City 3 (Jesus 22', 50', Sterling 69')
Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 65')

Brief scores:

Everton 0

Leicester City 1

Vardy 58'

THREE

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