• Joali Being has opened in the Maldives – this five-star wellbeing retreat is located on a private island only a 40-minute flight away from Male.
    Joali Being has opened in the Maldives – this five-star wellbeing retreat is located on a private island only a 40-minute flight away from Male.
  • Turkish hammam at Joali Being.
    Turkish hammam at Joali Being.
  • An aufguss sauna at Joali Being.
    An aufguss sauna at Joali Being.
  • Memorable sunsets are guaranteed at Joali Being.
    Memorable sunsets are guaranteed at Joali Being.
  • The all-villa resort offers beach or overwater villas.
    The all-villa resort offers beach or overwater villas.
  • Each villa has a private pool and a dedicated butler.
    Each villa has a private pool and a dedicated butler.
  • There's a minimum five-night stay at the wellness-centred escape, with some programmes running for up to three weeks.
    There's a minimum five-night stay at the wellness-centred escape, with some programmes running for up to three weeks.
  • Flow restaurant at Joali Being.
    Flow restaurant at Joali Being.
  • An outdoor bathtub and rain shower in one of Joali Being's luxury villas.
    An outdoor bathtub and rain shower in one of Joali Being's luxury villas.
  • Surrounded by water in an ocean pool overwater villa at Joali Being.
    Surrounded by water in an ocean pool overwater villa at Joali Being.
  • Guests can expect endless Indian Ocean views and fresh sea air.
    Guests can expect endless Indian Ocean views and fresh sea air.

Joali Being: new Maldives resort wants to cure your insomnia and relieve your stress


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

If you’ve been feeling stressed, having sleepless nights or are struggling with your weight, a holiday to the Maldives might be just what the doctor ordered.

A new five-star nature-centric wellness retreat promising to help travellers with exactly these issues and more has opened on a private island in the Indian Ocean holiday hotspot.

Wellness-centric luxury resort Joali Being is now welcoming guests to the secluded island of Bodufushi in the Raa Atoll, a short 40-minute seaplane flight from Velana International Airport in Male.

Each of the villas, designed in flowing lines and curves, has a private pool and a dedicated butler
Each of the villas, designed in flowing lines and curves, has a private pool and a dedicated butler

The all-villa resort, which opened on Monday, is part of the Joali Maldives hospitality brand, known for its eco-friendly luxury offerings. Joali Being offers travellers a choice of beach or water villas, each of which comes with a private pool and a dedicated butler or jadugar, which means "skilled magician" in Dhivehi language.

Inspired by the surrounding shorelines, sea waves and shells, the spacious villas feature lines and curves that are designed to enhance energy flow.

Billing itself as "the first dedicated well-being-immersive sanctuary" the resort offers guests an in-depth immersion programme tailored to their individual health or wellness goals, whether that’s to de-stress, re-energise or simply have a first-class holiday.

“Joali Being is a well-being retreat unlike any other in the world; it is a transformative destination aimed to inspire and ignite the very deepest of mindful connections to one’s self, one another, and one’s environment by enhancing our relationship with the surrounding natural world, our bodies and our minds,” says general manager Ozgur Cengiz.

There’s a minimum five-night stay required, with some programmes running for up to three weeks. Each stay starts with what the resort calls an Intelligent Movement Analysis and an Integrative Health Assessment.

After this, in-house experts curate a programme tailored for each guest and centred around one or more of the four Joali Being pillars: mind, skin, microbiome and energy.

Treatment plans are done alongside an on-site team of naturopaths, therapists and movement experts, taking place across 30 treatment rooms where you'll find experiential thermal circuits, private training rooms, alternative healing spaces and even an on-site herbology centre.

An outdoor bathtub and rain shower in one of Joali Being's luxury villas
An outdoor bathtub and rain shower in one of Joali Being's luxury villas

The island’s Learning Centre offers guests the chance to attend workshops and experiential classes with well-being experts, culinary maestros and herbalists in an effort to promote understanding to create and sustain well-being.

There are also more traditional leisure activities on offer, with everything from watersports and workout classes to local excursions by land or sea.

Earth-to-table dining and guaranteed sunsets

When it comes to dining, the resort's earth-to-table concept promises guests ingredient-traceability with fresh, locally harvested food that has been sustainably sourced.

Travellers can choose to eat at Flow, the resort’s open-plan interactive dining space which has three kitchens including Plantae, a fully vegetarian and vegan eatery, Su, which serves ocean-to-table fare, and B’Well, where the signature Joali Being menu is served.

Flow, the open-plan interactive dining space at Joali Being
Flow, the open-plan interactive dining space at Joali Being

For the perfect post-treatment sunset, the resort’s tropical beach sanctuary Mojo is the best place to take in the views.

Joali Being also has a strong focus on conservation and the resort is home to one of the three turtle sanctuaries in the Maldives, as well as a reef restoration project and a coral nursery. There are also several sustainability initiatives on site, including a desalinating water bottling plant, rainwater harvesting and a grey water recycling system, a glass crusher and recycler, and a plant waste shredder.

Rates at Joali Being are from $2,035, for a minimum five-night stay; joali.com

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20myZoi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Syed%20Ali%2C%20Christian%20Buchholz%2C%20Shanawaz%20Rouf%2C%20Arsalan%20Siddiqui%2C%20Nabid%20Hassan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2037%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Initial%20undisclosed%20funding%20from%20SC%20Ventures%3B%20second%20round%20of%20funding%20totalling%20%2414%20million%20from%20a%20consortium%20of%20SBI%2C%20a%20Japanese%20VC%20firm%2C%20and%20SC%20Venture%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Abaya trends

The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

MATCH INFO

Euro 2020 qualifier

Croatia v Hungary, Thursday, 10.45pm, UAE

TV: Match on BeIN Sports

Results

Final: Iran beat Spain 6-3.

Play-off 3rd: UAE beat Russia 2-1 (in extra time).

Play-off 5th: Japan beat Egypt 7-2.

Play-off 7th: Italy beat Mexico 3-2.

Race results:

1. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: 46.44 min

2. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team: 0.91sec

3. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team: 31.43sec

Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.

  • It’s So Easy
  • Mr Brownstone
  • Chinese Democracy
  • Welcome to the Jungle
  • Double Talkin’ Jive
  • Better
  • Estranged
  • Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
  • Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
  • Rocket Queen
  • You Could Be Mine
  • Shadow of Your Love
  • Attitude (Misfits cover)
  • Civil War
  • Coma
  • Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
  • Sweet Child O’ Mine
  • Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
  • Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
  • November Rain
  • Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
  • Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
  • Nightrain

Encore:

  • Patience
  • Don’t Cry
  • The Seeker (The Who cover)
  • Paradise City
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
Company profile

Company: Verity

Date started: May 2021

Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif

Based: Dubai

Sector: FinTech

Size: four team members

Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000

Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors

THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

THE SPECS

Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre

Transmission: Seven-speed auto

Power: 165hp

Torque: 241Nm

Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000

On sale: now

 

 

Name: Brendalle Belaza

From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines

Arrived in the UAE: 2007

Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus

Favourite photography style: Street photography

Favourite book: Harry Potter

 

 

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.”

How to invest in gold

Investors can tap into the gold price by purchasing physical jewellery, coins and even gold bars, but these need to be stored safely and possibly insured.

A cheaper and more straightforward way to benefit from gold price growth is to buy an exchange-traded fund (ETF).

Most advisers suggest sticking to “physical” ETFs. These hold actual gold bullion, bars and coins in a vault on investors’ behalf. Others do not hold gold but use derivatives to track the price instead, adding an extra layer of risk. The two biggest physical gold ETFs are SPDR Gold Trust and iShares Gold Trust.

Another way to invest in gold’s success is to buy gold mining stocks, but Mr Gravier says this brings added risks and can be more volatile. “They have a serious downside potential should the price consolidate.”

Mr Kyprianou says gold and gold miners are two different asset classes. “One is a commodity and the other is a company stock, which means they behave differently.”

Mining companies are a business, susceptible to other market forces, such as worker availability, health and safety, strikes, debt levels, and so on. “These have nothing to do with gold at all. It means that some companies will survive, others won’t.”

By contrast, when gold is mined, it just sits in a vault. “It doesn’t even rust, which means it retains its value,” Mr Kyprianou says.

You may already have exposure to gold miners in your portfolio, say, through an international ETF or actively managed mutual fund.

You could spread this risk with an actively managed fund that invests in a spread of gold miners, with the best known being BlackRock Gold & General. It is up an incredible 55 per cent over the past year, and 240 per cent over five years. As always, past performance is no guide to the future.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 

Name: Colm McLoughlin

Country: Galway, Ireland

Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free

Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club

Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah

 

Updated: November 15, 2021, 1:44 PM