Nikihila pictured with fellow students at her university in Ukraine. She fears some have not managed to escape. Photo: Nikihila Liz Aby
Nikihila pictured with fellow students at her university in Ukraine. She fears some have not managed to escape. Photo: Nikihila Liz Aby
Nikihila pictured with fellow students at her university in Ukraine. She fears some have not managed to escape. Photo: Nikihila Liz Aby
Nikihila pictured with fellow students at her university in Ukraine. She fears some have not managed to escape. Photo: Nikihila Liz Aby

UAE

'I've seen things I never imagined': UAE-based student tells of escape from Ukraine

Nikihila Liz Aby speaks of the horrors of war and the worst days of her life

Shireena Al Nowais

March 09, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

A Sharjah student has spoken of how she walked tens of kilometres in zero degrees without food and water to escape the war in Ukraine.

Nikihila Liz Aby, 20, from India recalled her harrowing escape from Ukraine after "the worst six days of her life".

The second-year medical student at the Danylo Halytsky Medical University in western Ukraine, which is less than two hours from Poland, said she had never seen so much suffering in her life.

When the bombings started on February 24, Ms Aby said she and hundreds of other students assumed crossing the border would be simple, but it turned out to be the most traumatic experience of her life.

There were no cars. Everyone was out on the roads trying to escape. The ATMs were not working... supermarkets had no supplies. I realised that no one would be rescuing us
Nikihila Liz Aby

The next day, with whatever belongings she could carry, Ms Aby and her friends boarded a bus to Poland.

“I have seen things that I have never imagined seeing in my life. We waited for hours for the bus. They were full of pregnant women, children and refugees," she said.

But they were dropped halfway and were told to walk to the border.

With no other option, Ms Aby and her friends walked 10km in a desperate bid to cross over to Poland. But, as luck would have it, they reached the wrong checkpoint and officers turned them away.

They again walked 10km in frosty conditions without food to go back to the place they tried to escape from.

  • A Ukrainian serviceman walks past the vertical tail fin of a Russian Su-34 bomber lying in a damaged building in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
    A Ukrainian serviceman walks past the vertical tail fin of a Russian Su-34 bomber lying in a damaged building in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
  • An apartment building damaged after shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
    An apartment building damaged after shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
  • A woman puts her head in her hands as she sits on a cot in a shelter, set up for displaced persons fleeing Ukraine, inside a school gymnasium in Przemysl, Poland. AP Photo
    A woman puts her head in her hands as she sits on a cot in a shelter, set up for displaced persons fleeing Ukraine, inside a school gymnasium in Przemysl, Poland. AP Photo
  • Belarussian and suspected Russian helicopters on the flight line at Machulishchy Air Base outside Minsk, Belarus. AP Photo
    Belarussian and suspected Russian helicopters on the flight line at Machulishchy Air Base outside Minsk, Belarus. AP Photo
  • Children look on as people fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine shelter in a school, in Drohobych, Ukraine. Reuters
    Children look on as people fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine shelter in a school, in Drohobych, Ukraine. Reuters
  • Families eat in the shelter. Reuters
    Families eat in the shelter. Reuters
  • A woman looks out from a building damaged by Russian shelling in Mykolaiv, 100 kilometres away from Odesa, western Ukraine. AFP
    A woman looks out from a building damaged by Russian shelling in Mykolaiv, 100 kilometres away from Odesa, western Ukraine. AFP
  • A wounded Ukrainian man waits in the corridor of the central hospital of Mykolaiv. AFP
    A wounded Ukrainian man waits in the corridor of the central hospital of Mykolaiv. AFP
  • An elderly woman is carried in a shopping cart after being rescued from Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
    An elderly woman is carried in a shopping cart after being rescued from Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
  • A woman reacts as a train carrying children from Kyiv's Central Children's Hospital leaves the Ukrainian capital on its way to Lviv. Reuters
    A woman reacts as a train carrying children from Kyiv's Central Children's Hospital leaves the Ukrainian capital on its way to Lviv. Reuters
  • A girl sits in an improvised bomb shelter in Mariupol, Ukraine. AP
    A girl sits in an improvised bomb shelter in Mariupol, Ukraine. AP
  • An elderly woman is coated in snow as she sits in a wheelchair after being rescued from Irpin. AP
    An elderly woman is coated in snow as she sits in a wheelchair after being rescued from Irpin. AP
  • Belarusian volunteers take part in military exercises at the Belarusian Company base in Kyiv. AP
    Belarusian volunteers take part in military exercises at the Belarusian Company base in Kyiv. AP
  • Lessa, left, director of a nursery school turned into a refugee shelter, cries as she hugs Olega, who arrived from Kyiv with her baby, near Lviv. EPA
    Lessa, left, director of a nursery school turned into a refugee shelter, cries as she hugs Olega, who arrived from Kyiv with her baby, near Lviv. EPA
  • Ukrainians pass a damaged bridge as they flee from Irpin. AP
    Ukrainians pass a damaged bridge as they flee from Irpin. AP
  • A man carries an elderly woman as people continue to leave Irpin. AP
    A man carries an elderly woman as people continue to leave Irpin. AP
  • A soldier stands on a barricade made of sandbags in central Odesa, Ukraine. Reuters
    A soldier stands on a barricade made of sandbags in central Odesa, Ukraine. Reuters
  • A charred Russian tank and captured tanks in the Sumy region. Reuters
    A charred Russian tank and captured tanks in the Sumy region. Reuters
  • People rest at a temporary shelter for Ukrainian refugees in Przemysl, Poland. AFP
    People rest at a temporary shelter for Ukrainian refugees in Przemysl, Poland. AFP
  • Ukraine's ambassador to the Netherlands, Maksym Kononenko, third right, and his wife Tetiana Doroshenko, fourth left, attend a meeting of members of the Ukrainian community with Dutch King Willem-Alexander, third left, and Queen Maxima, second left, to discuss the situation in Ukraine, in The Hague. EPA
    Ukraine's ambassador to the Netherlands, Maksym Kononenko, third right, and his wife Tetiana Doroshenko, fourth left, attend a meeting of members of the Ukrainian community with Dutch King Willem-Alexander, third left, and Queen Maxima, second left, to discuss the situation in Ukraine, in The Hague. EPA
  • A Ukrainian soldier looks at the destruction after shelling in Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv. AFP
    A Ukrainian soldier looks at the destruction after shelling in Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv. AFP
  • A refugee holds her dog as they wait for trains to Poland in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters
    A refugee holds her dog as they wait for trains to Poland in Lviv, Ukraine. Reuters
  • A woman ties ribbons in Ukrainian national flag colours in a girl's hair as people wait at a refugee assistance centre in Prague, Czech Republic. EPA
    A woman ties ribbons in Ukrainian national flag colours in a girl's hair as people wait at a refugee assistance centre in Prague, Czech Republic. EPA
  • A Ukrainian soldier carries an elderly woman crossing the Irpin river on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
    A Ukrainian soldier carries an elderly woman crossing the Irpin river on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
  • Lena, who had never left Ukraine before fleeing into Moldova, feeds Dasha, 3, soon after crossing the border. Erin Clare Brown for The National
    Lena, who had never left Ukraine before fleeing into Moldova, feeds Dasha, 3, soon after crossing the border. Erin Clare Brown for The National
  • Refugees without immediate plans to move further inland can stay the night in tents set up on Moldova's side of the border. Erin Clare Brown for The National
    Refugees without immediate plans to move further inland can stay the night in tents set up on Moldova's side of the border. Erin Clare Brown for The National
  • Tatiana and her son wait for a van that will carry them from the Moldovan border to Chisinau. Erin Clare Brown for The National
    Tatiana and her son wait for a van that will carry them from the Moldovan border to Chisinau. Erin Clare Brown for The National
  • Each night, the Palanca refugee camp in Moldova feeds up to 300 people who arrive with no onward plans. Erin Clare Brown for The National
    Each night, the Palanca refugee camp in Moldova feeds up to 300 people who arrive with no onward plans. Erin Clare Brown for The National
  • People pass a damaged bridge while fleeing the town of Irpin, close to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. AP
    People pass a damaged bridge while fleeing the town of Irpin, close to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. AP
  • A Ukrainian soldier stands guard next to a church in Irpin. EPA
    A Ukrainian soldier stands guard next to a church in Irpin. EPA
  • A firefighter holds the baby of a Ukrainian refugee at the border in Romania. AP
    A firefighter holds the baby of a Ukrainian refugee at the border in Romania. AP
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks in Kyiv. Reuters
    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks in Kyiv. Reuters
  • A Ukrainian soldier at a checkpoint in Kyiv. AP
    A Ukrainian soldier at a checkpoint in Kyiv. AP
  • Ukrainian activist Ihor Mazur, left, a veteran of the war in the country's east, looks at a night-vision device in Kyiv. AP
    Ukrainian activist Ihor Mazur, left, a veteran of the war in the country's east, looks at a night-vision device in Kyiv. AP
  • Ambassadors attend a UN Security Council meeting on threats to international security after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in New York. Reuters
    Ambassadors attend a UN Security Council meeting on threats to international security after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in New York. Reuters
  • Ukraine's UN ambassador Sergey Kyslytsya holds a paper with an image of Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as he addresses the Security Council in New York. Reuters
    Ukraine's UN ambassador Sergey Kyslytsya holds a paper with an image of Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as he addresses the Security Council in New York. Reuters
  • A road sign put up in support of Mr Zelenskyy outside Russia's embassy in Washington. AFP
    A road sign put up in support of Mr Zelenskyy outside Russia's embassy in Washington. AFP
  • Ukrainian refugees at the train station in Lviv, western Ukraine. EPA
    Ukrainian refugees at the train station in Lviv, western Ukraine. EPA
  • Lethal and non-lethal Ukrainian aid is loaded on to a plane bound for Poland by Canadian soldiers in Trenton, Ontario. Reuters
    Lethal and non-lethal Ukrainian aid is loaded on to a plane bound for Poland by Canadian soldiers in Trenton, Ontario. Reuters
  • Volunteers carry medical aid and necessities at a train station in Lviv. EPA
    Volunteers carry medical aid and necessities at a train station in Lviv. EPA
  • Everton players wear T-shirts in support of Ukraine as they warm up for an English Premier League football match against Tottenham Hotspur. AP
    Everton players wear T-shirts in support of Ukraine as they warm up for an English Premier League football match against Tottenham Hotspur. AP
  • A residential building damaged by Russian shelling in Chernihiv, Ukraine. Reuters
    A residential building damaged by Russian shelling in Chernihiv, Ukraine. Reuters
  • A man walks past a checkpoint in heavy snow in Lviv. Getty
    A man walks past a checkpoint in heavy snow in Lviv. Getty
  • A man fleeing fighting in Irpin waits to cross a river after Russian forces entered the city. Getty
    A man fleeing fighting in Irpin waits to cross a river after Russian forces entered the city. Getty
  • Soldiers assist Irpin residents underneath a damaged bridge as they flee. Getty
    Soldiers assist Irpin residents underneath a damaged bridge as they flee. Getty
  • Ukrainian civilians who volunteered to join the Territorial Defence Forces take part in a training exercise in Odesa after Russia's invasion. Reuters
    Ukrainian civilians who volunteered to join the Territorial Defence Forces take part in a training exercise in Odesa after Russia's invasion. Reuters
  • Men carry a body to a lorry as people flee from the frontline town of Irpin. EPA
    Men carry a body to a lorry as people flee from the frontline town of Irpin. EPA
  • A Ukrainian police officer runs with a child as the sound of shelling echoes nearby in Irpin. AP
    A Ukrainian police officer runs with a child as the sound of shelling echoes nearby in Irpin. AP
  • Parents and children struggle to board a train in Lviv. AP
    Parents and children struggle to board a train in Lviv. AP

“There were no cars, we just had to walk all the way back. Everyone was out on the roads trying to escape. The ATMs were not working, banks were closed and supermarkets had no supplies,” she said.

“I realised that no one would be rescuing us and we had to find a way across the border.”

A few days later, on February 28, charity groups and friends organised another bus that would take Ms Aby and her friends to the border.

It was due to arrive at 10am.

The bus was delayed and Ms Aby counted each minute. It finally reached at 6pm. In the span of eight hours, Ms Aby had lost all hope to ever get out of Ukraine and see her loved ones.

"But when the bus reached, I saw pregnant women, crying babies, and so many children and parents trying to board,” she said. There were too many people and very few seats.

Ms Aby did not get on the bus. She said she could not as there were far more desperate people who needed to get out first.

Home to Sharjah via Poland and India

Then another bus arrived but that was only for first-year students. Tired and weary, Ms Aby went back to a deserted hostel in her university. She had not eaten or slept for two days but lived in the hope of staying alive.

“In such situations, it is hard to sleep or to think of food. I wouldn’t drink a lot of water because I knew that I would either be walking or waiting for hours and there were no toilets around. Food was the last thing on my mind,” she said.

But there was hope. She heard of a new border opening in Budomierz, Poland, and got on a minibus to take her across on March 1.

Ms Aby said she received a frantic call from her father at 4pm, just before getting on the bus. “He was so tense and told me to find a way to cross the border. I had to board that bus,” she said.

“The driver was god-sent and in no time we were in Poland. It was such a blessing and I am so grateful to the driver who took us across."

Once in Poland, Ms Aby was taken to a hotel shelter arranged by the Indian mission in Poland. The next day, she boarded a plane to India and then flew to Sharjah on March 3.

"I have seen so much pain and despair caused by the war, but I also saw so much humanity and hope in Ukraine," she said.

"People helped us when their houses had burned to the ground. I have never seen so much goodness and wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes."

Ms Aby's studies are on hold. “I don’t think I will be going back to Europe or anywhere else anytime soon," she said.

For now, she is just happy to be home.

Artists show solidarity with Ukraine — in pictures

  • Graffiti depicting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holding a bullet-ridden 'Stop' sign by urban artist Tvboy appeared on a street in downtown Barcelona, Spain. EPA
    Graffiti depicting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holding a bullet-ridden 'Stop' sign by urban artist Tvboy appeared on a street in downtown Barcelona, Spain. EPA
  • A painting on a wall near the Russian embassy in Rome, by street artist Laika 1954, shows Russian and Ukrainian tanks making the peace symbol. AFP
    A painting on a wall near the Russian embassy in Rome, by street artist Laika 1954, shows Russian and Ukrainian tanks making the peace symbol. AFP
  • A mural painted by Syrian artists in the rebel-held town of Binnish in Syria's Idlib province to protest against Russia's military operation in Ukraine. AFP
    A mural painted by Syrian artists in the rebel-held town of Binnish in Syria's Idlib province to protest against Russia's military operation in Ukraine. AFP
  • An Indian artist draws a poster during a protest in Kolkata. EPA
    An Indian artist draws a poster during a protest in Kolkata. EPA
  • Artists helped to recreate 'A Dove Has Spread Her Wings and Asks for Peace' by the late Ukrainian painter Maria Prymachenko. The artist had 25 paintings in the Ivankiv Local Museum of History, near Kyiv, which was destroyed by Russian forces. EPA
    Artists helped to recreate 'A Dove Has Spread Her Wings and Asks for Peace' by the late Ukrainian painter Maria Prymachenko. The artist had 25 paintings in the Ivankiv Local Museum of History, near Kyiv, which was destroyed by Russian forces. EPA
  • Maria Prymachenko was celebrated for her folk art. EPA
    Maria Prymachenko was celebrated for her folk art. EPA
  • A woman walks past a tank sculpture painted in the colours of the Ukrainian flag by Czech artist David Cerny in Prague. AFP
    A woman walks past a tank sculpture painted in the colours of the Ukrainian flag by Czech artist David Cerny in Prague. AFP
  • A man takes a picture of a fresco by street artist Seth globepainter depicting a girl with a Ukrainian flag walking on tanks in Paris. AFP
    A man takes a picture of a fresco by street artist Seth globepainter depicting a girl with a Ukrainian flag walking on tanks in Paris. AFP
  • A street art painting by French artist Emyart dedicated to the Ukranian people. AFP
    A street art painting by French artist Emyart dedicated to the Ukranian people. AFP
  • A street art painting created by French street artist Kelu Abstract in Paris. AFP
    A street art painting created by French street artist Kelu Abstract in Paris. AFP
  • An Indian artist makes a sand sculpture calling for peace on Juhu beach in Mumbai. AP
    An Indian artist makes a sand sculpture calling for peace on Juhu beach in Mumbai. AP
  • An installation by street artist Gregos representing a face in the colors of Ukraine's flag and holding a symbol of peace, in Paris. AFP
    An installation by street artist Gregos representing a face in the colors of Ukraine's flag and holding a symbol of peace, in Paris. AFP
  • Street artist MyDogSighs's mural in Northcote Lane, Cardiff of a weeping eye in the colours of the Ukrainian flag. PA
    Street artist MyDogSighs's mural in Northcote Lane, Cardiff of a weeping eye in the colours of the Ukrainian flag. PA
  • Kosovo artist Alkent Pozhegu works on the final touches of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's portrait made with grains and seeds, in Gjakova, southwestern Kosovo. AFP
    Kosovo artist Alkent Pozhegu works on the final touches of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's portrait made with grains and seeds, in Gjakova, southwestern Kosovo. AFP
  • A peace mural showing a dove with a branch in Ukrainian colours by artist Justus Becker is painted on the wall of a house in Frankfurt, Germany. AP
    A peace mural showing a dove with a branch in Ukrainian colours by artist Justus Becker is painted on the wall of a house in Frankfurt, Germany. AP
  • A woman passes a mural by Berlin street artist Eme Freethinker featuring Russian and Ukrainian girls in Berlin, Germany. AP
    A woman passes a mural by Berlin street artist Eme Freethinker featuring Russian and Ukrainian girls in Berlin, Germany. AP
  • Colombian street artist Arte Vilu works on a mural featuring a Ukrainian woman in traditional dress in Berlin, Germany. AP
    Colombian street artist Arte Vilu works on a mural featuring a Ukrainian woman in traditional dress in Berlin, Germany. AP
  • Lidiya Zhuravlyova, an Ukrainian performance artist, takes part in an anti-war protest in Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters
    Lidiya Zhuravlyova, an Ukrainian performance artist, takes part in an anti-war protest in Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters
While you're here
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
 
  • Grade 9 = above an A*
  • Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
  • Grade 7 = grade A
  • Grade 6 = just above a grade B
  • Grade 5 = between grades B and C
  • Grade 4 = grade C
  • Grade 3 = between grades D and E
  • Grade 2 = between grades E and F
  • Grade 1 = between grades F and G
More on this story:
if you go

The flights

Emirates have direct flights from Dubai to Glasgow from Dh3,115. Alternatively, if you want to see a bit of Edinburgh first, then you can fly there direct with Etihad from Abu Dhabi.

The hotel

Located in the heart of Mackintosh's Glasgow, the Dakota Deluxe is perhaps the most refined hotel anywhere in the city. Doubles from Dh850

 Events and tours

There are various Mackintosh specific events throughout 2018 – for more details and to see a map of his surviving designs see glasgowmackintosh.com

For walking tours focussing on the Glasgow Style, see the website of the Glasgow School of Art. 

More information

For ideas on planning a trip to Scotland, visit www.visitscotland.com

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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

Profile

Company: Justmop.com

Date started: December 2015

Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan

Sector: Technology and home services

Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai

Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month

Funding:  The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups. 

Biog:

Age: 34

Favourite superhero: Batman

Favourite sport: anything extreme

Favourite person: Muhammad Ali 

How to report a beggar

Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)

Dubai – Call 800243

Sharjah – Call 065632222

Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372

Ajman – Call 067401616

Umm Al Quwain – Call 999

Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411

The story of Edge

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.

It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.

Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.

Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab

 

RESULTS

6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Rajeh, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi (trainer)

6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes – Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Get Back Goldie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill

7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Sovereign Prince, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby

7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer

8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Hot Rod Charlie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill

8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Withering, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

9.30pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Creative Flair, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

Results

2.30pm: Park Avenue – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Rb Seqondtonone, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

3.05pm: Al Furjan – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bosphorus, Dane O’Neill, Bhupat Seemar

3.40pm: Mina – Rated Condition (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Royal Mews, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar

4.15pm: Aliyah – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,900m; Winner: Ursa Minor, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash

4.50pm: Riviera Beach – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Woodditton, Saif Al Balushi, Ahmad bin Harmash

5.25pm: Riviera – Handicap (TB) Dh2,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Al Madhar, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

6pm: Creek Views – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Al Salt, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy

UAE currency
The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8

Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm

Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km

Price: Dh380,000

On sale: now 

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

Results

Catchweight 60kg: Mohammed Al Katheeri (UAE) beat Mostafa El Hamy (EGY) TKO round 3

Light Heavyweight: Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) no contest Kevin Oumar (COM) Unintentional knee by Oumer

Catchweight 73kg:  Yazid Chouchane (ALG) beat Ahmad Al Boussairy (KUW) Unanimous decision

Featherweight: Faris Khaleel Asha (JOR) beat Yousef Al Housani (UAE) TKO in round 2 through foot injury

Welterweight: Omar Hussein (JOR) beat Yassin Najid (MAR); Split decision

Middleweight: Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) beat Sallah Eddine Dekhissi (MAR); Round-1 TKO

Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammed Ali Musalim (UAE) beat Medhat Hussein (EGY); Triangle choke submission

Welterweight: Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) beat Sofiane Oudina (ALG); Triangle choke Round-1

Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Saleem Al Bakri (JOR); Unanimous decision

Bantamweight: Ali Taleb (IRQ) beat Nawras Abzakh (JOR); TKO round-2

Catchweight 63kg: Rany Saadeh (PAL) beat Abdel Ali Hariri (MAR); Unanimous decision

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

While you're here
Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

Landfill in numbers

• Landfill gas is composed of 50 per cent methane

• Methane is 28 times more harmful than Co2 in terms of global warming

• 11 million total tonnes of waste are being generated annually in Abu Dhabi

• 18,000 tonnes per year of hazardous and medical waste is produced in Abu Dhabi emirate per year

• 20,000 litres of cooking oil produced in Abu Dhabi’s cafeterias and restaurants every day is thrown away

• 50 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s waste is from construction and demolition

RESULTS

Tottenham 1

Jan Vertonghen 13'

Norwich 1

Josip Drmic 78'

2-3 on penalties

MATCH INFO

Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)

TV: Abu Dhabi Sports

Global Fungi Facts

• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil

Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances

All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.

Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.

Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.

Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.

Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.

Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.

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 Brutalist

Director: Brady Corbet

Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn

Rating: 3.5/5

The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Brief scores:

Newcastle United 1

Perez 23'

Wolverhampton Rovers 2

Jota 17', Doherty 90' 4

Red cards: Yedlin 57'

Man of the Match: Diogo Jota (Wolves)

Monster

Directed by: Anthony Mandler

Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington 

3/5

 

Uefa Nations League: How it works

The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.

The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.

Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.

Company%20Profile
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Long read

Mageed Yahia, director of WFP in UAE: Coronavirus knows no borders, and neither should the response

World Cricket League Division 2

In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.

UAE fixtures

Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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Updated: March 09, 2022, 11:29 AM
UAE