Our Working Wonders of the UAE series takes you to some of the country's most recognisable destinations to uncover the daily duties of the talented employees working there
As a violinist, Paolo Petrocelli has performed on many of the world's biggest stages.
He's been centre stage at MTV and even festivals with an indie folk band.
Now, as head of Dubai Opera, the Italian is bringing some of the world's best artists to the UAE.
The 38-year-old was previously on the Rome Opera House board and, as a cultural leader, a key member of prestigious international organisations including the UN, Unesco and the World Economic Forum.
In his downtime, Dr Petrocelli is seeking to become fluent in Arabic and on the oud.
He invited The National along to the 2,000-seat Dubai Opera to reveal why it was his ideal career move.
What drove you towards music?
I was born in Rome so it was natural to be exposed to theatre, music, and arts and culture.
Every day I'm passionate about dealing with artists, music, projects, with people, the audience and with the impact music generates in communities.
It's not just about a love for the arts on a purely spectacle level.
Music facilitates interaction between human beings on an emotional level.
It is an incredible tool, not just to fill a concert hall but to bring people together and create bridges between cultures and nations.
Why move from the stage to the office?
I've been playing the violin for 20 years. It was really the beginning of my professional career [but] I was gradually shifting towards becoming a manager in the classical music/opera sector.
Music brings people and organisations together so it was natural to commit on an international level, to really interact with different institutions in the music and cultural field.
It's been an exciting journey. I have had the opportunity to work in many environments, from opera houses to orchestras, but also contributing as a young professional to the development of major international projects.
Did you know Dubai before your appointment?
I have been very active in the Middle East for over 10 years because of my curiosity for cultures and music.
I realised there were opportunities to collaborate with institutions and artists from Europe and the Middle East.
That’s why I established an organisation for the promotion of music diplomacy, to use music to create understanding and co-operation between people and nations, EMMA For Peace.
I also worked as an adviser for Royal Opera House Muscat, and the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia.
My first time in Dubai was 2013. I was in contact with Dubai Opera management, having conversations about bringing different projects, including a potential Rome Opera production.
I followed different stages of development of Dubai Opera so I was very familiar with the organisation.
How do you view your role?
A big part of my job is to manage people, an organisation, a structure, but it’s also about promoting a cultural vision – how we can, as an opera house, inspire society, and elevate people through arts and music.
It’s about finding the right balance between financial aspects and creative ideas. How we are going to contribute to the development of communities through our programming.
You need to understand the society, interact as much as possible at every level; find a common language between artists, the community, institutions, the private sector.
You bring together so many different interests and the final outcome should be something that makes sense for everyone.
How does Dubai Opera differ from other venues?
Rome Opera House has been there for more than 150 years. Dubai Opera opened in 2016 … a completely different scenario. The landscape of the city and the population is different.
We still have to define cultural identity, how Dubai Opera is different from Sydney Opera House, or Met Opera in New York.
Theatres in Europe have seen so much in terms of history, great composers and conductors, a different energy. You find some dust there, in a metaphorical sense.
Is your inbox busy with potential shows?
Dubai is becoming a world capital and artists want to come here.
We need to come up with our vision and artistic direction because if you bring a little bit of everything without a clear recipe, the final dish is not going to be good.
You need to find the right balance, that stimulates the entire community … it's definitely very challenging.
I believe what we are planning for the future allows us to be seen as an institution that is open, accessible and really speaks to everyone.
When I see an artist that excites a lot of people and I contributed to bringing this artist to the stage, I’m happy I did my part.
Does it feel good to be in charge?
It’s a big responsibility, a big challenge, but I’m very confident we will do a good job with my team.
I came with a certain level of understanding and awareness of where Dubai is right now. And where Dubai is going.
It is important we have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the entire cultural landscape and ecosystem of this country.
At Dubai Opera, we can play an even bigger role, not just here in Dubai but in the region.
What we are trying to achieve is to elevate and expand our mission, which is not just about offering entertainment but about contributing to the cultural identity of this country.
Is it tough attempting to please everyone?
We work on the concept that Dubai Opera is a platform where we can celebrate cultures of the world.
This was already happening; now we are empowering this concept and really trying to present ourselves as a unique institution because of the uniqueness of the society of Dubai.
This has to be reflected in the way we reach out to our audience and the way we programme our season. It is not just about saying: “Let’s have a bit of everything.”
Let us connect with different nationalities, join forces with cultural organisations from different countries, build … a more structured cultural project.
It’s about planning, artistic programming, developing strategic partnerships, reaching the audience, not just at the box office but on a broader level. Thinking also how to inspire the young community.
We are in a position to take courageous decisions.
Does the 2023-24 programme reflect that?
We managed to programme big and important productions, performances and concerts.
Not just in terms of magnitude but how, through this season, we are going to position Dubai Opera even more at the front line of the best cultural institutions in the region, if not globally.
It’s one of our objectives to – in upcoming years – come up with Dubai Opera productions, besides what we bring to Dubai. Artistic ideas generated from Dubai Opera, then potentially developed with the support of other theatres.
We can serve as a platform where we plug in some great productions. At the same time, our platform should and I’m sure will generate and cultivate ideas by itself.
The entire ecosystem of music and culture in Dubai is growing. Some key elements, like an orchestra, are missing. It will take time but it will happen. I’m very confident about that.
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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.
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
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.”
Wallabies
Updated team: 15-Israel Folau, 14-Dane Haylett-Petty, 13-Reece Hodge, 12-Matt Toomua, 11-Marika Koroibete, 10-Kurtley Beale, 9-Will Genia, 8-Pete Samu, 7-Michael Hooper (captain), 6-Lukhan Tui, 5-Adam Coleman, 4-Rory Arnold, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1-Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16-Folau Faingaa, 17-Tom Robertson, 18-Taniela Tupou, 19-Izack Rodda, 20-Ned Hanigan, 21-Joe Powell, 22-Bernard Foley, 23-Jack Maddocks.
RESULTS
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Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
Gender pay parity on track in the UAE
The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.
"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."
Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.
"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.
As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
SUZUME
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Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Dunki
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The Indoor Cricket World Cup
When: September 16-23
Where: Insportz, Dubai
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
Profile Box
Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Mohammed Toraif
Based: Manama, Bahrain
Sector: Sales, Technology, Conservation
Size: (employees/revenue) 4/ 5,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($100,000)
Investors: Two first-round investors including, 500 Startups, Fawaz Al Gosaibi Holding (Saudi Arabia)
