President Sheikh Mohamed has announced a large-scale humanitarian operation to support Palestinian civilians. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
President Sheikh Mohamed has announced a large-scale humanitarian operation to support Palestinian civilians. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
President Sheikh Mohamed has announced a large-scale humanitarian operation to support Palestinian civilians. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
President Sheikh Mohamed has announced a large-scale humanitarian operation to support Palestinian civilians. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs

UAE

UAE to transport 1,000 Gazan cancer patients to Emirati hospitals

President Sheikh Mohamed issues directive just hours after first injured children arrived in the capital for treatment

Jessica Morgan

November 18, 2023

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  • Arabic

The UAE will treat 1,000 Palestinian cancer patients in its hospitals after Gaza's health system collapsed due to Israel's war in the enclave.

The decision by President Sheikh Mohamed on Saturday will include treatment for patients of all ages, state news agency Wam said.

The move came just hours after the first of 1,000 injured children arrived in Abu Dhabi on a medical flight. Many require complex treatment for lost limbs and burns.

The 2,000 patients will be accompanied by family or guardians.

The first arrivals on Saturday, comprising about 15 children and their families, were transported to the UAE's Burjeel Hospital, NMC Royal Hospital and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City where more than 20 doctors, nurses and emergency medical technicians awaited them.

President Sheikh Mohamed on November 5 announced a humanitarian operation to support Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

Under Gallant Knight 3, the Ministry of Defence's Joint Operations Command is co-ordinating with the Emirates Red Crescent, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation and Zayed bin Sultan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation to provide support in Gaza.

The UAE is in the process of setting up a field hospital in the Gaza Strip.

Doctors registered with the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi can volunteer.

Those registered with the Red Crescent and the UAE humanitarian and charitable institutions can also volunteer. Officials opened online registration last week for medical workers keen to lend a helping hand to relief efforts.

The UAE has so far sent 51 planes carrying 1,400 tonnes of food, medical and relief supplies to the Gaza Strip.

  • Injured children from Gaza were brought to the UAE. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Injured children from Gaza were brought to the UAE. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Injured children were brought to Abu Dhabi International Airport
    Injured children were brought to Abu Dhabi International Airport
  • The move is part of humanitarian efforts by the UAE
    The move is part of humanitarian efforts by the UAE
  • Injured children from Gaza arrive in the UAE
    Injured children from Gaza arrive in the UAE
  • About 1,000 people in total are expected to come to the UAE for treatment from Gaza
    About 1,000 people in total are expected to come to the UAE for treatment from Gaza
  • Patients board the aircraft in Al Arish, Egypt. The chartered plane brought injured children from Gaza to the UAE.
    Patients board the aircraft in Al Arish, Egypt. The chartered plane brought injured children from Gaza to the UAE.
  • Patients board the aircraft in Al Arish.
    Patients board the aircraft in Al Arish.
  • More than 20 doctors, nurses and emergency medical technicians from the UAE’s Burjeel Hospital, NMC Royal Hospital and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City assessed patients.
    More than 20 doctors, nurses and emergency medical technicians from the UAE’s Burjeel Hospital, NMC Royal Hospital and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City assessed patients.
  • Patients were evacuated late on Friday when the Rafah border opened during a humanitarian pause after more than six weeks of continuous Israeli bombardment on Gaza.
    Patients were evacuated late on Friday when the Rafah border opened during a humanitarian pause after more than six weeks of continuous Israeli bombardment on Gaza.
  • Patients were taken to UAE following an initiative from UAE President Sheikh Mohamed that will allow injured Palestinian children from Gaza to be flown in for treatment at UAE hospitals.
    Patients were taken to UAE following an initiative from UAE President Sheikh Mohamed that will allow injured Palestinian children from Gaza to be flown in for treatment at UAE hospitals.
  • Medics arrive in Al Arish ahead of bringing the injured to the UAE.
    Medics arrive in Al Arish ahead of bringing the injured to the UAE.
  • Gallant Knight 3 was launched on November 5 under the leadership of the Joint Operations Command at the Ministry of Defence, along with other partners.
    Gallant Knight 3 was launched on November 5 under the leadership of the Joint Operations Command at the Ministry of Defence, along with other partners.
  • The initiative also provides volunteering opportunities for doctors registered with the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the Department of Health Abu Dhabi
    The initiative also provides volunteering opportunities for doctors registered with the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the Department of Health Abu Dhabi
  • Since the announcement of the UAE operation, Gallant Knight 3, the UAE has flown out several cargo planes carrying equipment and medical supplies for the hospital
    Since the announcement of the UAE operation, Gallant Knight 3, the UAE has flown out several cargo planes carrying equipment and medical supplies for the hospital
  • Patients boarded the aircraft in Al Arish after being evacuated from Gaza
    Patients boarded the aircraft in Al Arish after being evacuated from Gaza
  • The injured people and their relatives are the first batch of 1,000 women and children to be evacuated to the UAE
    The injured people and their relatives are the first batch of 1,000 women and children to be evacuated to the UAE
  • For those not medically fit to fly out of Al Arish, the Emirati Red Crescent is to build a field hospital near the Rafah border where patients can receive treatment.
    For those not medically fit to fly out of Al Arish, the Emirati Red Crescent is to build a field hospital near the Rafah border where patients can receive treatment.
PROFILE OF HALAN

Started: November 2017

Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

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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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While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

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