UAE Special Olympic athletes feel empowered to achieve even greater feats when the highest levels of government extend a friendly hand of support, families have said.
The support from the country's leaders also sends a strong message of greater inclusion and helps to create opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities, they said.
Families of athletes who have won honours for the Emirates in international competitions described it as a morale booster when young sportspeople with special needs walk hand-in-hand with UAE leaders at events such as the 2019 Special Olympics World Games held in Abu Dhabi.
“Saleh was so proud. He felt like he owned the whole world,” said Hamad Al Marri, brother of Special Olympics UAE athlete Saleh Al Marri, who has won several medals for his country in bowling.
We always talk about diversity but I believe there will be a time when this will become a norm and it will be embedded in our culture
Dana Al Shami,
sister of Special Olympics UAE swimmer Omar
“Our leaders walk hand-in-hand with them, pay them extra attention … That is real appreciation of people of determination from our leaders.”
The UAE athletes recently participated in the Invitational Games Malta 2022, the first games to be held in Europe since the coronavirus pandemic.
The Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi in 2019 saw more than 7,000 athletes from a record-breaking 192 countries taking part.
It was the first time a major games event of its kind was hosted in the Middle East region and it helped to break down barriers for people with intellectual disabilities.
Photos of athletes walking with President Sheikh Mohamed, the then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in the Umm Al Emarat or Mother of the Nation Park and images of the athletes invited to meetings with UAE leaders, have appeared in newspapers and news websites and social media across the country since then.
Their families said it gave the athletes a renewed sense of purpose and sent a broader message to the community of integration.
“The athletes want to make a name for UAE, they want Sheikh Mohamed to be proud of them,” said Mr Al Marri, who participated in the 2019 unified games as a bowling partner with his medal-winning brother Saleh.
Sports lovers with and without disabilities were encouraged to be part of the same team in sports such as football, volleyball, basketball and bowling before and after the world games.
Playing alongside athletes with intellectual disabilities uses the power of sport to break down barriers, organisers say.
Realising dreams
The coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions on movement to prevent the spread of the disease were particularly hard on the athletes.
During the lockdown, the UAE Special Olympics organised virtual exercise classes for the team and sent them sports kits filled with equipment, including light weights, dumbbells, skipping ropes and team uniforms, to keep them engaged.
Omar Al Shami, Special Olympic UAE swimmer, worked out regularly at home when gyms and sporting clubs were shut in the country.
The 20-year-old is a student at the Higher Collegiate of technology Abu Dhabi and manages swimming training several times a week with college classes.
His sister Dana said support was crucial for the families and recalled how excited her brother was to meet Sheikh Mohamed at events in Abu Dhabi.
“Meeting the person who helped them realise their dreams is so important,” she said.
Ms Al Shami believes inclusion will eventually become commonplace in society so jobs will be readily available to athletes like Omar.
“We always talk about diversity but I believe there will be a time when this will become a norm and it will be embedded in our culture,” she said.
“Now the concentration is on inclusion, whether its school or university.
“Later, it will move forward to employing these people who have graduated or finding jobs so they join the workforce.”
Special Olympics UAE provides year-round sports training for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Following the successful hosting of the games in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed pledged $25 million (Dh91.8m) in 2020 to help fund an inclusive education project led by the Special Olympics movement and allow it to operate in more countries in the Middle East and Africa.
The programmes advocate acceptance of young people of all backgrounds including intellectual disabilities through sports and youth leadership programmes.
Special Olympics Abu Dhabi Closing Ceremony — in pictures
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.”
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
