We don't know where exactly in the Al Ain/Buraimi area this photograph was taken, but we do know who took it.
David Riley was a young English banker who spent about two years in Abu Dhabi from 1962 to 1964 and was chronicled on these pages here.
This was one of the photographs he took of Al Ain on his trips across the country. "I do remember the journey," he says of the drive to Al Ain.
"It was over soft sand, not like the baked sabkha [salt flat] of the coastal plain. However driving over soft sand is rather like 'floating' - until you get stuck."
The photograph also shows the falaj - an ancient system of water irrigation made all the more remarkable because it's hand dug. Back then, it was relatively easy to walk around the border villages of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. As the weather cools, you can take a walk through the newly-rejuvenated Al Ain Oasis and see how the falaj system works.
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Read more:
Time Frame: A stroll in a garden between Al Ain and Oman
Al Ain Oasis stays true to its 3,000-year heritage
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
WISH
Avatar%20(2009)
BlacKkKlansman
Director: Spike Lee
Starring: John David Washington; Adam Driver
Five stars
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile
COMPANY PROFILE
COMPANY PROFILE
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
Company%20profile%20
Mrs%20Chatterjee%20Vs%20Norway
How to avoid crypto fraud
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