DUBAI // A government official has been arrested after video footage of an assault on an Asian driver became an internet sensation on YouTube.
The video, which shows an Emirati man beating the driver with his agal and punching him until a bystander steps in to stop the assault, circulated on social-media networks yesterday.
The Emirati community has expressed outrage and shock. The video link was shared on WhatsApp with the message: “This is not right! Shame on you! Shame on you!”
“This is so bad,” said Emirati Umm Shaima. “How can someone behave like this, and in the middle of Ramadan, too.”
During the holy month, a word uttered in anger is considered breaking the fast.
“I have mixed feelings about this video,” said Ali Murad. “I’m happy that this person’s actions were exposed and he was made to answer for his horrible behaviour.
“On the other hand, he has also brought shame to us all. People will see this video and use it to stereotype Arabs and Emiratis as heartless, racist snobs.”
Salem Saeed said: “Some say that it could be because he is a smoker who is fasting and his temper got the better of him, but this is not an excuse. It would have been less of a sin to break your fast with a cigarette than to behave like that.”
Dubai Police responded quickly after the video began circulating on Monday evening and 40 complaints were filed to the force’s Twitter account.
The tweets caught the attention of high-profile figures such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the UAE University political science professor Dr Abdel Khaleq Abdullah, and other figures in the country who also tweeted their dismay.
By this morning, an Emirati man had been arrested in connection with the attack, said Maj Gen Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, deputy chief of Dubai Police.
Gen Al Mazeina said the actions shown in the video were not representative of the UAE’s culture and tradition, and that despite the alleged attacker being a government official, “no one is above the law”.
The dispute seen on the film was triggered by a minor accident, according to Gen Al Mazeina, who called the official’s manner “inappropriate”.
A case has been registered against the man, he said, and further investigations will be held today by public prosecutors.
Many voiced their appreciation for the police’s swift action in handling this matter.
“This shows that we do not tolerate such shameful behaviour,” said Mariam Nasser. “I just hope that news of his arrest spreads as wide and as fast as the video did.”
Under Article 339 of the UAE penal code, assault that does not result in serious injury carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a fine of up to Dh10,000.
Road rage and incidents of reckless or aggressive driving are things Dubai Police have been trying to solve for years.
In May 2010, Lt Gen Mohammed Saif Al Zafein, director of the General Department of Traffic, saw a Lexus driving from Al Garhoud to Al Ittihad Road towards Sharjah bullying other cars and driving recklessly.
Gen Al Zafein chased the car and the female Emirati driver was fined and had her vehicle confiscated.
Reckless driving carries a Dh2,000 fine, 12 black points on the licence and a 30-day vehicle confiscation.
This year, Dubai’s top traffic prosecutor called for tough new laws to punish bad drivers.
"Existing laws do not allow judges to impose sentences that match the severity of the crime," said Salah Bu Farousha, head of Dubai Traffic Public Prosecution.
malkhan@thenational.ae
amustafa@thenational.ae
* With additional reporting by Salam Al Amir
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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.
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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.
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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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Date of birth: April 18, 1998
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Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
