• Emirates cabin crew in the airline's brown, white and red uniforms. Getty
    Emirates cabin crew in the airline's brown, white and red uniforms. Getty
  • Emirates was rated the world’s safest airline in January 2022 for the second year in a row. Reuters
    Emirates was rated the world’s safest airline in January 2022 for the second year in a row. Reuters
  • An Emirates Boeing 777-200LR aircraft mid-flight. Photo: Emirates
    An Emirates Boeing 777-200LR aircraft mid-flight. Photo: Emirates
  • Emirates airline's Boeing 777-300ER jets at Dubai International Airport. Reuters
    Emirates airline's Boeing 777-300ER jets at Dubai International Airport. Reuters
  • Travellers at Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Travellers at Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Emirates has first and business class lounges around the world. Photos: Emirates
    Emirates has first and business class lounges around the world. Photos: Emirates
  • A fast-track gate that uses face and iris-recognition technology at Dubai International Airport. The biometric system is being used at 122 smart gates at the airport's arrival and departure terminals. AFP
    A fast-track gate that uses face and iris-recognition technology at Dubai International Airport. The biometric system is being used at 122 smart gates at the airport's arrival and departure terminals. AFP
  • An Emirates cabin crew staff member demonstrates new health and safety measures introduced after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Emirates
    An Emirates cabin crew staff member demonstrates new health and safety measures introduced after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Emirates
  • Emirates has fully enclosed private suites in first class. Photo: Emirates
    Emirates has fully enclosed private suites in first class. Photo: Emirates
  • An Emirates Airbus A380 aircraft on the tarmac at the 2021 Dubai Airshow. AFP
    An Emirates Airbus A380 aircraft on the tarmac at the 2021 Dubai Airshow. AFP
  • Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia aircraft perform a flypast over the UAE. Emirates
    Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia aircraft perform a flypast over the UAE. Emirates

Passenger gives birth on Emirates flight from Tokyo to Dubai


Sarwat Nasir
  • English
  • Arabic

A baby has been born on an Emirates flight travelling to Dubai from Tokyo.

The airline confirmed to The National in a statement that the incident took place on January 19.

"The passenger was assisted by crew and the flight continued to Dubai as per schedule," it said.

"The passenger and baby were in stable condition and upon arrival in Dubai were met by local medical staff."

The plane took off at 10.31pm, Japan time, and landed in Dubai at 5.44am, UAE time.

It is not the first time an Emirates passenger has given birth mid-flight.

On May 6, 2020, a passenger gave birth during a repatriation flight that was heading to Lagos from Dubai.

In 2017, a passenger gave birth on board a Dubai to Paris flight.

Emirates provides training to its cabin crew to handle medical emergencies, including heart attacks and childbirth.

How Emirates trains its cabin crew - in pictures

  • An Emirates cabin crew trainee takes the plunge into cold water with a life jacket on. All photos Pawan Singh / The National
    An Emirates cabin crew trainee takes the plunge into cold water with a life jacket on. All photos Pawan Singh / The National
  • Trainees are taught to huddle in the cold water to conserve heat during an emergency landing on water.
    Trainees are taught to huddle in the cold water to conserve heat during an emergency landing on water.
  • Trainees are shown how to unravel and attach the protective orange cover for the life raft.
    Trainees are shown how to unravel and attach the protective orange cover for the life raft.
  • Despite being taught to stay in the inflatable life raft, trainees are asked to jump in the cold water during emergency landing exercises to learn the proper technique for keeping warm.
    Despite being taught to stay in the inflatable life raft, trainees are asked to jump in the cold water during emergency landing exercises to learn the proper technique for keeping warm.
  • Tania Hettiaratchy, training instructor, watches her class.
    Tania Hettiaratchy, training instructor, watches her class.
  • Trainee Emirates cabin crew leave the Airbus A380 simulator using the inflatable slide.
    Trainee Emirates cabin crew leave the Airbus A380 simulator using the inflatable slide.
  • A trainee opens the emergency exit in preparation for evacuating the aircraft.
    A trainee opens the emergency exit in preparation for evacuating the aircraft.
  • Emirates Cabin Crew Training College is the only one in the world to have a full-sized A380 fuselage.
    Emirates Cabin Crew Training College is the only one in the world to have a full-sized A380 fuselage.
  • Tania Hettiaratchy lectures trainees on how to wear the life jackets for an emergency evacuation on water.
    Tania Hettiaratchy lectures trainees on how to wear the life jackets for an emergency evacuation on water.
  • This cabin replica is where crew members are shown how to serve guests on board.
    This cabin replica is where crew members are shown how to serve guests on board.
  • Crew serve and are served during their training so they learn to appreciate the customer experience.
    Crew serve and are served during their training so they learn to appreciate the customer experience.
  • Trainees form tight bonds with others in their 'batch' and often remain friends for years into their service.
    Trainees form tight bonds with others in their 'batch' and often remain friends for years into their service.
  • Talks on the importance of skin care, including an emphasis on protection against the sun, are part of crew training.
    Talks on the importance of skin care, including an emphasis on protection against the sun, are part of crew training.
  • At the image station, female trainees are taught how to apply their make-up and males are shown the importance of a proper manicure.
    At the image station, female trainees are taught how to apply their make-up and males are shown the importance of a proper manicure.

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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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

Updated: January 23, 2023, 5:17 AM