DUBAI // A new home is desperately needed for three kittens, two of whom are visually impaired, who cannot bear to be separated.
Six-month-old siblings Lady Marmalade, Calico, who is partially sighted, and Gouti, who is blind, were rescued from the streets of Ajman and have become are so dependent on each other that they will only sleep and eat together.
“These three kittens have a wonderful bond, the only survivors of an unfortunate colony they now live contentedly together and are dependent on each other,” said Rosie Kingham.
Ms Kingham, a Briton, helped rescue the kittens and had been caring for them, in addition to her three other cats.
So far she had footed more than Dh15,000 in vet bills for the kittens.
She is returning to the UK this week and is desperately appealing for someone to either foster the kittens or offer them a permanent home.
When she found the kittens Ms Kingham said they were in a horrific state.
“These three angels the only ones to survive from the litter of seven,” she said. “One had its eyeball hanging out of its socket.
“The other two could not see for infections and dirt.”
Ms Kingham were warned the kittens may not survive.
“They were horrific to look at and you can’t imagine how they could have survived,” she said. “They were very sick with herpes and very weak.
“But I got the phone call to say they survived the operation and the vet could not believe they pulled through.”
All kittens are now are neutered, vaccinated, dewormed and healthy, said Ms Kingham.
She described the trio as ‘fighters’.
“These three have truly suffered and been through so much to survive,” she said. “They have stuck together and looked after one another.
“I have taken care of them since they were about seven-weeks-old and they have grown into the most affectionate, loving little souls I have ever known.
“They are not three, they are like one. They play, eat and sleep together, are content in their own company and they entertain each other.
“So in many ways these three are easier than a single cat.”
Ms Kingham said Lady Marmalade, a ginger female, has taken on the role of the carer for her visually impaired brother and sister.
Debbie Spalton, from the UAE-based Middle East Animal Foundation, also urged members of the public to help.
“They function as a homogeneous group and are quite self-reliant but really need to be rehomed together. The situation is very urgent now,” she said.
“A foster home or a forever home is needed within 48 hours.”
Contact Ms Kingham on rosie@firelightproductions.co.uk or 050 379 4465 for more information.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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.”
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
