• A sign for Starbase, Elon Musk's private spaceport in Boca Chica, Texas. All photos: Willy Lowry / The National
    A sign for Starbase, Elon Musk's private spaceport in Boca Chica, Texas. All photos: Willy Lowry / The National
  • Three SpaceX rockets stand ready at Starbase in Boca Chica.
    Three SpaceX rockets stand ready at Starbase in Boca Chica.
  • A SpaceX employee works high above the ground on a rocket at the SpaceX launchpad.
    A SpaceX employee works high above the ground on a rocket at the SpaceX launchpad.
  • A SpaceX rocket rises in the distance.
    A SpaceX rocket rises in the distance.
  • A sign at Boca Chica Beach warns of sea turtle nesting.
    A sign at Boca Chica Beach warns of sea turtle nesting.
  • Three Starship rockets stand next to a booster. The reusable rockets are at the centre of SpaceX's plans for the future.
    Three Starship rockets stand next to a booster. The reusable rockets are at the centre of SpaceX's plans for the future.
  • A sign warns passers-by against entering the area around SpaceX's launchpad.
    A sign warns passers-by against entering the area around SpaceX's launchpad.
  • A sign along Texas State Highway 4 warns drivers to watch out for local wildlife.
    A sign along Texas State Highway 4 warns drivers to watch out for local wildlife.
  • A SpaceX security guard questions a driver at the entrance to the launch zone.
    A SpaceX security guard questions a driver at the entrance to the launch zone.
  • Amanda Maul and her son, Connor, drove all the way from Dallas to see SpaceX.
    Amanda Maul and her son, Connor, drove all the way from Dallas to see SpaceX.
  • SpaceX's Starbase facility sits near the Gulf of Mexico in a remote patch of southern Texas.
    SpaceX's Starbase facility sits near the Gulf of Mexico in a remote patch of southern Texas.
  • Boca Chica Beach, looking south towards Mexico. It is one of the last free public beaches in southern Texas.
    Boca Chica Beach, looking south towards Mexico. It is one of the last free public beaches in southern Texas.
  • Workers prepare to move a Starship rocket.
    Workers prepare to move a Starship rocket.
  • SpaceX's Starbase rises in the distance.
    SpaceX's Starbase rises in the distance.
  • A sign marks the lines where the Boca Chica National Wildlife Refuge begins along the Texas State Highway 4.
    A sign marks the lines where the Boca Chica National Wildlife Refuge begins along the Texas State Highway 4.
  • Flowers grow on the dunes of Boca Chica Beach near a SpaceX tower.
    Flowers grow on the dunes of Boca Chica Beach near a SpaceX tower.
  • A person walks in the Boca Chica Wildlife Refuge next to Starbase.
    A person walks in the Boca Chica Wildlife Refuge next to Starbase.
  • A view of Starbase from Boca Chica.
    A view of Starbase from Boca Chica.
  • Flowers grow on the dunes of Boca Chica Beach near a SpaceX tower.
    Flowers grow on the dunes of Boca Chica Beach near a SpaceX tower.
  • A sheriff's car parks near SpaceX in Boca Chica.
    A sheriff's car parks near SpaceX in Boca Chica.
  • A sign along a motorway reads: 'We love Elon'.
    A sign along a motorway reads: 'We love Elon'.
  • An exterior sign for Starbase.
    An exterior sign for Starbase.
  • Cars parked outside of Starbase in Boca Chica.
    Cars parked outside of Starbase in Boca Chica.
  • Some SpaceX employees stay in Airstream trailers parked near the complex in Boca Chica.
    Some SpaceX employees stay in Airstream trailers parked near the complex in Boca Chica.
  • A sign welcomes visitors to Boca Chica Village.
    A sign welcomes visitors to Boca Chica Village.
  • A renovated home in Boca Chica.
    A renovated home in Boca Chica.
  • A Tesla charges in the driveway of a home in Boca Chica.
    A Tesla charges in the driveway of a home in Boca Chica.
  • A shuttered home in Boca Chica. Elon Musk, the world's richest person, lives in the tiny unincorporated village.
    A shuttered home in Boca Chica. Elon Musk, the world's richest person, lives in the tiny unincorporated village.
  • One of two streets in Boca Chica Village, which leads straight to Starbase.
    One of two streets in Boca Chica Village, which leads straight to Starbase.
  • A renovated home in Boca Chica Village. SpaceX has been slowly buying up property in the area for years.
    A renovated home in Boca Chica Village. SpaceX has been slowly buying up property in the area for years.
  • A home in Boca Chica Village. The community used to be mainly made up of retirees, but it is now comprised almost entirely of SpaceX employees.
    A home in Boca Chica Village. The community used to be mainly made up of retirees, but it is now comprised almost entirely of SpaceX employees.
  • A Tesla charges in the driveway of a house in Boca Chica.
    A Tesla charges in the driveway of a house in Boca Chica.
  • A sign on a house in Boca Chica Village warns passers-by they are on private property.
    A sign on a house in Boca Chica Village warns passers-by they are on private property.
  • A white Tesla sits in the driveway of a recently renovated home in Boca Chica Village.
    A white Tesla sits in the driveway of a recently renovated home in Boca Chica Village.
  • A sign on a house in Boca Chica Village warns passers-by they are on private property.
    A sign on a house in Boca Chica Village warns passers-by they are on private property.

On the cusp of history: a small Texas city adapts to life with Elon Musk and SpaceX


Willy Lowry
  • English
  • Arabic

On a hot, sticky morning, Bobby Lerma wades through dusty, ankle-length grass to reach the pink stucco mausoleum that sits on his family ranch outside of Brownsville, Texas.

“That’s my dad up there,” says Mr Lerma, pointing to a white marble engraving on the wall. “Then we have my mom, who is over here on top, and that’s her brother, and then my late wife is over there, so we’re full.”

Well, not quite. The 64-year-old retired municipal judge and lawyer says he intends to be buried next to his kin on the property his mother’s family has owned since the start of the American Civil war in 1861.

Quiet south Texas town adapts to life with Elon Musk and SpaceX

The only concern is that, 11 kilometres from Mr Lerma's sprawling 485-hectare ranch, the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has built a Jetson-like space facility called Starbase, which has transformed the tranquil area into a bustling hive of rocket scientists and engineers.

They are working on building the largest rocket ever created, the 120-metre-tall Starship, a reusable craft that Mr Musk hopes will one day be able to carry equipment and people on missions to the Moon and Mars.

Starbase rises above a pristine wildlife refuge and abuts one of southern Texas’s last remaining public beaches.

Driving along Texas State Highway 4, the shimmering futuristic rockets loom over an expanse of relatively untouched land, appearing like an alien aberration.

Beneath them in the surrounding wildlife refuge, hundreds of birds and insects buzz through the air only a few kilometres from where the Rio Grande meets the Gulf of Mexico.

When SpaceX launches its powerful rockets, the company has to close down Highway 4 - the only road leading to Mr Lerma's property and Boca Chica Beach.

“We have trouble getting home, because every time they want to do something, the road gets closed and the beach gets closed,” Mr Lerma told The National.

Under Texas state law, public beach access is a constitutional right. But in 2013, the state's legislature amended the law to allow for closures during SpaceX flight operations.

A 2014 agreement between SpaceX and the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) stated that the company must limit road closures to 180 hours per year, spread out over 12 launches.

But many residents complain that SpaceX has far exceeded that original agreement.

Beyond the nuisance of road closures, there are environmental concerns as well.

“Just from that land being developed, we've already seen harsh declines in different bird populations," said Emma Guevara, an organiser with the Sierra Club in Brownsville, who blames the deaths of ocelots, a type of wild cat that only lives in two parts of Texas, on SpaceX's activities.

Along with other environmental groups, the Sierra Club has filed a lawsuit against the Texas General Land Office and Cameron County, where Brownsville and Boca Chica are located, over road closures and restricted access to the beach.

A recent environmental assessment report conducted by the FAA found that SpaceX had to make 75 adjustments to mitigate its environmental impact to move forward with the Starship programme.

In addition, the assessment called for the company to limit weekend road closures to five per year and said SpaceX should not restrict beach access during 18 federal and state holidays.

SpaceX did not respond to repeated requests for comment. So far, their only public comment on the FAA report has come in the form of a tweet.

“One step closer to the first orbital flight test of Starship,” the company said.

Why Boca Chica?

Boca Chica sits in the southernmost corner of Texas near the gulf of the Rio Grande, a few kilometres east of the city of Brownsville and the US-Mexico border.

The very remoteness that makes it attractive to local residents and visitors alike made it an ideal location for the SpaceX launch site.

“It’s always possible that something goes wrong and so you want to have a good clear area,” said Mr Musk at a SpaceX event in February 2022. “You want several miles around the launch site unpopulated or at least clearable.”

It is also the farthest southern point in the continental US outside of Florida, which means it's close to the equator, making it easier for rockets to reach orbit.

Texas also offered a hospitable business environment for the billionaire entrepreneur to build and base one of the world’s largest private space companies.

In 2014, Rick Perry, then governor of Texas, offered more than $15 million in incentives for Mr Musk to set up shop in Boca Chica.

"SpaceX is excited to expand our work in Texas with the world's first commercial launch complex designed specifically for orbital missions," Mr Musk said in a statement at the time.

  • Bobby Lerma, a retired judge and lawyer, says SpaceX has disrupted his tranquil life. All photos: Willy Lowry / The National
    Bobby Lerma, a retired judge and lawyer, says SpaceX has disrupted his tranquil life. All photos: Willy Lowry / The National
  • A spiderweb forms on a rusty fence on Mr Lerma's property outside of Brownsville, Texas.
    A spiderweb forms on a rusty fence on Mr Lerma's property outside of Brownsville, Texas.
  • A statue sits on the front lawn of Mr Lerma's home.
    A statue sits on the front lawn of Mr Lerma's home.
  • The Texas state flag hangs on the side of a barn owned by Mr Lerma.
    The Texas state flag hangs on the side of a barn owned by Mr Lerma.
  • An old bathtub is used as a watering hole on Mr Lerma's family ranch.
    An old bathtub is used as a watering hole on Mr Lerma's family ranch.
  • The Rio Grande, which separates the US from Mexico, runs along Mr Lerma's property.
    The Rio Grande, which separates the US from Mexico, runs along Mr Lerma's property.
  • A stack of firewood on Mr Lerma's sprawling 485-hectare property.
    A stack of firewood on Mr Lerma's sprawling 485-hectare property.
  • The sun rises over the Rio Grande, which passes along Mr Lerma's property near Brownsville.
    The sun rises over the Rio Grande, which passes along Mr Lerma's property near Brownsville.
  • Mr Lerma's father build the ranch house in the 1960s.
    Mr Lerma's father build the ranch house in the 1960s.
  • A sign welcoming visitors to Mr Lerma's ranch house.
    A sign welcoming visitors to Mr Lerma's ranch house.
  • Mr Lerma studies a map of his family property, which has been in his family since 1861.
    Mr Lerma studies a map of his family property, which has been in his family since 1861.
  • One of Mr Lerma's horses.
    One of Mr Lerma's horses.
  • A cross rises above the Lerma family mausoleum on the ranch.
    A cross rises above the Lerma family mausoleum on the ranch.
  • Mr Lerma visits the ranch's mausoleum, where three generations of his family are buried.
    Mr Lerma visits the ranch's mausoleum, where three generations of his family are buried.
  • The family mausoleum.
    The family mausoleum.
  • A cross marks a grave on Mr Lerma's family property.
    A cross marks a grave on Mr Lerma's family property.
  • A view of the mausoleum.
    A view of the mausoleum.
  • Rolls of hay on Mr Lerma's 485-hectare ranch.
    Rolls of hay on Mr Lerma's 485-hectare ranch.

In the years since, Mr Musk has found an agreeable partner in the state, choosing not only to move SpaceX there, but his electric car company Tesla as well.

“I think Texas has the right amount of rules and regulations,” Mr Musk joked to an audience back in February.

Mr Musk has even made Boca Chica his home base, reportedly living in a bungalow worth only $50,000.

Since SpaceX first arrived in Boca Chica in 2014, the company has been buying up land at a ravenous pace in hopes of creating its own Starbase city.

It is easy to spot the differences between Starbase employees' homes and those that belong to locals unwilling to sell. The first clue is often the Tesla parked in the driveway.

A city on the rise

About 1,600 people work at SpaceX in Boca Chica, which has helped to vastly improve the area's economy.

Brownsville, the nearby city of 188,000, has long been considered one of America’s most impoverished.

The 2020 US Census revealed that the city had a median household income of $40,924, compared to a median income of $67,521 across the US. More than one quarter of the city's residents live in poverty.

The frontier city, which borders Matamoros, Mexico, is most often associated with immigration issues along the southern US border, but that narrative has started to change with the arrival of SpaceX.

The city has an abundance of 19th century historical buildings in various states of disrepair. The years of economic downturn are evident in the hardscrabble streets and dilapidated facades.

But a revitalisation project partially funded by Mr Musk has helped to restore a stretch of the Brownsville city centre to its former glory.

Hip restaurants and bars line several blocks and offer upscale cuisine to the city’s newest residents and SpaceX employees.

At Terra's, a popular new eatery on Washington Street, diners chow down on $18 tacos in a cavernous, exposed-brick dining hall. It is a scene straight out of New York City or Austin, Texas, a city often considered one of America’s hippest.

“[SpaceX] has put us on the map in terms of our potential and it provides just a lot of hope and aspiration,'' said John Cowen, a Brownsville city commissioner. “We're at the centre of innovation now.”

But SpaceX has also sent Brownsville’s house prices soaring.

The median house price as of April 2022 was $239,000. That’s almost $100,000 more than it was in April of 2019, website Realtor.com reported.

Mr Lerma said SpaceX approached him to see if he would be open to selling his property. He immediately declined.

"It's not for sale. No, it means too much to the family," he said.

Driving through a new subdivision on the outskirts of Brownsville, Craig Grove, a local real estate agent, pointed out homes he had recently sold.

  • SpaceX's Starbase rises above the Boca Chica Wildlife Refuge.
    SpaceX's Starbase rises above the Boca Chica Wildlife Refuge.
  • A mural of Elon Musk adorns the facade of a building in the Brownsville city centre.
    A mural of Elon Musk adorns the facade of a building in the Brownsville city centre.
  • A construction worker builds a house in a new subdivision in Brownsville.
    A construction worker builds a house in a new subdivision in Brownsville.
  • A house under construction on a new subdivision in Brownsville.
    A house under construction on a new subdivision in Brownsville.
  • Ben Neece, a former Brownsville city commissioner and retired judge, poses for a photo in the Brownsville city centre.
    Ben Neece, a former Brownsville city commissioner and retired judge, poses for a photo in the Brownsville city centre.
  • Mr Neece stands in the city centre of Brownsville.
    Mr Neece stands in the city centre of Brownsville.
  • John Cowen, a Brownsville city commissioner.
    John Cowen, a Brownsville city commissioner.
  • The exterior of Maker SpaceX Boca Chica, a community of 'builders' that has come to the Brownsville, Texas, area to be close to SpaceX. All photos: Willy Lowry / The National
    The exterior of Maker SpaceX Boca Chica, a community of 'builders' that has come to the Brownsville, Texas, area to be close to SpaceX. All photos: Willy Lowry / The National
  • Jack Yuen, director of Maker SpaceX Boca Chica, stands inside an old hanger that has been transformed into a workshop.
    Jack Yuen, director of Maker SpaceX Boca Chica, stands inside an old hanger that has been transformed into a workshop.
  • A sign hangs in the Maker SpaceX Boca Chica workshop.
    A sign hangs in the Maker SpaceX Boca Chica workshop.
  • Mr Yuen displays a piece of metal that comes from part of a SpaceX rocket.
    Mr Yuen displays a piece of metal that comes from part of a SpaceX rocket.
  • A statue based on a famous photo of ironworkers at the World Trade Centre in New York City sits on Mr Yuen's property.
    A statue based on a famous photo of ironworkers at the World Trade Centre in New York City sits on Mr Yuen's property.

“I sold that one right there last year for $329,000,” he said, pointing to a large home with a two-car garage.

Mr Grove, who considers himself the city’s biggest cheerleader, believes SpaceX has offered a much-needed injection of capital and hope into Brownsville.

“There's definitely been a bump - it's something that we never thought we would see, these people coming from California, Seattle, Denver, some parts of the East Coast coming to work at SpaceX, and these high-tech jobs, you know, specialty welding, computer programming, robotics, all these kinds of things,” he said.

Mr Grove even created a subsidiary of his main business to cater specifically to SpaceX employees called Starbase Realty.

He said SpaceX employees tend to buy three- to four-bedroom homes in newer developments that sell for between $200,000 and $300,000.

Those prices are a far cry from what they would pay in Los Angeles or Seattle, he explained.

“It's historically way more affordable,” he told The National. “And when you're looking at it from the perspective of Los Angeles, or these other big metros to Brownsville, it's crazy.”

The influx of new wealthier residents in a city that has a large population that lives on the margins of poverty has upset some locals.

“We’re seeing overcrowding in the city,” said Ms Guevara, the Sierra Club organiser.

“We're having a real housing crisis; it's really really difficult to find affordable housing or even to find housing in general.”

While Mr Musk has brought in a great deal of money, excitement and business to Brownsville - winning him the support of many local politicians - the same cannot be said of the whole community.

On a hot June night, a middle-aged man wearing a white sleeveless T-shirt, walks by a large mural of Mr Musk that adorns a building in Brownsville and raised his middle finger at the billionaire.

But Mr Cowen, the city commissioner, was adamant that the city was in a much better place now that Mr Musk is a nearby resident.

“Elon provides a better future for everyone," he said.

Mr Lerma was less diplomatic about Mr Musk's presence in the area, criticising local politicians for “worshipping the altar of King Elon".

While he admitted there could be benefits to having Starbase as part of the community, he worried about its influence going unchecked.

“I'm not in the way of progress - progress is here,” he said.

“Maybe one of my kids might get a job at SpaceX. But will my kid not be able to go to the beach one day?”

MATCH INFO

Liverpool 0

Stoke City 0

Man of the Match: Erik Pieters (Stoke)

57%20Seconds
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MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20SCE%20Studio%20Cambridge%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sony%20Computer%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%2C%20PlayStation%204%20and%205%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.

  • It’s So Easy
  • Mr Brownstone
  • Chinese Democracy
  • Welcome to the Jungle
  • Double Talkin’ Jive
  • Better
  • Estranged
  • Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
  • Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
  • Rocket Queen
  • You Could Be Mine
  • Shadow of Your Love
  • Attitude (Misfits cover)
  • Civil War
  • Coma
  • Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
  • Sweet Child O’ Mine
  • Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
  • Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
  • November Rain
  • Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
  • Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
  • Nightrain

Encore:

  • Patience
  • Don’t Cry
  • The Seeker (The Who cover)
  • Paradise City
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

Transmission: eight-speed auto

Price: from Dh122,745

On sale: now

What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women & the Food That Tells Their Stories
Laura Shapiro
Fourth Estate

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

'Champions'

Director: Manuel Calvo
Stars: Yassir Al Saggaf and Fatima Al Banawi
Rating: 2/5
 

Results

57kg quarter-finals

Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Hamed Al Matari (YEM) by points 3-0.

60kg quarter-finals

Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) RSC round 2.

63.5kg quarter-finals

Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Shamlan A Othman (KUW) by points 3-0.

67kg quarter-finals

Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Ahmad Ondash (LBN) by points 2-1.

71kg quarter-finals

Ahmad Bahman (UAE) defeated Lalthasanga Lelhchhun (IND) by points 3-0.

Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Seyed Kaveh Safakhaneh (IRI) by points 3-0.

81kg quarter-finals

Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Ahmad Hilal (PLE) by points 3-0

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E680hp%20at%206%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E800Nm%20at%202%2C750-6%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERear-mounted%20eight-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E13.6L%2F100km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Orderbook%20open%3B%20deliveries%20start%20end%20of%20year%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh970%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Bloomberg Billionaire Index in full

1 Jeff Bezos $140 billion
2 Bill Gates $98.3 billion
3 Bernard Arnault $83.1 billion
4 Warren Buffett $83 billion
5 Amancio Ortega $67.9 billion
6 Mark Zuckerberg $67.3 billion
7 Larry Page $56.8 billion
8 Larry Ellison $56.1 billion
9 Sergey Brin $55.2 billion
10 Carlos Slim $55.2 billion

The specs: 2018 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy

Price, base / as tested Dh97,600
Engine 1,745cc Milwaukee-Eight v-twin engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 78hp @ 5,250rpm
Torque 145Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.0L / 100km (estimate)

Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

Sly%20Cooper%20and%20the%20Thievius%20Raccoonus
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sucker%20Punch%20Productions%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sony%20Computer%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%202%20to%205%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
General%20Classification
%3Cp%3E1.%20Elisa%20Longo%20Borghini%20(ITA)%20Trek-Segafredo%3Cbr%3E2.%20Gaia%20Realini%20(ITA)%20Trek-Segafredo%207%20secs%3Cbr%3E3.%20Silvia%20Persico%20(ITA)%20UAE%20Team%20ADQ%201%20min%2018%20secs%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

'Laal Kaptaan'

Director: Navdeep Singh

Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain

Rating: 2/5

If you go

Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.

Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com

A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com

Company%20profile
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Company profile

Date started: January, 2014

Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe

Based: Dubai

Sector: Education technology

Size: Five employees

Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.

Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
FA Cup fifth round draw

Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City
Reading/Cardiff City v Sheffield United
Chelsea v Shrewsbury Town/Liverpool
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United/Oxford United
Leicester City v Coventry City/Birmingham City
Northampton Town/Derby County v Manchester United
Southampton/Tottenham Hotspur v Norwich City
Portsmouth v Arsenal 

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Switch%20Foods%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Edward%20Hamod%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Plant-based%20meat%20production%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2034%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%246.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20round%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Based%20in%20US%20and%20across%20Middle%20East%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How%20to%20avoid%20getting%20scammed
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The%20specs
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Women’s World T20, Asia Qualifier

UAE results
Beat China by 16 runs
Lost to Thailand by 10 wickets
Beat Nepal by five runs
Beat Hong Kong by eight wickets
Beat Malaysia by 34 runs

Standings (P, W, l, NR, points)

1. Thailand 5 4 0 1 9
2. UAE 5 4 1 0 8
3. Nepal 5 2 1 2 6
4. Hong Kong 5 2 2 1 5
5. Malaysia 5 1 4 0 2
6. China 5 0 5 0 0

Final
Thailand v UAE, Monday, 7am

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."

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.”

Brief scores:

Toss: India, opted to field

Australia 158-4 (17 ov)

Maxwell 46, Lynn 37; Kuldeep 2-24

India 169-7 (17 ov)

Dhawan 76, Karthik 30; Zampa 2-22

Result: Australia won by 4 runs by D/L method

Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Alaan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Parthi%20Duraisamy%20and%20Karun%20Kurien%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247%20million%20raised%20in%20total%20%E2%80%94%20%242.5%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20and%20%244.5%20million%20in%20a%20pre-series%20A%20round%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
PAST 10 BRITISH GRAND PRIX WINNERS

2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2012 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2011 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2010 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)

BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP

Group A

Paraguay
Japan
Switzerland
USA

Group B

Uruguay
Mexico
Italy
Tahiti

Group C

Belarus
UAE
Senegal
Russia

Group D

Brazil
Oman
Portugal
Nigeria

Updated: June 29, 2022, 12:59 PM