Zari Tadayon in her room at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport, London. Reuters
Zari Tadayon in her room at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport, London. Reuters
Zari Tadayon in her room at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport, London. Reuters
Zari Tadayon in her room at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport, London. Reuters

'We are like captives': life in Britain's quarantine hotels


  • English
  • Arabic

A woman who spent three weeks in Dubai had “no idea” she would be forced to stay at a quarantine hotel after returning home to Britain.

Zari Tadayon, who landed at London Heathrow Airport on Monday, did not book a hotel before she departed as she thought she would be exempt because of a health condition.

She had flown to Dubai on January 22 to deal with some legal matters before the UK introduced its hotel quarantine policy for certain countries – including the UAE, southern Africa and all of South America – to try to keep out variants of Covid-19.

“It’s disappointing – it’s quite disappointing,” Ms Tadayon said from the Radisson Blu hotel where she will spend the next 11 nights.

“I’m not sure if I am allowed out. Nobody explained anything to me.”

  • A woman accompanied by a boy and girl stand and gesture out of a window from inside the Radisson Blu hotel at Heathrow Airport in west London where they are undertaking mandatory hotel quarantine because of the coronavirus pandemic. AFP
    A woman accompanied by a boy and girl stand and gesture out of a window from inside the Radisson Blu hotel at Heathrow Airport in west London where they are undertaking mandatory hotel quarantine because of the coronavirus pandemic. AFP
  • A couple gesture to the media from their room at the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel, near Heathrow Airport. Getty Images
    A couple gesture to the media from their room at the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel, near Heathrow Airport. Getty Images
  • A woman quarantined at the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel, near Heathrow Airport, London, holds up a sign in protest. AP Photo
    A woman quarantined at the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel, near Heathrow Airport, London, holds up a sign in protest. AP Photo
  • The Holiday Inn, near Heathrow Airport, where some travellers are being placed in quarantine. Reuters
    The Holiday Inn, near Heathrow Airport, where some travellers are being placed in quarantine. Reuters
  • A passenger with a child leaves arrives at the Holiday Inn, near Heathrow Airport. Reuters
    A passenger with a child leaves arrives at the Holiday Inn, near Heathrow Airport. Reuters
  • A woman holds up a sign at the window at the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel, where she is quarantined. AP Photo
    A woman holds up a sign at the window at the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel, where she is quarantined. AP Photo
  • A person holds a sign from a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel. Reuters
    A person holds a sign from a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel. Reuters
  • Mohammed Mostafa and Mohamed Noor take their daily exercise, accompanied by a security guard, outside the Holiday Inn, near Heathrow Airport. Reuters
    Mohammed Mostafa and Mohamed Noor take their daily exercise, accompanied by a security guard, outside the Holiday Inn, near Heathrow Airport. Reuters
  • Passengers arriving in the UK from a 'red list' country are escorted through Heathrow Airport on to a coach for transfer to a quarantine hotel. Getty Images
    Passengers arriving in the UK from a 'red list' country are escorted through Heathrow Airport on to a coach for transfer to a quarantine hotel. Getty Images
  • A woman who has recently arrived from Chile, looks through the window of the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel where she is quarantined. AP Photo
    A woman who has recently arrived from Chile, looks through the window of the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel where she is quarantined. AP Photo
  • A woman waves through the window of the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel. AP Photo
    A woman waves through the window of the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel. AP Photo
  • A person holds a sign from a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel. Reuters
    A person holds a sign from a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel. Reuters
  • A traveller holds up a 'help' sign at a window during mandatory hotel quarantine in a Radisson Blu hotel. AFP
    A traveller holds up a 'help' sign at a window during mandatory hotel quarantine in a Radisson Blu hotel. AFP

Passengers arriving in the UK from “red list” countries face fines of up to £10,000 ($14,000) for failing to quarantine, and those who lie on their passenger locator form could be jailed for up to 10 years.

The price for a single adult in a quarantine hotel is £1,750, which includes the room, three meals a day and transport from the airport.

The government said on Tuesday travellers face an additional £1,200 bill if they test positive for coronavirus during their stay, with guests required to extend their stay beyond the initial 11 nights.

Ms Tadayon said she had to wait for several hours on arrival at the country because of teething problems with the quarantine policy. She said she would spend her 69th birthday alone in the hotel.

“The officers at the immigration were not very up-to-date about what they should be doing – we just waited and waited for a hotel,” she said.

“The cost is quite high – I wasn’t prepared for this forced expense. I could have given it to my children or celebrated my birthday nicely with my family for half of that amount or even a quarter of that amount.

“I was in Dubai for three weeks – I needed to attend to some legal matters which were very important. I was not there for a beach holiday.”

Passengers on Monday complained that red list travellers were allowed to mix freely with other travellers before being separated at passport control.

Jorge Elch, who arrived from the Maldives via Frankfurt, told The National he was worried about becoming infected himself after flying with six red-list travellers.

He said passengers were separated only after their travel documents were checked by border officers.

“You get off the flight at the same time as someone from a red-list area,” he said.

“Everybody is funnelled through the same area. It doesn’t make sense to me.”

Another passenger arriving from Cameroon said large numbers of people arrived at the border without a Covid-19 test package. Passengers are required to pay £210 ($291) before they arrive so they can receive a test on day two and day eight of their quarantine.

"Loads of people don't understand the requirements to come back," he told The National. "I said to them [border officers] that they really need to make it clear what's needed because every second person didn't have the right documents and they were put in a different area."

Faiza Shafi and her mother Hawa Omar, 52, were among the first passengers to be put in hotel quarantine after transiting through Frankfurt via Dubai.

The duo said they were due to arrive back in the UK on February 12 - before the new quarantine rules came into force - but Emirates airline cancelled two flights, which ultimately pushed back their arrival date.

Mohamed Noor faces 10 days in COVID-19 quarantine in a hotel room near London's Heathrow Airport after falling foul of new border controls because of a flight delay.

"I don't have a book. I don't have a Koran. I don't have nothing here," Noor, a 55-year-old Muslim, said by phone after his arrival on Monday, a day later than planned, landed him with a £1,750 ($2,400) bill.

In another hotel nearby, 61-year-old Sole, who declined to give her surname, said she realised too late that the new rules would kick in before she returned from visiting friends in Chile.

"We are like captives in these rooms," she said.

Noor, a postal driver, was visiting Somalia after his brother died and feels he is being punished for going to look after his mother. He spent four hours at the airport arguing his case and says he will refuse to pay.

"My family was waiting outside the airport and you can't see them. My 11-year old son was waiting," he said.

Sole plans to spend the time talking to friends, watching television and doing online classes and yoga.

She also feels she is being punished after taking a holiday following a stressful year working in a hospital where she has treated COVID-19 patients.

"Why has this happened? The new variant is in South Africa and it's going to spread anyway," she said.

Border Force officers were reportedly told of the new rules for managing hotel quarantine cases only hours before the policy came into force.

Immigration control staff received a lengthy email with five attachments, detailing how to carry out the new border checks, at 9.25pm on Sunday, The Guardian reported.

Sources told the paper a significant number of staff would not have seen the email by the time they began their shifts on Monday.

“It is a disgrace our members in Border Force only received new guidelines on hotel quarantine late last night,” said a spokesman for the PCS trade union, which represents Border Force staff.

“It’s vital that Border Force are equipped to deal with helping the public stay Covid safe. However, many feel underprepared and undervalued by a department that is not doing its job.”

Wayne Kelly, a British businessman returning from Dubai, said border officers issued him with a fine notice for not booking a hotel slot before he landed.

"The first I realised I was going to be in this trouble was when I got off the plane," he told the Daily Mail.

Wagner Araujo, who had come from Brazil, where he visited a sick relative, said he could have “easily” avoided border officials at the airport.

“As we got off the plane, there was a man standing with a sign saying: ‘Passengers from red list countries’. We went up to him and told him that we had arrived from Brazil. I found that quite shocking because we could have easily avoided him and not told him where we had been,” he said.

“Now I’ve got this nightmare of being put into a hotel when I’ve actually got a home in Birmingham with my family.”

On Tuesday, one guest held up sign from her hotel room that said: “Essential travel. My mother funeral. Why made to pay 1750.”

The international law firm PGMBM said it was preparing to launch a legal challenge to the quarantine hotel policy.

It said it breached Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

“We wholeheartedly appreciate the seriousness of the pandemic, its impact globally and the efforts of governments and healthcare workers to tackle it. This does not, however, mean that policies which constitute extraordinary violations of traditional liberties and human rights should not face careful judicial examination,” managing partner Tom Goodhead said.

“It is time for lawyers to take a stand and ensure that the government, which has shown scant regard for parliamentary scrutiny of Covid-19 legislation and regulations, is held to account.”

The Department for Health and Social Care said in a statement: “As of 0400 on the 15 February any passenger arriving in the UK from a ‘red list’ country is required to enter managed quarantine.

“This means that anyone arriving in England from that point, even as a result of a delay they would be required to enter managed quarantine.

“There are very limited exemptions to the requirement to book and enter managed quarantine if a person has been in a ‘red list’ country at any point prior to their arrival into England.”

In pictures – UK hotel quarantine comes into force

  • A man waves from the window of the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport, as Britain introduces hotel quarantine programme. Reuters
    A man waves from the window of the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport, as Britain introduces hotel quarantine programme. Reuters
  • Journalists show messages to a passenger staying at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport. Reuters
    Journalists show messages to a passenger staying at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport. Reuters
  • Passengers are escorted to a coach at Heathrow Airport to be driven to a mandatory hotel quarantine in west London. AFP
    Passengers are escorted to a coach at Heathrow Airport to be driven to a mandatory hotel quarantine in west London. AFP
  • Passengers are guided towards a coach after arriving at Heathrow Airport in London. Some passengers traveling to the UK will face tougher quarantine measures, including enforced stays in hotels. Bloomberg
    Passengers are guided towards a coach after arriving at Heathrow Airport in London. Some passengers traveling to the UK will face tougher quarantine measures, including enforced stays in hotels. Bloomberg
  • A man looks through a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport. Reuters
    A man looks through a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport. Reuters
  • A health care worker takes a swab sample from a man to test for coronavirus at a mobile testing site at Heathrow Airport. Reuters
    A health care worker takes a swab sample from a man to test for coronavirus at a mobile testing site at Heathrow Airport. Reuters
  • A passenger arrives at Birmingham Airport on Monday morning. Reuters
    A passenger arrives at Birmingham Airport on Monday morning. Reuters
  • A guest gestures from a window of the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel, a location used for travelers quarantine, at London Heathrow Airport. Bloomberg
    A guest gestures from a window of the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel, a location used for travelers quarantine, at London Heathrow Airport. Bloomberg
  • A mobile Covid-19 testing service at the rear of the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel. Bloomberg
    A mobile Covid-19 testing service at the rear of the Radisson Blu Edwardian hotel. Bloomberg
  • Passengers arrive at the Radisson Blu hotel at Heathrow Airport. Reuters
    Passengers arrive at the Radisson Blu hotel at Heathrow Airport. Reuters
  • Passengers are driven in a bus to the Radisson Blu hotel at Heathrow Airport. Reuters
    Passengers are driven in a bus to the Radisson Blu hotel at Heathrow Airport. Reuters
  • Travellers arrive at Heathrow Airport on Monday morning. Reuters
    Travellers arrive at Heathrow Airport on Monday morning. Reuters
  • A coach delivers passengers to the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel, near Heathrow Airport, where they will remain during a 10 day quarantine period. AP Photo
    A coach delivers passengers to the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel, near Heathrow Airport, where they will remain during a 10 day quarantine period. AP Photo
  • New regulations now in force require anyone who has been in a 'high-risk' location to enter England through a designated port and have pre-booked a package to stay at one of the Government's managed quarantine facilities. Reuters
    New regulations now in force require anyone who has been in a 'high-risk' location to enter England through a designated port and have pre-booked a package to stay at one of the Government's managed quarantine facilities. Reuters
  • Travellers walk outside Heathrow Airport. Reuters
    Travellers walk outside Heathrow Airport. Reuters
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 
Building boom turning to bust as Turkey's economy slows

Deep in a provincial region of northwestern Turkey, it looks like a mirage - hundreds of luxury houses built in neat rows, their pointed towers somewhere between French chateau and Disney castle.

Meant to provide luxurious accommodations for foreign buyers, the houses are however standing empty in what is anything but a fairytale for their investors.

The ambitious development has been hit by regional turmoil as well as the slump in the Turkish construction industry - a key sector - as the country's economy heads towards what could be a hard landing in an intensifying downturn.

After a long period of solid growth, Turkey's economy contracted 1.1 per cent in the third quarter, and many economists expect it will enter into recession this year.

The country has been hit by high inflation and a currency crisis in August. The lira lost 28 per cent of its value against the dollar in 2018 and markets are still unconvinced by the readiness of the government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to tackle underlying economic issues.

The villas close to the town centre of Mudurnu in the Bolu region are intended to resemble European architecture and are part of the Sarot Group's Burj Al Babas project.

But the development of 732 villas and a shopping centre - which began in 2014 - is now in limbo as Sarot Group has sought bankruptcy protection.

It is one of hundreds of Turkish companies that have done so as they seek cover from creditors and to restructure their debts.

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

Gender pay parity on track in the UAE

The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.

"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."

Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.

"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.

As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general. 

The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg

Rating: 4/5

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

ATP RANKINGS (NOVEMBER 4)

1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 9,585 pts ( 1)
2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 8,945 (-1)
3. Roger Federer (SUI) 6,190
4. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 5,705
5. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 5,025
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 4,000 ( 1)
7. Alexander Zverev (GER) 2,945 (-1)
8. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 2,670 ( 1)
9. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2,540 ( 1)
10. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 2,530 ( 3)
11. David Goffin (BEL) 2,335 ( 3)
12. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2,290
13. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 2,180 (-2)
14. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 2,125 ( 1)
15. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 2,050 ( 13)
16. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 2,000
17. Karen Khachanov (RUS) 1,840 (-9)
18. Alex De Minaur (AUS) 1,775
19. John Isner (USA) 1,770 (-2)
20. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 1,747 ( 7)

HOW DO SIM CARD SCAMS WORK?

Sim swap frauds are a form of identity theft.

They involve criminals conning mobile phone operators into issuing them with replacement Sim cards, often by claiming their phone has been lost or stolen 

They use the victim's personal details - obtained through criminal methods - to convince such companies of their identity.

The criminal can then access any online service that requires security codes to be sent to a user's mobile phone, such as banking services.

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Innotech Profile

Date started: 2013

Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari

Based: Muscat, Oman

Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies

Size: 15 full-time employees

Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing 

Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now. 

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

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."
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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.”

SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%20Supercharged%203.5-litre%20V6%0D%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20400hp%0D%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20430Nm%0D%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20Now%0D%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh450%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Amitav Ghosh, University of Chicago Press

Global institutions: BlackRock and KKR

US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.

KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.

 

RIDE%20ON
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Larry%20Yang%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Jackie%20Chan%2C%20Liu%20Haocun%2C%20Kevin%20Guo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Leap of Faith

Michael J Mazarr

Public Affairs

Dh67
 

Pakistan World Cup squad

Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abid Ali, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Hafeez(subject to fitness), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain      

Two additions for England ODIs: Mohammad Amir and Asif Ali

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Takestep%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%202018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohamed%20Khashaba%2C%20Mohamed%20Abdallah%2C%20Mohamed%20Adel%20Wafiq%20and%20Ayman%20Taha%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cairo%2C%20Egypt%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20health%20technology%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EEmployees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2011%20full%20time%20and%2022%20part%20time%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20pre-Series%20A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Results:

6.30pm: Handicap | US$135,000 (Dirt) | 1,400 metres

Winner: Rodaini, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)

7.05pm: Handicap | $135,000 (Turf) | 1,200m

Winner: Ekhtiyaar, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson

7.40pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (T) | 2,000m

Winner: Spotify, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby

8.15pm: UAE Oakes | Group 3 | $250,000 (D) | 1,900m

Winner: Divine Image, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

8.50pm: Zabeel Mile | Group 2 | $250,000 (T) | 1,600m

Winner: Mythical Image, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

9.20pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m

Winner: Major Partnership, Kevin Stott, Saeed bin Suroor

If%20you%20go
%3Cp%3E%0DThere%20are%20regular%20flights%20from%20Dubai%20to%20Addis%20Ababa%20with%20Ethiopian%20Airlines%20with%20return%20fares%20from%20Dh1%2C700.%20Nashulai%20Journeys%20offers%20tailormade%20and%20ready%20made%20trips%20in%20Africa%20while%20Tesfa%20Tours%20has%20a%20number%20of%20different%20community%20trekking%20tours%20throughout%20northern%20Ethiopia.%20%20The%20Ben%20Abeba%20Lodge%20has%20rooms%20from%20Dh228%2C%20and%20champions%20a%20programme%20of%20re-forestation%20in%20the%20surrounding%20area.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Long read

Mageed Yahia, director of WFP in UAE: Coronavirus knows no borders, and neither should the response

The specs

Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)

Engine 5.2-litre V10

Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch

Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm

Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est) 

Emergency phone numbers in the UAE

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

Quick%20facts
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStorstockholms%20Lokaltrafik%20(SL)%20offers%20free%20guided%20tours%20of%20art%20in%20the%20metro%20and%20at%20the%20stations%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20tours%20are%20free%20of%20charge%3B%20all%20you%20need%20is%20a%20valid%20SL%20ticket%2C%20for%20which%20a%20single%20journey%20(valid%20for%2075%20minutes)%20costs%2039%20Swedish%20krone%20(%243.75)%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETravel%20cards%20for%20unlimited%20journeys%20are%20priced%20at%20165%20Swedish%20krone%20for%2024%20hours%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAvoid%20rush%20hour%20%E2%80%93%20between%209.30%20am%20and%204.30%20pm%20%E2%80%93%20to%20explore%20the%20artwork%20at%20leisure%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
  • The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
  • The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
  • The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
  • The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
  • The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg

The Birkin bag is made by Hermès. 
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.

Spider-Man%202
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Insomniac%20Games%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%20Sony%20Interactive%20Entertainment%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPlayStation%205%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

Timeline

1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line

1962
250 GTO is unveiled

1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company

1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens

1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made

1987
F40 launched

1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent

2002
The Enzo model is announced

2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi

2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled

2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives

2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company

2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street

2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary