• Queen Elizabeth at the 2021 Trooping the Colour parade. The year has been one of loss and sorrow for the British monarch, capped by the cancelled plans for an extended family lunch to celebrate Christmas at Windsor Castle. All photos: Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth at the 2021 Trooping the Colour parade. The year has been one of loss and sorrow for the British monarch, capped by the cancelled plans for an extended family lunch to celebrate Christmas at Windsor Castle. All photos: Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth recording the video message broadcast to attendees at an evening reception to mark the opening day of the Cop26 summit in Glasgow on November 1, 2021.
    Queen Elizabeth recording the video message broadcast to attendees at an evening reception to mark the opening day of the Cop26 summit in Glasgow on November 1, 2021.
  • Queen Elizabeth attends the Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse in October.
    Queen Elizabeth attends the Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse in October.
  • The British monarch on a screen via video link from Windsor Castle during a virtual audience at Buckingham Palace in October.
    The British monarch on a screen via video link from Windsor Castle during a virtual audience at Buckingham Palace in October.
  • Children from Crathie Primary School present Queen Elizabeth with a card at the Balmoral Estate in October, where she and Prince Charles planted a tree to mark the start of the official planting season for the Queen's Green Canopy, near Crathie, Scotland.
    Children from Crathie Primary School present Queen Elizabeth with a card at the Balmoral Estate in October, where she and Prince Charles planted a tree to mark the start of the official planting season for the Queen's Green Canopy, near Crathie, Scotland.
  • The queen during an inspection in August of Balaklava Company, 5 Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral as she takes up summer residence at the castle.
    The queen during an inspection in August of Balaklava Company, 5 Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of Balmoral as she takes up summer residence at the castle.
  • Actors wait to meet Queen Elizabeth during a visit to the set of the long-running television series 'Coronation Street' in July in Manchester.
    Actors wait to meet Queen Elizabeth during a visit to the set of the long-running television series 'Coronation Street' in July in Manchester.
  • Queen Elizabeth receives the Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany during an audience at Windsor Castle in July.
    Queen Elizabeth receives the Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany during an audience at Windsor Castle in July.
  • Queen Elizabeth greets Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the first in-person weekly audience with the prime minister since the start of the coronavirus pandemic at Buckingham Palace in June.
    Queen Elizabeth greets Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the first in-person weekly audience with the prime minister since the start of the coronavirus pandemic at Buckingham Palace in June.
  • Queen Elizabeth with US President Joe Biden and Jill Biden, the first lady, in the Grand Corridor during their visit to Windsor Castle in June.
    Queen Elizabeth with US President Joe Biden and Jill Biden, the first lady, in the Grand Corridor during their visit to Windsor Castle in June.
  • Queen Elizabeth attends a military ceremony in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle to mark her official birthday in June.
    Queen Elizabeth attends a military ceremony in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle to mark her official birthday in June.
  • Queen Elizbeth with world leaders at The Eden Project during the G7 Summit in June in St Austell, Cornwall.
    Queen Elizbeth with world leaders at The Eden Project during the G7 Summit in June in St Austell, Cornwall.
  • Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Queen Elizabeth, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrive for a reception at The Eden Project during the G7 Summit in June.
    Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Queen Elizabeth, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrive for a reception at The Eden Project during the G7 Summit in June.
  • Queen Elizabeth, escorted by Prince Charles, follows the imperial state crown along the royal gallery during the state opening of Parliament at the House of Lords in May.
    Queen Elizabeth, escorted by Prince Charles, follows the imperial state crown along the royal gallery during the state opening of Parliament at the House of Lords in May.
  • Capt Angus Essenhigh, Queen Elizabeth and Commodore Steve Moorhouse during a visit to 'HMS Queen Elizabeth' before the ship's maiden deployment in May in Portsmouth.
    Capt Angus Essenhigh, Queen Elizabeth and Commodore Steve Moorhouse during a visit to 'HMS Queen Elizabeth' before the ship's maiden deployment in May in Portsmouth.
  • Queen Elizabeth watches pallbearers carry the coffin of her late husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, into St George’s Chapel during the funeral at Windsor Castle in April.
    Queen Elizabeth watches pallbearers carry the coffin of her late husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, into St George’s Chapel during the funeral at Windsor Castle in April.
  • Pallbearers with the coffin of Prince Philip at Windsor Castle in April.
    Pallbearers with the coffin of Prince Philip at Windsor Castle in April.
  • Queen Elizabeth signs her annual Commonwealth Day Message in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle to mark Commonwealth Day in March.
    Queen Elizabeth signs her annual Commonwealth Day Message in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle to mark Commonwealth Day in March.

What's taking place over queen's platinum jubilee bank holiday weekend?


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

Buckingham Palace is embarking on a full programme of events — from street parties and a star-studded concert to a new pudding recipe — to mark Queen Elizabeth's platinum jubilee.

Jubilee celebrations are culminating in a four-day UK bank holiday weekend, which lasts from Thursday to Sunday.

Official jubilee celebrations began in January when Fortnum & Mason launched the platinum pudding competition to find a dish to dedicate to the queen's 70 years on the throne. The winning recipe was created Jemma Melvin with her lemon Swiss roll topped with an amaretti trifle.

The Sandringham and Balmoral estates will be open for visitors to enjoy the celebrations across the long weekend.

Performers, dancers, musicians, military personnel, key workers and volunteers will tell the story of the queen's reign in the platinum jubilee pageant, which will see a River Of Hope — made up of 200 silk flags — make its way along The Mall, outside Buckingham Palace.

It is not clear which events the queen will attend as she was ordered to rest by doctors in October last year after an overnight stay in hospital for unspecified preliminary investigations.

The bulk of the jubilee duties are likely to be divided among the rest of Britain's royal family, including the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.

Here are all of the events taking place over the jubilee bank holiday weekend:

Bank holiday, June 2: Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour)

A display of horsemanship and military precision on Horse Guards Parade by the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards and more than 1,200 officers and soldiers from the Household Division.

Sandringham and Balmoral will be open to visitors to enjoy the celebrations during the bank holiday.

Arrangements for the celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee have been announced. Reuters
Arrangements for the celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee have been announced. Reuters

Platinum jubilee beacons

Britain will lead the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories in lighting beacons to mark the occasion. The principal beacon will be lit in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

June 3: Service of thanksgiving

A service of thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth’s reign will be held at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

June 4: Platinum party at the palace

Some of the world’s greatest entertainers are billed to perform at the concert at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the most significant moments from the queen’s reign.

June 5: Big jubilee lunch

Street parties are being planned across the UK and neighbours are expected to join together for food and fun to celebrate the platinum jubilee. It will mark the end of the bank holiday.

Platinum jubilee pageant

Performers will come together in London to tell the story of Queen Elizabeth’s reign through a pageant that will include a River of Hope section, made up of 200 silk flags, that will make its way through The Mall, resembling the flow of a river.

July: The Royal Collection Trust

Three displays marking her accession as a princess to the throne, her coronation and jubilees will be staged at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

  • Queen Elizabeth II greets Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a private audience at Buckingham Palace. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II greets Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a private audience at Buckingham Palace. Getty Images
  • The then-British prime minister Theresa May welcomes the Crown Prince to No 10 Downing Street, her official residence in London. Getty Images
    The then-British prime minister Theresa May welcomes the Crown Prince to No 10 Downing Street, her official residence in London. Getty Images
  • Prince Mohammed was to meet several members of the British royal family on his visit to the UK. Getty Images
    Prince Mohammed was to meet several members of the British royal family on his visit to the UK. Getty Images
  • Princes Charles (R) and William, Duke of Cambridge, met Prince Mohammed for dinner at Clarence House. AFP
    Princes Charles (R) and William, Duke of Cambridge, met Prince Mohammed for dinner at Clarence House. AFP
  • Mrs May and Prince Mohammed hold a meeting with members of the British government and Saudi Arabian ministers and delegates at No 10 Downing Street. Reuters
    Mrs May and Prince Mohammed hold a meeting with members of the British government and Saudi Arabian ministers and delegates at No 10 Downing Street. Reuters
  • A woman holds the flag of Saudi Arabia outside No 10 as Prince Mohammed visited Mrs May. Getty Images
    A woman holds the flag of Saudi Arabia outside No 10 as Prince Mohammed visited Mrs May. Getty Images
  • Prince Mohammed talks at a meeting with Mrs May. AFP
    Prince Mohammed talks at a meeting with Mrs May. AFP
  • Prince Mohammed poses for a photograph with members of the British government and Saudi ministers and delegates. Getty Images
    Prince Mohammed poses for a photograph with members of the British government and Saudi ministers and delegates. Getty Images

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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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

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Company profile

Name: Tratok Portal

Founded: 2017

Based: UAE

Sector: Travel & tourism

Size: 36 employees

Funding: Privately funded

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The bio

Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district

Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school

Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family

His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people

Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned

Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Updated: June 02, 2022, 9:28 AM