10 things to do today: go on a cultural tour in Al Ain, attend Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and more



Your daily guide to community and cultural activities across the Emirates for May 3, 2017, including performances, festivals, art exhibitions, film screenings, health and fitness events, talks, classes, workshops and family fun. Aarti Jhurani rounds up 10 things to do today in the UAE.

Want to see your event listed here? Email us with the details and contact information at listings@thenational.ae

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Al Ain

Cultural tour

Spend time with Emirati women and families in their homes and farms to learn more about the local culture, as part of the Travel Through Our Traditions tour, organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Cultural Authority and the Al Ain National Museum. The tour will include activities and demonstrations that highlight traditional wedding rituals and their importance in the UAE community. The tour starts from Al Ain Museum, followed by a trip to the gold market to learn how to distinguish between the different sizes and shapes of gold, and culminates with a visit to an Emirati house.

Today and May 10, 10am, tour departs from Al Ain National Museum, Al Ain, www.tcaabudhabi.ae

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Al Ain

Concert

Attend Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse with Tugan Sokhiev and Edgar Moreau: The Music of 1,001 Nights. As part of the Abu Dhabi Classics series, the orchestra will perform works by Nielsen, Saint-Saëns and Berlioz in a fantasy-like atmosphere that captures the colourful characters of the stories of 1,001 Nights.

Tonight, 8pm, tickets cost from Dh100, UAE University Great Hall, Crescent Building, Al Ain, www.abudhabiclassics.ae

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Abu Dhabi

Music event

Send your application now to be a part of Alliance Française’s Musicians Day celebrations at The Mall at World Trade Center Abu Dhabi. Sign up for free by sending in a short presentation or demo, and be a part of the event, where guest stars Cyberberes, MAM and TRIBU will perform.

Last day to send in application is Friday, Musicians Day is on May 19, 1 pm to 11pm, ground floor, The Mall at World Trade Center, Abu Dhabi, register at culture@afabudhabiorg, or WhatsApp 055 666 8901

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Abu Dhabi

Grand prix

Discounted tickets for the 2017 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix are only available until the end of this month. Take advantage of the GP Parks Pass for unlimited access to the Yas Island parks – Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld. For every three-day adult grandstand ticket, one child under 12 will get free Friday entry to that grandstand, plus, free access to the Yas Island parks.

November 24 to 26, from Dh1,120 for three-day Abu Dhabi Hill package until May 31, Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island, 800 927, www.yasmarinacircuit.com

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Nationwide

New film

In Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, the sequel to Baahubali: The Beginning, Katappa (Sathyaraj) continues to tell the story of why he killed his close aide Amarendra Bahubali (Prabhas). Amarendra falls in love with an outspoken princess Devasena (Anushka Shetty), which angers the queen mother, Sivagami (Ramya Krishnan), who takes away his throne and makes her second son, Bhalla Deva (Rana Dagubatti), the king instead. She later finds out about Bhalla's devious plan to destroy Bahubali and flees with Amarendra's son to save his life. When Mahendra Bahubali grows up, he learns of the story and sets out to take revenge. Fantasy drama, directed by S S Rajamouli, in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu, with English and Arabic subtitles. Also starring Tamannaah Bhatia, Nassar and Subbaraju.

Screening at cinemas across the UAE. (15+)

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Dubai

Workshop

Book your spot at a drawing workshop for adults at thejamjar. Learn how to draw a life figure in charcoal and pastels under the guidance of Nirupama Sibal. There will be a model posing at the workshop. Materials will be provided.

Saturday, 10.30am to 12.30 pm, Dh200, thejamjar, Unit 74, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, email info@thejamjardubai.com or call 04 341 7303 to sign up

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Dubai

Performance

Book your tickets now to attend a performance featuring Sri Lankan musicians at The Music Room. The line-up includes popular artists such as Chitral Somapala (pictured), known as the Asian voice of metal; award-winning reggae performers Jayasri Twins and Duween – an up and coming contemporary artist.

Tomorrow, 8pm, Dh100, The Music Room, Majestic Hotel, Mankhool Road, Dubai, www.facebook.com/MusicRoomDubai

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Dubai

Comedy show

Get tickets for Laugh-a-Thon and catch the final two shows of the urban comedy series that features top comedians from various parts of India. At 7pm, popular stand-up comic Abish Mathew (pictured) presents his set featuring original songs and silent, one-man sketches. At 9pm, Zakir Khan will perform his new-era slapstick comedy, which takes on themes of adulthood, dating and family. Mathew performs in English and Khan in Hindi.

May 13, 7pm for Abish Mathew; 9pm for Zakir Khan, from Dh150; Dh225 for both, Centrepoint Theatre, Ductac, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, www.platinumlist.net

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Dubai

Art exhibition

Illuminated Space features abstract paintings by the artist Samia Halaby inspired by the contours of living organisms, such as soft edges of plant life, as well as the interplays of light in an urban environment. Pictured: Volcano

Daily until June 17, 10am to 6pm, Sundays to Thursdays; noon to 6pm on Saturdays (closed Fridays), Ayyam Gallery, 11 Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, 04 323 6242, www.ayyamgallery.com

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Dubai

Concert

Book tickets to see the British rock band Status Quo perform at Dubai Opera, as part of their Last Night of the Electrics Final Tour, which has been extended in honour of the band's guitarist Rick Parfitt, who died in December. Some of their popular hits include In the Army Now, Rockin' All Over the World and Pictures of Matchstick Men.

October 27, 9pm, from Dh195, Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, www.dubaiopera.com

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Analysis

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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.”