Take part in the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Art Workshops or eat a giant Stollen

Take part in the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Art Workshops. A variety of topics and activities are available for children (ages 6-8), juniors (9-12), teenagers (13-16) and adults (17 and older) inspired by the current exhibition Seeing Through Light: Selections from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Collection. Today at 4.30pm children can enjoy Mirror Mosaics while juniors create Flavin Light Sculptures. various timings on various days, Dh50, Manarat Al Saadiyat, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, register at 02 657 5800, manaratalsaadiyat@tcaabudhabi.ae

Make plans to attend the 9th Annual Stollen Charity Cake Sale and get a piece of the 650-metre sweet, festive German treat in time for the holidays, plus enjoy songs from student carolers and a visit from Santa. Proceeds go directly to the Dubai Centre for Special Needs. Tomorrow, from 10am, Dh5 for a slice or Dh100 for a whole loaf, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, www.dcsneeds.com

Register to participate in Documentary Voices's four-day masterclass workshop Single-Shot Cinema conducted by the Dutch film director and cinematographer Leonard Retel Helmrich. The course will explore camera movement and the dramatic impact of the long, single take. December 6-9, 3-8pm, Dh1,600, International Horizon College, Business Bay, Dubai, register at info@documentaryvoices.org

Plan to attend a performance of 20 Shades of Broadway, a performance by Abu Dhabi Choral Group that will feature family favourites from Grease, Frozen, Chicago and more. December 5-6, 7.30pm, Dh80 for the full show, The Club, Abu Dhabi; December 8, 7.30pm, Dh60 for the concert, Al Bateen Secondary School, Abu Dhabi, tickets available at Spinneys Khalidiya Video Desk and at the door, abudhabichoralgrouptickets@gmail.com

Book a table to sell items at the Christmas Charity Flea Market. In the season of goodwill, enjoy a fun-filled day to sell and buy pre-loved goods. Funds collected from table fees will be donated to a children's home in Sri Lanka. December 6, 9am-2pm, Dh285 to book a table, Arzanah Ballroom, Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Corniche, Abu Dhabi, 02 677 3333

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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
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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.”

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed

Rating: 1/5

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The specs: 2019 BMW i8 Roadster

Price, base: Dh708,750

Engine: 1.5L three-cylinder petrol, plus 11.6 kWh lithium-ion battery

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Power: 374hp (total)

Torque: 570Nm (total)

Fuel economy, combined: 2.0L / 100km