Abu Dhabi
Film Screening
Catch a screening of the film Les Petits Chats as part of the Warehouse421 summer camp programme. The 2015 Egyptian documentary, directed by Sherif Nakhla, focuses on the famous 1960s band Les Petits Chats, who reunited for a performance in spring of 2010. The film provides an insight into the bandmembers' lives from their glory days to their break-up in the 1980s. The film also includes interviews with major celebrities, including Ezzat Abu Ouf, Omar Khairat, Sobhy Bedeir, Samir Sabri and Mohamed Salmawy.
Tomorrow, 8pm to 10pm, free with registration, ages 16+, Warehouse421, Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, register at www.warehouse421.ae
Nationwide
New movie
Jab Harry Met Sejal stars Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma as Harry and Sejal, who are travelling across Europe to search for Sejal's engagement ring, and the experiences that help them get to know each other better. Hindi romantic comedy, with English and Arabic subtitles, also starring Aru Krishansh Verma, Chandan Roy Sanyal and Evelyn Sharma.
Screening at cinemas across the UAE. (TBA)
Abu Dhabi
Comedy workshop
Register for the next Yalla Laughs comedy workshop and hone your stand-up skills. Learn how to boost your confidence, creativity and imagination, plus gain the skills needed to hold a room, deal with hecklers and structure your set. You’ll get constructive feedback on your material and develop a five-minute performance to showcase your talent at a Yalla Laughs event in September.
August 19, 10am to noon, Dh800, Le Meridien, Abu Dhabi, register at www.yallalaughs.com
Al Ain
Performance
Visit Bawadi Mall in Al Ain and see Talents Around the World as part of the Abu Dhabi Summer Season programme. The family-friendly shows run four times daily and feature professional performers from around the world, including dancers, acrobats, UV light dancing, Irish dancing, shadow theatre and more.
Daily until August 31, 5pm to 10pm, Main Atrium, Bawadi Mall, Al Ain, www.abudhabisummerseason.ae
Dubai
Sweets tour
Embark on a fun, delicious private tour Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory for a dose of nostalgia. The FuzziTour starts with a brief history of the shop, followed by a trivia quiz about favourite retro candies, a chance to sample homemade FuzziTreats, a live caramel-making show, and finally decorate our own chocolate-dipped pretzels with toppings.
Tours cost Dh50 for 30 minutes, Dh100 for 60 minutes or Dh125 for 90 minutes. Open daily, 10am to midnight, Sundays to Wednesdays; 10am to 1am, Thursdays to Saturdays, The Beach opposite JBR, Dubai; 3pm to 11pm, Saturdays to Wednesdays; 3pm to midnight, Thursdays and Fridays, Riverland, Dubai Parks & Resorts, Dubai, fuzziwigsuae.com
Abu Dhabi
Performance
Get tickets now to see Trevor Noah perform live at du Forum as part of his international Around the World tour. The best-selling author and host of The Daily Show, previously headlined the Dubai Comedy Festival in 2015.
December 15, 7.30pm, from Dh280, du Forum, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, www.ticketmaster.ae
Dubai
Kids’ camp
Register your kids for The Magic Camp for ages 4 to 12, and Magic Workshop for ages 13 to 16 with family magician Magic Phil at Ductac for a chance to learn the secrets of the intriguing world of illusion. Children ages 4 to 7 and 8 to 12 will make props from scratch and learn some easy-to-master tricks. Teenagers between 13 to 16 will receive their own magic kit and pack of cards.
Sunday and Monday, 9.30am to 12.30pm for ages 4 to 7, Dh400; Tuesday to Thursday, 9.30am to 12.30pm for ages 8 to 12, Dh600; Sunday and Thursday, 1pm to 4pm for ages 13 to 16, Dh1,200, Ductac, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, 04 341 4777, www.ductac.org
Dubai
Art exhibition
Leila Heller Gallery presents Surface Issues, a group exhibition by Maximillian William featuring new works by contemporary artists who articulate the power that art has in simultaneously informing and misleading us, while concealing a deeper understanding just beneath the surface.
Daily until August 31, 10am to 7pm, Saturdays to Thursdays (closed Fridays), Leila Heller Gallery, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai, 056 831 3520, www.leilahellergallery.com
Dubai
Kids’ fun
City Walk presents the aquatic-themed indoor attraction, Under the Sea, as part of Dubai Summer Surprises. At the Mermaid’s Hideout, children can explore experiential zones such as sand art, popsicle stick art and live magic and more. Little detectives can win prizes and gain access to the Hideout by taking part in a sea-themed treasure hunt. Live shows featuring acrobatic sea creatures and a mermaid take place on weekends at 4.30pm, 7.30pm and 9pm.
Open 4pm to 10pm on weekdays; 2pm to 10pm on weekends, free for two children and two adults with a minimum spend of Dh200 at any retail, leisure and food outlet across City Walk, Under the Sea located beside Hub Zero, City Walk, Dubai, www.facebook.com/CityWalkDubai
Dubai
Family fun
Celebrate the game of cricket at Bollywood Parks Dubai with a ride on The Lagaan: Thrill of Victory 4-D rollercoaster. Join Bhuvan and his team in a game against the British Raj from the hit movie Lagaan through state-of-the-art motion-ride theatre, where you can experience the view of a moving cricket ball. The Lagaan zone also includes a mini-carnival-style kids' area with rides and games for the whole family.
Open 3pm to 10pm, Saturdays to Wednesdays; 3pm to 11pm, Thursdays and Fridays, from Dh85 when purchased online, Bollywood Parks Dubai, Dubai Parks & Resorts, Dubai, www.bollywoodparksdubai.com
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
Asia Cup Qualifier
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
Result: Winners play at Asia Cup in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in September
Fixtures:
Wed Aug 29: Malaysia v Hong Kong, Nepal v Oman, UAE v Singapore
Thu Aug 30: UAE v Nepal, Hong Kong v Singapore, Malaysia v Oman
Sat Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong, Oman v Singapore, Malaysia v Nepal
Sun Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman, Malaysia v UAE, Nepal v Singapore
Tue Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore, UAE v Oman, Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu Sep 6: Final
Asia Cup
Venue: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Schedule: Sep 15-28
Teams: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus the winner of the Qualifier
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
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
Start-up hopes to end Japan's love affair with cash
Across most of Asia, people pay for taxi rides, restaurant meals and merchandise with smartphone-readable barcodes — except in Japan, where cash still rules. Now, as the country’s biggest web companies race to dominate the payments market, one Tokyo-based startup says it has a fighting chance to win with its QR app.
Origami had a head start when it introduced a QR-code payment service in late 2015 and has since signed up fast-food chain KFC, Tokyo’s largest cab company Nihon Kotsu and convenience store operator Lawson. The company raised $66 million in September to expand nationwide and plans to more than double its staff of about 100 employees, says founder Yoshiki Yasui.
Origami is betting that stores, which until now relied on direct mail and email newsletters, will pay for the ability to reach customers on their smartphones. For example, a hair salon using Origami’s payment app would be able to send a message to past customers with a coupon for their next haircut.
Quick Response codes, the dotted squares that can be read by smartphone cameras, were invented in the 1990s by a unit of Toyota Motor to track automotive parts. But when the Japanese pioneered digital payments almost two decades ago with contactless cards for train fares, they chose the so-called near-field communications technology. The high cost of rolling out NFC payments, convenient ATMs and a culture where lost wallets are often returned have all been cited as reasons why cash remains king in the archipelago. In China, however, QR codes dominate.
Cashless payments, which includes credit cards, accounted for just 20 per cent of total consumer spending in Japan during 2016, compared with 60 per cent in China and 89 per cent in South Korea, according to a report by the Bank of Japan.
Avengers: Endgame
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin
4/5 stars
Biggest%20applause
%3Cp%3EAsked%20to%20rate%20Boris%20Johnson's%20leadership%20out%20of%2010%2C%20Mr%20Sunak%20awarded%20a%20full%2010%20for%20delivering%20Brexit%20%E2%80%94%20remarks%20that%20earned%20him%20his%20biggest%20round%20of%20applause%20of%20the%20night.%20%22My%20views%20are%20clear%2C%20when%20he%20was%20great%20he%20was%20great%20and%20it%20got%20to%20a%20point%20where%20we%20need%20to%20move%20forward.%20In%20delivering%20a%20solution%20to%20Brexit%20and%20winning%20an%20election%20that's%20a%2010%2F10%20-%20you've%20got%20to%20give%20the%20guy%20credit%20for%20that%2C%20no-one%20else%20could%20probably%20have%20done%20that.%22%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile
Name: The Concept
Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 7
Sector: Aviation and space industry
Funding: $250,000
Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Race card
1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m.
2.15pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m.
2.45pm: Handicap Dh95,000 1,200m.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,400m.
3.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,400m.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m.
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m.
The National selections:
1.45pm: Galaxy Road – So Hi Speed
2.15pm: Majestic Thunder – Daltrey
2.45pm: Call To War – Taamol
3.15pm: Eqtiraan - Bochart
3.45pm: Kidd Malibu – Initial
4.15pm: Arroway – Arch Gold
4.35pm: Compliance - Muqaatil
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.”
Drivers’ championship standings after Singapore:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes - 263
2. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari - 235
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes - 212
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull - 162
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari - 138
6. Sergio Perez, Force India - 68
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
