The headline, Parents struggling to keep up with UAE school fees (August 28), sums up the problem for many families.
Schools should offer more structured payment plans – but I guess they have to pay salaries and overheads just like any other business.
Oh well, off to the bank for another loan for school fees.
Randall Mohammed, Dubai
People have a choice. The UAE is a tax-free country where most schools are run for profit.
If people prefer, they could get a job in their home country for less pay and be more likely to get free schooling.
I think a lot of expatriates with families move here because they get offered an education allowance with their job.
People need to work out if it’s really financially viable for them and, if not, think about going elsewhere.
Lizzie Cernik, Dubai
The Abu Dhabi Education Council has a system where parents can make payments in instalments.
Faris Barqawi, Abu Dhabi
Women play an essential role
Women in the UAE were empowered from the very formation of the country (Inspired by other UAE women, Emirati hopes to lead by example, August 26).
This empowerment is inherent within their cultural upbringing, which makes the UAE a modern society without a gender bias.
Hence, women here have become pioneers in many fields. Kholoud Al Kendi, who was the first Abu Dhabi employee of US defence contractor Harris Corporation, takes that leap to a different level.
More power to women in the UAE. It is encouraging to see this.
As a father of four daughters, I am very hopeful for their future. Name withheld by request
In reference to A day to celebrate Emirati women (August 28), I believe we should celebrate the role of all women.
We should be thankful for the thousands of women who are working here – especially those who work long hours in beauty salons and restaurants to give a decent life to their children and families back home.
Hoor Khan, Abu Dhabi
Uber disruption causes concern
I am disappointed at the disruption to the ride-sharing services (Uber and Careem services halted in Abu Dhabi, August 28).
They were the only way to get a clean and not-terribly- bad-smelling car. This is very sad news; I hope they will restart soon.
V Gheradi, Abu Dhabi
Beggars active across Emirates
Begging is a problem across the country (Sharjah Police report increase in illegal sales and begging, August 25).
It happens all the time in Al Ain. Children come up to people at 10pm asking for money. Often their parents are standing near by.
P Cooksey, Al Ain
New car sales space needed
I can understand why some people sell cars illegally (Vendors at Abu Dhabi roundabout defy municipality and snub Motor World hub, August 27).
I had a 2006 Mitsubishi Pajero in very good condition that sold for Dh20,000 on Dubizzle after I was offered only Dh10,000 by a car-buying organisation.
If the legitimate dealers think that they need to make up to Dh10,000 profit on a single vehicle, then people will want to find better ways to sell their cars.
It’s a shame that the municipality hasn’t arranged some space for these types of transactions to take places.
D Glass, Abu Dhabi
Venue offers opportunities
I was pleased to read about the new venue (What impact will the Dubai Opera have on the future of arts and culture in the UAE? August 28).
I see it as a great opportunity and a good starting point.
Alessandro Denipoti, Dubai
No satisfaction for this shopper
In regard to Keren Bobker's column, UAE laws in place to protect consumer rights (August 28), I have had several bad experiences with shopping.
Any time I have complained – with evidence to back my claim – I get a simple reply saying they did not find anything wrong. C Reid, Dubai
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures
Tuesday:
Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)
Second legs:
October 23
Company%20Profile
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Fixtures and results:
Wed, Aug 29:
- Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
- Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
- UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs
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
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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.”
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
%3Cp%3ECory%20Sandhagen%20v%20Umar%20Nurmagomedov%0D%3Cbr%3ENick%20Diaz%20v%20Vicente%20Luque%0D%3Cbr%3EMichael%20Chiesa%20v%20Tony%20Ferguson%0D%3Cbr%3EDeiveson%20Figueiredo%20v%20Marlon%20Vera%0D%3Cbr%3EMackenzie%20Dern%20v%20Loopy%20Godinez%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETickets%20for%20the%20August%203%20Fight%20Night%2C%20held%20in%20partnership%20with%20the%20Department%20of%20Culture%20and%20Tourism%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20went%20on%20sale%20earlier%20this%20month%2C%20through%20www.etihadarena.ae%20and%20www.ticketmaster.ae.%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.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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The%20specs
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