Dear Ali:
I am looking for a park in Abu Dhabi that is big enough for 40 or 50 people to gather, play ball, have a barbecue, etc. Is there anywhere you can suggest? CO, Abu Dhabi
Dear CO:
Sounds like you are planning to have some serious fun - which you should, given that the weather is just perfect, so take advantage of it while you can.
Most parks have signs stating what is and is not allowed. Some parks allow people to have barbecues. The following are good ones:
. Khalidiya Park on Khalidiya Street, just opposite the building with the Prestige Cars showroom.
. The park behind the Hilton Corniche hotel.
. Capital Park on Hamdan Street.
. Al Matar (airport park) near Sheikh Zayed Stadium next to KFC, my favourite.
If you invite me, I will share with you my secret recipe for yummy lamb chops! But then again, it wouldn't be a secret anymore, so no need to!
Dear Ali:
I am fascinated with camels. I went to the camel festival this year and someone told me that camels can have many names. How is that possible? KS, Germany
Dear KS:
Ah, finally, someone asked me a question about camels! Yes, in the Arab world, camels have long been given names. There are names for female and male camels, and names common for both genders.
"Ibil" and "Hijen" are the most common names given to both genders and camels of all sizes. From these, new names branch out according to the size, development stage and characteristics of the camel.
"Al Fahl" is a common name for male camels, referencing their procreative powers. "Addawser" is given to camels that are big in size. "Al Haml" is for camels that wander around the desert without a master, and "Al Midifaa" is given to camels that have a lot of fat and woolly skin.
Female camels have many more names than males. "Al Bikra" means a virgin, so it is for camels that haven't mated. "Al Hail" is for camels that have mated but never carried a baby. "Al Ashraa", which means 10, is a name given to a camel that is pregnant to the 10th month. If a camel has given birth prior to her due time, she is called "Al Saood".
Baby camels are called "Al Heeran" or "Futtaim" if they are still nursing after their first year.
"Al Mataya" or "Al Rahila" is a name given to a young camel that people can ride. "Al Shamlal" is for a camel that is light and fast, and "Al Sharif" is for a camel that is old, tired and slow.
Camels also are named for the way they drink water:
. "Al Gasreed" - when a camel does not drink much water.
. "Al Ghab" - when a camel drinks once every two days.
. "Al Rabea" - when a camel drinks every three days.
. "Melwah" - when a camel is always thirsty.
. "Al Riffa" - when a camel drinks water at any time.
Many specialists agree that there are more than 1,000 camel names, and names can differ from country to country. Even though it may be hard to keep up with them all, it is fascinating to know that camels are not named randomly. Even specialists admit they have more to learn about camels.
Language lesson
Arabic:
Erkab
English:
Ride
If your kids want to ride a camel, which many will want to try, teach them to say "Aba arkab eljamal", which means "I want to ride on the camel". "Erkab" or "arkab" also can be used when getting into a taxi or your car; you say to your guest, "Erkab elsayyara", meaning "Get into the car".
The Dictionary of Animal Languages
Heidi Sopinka
Scribe
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3
Danilo (16'), Bernardo Silva (34'), Fernandinho (72')
Brighton & Hove Albion 1
Ulloa (20')
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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.”
MATCH INFO
Newcastle United 1 (Carroll 82')
Leicester City 2 (Maddison 55', Tielemans 72')
Man of the match James Maddison (Leicester)
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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