To celebrate the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, we at M have picked our favourite movie moments. Here are some timeless scenes in cinema history that have made us think, laugh or cry, with a nod to some of the greatest actors to have graced the silver screen.
Titanic, 1997 I love the scene at the bow of the boat where Leonardo and Kate fly through the air. This scene is for me like a jewel, it's a perfect moment created by the combination of the sunset, the sea and the man she loves. I love the element of trust; it is so scary at the front of the boat but she surrenders to his arms and closes her eyes, trustig in him completely. It gives me a feeling of comfort and safety, which is what girls are looking for in a relationship. Fadwa Torbey, Office Assistant
When Harry Met Sally, 1989 This is a modern-day classic. When Harry tells Sally that "men and women can't be friends", it launched a thousand conversations about whether it is possible to have platonic friendships between the sexes without relationships getting in the way. It's the old Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus debate - can we ever really understand the complexities of the opposite sex? Twenty-one years on from this film's release, it has so many universal messages that still hold true, told in a gentle, humorous way, with utterly memorable scenes, from Harry's doctrine on high maintenance women to Sally's insistence on sauce "on the side", interspersed with the stories of real-life couples. It somehow captures the male and female psyche perfectly without alienating you from either character. The original script had the pair remaining friends but Nora Ephron and Rob Reiner decided to rewrite it with a romantic ending, while admitting it was completely unrealistic. Fantasy it may be, but it is still as fresh and relevant today as when it was first released. Tahira Yaqoob, Staff Writer
Jaws, 1975 The introduction of Robert Shaw's character 'Quint' in Jaws rivets the attention, as does every moment of his subsequent onscreen presence in the movie. Nails screeching down the blackboard followed by "Y'all know me. Know how I earn a livin" delivered with the brooding disdain that was his trademark, the rest of the (themselves excellent) cast are doing well to hang on to Shaw's coat-tails for the rest of this roller-coaster of a movie. A bad guy's bad guy... Rob Evans, Photo Editor
A Clockwork Orange, 1971 The opening scene of A Clockwork Orange is my defining movie moment. You know you're in for a strange Kubrickian ride as the camera dollies out from the eye of the charismatic delinquent Alex DeLarge to reveal the Korova Milk Bar in all its erotic and phantasmagoric glory. The eerie synthesizer music sets the mood for the dystopian tale of a not-too-distant "ultra-violent" future. Rick Arthur, page editor
Casablanca, 1942 The closing scene of Casablanca has all the elements that make a movie-moment great; tragedy, loss, hope, danger, love and even humour. When Rick looks lovingly at the weeping Ilsa and tells her huskily that if she stays she will regret it "maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life" we know that, however much we wanted them to end up together, he is right. And don't forget, they will "always have Paris". The line; "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship", is surely one of the most memorable exit lines ever. Helena Frith-Powell, Editor
Lost in Translation, 2004 The final scene from Lost In Translation where Bob (Bill Murray) is heading to the airport to go home to the United States and sees Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) on the street is one that you just can't stop playing in your mind. He gets out of the car and goes up to her. They embrace and he whispers something to her. They kiss and say goodbye and that is the end. We never know what Bob whispered to Charlotte (despite rumors of a reveal swarming the internet), but as she starts to cry and and we hear the Jesus and Mary Chain's "Just Like Honey" cue, we feel her heartache. We are left wondering if there is a future for them. Kerri Abrams, Designer
The Bicycle Thieves, 1948 This classic example of Italian neo-realist cinema is revered by film buffs for all manner of stylistic innovation, it's influence echoing right into the modern era. However for me, the beauty of the final scene is nothing more than good old melodrama, with the heartbreaking poignancy of the father being led away from his young son, simply for trying to redress the wrongs of others, his moral authority in tatters before his young charge, the son's innocence shattered. Happily there is ultimately the promise of redemption nevertheless, with the father receiving clemency for his crime for the sake of his child... Olive Obina, Photo Researcher
Thelma and Louise, 1991 Louise: "Are you sure?" Thelma nods. Thelma: "Hit it." Louise puts the car into gear and floors it. Who could forget the final "cliff scene" in Thelma and Louise with a freeze frame of the car in mid-air? A beautiful southwestern landscape, two courageous women, and those squad cars lined up like armored battalions aimed at the girls on the run. The ending to the film has been called by some too theatrical and unrealistic but this is Hollywood at its best; a striking, cinematically-beautiful image, an emotional ending with a dramatic exit. Plus great performances by Susan Sarandon and Gina Davis. When it comes to iconic scenes, job done. Jemma Nicholls, Commissioning Editor
A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951 Scene three although much parodied still remains one of the most powerful and obsessional displays of emotion on film to date. The scene revolves around the physical desire between the two iconic characters, Stella DuBois-a fading Southern belle and her husband Stanley Kowalski, a sensual yet primitive and brutish working class man. Following a furious row in which Stanley brutally hits Stella he turns up to the apartment shouting "Stella" in what can only be described as an animalistic howl.Stella slips down the rickety stairs in her robe, they stop and stare at each other before Stanley dramatically falls to his knees and presses his face to her stomach which is swollen with maternity. Unable to resist him Stella goes limp with submission. It is Marlon Brando in his finest hour. Katie Trotter, Fashion Director
On the Waterfront, 1954 The scene in the taxi in On The Waterfront is a masterclass in how to make one for the ages. The film, directed by Elia Kazan, portrays the violence and corruption that surround the docks of Hoboken, New Jersey. When Charley (Rod Steiger) a lawyer for mobster Johnny Friendly realises that simple-minded Terry (Marlon Brando) is no longer willing to keep quiet over his role as a stooge in a murder for Friendly, he pulls a gun on him. However, Terry, once a promising boxer, is tired of being used and reminds Charley of how he took a dive so that Friendly could win money by betting on his opponent. In a highly-charged and emotional exchange between the two brothers, Terry delivers a stinging rebuke on his elder brother: "You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which it what I am, let's face it. It was you, Charley." Who hasn't wondered what their lives might have been like had something gone in a different direction? Kevin McIndoe, Page Editor
The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001 Margot Tenenbaum has got to be the coolest character in film. She's the adopted child in a family of misfits who, all fur coat, wooden finger, eyeliner and cigarettes, makes boredom look like fun. The most memorable part is her soaking in the bathtub for hours, smoking continuously (fan at the ready to get rid of the smell), simply watching television. My favourite bathroom moment is when her mother Etheline comes to visit; "I don't think it's very intelligent to keep an electrical gadget on the edge of the bathtub," says Etheline. "I tie it to the radiator," replies Margot, who has a simple answer for just about anything. She makes me remember that being low-key is sometimes the best option. Nadia El-Dasher, Fashion Coordinator
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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.”
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Milkman by Anna Burns
Ordinary People by Diana Evans
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Circe by Madeline Miller
LEAGUE CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
Stoke City v Tottenham
Brentford v Newcastle United
Arsenal v Manchester City
Everton v Manchester United
All ties are to be played the week commencing December 21.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
Initial investment: $150,000
Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,100,000 (est)
Engine 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch
Power 630bhp @ 8,000rpm
Torque 600Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 15.7L / 100km (est)