ABU DHABI // Managing natural disasters and risks, and teaching residents how to respond to them, are among topics to be discussed at a national security conference next month.
The Crisis and Emergency Management Conference will gather local, regional and international experts to help build the UAE’s expertise in tackling these threats.
The head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency and delegates from the United Nations will attend.
“Everyone has to be prepared and have awareness about how to deal with crisis and emergencies in the UAE,” said Dr Jamal Al Hosani, the spokesman for the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority.
The UAE authority is an umbrella organisation that ensures coordination between local and national response bodies.
“We have had our share of natural phenomena for the past few years and they pose a new threat to us, so we have to know how to deal with them and act when such warnings arise,” Dr Al Hosani said on Monday.
Preparedness and Response is Everyone’s Responsibility: Vigilant Community is the theme for the fourth conference, which is aimed at increasing readiness to face crisis and disaster.
“This could be achieved by reaping the benefits of previous international experiences and using available resources, technologies and processes,” Dr Al Hosani said.
“In this rapid change that the region and the world are witnessing, this conference was developed to come up with appropriate solutions.”
The event will include five sessions on preventive prediction, the role of the media in spreading awareness in times of crisis and disasters, society’s role as a first responder, meteorological phenomena and natural disasters, as well as risk management.
It will touch on industrial and nuclear risk management as well as the UN’s annual report on disaster risk reduction, with 20 experts from the GCC, Australia, the US, Italy, the UK and Japan.
“Undoubtedly, the readiness of society remains the main focus of everyone who is involved in these efforts,” said Dr Al Hosani.
"We all aim to reach the status of a vigilant community against all emergencies and crisis. Society is the main building block in any success story for any strategic plan."
He said strengthening the relationship between the public and relevant authorities was crucial.
“This will pave the way for a solid cooperation resulting in a successful collaboration for the implementation of plans and programmes,” Dr Al Hosani said.
“A public that is ready is one that is capable of absorbing the surprise factor of the dangers without major damages.”
Electronic security has also become an issue threatening the Government and society.
“Hacking attacks have been increasingly targeting personal and public privacy and have been more frequent than ever due to the rapid developments in technology,” said Dr Al Hosani.
“Cyber-crimes have become a real danger that should be taken very seriously.”
The authority has set pre-emptive strategies for three years to tackle rising security threats. The current procedures are in place until 2016.
“Whether natural or man-made, these issues related to crisis and emergency management should be dealt with at the highest levels of professionalism to ensure the utmost safety and security of people and national resources,” added Dr Al Hosani.
The authority also developed specific awareness campaigns for schools in Al Ain, the Western Region and across the UAE through social media.
“We need to learn best practices in emergency and crisis management to be ready,” said Nasser Al Yamahi, the authority’s director of media and public information.
“It is vital for us to work with organisations, locally and internationally, as we cannot work alone. We must all operate together.”
The authority’s annual report will be issued at the conference, which will run on February 25 and 26.
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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.”
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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The%20specs
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
