As he picks at his breakfast plate, Roger Kane-Berman sips his water and looks over the early morning mist lingering over the Hatta mountains. "This is probably the harshest terrain I've ever seen," he muses.
The South African should know. Kane-Berman is a BMW GS Trophy rider and off-road motorcycling trainer who has travelled the world and experienced the most rugged landscapes on the back of a bike. On the last weekend of January, he was at the Hatta Fort Hotel, along with fellow countryman Chez Van Dikj, to pass on their extensive off-road experience to UAE motorcyclists at a clinic designed for riders of larger, adventure-type motorcycles who want to enjoy the beautiful landscape here.
The course was run in conjunction with the Dubai BMW dealership and 2xWheeler Adventures, a local firm. The weekend covered levels 1 and 2 - introductions to off-roading - while last weekend was the more advanced lessons of level 3.
There were 15 riders for the first weekend of levels 1 and 2, and it was quite a mix; though the class was open to riders with any kind of bike, all there were riding some kind of BMW. Most had the larger R1200 GS models, but a few had the smaller F 800 GS and others were riding the F 650 GS single-cylinder bikes like mine.
The classes were set up on a dirt area on the Hatta Fort Hotel grounds; it was a perfect mix of flat, gravel terrain, rugged hills and sand pits that the instructors used for their various lessons.
Shadi Awad, head of 2xWheeler, also deals in the popular Touratech aftermarket parts and will be opening a shop in Motor City next month. He organised the event partly for his own benefit.
"You know, myself and many of my friends, we buy these big bikes and we just stay on the road with them; we don't know what we can do off road," he says. "So I thought this would be a good way to teach us what we can do with these bikes."
The bikes he's talking about are the larger R 1200 GS Adventures, weighing more than 250kg; that's more than double the weight of smaller motocross bikes popular with sand-dune adventurers here. It's quite a heft to keep upright when the terrain is loose and uneven, but Van Dikj, a full-time motorcycle trainer for BMW in South Africa, thinks otherwise.
"A lot of people think you can't ride these off road, but they're wrong," he says at the start of the first class. "It's all about balance; that's what we'll teach you here."
To demonstrate, one of the first lessons was taking the bike off the kickstand and walking around it, keeping it upright with just two fingers in contact at all times. Everyone found it difficult at first, but it proved Van Dikj's point.
The rest of the day focussed on these principles, but in practice on the bike. At one point, it began to feel like circus training, as we travelled in circles behind one another, balancing one foot on a peg - or both up on the seat.
It was tough going, finding this balance, both mentally and physically. And if anyone was worried about keeping their bikes in pristine condition, it was a rude awakening as they dropped them to the ground.
Luckily, another of the lessons was how to pick up the heavy bikes properly - standing with your back to the seat and lifting with your legs. Dana Miskulnig, 17, brought a big 1200 GS back up to a round of cheering from the rest of the riders.
Miskulnig was joined by her mother, Maria, two of three women in the class. They ride with Dana's father, Joseph, in the desert on smaller motocross bikes, but were there to hone their off-roading skills. "I do ride a lot, but I was looking to get better," says Dana. "And I can already feel that I'm a better rider from what we've learnt today."
As the lessons went on, we began to feel the stress on our muscles, and most were exhausted by the end of the day. But it was a good feeling, a sense of accomplishment.
The next day progressed further, including some hill climbing and practising tight, slow turns. But all of this culminated in a longer ride into the hills of Hatta, following rocky, dusty roads and trails that sometimes fall into shadows of the surrounding rock formations. It was tougher than any of the lessons, but those lessons found their true value as we meandered on the challenging landscape, putting them to practical use.
Stephane Rejasse is a long-time biker but new to off-roading; in fact, he took delivery of his new Adventure just at the beginning of the classes. He also did the level 3 course.
"I've been a rider for quite a while, but don't plan on doing a lot of off-roading," says Rejasse, a managing director for Fujitsu Industries in Dubai. "But I'm planning a lot of trips to Oman and all over with my wife, and if I encounter dirt roads or bad terrain, I wanted to be prepared. And these classes have really been good for that."
Friday, February 4, was the start of level 3 and there were a few new faces; some riders from the previous weekend had opted out of the advanced class, while the new ones had already completed the first courses previously. Both weekends, Awad had a truck full of Touratech parts that the riders scavenged over before classes began; he did good business.
We started off again with Kane-Burman and Van Dikj leading us in more balance lessons - standing on the pegs with a hand in the air, standing with one foot on the outside of the bike, putting our feet up on the seat, and those slow, tight turns. But it was not any easier from the previous week; these are lessons that take plenty of practice to get right.
The lessons became much more difficult: more hill riding, but on steeper slopes with loose gravel and rocks. The exercise was intimidating, and the riders applauded and encouraged each other; there was a real sense of bonding with everyone.
Mark Ghorayeb, an American-Lebanese on an F 800 GS, pushed people on. "C'mon, guys, if we want to stay in our comfort zone, we wouldn't ride motorcycles," he barked.
The two instructors were also encouraging; their patience and humour were commendable, especially with the varying degrees of skill among the group.
But two incidents on the weekend showed just how dangerous motorcycling can be, and why the training is so important. During one exercise, a biker lost control and hit another, breaking that rider's knee. And on an off-road excursion into the mountains, another biker fell and broke his ankle; his injury would have been avoided had he been wearing proper boots instead of trainers. The two were taken to hospital and will not be riding for a while; unfortunate examples of the value of good riding gear and proper skills and just simple bad luck.
And while the two incidents were sobering for the class, it didn't deter the riders from continuing. Everyone who rides a motorcycle knows the dangers involved; yet they also know the thrill and exhilaration of being on a bike. It is an unspoken link that riders everywhere share, and it is certainly there with this group today.
The last lesson of the weekend took the class to a desert area between Hatta and Dubai. Here is the part many people were dreading, especially those with heavy bikes: riding on soft sand. Not coincidentally, the first lesson is how to dig your bike out when it gets stuck.
Some opted not to partake, but most gave it a try and let down their tyres before taking off in the low, rolling dunes of sand. It was very challenging, but it was beautiful; the weather was clear and cool, and wind softly blew sheets of sand over the hills. There was a sense of freedom coming from being unencumbered by roads or trails. Occasionally, two or three riders would stop and turn off their machines, chatting quietly or listening to the wind. At one point, Kane-Berman borrowed a lighter 800 and put on a masterful display of sand riding.
When the class was over and the sun began to set over the dunes, Kane-Berman and Van Dikj handed out certificates and chatted with everyone amiably; the group was nowhere near their level of skill, but it was apparent everyone enjoyed themselves.
We filled our tyres back up and a few of us formed a group as we hit the tarmac on the way to Dubai. We were exhausted again, but we didn't care; these classes had opened up a whole new world of adventure for us all.
The next set of BMW off-road courses is planned for November, at Dh1,600 for levels 1 and 2 and Dh2,200 for level 3. E-mail shadi@2xwheeler.com for details
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Company%20profile%20
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Easter%20Sunday
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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
DIVINE%20INTERVENTOIN
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
SHAITTAN
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RESULTS
Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Infobox
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August
Results
UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets
Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets
Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets
Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs
Monday fixtures
UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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.”
The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
WHAT%20MACRO%20FACTORS%20ARE%20IMPACTING%20META%20TECH%20MARKETS%3F
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Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Match info
Premier League
Manchester United 2 (Martial 30', Lingard 69')
Arsenal 2 (Mustafi 26', Rojo 68' OG)
The Details
Article 15
Produced by: Carnival Cinemas, Zee Studios
Directed by: Anubhav Sinha
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Kumud Mishra, Manoj Pahwa, Sayani Gupta, Zeeshan Ayyub
Our rating: 4/5
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
