The Shoe Butler
The problem with having a favourite pair of shoes is that, all too quickly, they go from looking dapper to dilapidated in double-quick time. Often they reach a point of no return, when no amount of scrubbing and buffing seems able to restore a semblance former glory.
Step in The Shoe Butler, a handy and snappy to-your-door service that collects your clogs, cleans and treats them professionally, ready to be delivered back to you in 24 hours. The job is done by hand and the team have a wide variety of colours available for the clean-up (in case you have a pair of green shoes that are in need of a little love).
Tried and tested by us, The Shoe Butler's sphere of coverage extends from Jebel Ali to Umm Suqeim, and is able to collect within a couple of hours after your initial call. Only Dh35 for men's or women's shoes, and Dh45 for boots. For more info, and for their odd 'shoe psychology test' head to www.theshoebutler.com. Alternatively, call 04 884 0434.
* Christopher Lord
Lazy jazz lunch
It's not often that I meet those living in my vicinity, but I have been made to feel particularly welcome by one neighbour of late - the Media One Hotel in Dubai. It started two weeks ago when I came home to discover a flyer pushed under my door inviting myself and a guest to a rather fabulous "lazy jazz lunch" at the tower block, which stands just across the road from my own. The hospitality didn't end there, and upon departure, we were given goody bags containing a soulful CD and a discount card for all outlets. Dubai Marina residents lend me your ears: make your way to the chilled, marbled-floored MED restaurant and sample the fine fare on offer or watch the sun set from the hotel's spacious M-Dek. Be friendly and get to know your neighbours, because sometimes it really pays to be the girl next door.
* Rebecca McLaughlin-Duane
Shiro at Bonna Annee
Curries are often renowned for their kick, but if you want yours smooth as velvet, then make sure you try the Ethiopian curry Shiro. The dish is basically a stew made from the base ingredients of chick peas, onions, garlic and various mild spices. Served on top of injera - a traditional spongy tasting flat bread - it is a perfect entry point to the rich world of Ethiopian cuisine (and perfect for vegetarians). Shiro is relatively easy to make at home, but it's best to try it in an authentic Ethiopian restaurant. While Abu Dhabi is blessed with many Ethiopian eateries, I recommend trying Bonna Annee. Their Shiro is so smooth one is almost tempted to drink it; something I don't recommend courtesy of a case of morning after heartburn. Bonna Annee is located at The Tourist Club, Al Salam Street (behind the old blood bank). (02-4912128)
* Saeed Saeed
Spotted by Locals website
A travel website called Spotted by Locals offers tips on 41 European cities by people who actually live there and speak the language. Just click on the city you are interested in visiting and browse by writers or "spotters" who update posts as they stumble across various cool and quirky shops, restaurants, cafes and music venues or share their favourite places to go that are off the beaten track and do not always end up on glossy travel guides. Or, browse by subjects ranging from arts and culture, shopping, relaxing, bars and coffee & tea, for example. They also have an iPhone App that promises up to date tips and detailed maps. Check out www.spottedbylocals.com or follow them on Twitter @spottedbylocals.
* Maey El Shoush
Bought it, love it, can't live without it
Have you ever seen a head scratcher (usually sold by street vendors) and thought, "That looks like it might be nice, but weird?" That's exactly what happened to me at a Sunday market in Dublin, Ireland last year. So after years of thinking about it, I finally bought one. I can't remember how much it cost (there are versions online for sale for Dh55 and up) but it was entirely worth whatever I spent. I can't explain how relaxing and calming it is to have those tines whisked back and forth across your scalp a couple of times - like a mini scalp massage on-the-go. I also can't explain how it works, other than to say it must have something to do with the thousands of nerve endings and pressure points on the head and neck.
* Ann Marie McQueen
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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"
Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
The specs: 2019 BMW X4
Price, base / as tested: Dh276,675 / Dh346,800
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six-cylinder
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 354hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,550rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.0L / 100km
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
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
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 name: Farmin
Date started: March 2019
Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: AgriTech
Initial investment: None to date
Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs
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
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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