DUBAI // Sol Mokdad, the former administrator of rugby league in the UAE, looks set to leave the country once the legal action brought against him by the UAE Rugby Federation has reached its conclusion.
Mokdad was released from prison on bail on Tuesday night and is unable to comment on his situation.
It is believed he plans to sign a document agreeing to conditions set out by the UAERF for them to drop the case.
He is also understood to be considering leaving Dubai as soon as he is legally permitted to, and possibly relocate to the UK.
Mokdad was arrested two weeks ago when he was at a sports function at the Sofitel Hotel in Dubai.
The UAERF had taken action against him for “unauthorised representation of the UAE sovereignty” by claiming the title of president of the Rugby League Commission, a position that could only legally be held by an Emirati.
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In a statement this week, the UAERF confirmed it had agreed to withdraw the case against the Lebanese national, upon three conditions.
In simple terms, the stipulations were that he is “no longer involved with overseeing or managing the code of league under UAE jurisdiction”. Neither is he permitted to organise any code of rugby without gaining written approval from the UAERF.
During the course of the investigation, Mokdad was also discovered to have had an expired visa.
He paid the fine to resolve that issue, but the rugby case continues, essentially because Mokdad and his lawyers have yet to be presented with the letter documenting the terms to which he must agree.
During his two-week stay in prison, the UAERF — the only government-recognised body to run rugby in the country — set up a new committee to oversee league.
It appropriated the domestic Rugby League Cup competition, which Mokdad had run, and announced new dates for the final two fixtures.
The tournament will not go ahead, though, after Abu Dhabi Harlequins and Xodus Wasps — two of the four competing teams — withdrew.
Each club decided it would be inappropriate to continue given the prevailing climate of uncertain governance.
The Rugby League International Federation, the 13-man code’s ruling body, insist they have made progress in persuading the General Authority of Youth and Sport Welfare that league is an independent sport from union.
After Harlequins signalled their intention to pull out of the competition on Monday, Wasps, who would have been guaranteed a place in the rescheduled final in the absence of Harlequins, followed suit on Thursday.
“Xodus Wasps was keen to complete the rugby league season this year and following the formation of a new UAE Rugby League committee, that looked to be possible,” said Craig Gibson, the club’s chairman.
“Unfortunately, a combination of factors has concluded the possibility of continuing rugby league in the UAE in its current state.”
Gibson pointed to the disparity in messages from the separate ruling bodies as a reason to step away from the competition.
He also suggested the “fast-tracked formation of the new UAE Rugby League committee” brought inherent challenges, “as has rugby league player despondency, following the political uncertainty”.
“Xodus Wasps consider rugby league in the UAE to be in its infancy, but there is certainly strong potential for growth, once the relevant parties have agreed a pathway for its development,” Gibson said.
“I believe due diligence, greater awareness and better management will allow rugby league to flourish in the UAE.
“That requires transparency in strategy and for all the concerned parties to be properly engaged by the governing bodies.”
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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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Girls full-contact rugby may be in its infancy in the Middle East, but there are already a number of role models for players to look up to.
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An Emirati student who is blazing a trail in rugby. She first learnt the game at Dubai Exiles and captained her JESS Primary school team. After going to study geophysics at university in the UK, she scored a sensational try in a cup final at Twickenham. She has played for England sevens, and is now contracted to top Premiership club Saracens.
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Seren Gough-Walters (Sharjah Wanderers mini, Wales rugby league international)
Few players anywhere will have taken a more circuitous route to playing rugby on Sky Sports. Gough-Walters was born in Al Wasl Hospital in Dubai, raised in Sharjah, did not take up rugby seriously till she was 15, has a master’s in global governance and ethics, and once worked as an immigration officer at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. In the summer of 2021 she played for Wales against England in rugby league, in a match that was broadcast live on TV.
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Erin King (Dubai Hurricanes mini, Ireland sevens international)
Aged five, Australia-born King went to Dubai Hurricanes training at The Sevens with her brothers. She immediately struck up a deep affection for rugby. She returned to the city at the end of last year to play at the Dubai Rugby Sevens in the colours of Ireland in the Women’s World Series tournament on Pitch 1.
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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
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