Author Kamal Abdel Malek is confident his debut fiction novel Come With Me From Jerusalem is going to do well.
But the Egyptian professor of Arabic literature at the American University in Dubai says his confidence is not because “I am full of myself”, but because his story of star-crossed lovers caught up in the Arab-Israeli conflict is topical, and he has already sold the film rights to one of the novel’s chapters.
While it is a controversial topic for an Egyptian to focus his first creative writing efforts on, Abdel Malek believes an Arab voice exploring the subject will boost sales of the book, released this month.
“There is something very heartwarming about love and I do not know of any work of fiction written by an Arab where the main character is Jewish,” says the academic, who started writing the novel three years ago, securing a publisher in the United States last October.
Such is his belief in the success of his debut novel, the 60-year-old hopes to leave the world of academia and live off the proceeds of his writing.
“It’s not like I need to pay the mortgage. I can retire and live a good life by Egyptian standards – not in London or New York – but in Alexandria, where I have a couple of apartments,” says Abdel Malek, who will feature at next month’s Emirates Festival of Literature in Dubai.
The writer understands he has the “luxury” to make that choice because he is coming towards the end of his career and has savings behind him. But for many writers in the UAE, quitting work is simply not possible.
“I haven’t met an author yet who has made money from writing books here,” says the festival’s director, Isobel Abulhoul.
This is the fifth year of Dubai’s literature festival, which kicks off on March 5 and will feature 120 writers, almost half from the UAE.
With so many locally based authors appearing at the event and even more aspiring writers expected at the dozens of seminars and workshops on offer, the UAE writing scene appears busy.
But ask a writer whether they earn a decent living from their craft and the story changes.
“They have a day job and writing is their passion, and they just hope they will have enough courage to quit and write that bestseller. We know that, like being an Olympic champion, there are only a few who ever reach that,” Abulhoul says.
“To make money from books you have got to sell a lot or you have got to have it made into a film; that is when you start to earn royalties that are sizeable. Writing is just a hobby if you are not in that category.”
Alexander McNabb, the British author of Olives, published in 2011, and last year’s Beirut, says the return a writer receives from the hours they put in is “simply not worth it”.
“It is unlucky if you think you are going to buy that 50-metre luxury yacht from your first book, which is what I discovered. I thought Olives was a bestseller but I was a naive fool,” says McNabb, 48, also the director of a technology public relations company, Spot On PR.
He began writing fiction in 2001 believing he would be published imminently but 100 rejection letters later he knew he would not be quitting work any time soon.
“Living off wild proceeds does not happen anymore. I have had conversations with people who have gone off to Sri Lanka for a year to write their novel and I have been crying inside because I do not want to burst their bubble. They are setting themselves up for an enormous fall. It really is a lottery.”
American writer Liz Fenwick, who has lived in Dubai with her oil executive husband since 2007, began writing fiction in 2004 and, as a full-time mother to three children, aged 13, 20 and 21, says she was not expecting to outstrip her husband’s income.
“When advances are quoted, it sounds like a decent amount of money but you do not get that in one go – it comes to you in chunks,” says Fenwick, who secured a two-book contract with a UK publisher last year.
“When you spread an advance out over four years or five it does not add up to a tin of beans and it is certainly not enough to live on.”
Her romance novels focus on Cornwall in the UK, where she has a home, with her first novel The Cornish House published last year and A Cornish Affair due for release this May.
Where Fenwick, 49, does secure extra income is through foreign-rights deals in Germany, Holland, Portugal and Norway.
While the income could not support her family “in any shape or form”, she considers it more of a pension.
“Our plan is not to touch my writing income right now. It is there as a lump sum and if my career continues and I manage a book a year, it is there for us later,” she says.
Abdel Malek is already earning “a decent income” from books thanks to a number of published non-fiction works in Arabic and English, including the well-documented American in an Arab Mirror, which brings in a lump sum in royalties every six months.
He directs this towards his eldest daughter, Amira, 25, who studies in British Columbia in Canada.
“My younger daughter, Laila, is 22 and has special needs and because of Laila’s experience, Amira decided to specialise in special-needs education, so the money is helping to finance her education and this gives me enormous joy,” says Abdel Malek.
Neither he nor Fenwick considered publishing in the UAE first.
"It is a small market," says Fenwick. "Let's say I published here, I am probably looking at sales totalling my first print-run of The Cornish House unless it was translated into Arabic.
“Even so, I cannot imagine that would increase the readership substantially, particularly for the type of book I am writing.
“If I was writing a non-fiction book on cookery or expat life, that would be a different story because there would be a strong market for it.”
Narain Jashanmal, general manger of Jashanmal Books, which helps local authors distribute their work to regional book shops, airports and supermarkets, says even international authors struggle to sell big here.
“One common misconception that ought to be challenged is what constitutes successful sales volumes in our markets: we are talking hundreds of copies, not thousands and certainly not tens of thousands,” he says.
“Even books by top-tier international authors typically only sell in the mid-thousands locally. Of course there are exceptions.
“If local authors can crack the low hundreds they ought to consider that an achievement.”
That is not to say the locally-based authors do not need the local market. Abdel Malek has printed 1,000 books to distribute here and Fenwick’s publisher also ensured her novel was in local stores.
“There is the huge bonus of being a local author; the stores here will stock a debut author where they normally would not bother and I have done book signings here,” says Fenwick, who adds that the UAE connection also raises a writer’s profile.
“I have done more press here than in the UK but anything I did here was looked upon as an advantage; it is building up the CV so if I have done women’s magazines here, it helps for approaching the magazines in the UK and the Dubai association makes me more interesting to the rest of the world.”
While both Fenwick and Abdel Malek prefer traditional publishing, many UAE-based authors find the best way to get their voice heard is to self-publish.
This is the route McNabb chose, who, despite having an agent, tired of rejection letters from UK publishers.
“Traditional publishing was offering me two things: validation as a writer and scale. I thought ‘well I have got an agent so that gives me validation and publishing is no longer giving scale’.
“You used to get advances of £100,000 (Dh 556,000) now you are lucky if you get £10,000,” says McNabb, who receives up to 70 per cent for his e-book sales compared with the 10 to 20 per cent publishers offer.
“Margins are under such pressure and it seemed that an author of spy-intrigue thrillers in the Middle East was not going to get anywhere. I might as well go and find my readership myself.”
McNabb self-publishes via e-books and print-on-demand schemes that send published copies directly to readers.
To tap into the local market, however, he had to print his own copies, spending about Dh10,000 to print 2,000 copies of his own book.
“Up until then it had not cost me a penny apart from the cost of an editor,” says McNabb, who has sold about 600 copies, 300 of those locally.
“That 600 that is an important number for me because 98 per cent of books in print sell fewer than 500 copies globally, so I am in the top 2 per cent, but it was never going to make me hugely rich.
“My thinking was always that if I can get a readership here then you can start to translate that into the UK but it is kind of difficult breaking into the UK based in Dubai.
“What can happen is that a book can bumble along at the bottom and then suddenly skyrocket, so you do not have to signed by a major label to get your voice out there. It is about finding your audience, building up a relationship with them and writing multiple books.”
Ultimately though, it seems writing is more of a labour of love than a money-spinning exercise.
"Definitely," says Abulhoul. "Artists such as Picasso did it because they were driven and it was something they could not live without and with writers that is often the same."
arayer@thenational.ae
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
RESULT
Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
Manchester United: Rashford (78')
Man of the Match: Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town)
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
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
2021 World Triathlon Championship Series
May 15: Yokohama, Japan
June 5: Leeds, UK
June 24: Montreal, Canada
July 10: Hamburg, Germany
Aug 17-22: Edmonton, Canada (World Triathlon Championship Final)
Nov 5-6 : Abu Dhabi, UAE
Date TBC: Chengdu, China
VERSTAPPEN'S FIRSTS
Youngest F1 driver (17 years 3 days Japan 2014)
Youngest driver to start an F1 race (17 years 166 days – Australia 2015)
Youngest F1 driver to score points (17 years 180 days - Malaysia 2015)
Youngest driver to lead an F1 race (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest driver to set an F1 fastest lap (19 years 44 days – Brazil 2016)
Youngest on F1 podium finish (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest F1 winner (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest multiple F1 race winner (Mexico 2017/18)
Youngest F1 driver to win the same race (Mexico 2017/18)
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Profile of RentSher
Started: October 2015 in India, November 2016 in UAE
Founders: Harsh Dhand; Vaibhav and Purvashi Doshi
Based: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE
Sector: Online rental marketplace
Size: 40 employees
Investment: $2 million
Results
2.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m
Winner Lamia, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,000m
Winner Jap Al Afreet, Elione Chaves, Irfan Ellahi.
3.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m
Winner MH Tawag, Bernardo Pinheiro, Elise Jeanne.
4pm Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 2,000m
Winner Skygazer, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
4.30pm The Ruler of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh250,000 1,700m
Winner AF Kal Noor, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
5pm Sharjah Marathon (PA) Dh70,000 2,700m
Winner RB Grynade, Bernardo Pinheiro, Eric Lemartinel.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Result
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Naval Crown, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m; Winner: Volcanic Sky, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Zainhom, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
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
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
Team Angel Wolf Beach Blast takes place every Wednesday between 4:30pm and 5:30pm
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
How it works
Booklava works on a subscription model. On signing up you receive a free book as part of a 30-day-trial period, after which you pay US$9.99 (Dh36.70) per month to gain access to a library of books and discounts of up to 30 per cent on selected titles. You can cancel your subscription at any time. For more details go to www.booklava.com
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.”
