There are many questions for Edward Oakden, Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George and the British ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, as he packs his bags and prepares to depart these shores.
What is the current state of relations between his country and one of its oldest friends? How does Britain contribute to the security of a region vital to her national interests? Are companies from the UK competing effectively in one of the fastest-growing economies in the world?
And then there is this one. How does he explain to his hosts why in recent months certain British newspapers appear to be mounting a vindictive and vituperative campaign against the UAE in general and the emirate of Dubai in particular?
But Mr Oakden is a diplomat and doing things diplomatically is what he does. So he knows exactly what to say when the phone on the ambassador's desk starts to ring furiously and high level figure of authority is on the line.
"It is not my role to mediate," he says in a precise manner. "It is my role to explain.
"I follow carefully what the British press say about the UAE, both for good and of the more critical elements."
While local sensitivities are inevitably hurt by the "one really critical article", it is "important to see criticism in context. Just because it is written in the press, it doesn't mean it is necessarily true and there will always be a range of opinions. Besides, there are plenty of articles saying nice things about the UAE."
And so once again the ambassadorial high-wire act is successfully concluded. Mr Oakden has been the British ambassador since August 2006 and it is not flattery to say that he is as well-liked and respected in the majlis as he is in local boardrooms and the corridors of his own embassy compound.
Still, all things come to an end. There are 11 framed photographs hanging in the reception room outside his office beginning with Edward Henderson, ambassador for what was then just the emirate of Abu Dhabi from 1959 to 1961. Next month, Mr Oakden's portrait will join them on the wall.
The sense of continuity cannot hide the huge changes that have taken place around the embassy compound in downtown Abu Dhabi. To negotiate the security barriers and massive blast gates that protect a modern 21st century embassy is to enter an incongruous world of immaculately clipped lawns and hedges set amid rows of colonial bungalows.
At the same time, the concrete bulk of a skyscraper, its lower storeys already clad in polished silver, is rising above the perimeter wall. When the original embassy was constructed, it was just a few yards from the beach on land gifted by the rulers of Abu Dhabi. Land reclamation now means the new Corniche is a walk of several minutes.
Mr Oakden has moved from behind his desk, with its Union Flag and official portrait of the Queen, to a couch. Hanging on the wall above his head, an aerial photograph, half a century old, shows only one other recognisable building, the ruler's fort, now undergoing massive renovations. The two-storey embassy building still survives, arguably the oldest unchanged building in the capital.
The role of the ambassador is also a mixture of old and new. The early envoys, from a time when the Trucial States enjoyed the protection of Britain's military might, were also kingmakers, most notably in negotiations for the transition of the rule of Sheikh Shakbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to his younger brother, Sheikh Zayed, in 1966.
It is not the role of British ambassadors these days to become involved in regime transition. Or as Mr Oakden, the diplomat again, puts it: "Times have moved on since the 1950s and the 1960s and the role of my predecessors was clearly appropriate to those times.
"The role of the modern ambassador is fundamentally different to the one my predecessors played."
In 2010, the British ambassador wears a variety of hats. With a staff of 400 in two embassies in Abu Dhabi and Dubai - the UAE is the only country where Her Majesty's government retains two embassies - he has a responsibility to one of the largest populations of British expatriates in the world (somewhere between 100,000 and 120,000; no one is quite sure) plus around one million tourists from Britain each year, who are generally well-behaved, but occasionally find themselves behind bars as a result of various well-publicised scrapes.
Mr Oakden insists that the vast majority of his countrymen are well behaved, but admits, diplomatically (of course) that there are a few who are "not fully au fait with the cultural requirements of the UAE".
Then there is the flag waving for what politicians are overly fond of calling "Great Britain PLC". By the early 1970s the then Labour government's East of Suez policy effectively withdrew British interests from the Gulf, leaving the emirates to fend for themselves. There are many who feel that a historic relationship was damaged in the process, but those days now seem like ancient history. Or as the ambassador puts it: "That page has been turned."
The British invasion during Mr Oakden's time suggests a fleet of limousines in an almost constant convoy from the airport. He ticks the recent arrivals off on his fingers. "The PM twice, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, several times. There have been almost 60 high-level visits in the past year. Generally, a week does not go by when there are not several."
He reflects again. "The Duchess of York, Tony Blair, Lord Mandelson, the Lord Mayor. It makes my life busy but it also makes my life focused and exciting." In this role, he describes the UAE and Britain as "two worlds spinning very fast". The role of the embassy is to be a "docking mechanism" that allows the right people to come together.
Asked about the future of the UAE, Mr Oakden shows an unscripted enthusiasm for what he calls "the growing strength of the federation".
"When you talk to the younger generation and ask them if they are an Abu Dhabian or a Dubian, they look at you strangely and say 'I'm an Emirati'."
Saying goodbye to his friends is, he says: "The hardest part of leaving. There is a warmth and depth to people here that I find very moving."
Pressed to describe what he is most proud of during his four years of office, he points to the partnership agreement between the British Museum in London and the new Sheikh Zayed National Museum on Saadiyat: "Something that I think will endure for many years."
Still, surely there must have been times when relations between the UAE and Britain were tested, either for internal or external reasons?
Mr Oakden, of course, does not rise to the bait. He prefers to refer to "bumps in the road" and avoids specifics. Some British businesses, for example, do not fully understand that they are not at the head of the queue when contracts are handed out.
"It is very important for business and government in the UK to understand how stiff the competition is here. Just as we would expect an Emirati to compete for business in the UK, so we need to be competing for business here. The way one won business 20 years ago is not the way to win business today."
This view is something he will take to his next job, as one of the managing directors within UK Trade and Investment. His base will be London, where the current temperature is 4°C with rain. The weather is one more thing he will miss: "I love the heat. So I've been able to get out and do quite a lot of running over the past year." So, it's true about mad dogs and Englishmen then? "Well no, I don't go out in the midday sun. In the summer I wait until after dusk."
Time is up and the ambassador needs to get back to the hectic business of departure. A few weeks ago a delegation of sheikhs visited the embassy and made the surprising and generous gift of a baby racing camel.
One suspects that for a brief moment, Mr Oakden considered the appeal of riding to his new job along London's Whitehall like a modern-day Lawrence of Arabia. "I was enormously touched by the gift, but decided that it would be better for the little camel to grow up with its peers in Al Ain."
As always, the diplomatic solution.
@Email:jlangton@thenational.ae
The Breadwinner
Director: Nora Twomey
Starring: Saara Chaudry, Soma Chhaya, Laara Sadiq
Three stars
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 BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali
Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”
Favourite TV programme: the news
Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”
Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
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
If you go:
Getting there:
Flying to Guyana requires first reaching New York with either Emirates or Etihad, then connecting with JetBlue or Caribbean Air at JFK airport. Prices start from around Dh7,000.
Getting around:
Wildlife Worldwide offers a range of Guyana itineraries, such as its small group tour, the 15-day ‘Ultimate Guyana Nature Experience’ which features Georgetown, the Iwokrama Rainforest (one of the world’s four remaining pristine tropical rainforests left in the world), the Amerindian village of Surama and the Rupununi Savannah, known for its giant anteaters and river otters; wildlifeworldwide.com
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
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
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Most F1 world titles
7 — Michael Schumacher (1994, ’95, 2000, ’01 ’02, ’03, ’04)
7 — Lewis Hamilton (2008, ’14,’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20)
5 — Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57)
4 — Alain Prost (1985, ’86, ’89, ’93)
4 — Sebastian Vettel (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13)
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
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
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3 (Silva 8' &15, Foden 33')
Birmginahm City 0
Man of the match Bernado Silva (Manchester City)
Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
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OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
Look north
BBC business reporters, like a new raft of government officials, are being removed from the national and international hub of London and surely the quality of their work must suffer.
