There is much to commend about this week's Adihex hunting and equestrian exhibition at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
There are horse auctions, Saluki dogs and fine falcons on show, along with a falcon veterinary clinic, and, appropriately for an exhibition devoted to hunting, a stand for the Environment Agency -Abu Dhabi. The EAD is showing off the success being achieved locally in conservation, for as any responsible hunter or falconer knows, their pastimes can only be assured a guaranteed future if they go hand-in-hand with conservation.
There is the spectacular Musical Ride by the Household Cavalry of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, something never before seen in the Gulf or, indeed, anywhere else outside Europe. It provides powerful evidence of the close relationships between the UAE and the UK and underlines the fact that no other country can do "pomp and splendour" quite like Britain.
For those interested in shooting wild animals, there are stands offering safari excursions in Africa and elsewhere - not quite my scene these days, but quite popular nonetheless. And those who prefer to shoot at artificial targets will find much to interest them as well. Indeed, since the UAE's only Olympic medal - and a gold, at that - was won at shooting, the more that can be done to draw attention to this sport the better.
Besides all of the above, there are stands from some of the world's leading gun-makers, offering the latest rifles and shotguns, and very fine some of them are, too. It's one of these stands, that of Swedish gun-makers VO Gun and Rifle, that has prompted me to write this piece.
Let me quote from a story that appeared in The National on Tuesday: "With a price tag of 650,000 euros (Dh3.5m), it is one weapon you may prefer to keep wrapped in cotton wool.
"The Sheikh Zayed Mosque rifle, designed as a tribute to the building and its creator, is inlaid with 36 coloured diamonds and engraved with an image of the late founder of the nation. It will go on sale at the Abu Dhabi Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex) for the second time when the event opens tomorrow.
"Amid the global financial crisis, the gun failed to sell at last year's event, but its maker, VO Gun & Rifle Maker Sweden, hopes prospective buyers will train their sights on the unique weapon during this week's four-day exhibition."
I went to take a look at the rifle. Frankly, the whole idea of it sticks in my craw. A rifle, an instrument of death, being conceived "as a tribute" to a mosque, of all places? To rub salt in the wound, the handle of the rifle's bolt is carefully inscribed "Allah" - scarcely appropriate, I would have thought. Surely a mosque - like a church or cathedral - is fundamentally a place where a message of peace should be propounded. Whatever next? The Al Aqsa Mosque machine-gun? The St Paul's Cathedral gallows? The Vatican City electric chair?
The concept of this rifle is an insult to the mosque, to the man who spurred its construction and to Islam itself. It is also an insult to those attending the show. Do the gun's manufacturers think that the deep affection in which Sheikh Zayed is held by the people of the UAE, both Emiratis and expatriates, is such that the mere tacking of his name on to a rifle adorned with diamonds is sufficient to persuade someone to buy it? What possible "tribute" can it offer, either to Sheikh Zayed or to the great mosque bearing his name as a testament of his abiding religious faith?
When the much-beloved Diana, Princess of Wales, died 10 years ago, a special charitable organisation was established to try to ensure that her name and image were not used inappropriately to promote the sale of tacky souvenirs. That organisation, if I remember correctly, has had to engage in a number of lawsuits to block the use of her name and picture for a wide variety of utterly unsuitable items. The Princess Diana toilet roll, the Princess Diana singing alarm-clock, anyone?
Perhaps such an organisation devoted to ensuring the good name of Sheikh Zayed is not inappropriately used for commercial purposes wouldn't work effectively. In a world where salesmen dig deep into the gutter for the lowest common denominator of what might appeal to a gullible, foolish or simply disrespectful public, it's probably not possible to issue licences to control the use of his name for marketing purposes, however much one might disapprove of the items produced.
It is difficult, of course, to come up with a suitable single way of commemorating Sheikh Zayed, not least because, in a real sense, the whole country is his memorial. The naming of one of the world's largest mosques is probably a pretty good option, not least because he himself conceived it. But not, please, a diamond-studded rifle.
I would hope that anyone interested in hunting who would consider spending such an enormous amount of money on a decorated rifle, would simply make the choice not to reward VO Gun & Rifle Maker Sweden for its disrespect, both for the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and for the man after whom it is named. I would hope also that it is made abundantly clear to the firm that its attempt to make a massive profit in this manner is perceived by the people to whom it is trying to market the item as being utterly inappropriate.
I note that the manufacturers believe that their failure to sell the rifle at last year's Adihex may have been due to the fact that there was a global financial crisis. I prefer to hope that the lack of a buyer was due simply to the fact that the rifle was felt to be unworthy of the building, or of the person, after whom it was named.
I hope the Sheikh Zayed Mosque rifle fails to sell again this year, and that it is taken back to Sweden and dismantled, with its 36 coloured diamonds being put on some other piece of weaponry - or jewellery. Perhaps, though I doubt it, the manufacturers might learn a lesson from that.
Peter Hellyer is a writer and consultant specialising in the UAE's heritage and environment and has written extensively on the country's social, political and economic development
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
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023 More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE) Where: Allianz Arena, Munich Live: BeIN Sports HD Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
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
Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
Countries offering golden visas
UK Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Why seagrass matters
Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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
The Land between Two Rivers: Writing in an Age of Refugees
Tom Sleigh, Graywolf Press
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.”
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
Tourism industry knowledge.
Professional ethics.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
World Cup warm-up fixtures
Friday, May 24:
Pakistan v Afghanistan (Bristol)
Sri Lanka v South Africa (Cardiff)
Saturday, May 25
England v Australia (Southampton)
India v New Zealand (The Oval, London)
Sunday, May 26
South Africa v West Indies (Bristol)
Pakistan v Bangladesh (Cardiff)
Monday, May 27
Australia v Sri Lanka (Southampton)
England v Afghanistan (The Oval, London)
Tuesday, May 28
West Indies v New Zealand (Bristol)
Bangladesh v India (Cardiff)
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
Scoreline
Switzerland 5
Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
