Worshippers and visitors in Abu Dhabi are lining up to get involved in the construction of the capital's first traditional Hindu stone temple.
Residents and tourists are praying over bricks before bringing them to the Mureikha construction site where they will be added to carved stone pillars.
The gesture symbolises community involvement in the construction of what will be the largest Hindu shrine in the UAE when it is completed in late 2023.
The significance of this ceremony is it allows one to be a part of history in the making
Ashok Kotecha,
chairman of the BAPS Hindu Mandir
The temple's foundations have been completed and its first three layers of carved stone have been fitted, said Ashok Kotecha, chairman of BAPS Hindu Mandir, which is overseeing construction.
The shrine will embody ancient stories from Hindu scriptures in its architecture.
Carved sandstone pillars, hand-sculpted by artisans in India, were shipped to Abu Dhabi for the towering temple that will have five ornate domes and seven spires, one for each emirate of the UAE.
“Visitors will have the opportunity to see the mandir [temple] taking shape in front of their eyes,” Mr Kotecha told The National.
“Visitors shall be able to see the construction of the intricately carved outer walls and majestic pillars.”
The temple authorities decided last month to invite visitors to take part in prayers to bless the bricks and be part of the construction phase.
“The significance of this ceremony is it allows one to really be a part of history in the making,” Mr Kotecha said.
“Thoughts, love and well-wishes of visitors are captured in this ceremony and will allow their presence to reverberate through the passage of time as the temple stands tall upon completion.”
Gopi Krishnan Venugopal, an Abu Dhabi resident, took part in one Friday ceremony with 40 relatives and friends.
“It is a great honour to be part of the temple construction, even in a small way,” said Mr Venugopal, a Malaysian citizen who works in the oil and gas sector.
“We feel blessed to have the opportunity to be part of the historic event of building a temple.
“For me, this signifies the integration of the oldest civilisation and tradition, in the form of a temple, with the diversity and inclusion of the UAE.”
Mr Venugopal’s wife, Rekha, and teenage daughter Priya joined him inside a large tent on the site where they recited prayers and sprinkled flowers and vermilion powder – a red substance often used during Hindu services – on the bricks.
The group then carried the bricks outside to be used later in the temple's construction.
An exhibition area has been set up for visitors to learn more about the shrine and how land for its construction was granted by the UAE.
“My prayers are for safe construction, giving thanks to the UAE Rulers for giving us this land,” Mr Venugopal said.
“I also pray this pandemic will go away so more people can meet, congregate and pray.”
The building will replicate the traditional architecture of ancient temples in India and will not use iron reinforcements in its construction.
The stonework shipped from India will be assembled and fitted on site, the process resembling a massive jigsaw puzzle.
Its designs include prayer halls, an amphitheatre, a community centre, library, children’s play area, parks and food court.
Devotees from overseas can be part of the ceremony online. Others can visit the temple site on Friday between 10am to 2pm after registering on the temple website.
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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.”
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
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Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
