I refer to Climate change study warns of severe impact (January 15), which reported that rising sea levels could leave Abu Dhabi and Dubai under water by 2100. This is a bit provocative and potentially alarming. But are we in truth to be so alarmed?
I am convinced the public deserves more details to understand what already happened in the past (climate change history) and what may happen in the short, medium, long or very long term. It is always interesting to know the history of the area we live in and sharing knowledge is definitely a way to increase community awareness about risks and challenges.
The UAE Government is concerned about the potential impact of climate change on the UAE - this is good. The article deals with the anticipated impacts of the climate change but not with the reasons which could lead to these impacts. It would be interesting to get some simple factual explanations on how the specialists come to these scenarios (a rise in seawater from one metre to nine metres does not imply the same hypotheses) and to know, as well, if these specialists represent 95 per cent of the scientists or 15 per cent. It will also be interesting to understand other theories being developed by highly reputable scientists in oceanography and climatology to contradict the analysis of the current "doctrine" of rising oceans.
It is also important that governments protect transparency and science from serving special interests. Scientists agree on the fact they still have a lot more to learn to better understand the complexity of the phenomenon of climate.
Tristan de Ferluc, Abu Dhabi
Michael Young's opinion article Loved, not feared: Obama and the curse of Carter (January 14) described a recent decline in US power as during the Jimmy Carter years. I feel that it is indeed too early to count how many pins have fallen. It has taken many years of getting to where we are now. The US president Barack Obama has inherited the mess of not just George W Bush, but the politics of misguided and often undemocratic leaders in Iran, China, Iraq, Yemen and Russia, to name a few. Of course as a world power the government of the United States has had to placate corrupt leaders and their policies.
On top of this there is a world economy that almost collapsed. Mr Obama has a lot on his plate, but time is on his side and so I believe things will improve. Mr Bush put the US into financial ruin and with his them-against-us policies has alienated many countries.
Also it has only been just a year into Mr Obama's first term. Honesty, trust, fairness, and respect is a mighty shield of protection against tyranny.
Michael Banks, Canada
In reference to the article Google threatens to quit China over online spy plot (January 14), it is ironic to see Google, a company that was exposed some time ago as secretly keeping user profiles for tracking, is now looking like the victim of China's alleged censorship. Google is nothing but Microsoft in disguise as a touchy-feely company, and in reality is as cut-throat as any other. Of course, the Googles, Microsofts or Ciscos had no problems cutting deals in China when it suited them while proffering the same old excuses.
The real problem for Google now is the lack of a significant market share against the local Baidu in high growth China after all these years. And the excuse looks brilliant.
More ironic is witnessing the US government crying lack of freedom and human rights in China (and other places) while saying nothing about Guantanamo or Abu Ghraib. Public memory is fleeting, so America can lecture the world while it cannot do much about its own economy or human rights record.
Athar Mian, Abu Dhabi
I refer to Colin Randall's opinion piece on language Why we don't need to put words into teenagers' mouths (January 16). Being the proud mother of a six-foot 18-year-old who, when not in bed, is to be spied emptying the fridge, I can vouch for the text message way of speaking.
We talked about this the other night and in so many words, he informed me that he only needed about four words to communicate with me as my discussions with him were so predictable. It's 7am - time to get up. Urghhhhhhh. Have you got your keys? Dunno. Have you got your phone? (Shrug). What time are you back? Why?
And so it goes on. He does seem to manage to communicate with the outside world, though, so I imagine all those years of school did teach him something. I do worry at times when he sends me e-mails full of spelling mistakes and things like RU but, as he says, it is a rapid form of communication and he doesn't have time to spell and punctuate properly and doesn't need to. I just think we are getting left behind, thank God!
Louise Manfield, Belgium
letters@thenational.ae
Brolliology: A History of the Umbrella in Life and Literature
By Marion Rankine
Melville House
Racecard
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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
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
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
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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.”
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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
