The article Rowdy pupils out of control (December 15) reported on severe discipline problems which have caused some scared expatriate teachers to return home. I would guess that Vincent Ferrandino, a recruitment adviser at the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), has never attended a classroom in Al Ibtikar School for Boys in Ghayathi. He suggested that I wasn't prepared for teaching there, although I am an honoured teacher in the US for my educational achievements.
But he is right, I wasn't prepared, thanks to Adec which didn't support teachers they sent out into the desert schools. No one told me that the principal didn't support the reform. No one told me the kids would spit on me, kick me, scream at me, and stab me with pencils. No one told me that I would not have the Arab co-teacher I was promised. No one told me I would be left alone without any curriculum or materials.
Mr Ferrandino claimed that I and others like me weren't prepared to meet the challenge of teaching in the UAE to order to cover his own responsibility.
Vern Harvey, Abu Dhabi
Displeased with Mawaqif system
Mawaqif is actually causing more hardship than good. For all practical uses, the number of parking spots has been reduced to less than the number of the residents' cars of our area.
Not only after 8pm, but even during the day whenever my daughter comes home, she has to search for a parking space and often finds one far away from our house. Then she has to walk that distance back home. I shudder at the thought of coping with this problem in the summer.
I went through the awkward processes and ultimately got registration for a parking permit, paying Dh800 in the crowded office area of Mawaqif at Hamdan Road on the first day of application.
After 8pm, I have to search for a parking for 45 or 50 minutes. But one recent night, even after roaming around from 9.45pm to almost 11.00pm, we left car parallel to a footpath opposite to our building when we couldn't find a space. At 11.15pm, a Dh500 fine was given. My question is: what justification is there when there is no parking in my area for which I have paid Dh800?
Mohammad Furqan, Abu Dhabi
Sean Penn's disaster missions
Sean Penn was an inspired choice for a lifetime achievement award at the Dubai International Film Festival (Penn pulls out of festival to help Haiti relief camp, December 14). He must be equally heralded for his actual presence on the ground to help others around the world. He has waded through the flood waters helping survivors in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina and has been in Haiti for months following that country's devastating earthquake.
Mohamed Kanoo, Abu Dhabi
Praise for Barjeel exhibition
I was privileged to attend the Barjeel exhibition in Sharjah in October (Barjeel continues introducing Arab artists to the international art scene, December 12), and while the place is still small but growing, the organisers did a fantastic job of showing art and paintings from all around the Arab world, and from various epochs (eg, Nasser's Egypt).
This rivals the Saatchi Galley in London in terms of intensity and relevance to its themes. To be able to pull off such a variety of exhibits around a central Arab art theme in such a short time is commendable and a lesson in local social entrepreneurship:.
Athar Mian, Abu Dhabi
Two differing views on Creamfields festival
In reference to Dance party a let-down, say fans, after musical acts are rescheduled (December 14), I don't get it. It's like this report is from a different event than the one I attended on Yas Island last weekend.
Creamfields Abu Dhabi was the best event I have been to in seven years, and the best in the UAE since Destiny's Child live in Dubai in 2005. Underage drinking is unacceptable, if that is the case. But senior citizens shocked at seeing young people at the electronic music festival - are you serious?
GO, Abu Dhabi
•••••••••••••
Last year's Creamfields was OK. It was in a good venue, it was well policed (proper ID checks for alcohol, for example) and it was well located. The acts were very good.
This year the acts were average in a badly laid out arena. A massive platform in front of the stage for high-paying guests blocked the view of the stage and cut the field in half, really detracting from the "festival feel". There were long, chaotic lines for the bar, non-existent security and drunk teenagers wandering around.
I would say it was the worst festival event I have been to in 20 years and I've had three days of torrential rain at Glastonbury.
Tony McDermott, Abu Dhabi
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
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Omania, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
Winner: Brehaan, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Craving, Connor Beasley, Simon Crisford
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Prep (PA) Dh100,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Dahess D’Arabie, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Fertile De Croate, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
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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.”
The biog
Full name: Aisha Abdulqader Saeed
Age: 34
Emirate: Dubai
Favourite quote: "No one has ever become poor by giving"
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 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
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
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
RESULTS
West Asia Premiership
Thursday
Jebel Ali Dragons 13-34 Dubai Exiles
Friday
Dubai Knights Eagles 16-27 Dubai Tigers
The biog
Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”
Favourite film: “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”
Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: 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
The Specs
Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
