It’s been a strange week to be British, and it’s been an especially strange week to be a Brit living abroad.
On Monday, I, like so many millions around the world, watched as Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, was laid to rest.
As the crowds gathered and members of the armed forces lined up pristinely, ready for the biggest show of pride and pomp Britain has displayed in my lifetime, I sat on the sofa of my Dubai apartment, like I do most other days, glued to the television.
But of course, Monday was not like most other days. It was one of those days that will remain ingrained in my memory for the rest of my life. A day that will undoubtedly spark many conversations across many generations for decades to come. One of those rare “I remember where I was when” moments with which we will bore our children, and their children after that, just as our parents and grandparents have done so many times with us.
It’s a surreal thing, watching history unfold in real time. Trying to simultaneously take in the magnitude of what you are witnessing, while being present in the moment, while also being part of a wider conversation happening around the events.
It also left me trying to process the strange sense of patriotism it roused within that I wasn’t entirely sure I knew was even there, something I know many other Brits experienced ― royalists or not.
Life is scattered with several of these “where were you?” moments, that will at some stage or another stop us all in our tracks. September 11, for example: I was off school sick that day, aged 10, and I remember the cartoon I was watching being interrupted with the breaking news bulletin as my mum stood behind me in disbelief.
When I ask my colleague if she remembers where she was, she tells me instantly: she was in a cramped hotel room in Bahrain, aged 15, shortly after moving to the country.
And it feels like the past few years will have sparked a particularly interesting period in history, as we all endured a global pandemic. Only now, as we come out the other side, have I been able to look back and truly appreciate the gravity of it all, and understand that in years to come, these will be the moments people read about in school, in the same way we did with diseases and viruses of the past.
Naturally, the nature of these huge moments are usually not pleasant ― death, tragedy, shock ― but often, they bring people all over the world together as they experience a shared emotion.
And Monday was certainly one of those days that will always stand out for me. I might have spent it sitting on my sofa like any other Monday, but it was a day that will remain etched in my brain ― and the history books.
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
World record transfers
1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m
How to invest in gold
Investors can tap into the gold price by purchasing physical jewellery, coins and even gold bars, but these need to be stored safely and possibly insured.
A cheaper and more straightforward way to benefit from gold price growth is to buy an exchange-traded fund (ETF).
Most advisers suggest sticking to “physical” ETFs. These hold actual gold bullion, bars and coins in a vault on investors’ behalf. Others do not hold gold but use derivatives to track the price instead, adding an extra layer of risk. The two biggest physical gold ETFs are SPDR Gold Trust and iShares Gold Trust.
Another way to invest in gold’s success is to buy gold mining stocks, but Mr Gravier says this brings added risks and can be more volatile. “They have a serious downside potential should the price consolidate.”
Mr Kyprianou says gold and gold miners are two different asset classes. “One is a commodity and the other is a company stock, which means they behave differently.”
Mining companies are a business, susceptible to other market forces, such as worker availability, health and safety, strikes, debt levels, and so on. “These have nothing to do with gold at all. It means that some companies will survive, others won’t.”
By contrast, when gold is mined, it just sits in a vault. “It doesn’t even rust, which means it retains its value,” Mr Kyprianou says.
You may already have exposure to gold miners in your portfolio, say, through an international ETF or actively managed mutual fund.
You could spread this risk with an actively managed fund that invests in a spread of gold miners, with the best known being BlackRock Gold & General. It is up an incredible 55 per cent over the past year, and 240 per cent over five years. As always, past performance is no guide to the future.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
