Electronics firms are pushing 3D television like never before - but they could well be looking through rose-tinted glasses when it comes to consumer demand for the special TV sets, according to UAE shoppers. While a recent survey from Nielsen found that consumers in this region had the highest levels of interest in 3D television, many shoppers in the UAE say they still have serious reservations over buying the televisions, which require users to wear glasses to view 3D programmes.
With top-of-the-range models costing Dh17,500, the high price of 3D TVs was cited by consumers as a major deterrent to purchasing one. For example, LG's 47-inch LED 3D television costs Dh10,499 - almost double the cost of its 47-inch LED-LCD model, which retails at Dh5,799. Other issues include the meagre choice of films and TV programmes available in 3D, the annoyance of wearing glasses to view the programmes, and the concern that the technology is just "a gimmick".
This is despite the findings of Nielsen's "How People Watch" report, published last month, which found that consumers in the Middle East, Africa and Pakistan region were more than twice as likely to own or be interested in buying a 3D set compared with those in Europe and North America. The level of interest in 3D TV was highest in Saudi Arabia out of all the 55 countries surveyed, while the UAE ranked 10th on the list.
Worldwide, just 12 per cent of consumers in the online poll said they own or have definite interest in purchasing a 3D TV. "While that may not seem like much, compared to some other emerging technology, this represents a sizable opportunity to attract the eyeballs and investment of some of the world's most affluent TV households," said the Nielsen report. But UAE-based shoppers polled by The National appear to reflect the opinion of their American counterparts, who have doubts about 3D TV. According to a separate Nielsen report published last week, US consumers like the experience of 3D television, but are put off by the high cost of the sets and having to wear special glasses. More than half the US consumers polled by Nielsen said the 3D glasses were a "hassle", and 57 per cent said they were "not likely" to buy a 3D TV set because of this.
Grant Latham, 53, an expatriate from New Zealand living in Dubai, says that the price of 3D sets is the main deterrent for him. Mr Latham says he is looking to buy a widescreen TV in the range of Dh3,000 to Dh4,000. Pointing to a 46-inch Samsung 3D television, selling for Dh11,599 in the Sharaf DG electronics shop in Dubai Mall, he says the additional cost of 3D models is prohibitive. "I wouldn't pay that much for a TV - I don't think the television in the UAE is good enough to warrant that expense. I'm more interested in [regular] widescreen models," says Mr Latham.
Pete Millar, 52, an expatriate visiting Dubai who works in Baku in Azerbaijan, says the special glasses would put him off buying a 3D TV set. "Would I consider buying a 3D model? Probably not. I wear glasses already - having to wear another pair on top doesn't really appeal," he says. While Mr Millar says that he enjoyed 3D films such as James Cameron's Avatar, he thought that the limited amount of other 3D productions were often "not true 3D" because they were not originally shot in the format. "There's no programming for it," he says. "So what are you buying it for? The occasional movie?"
Other UAE-based consumers agree that 3D is more of an "occasional" experience. "It's a nice experience to watch a movie, but it's very difficult to use on a daily basis. You have to wear glasses and it's not very comfortable," says Waseem Hattar, 26, from Jordan. Dion Smith, 29, originally from Malta, says "3D is a bit of a gimmick". Paul Dodds, 36, a British expatriate living in Dubai, says he is also looking to buy a new TV - but agrees that the prices of 3D sets are just too high for him to consider buying one.
"3D is a great idea, but is ultimately way too expensive. I'd be much happier waiting about a year, when the price will come down by one third," says Mr Dodds. While Mr Dodds believes 3D TV is "gimmicky like anything else", he says the lack of programming is a more serious concern. But he dismisses the fears held by some that viewing 3D shows through the special glasses could pose a health risk. Some studies have suggested that 3D television could trigger seizures or strokes in people with a family history of those conditions.
Mr Dodds says he feels reassured because the sets would have been "stringently" tested. "I'm not concerned about it, but I'd think you'd get eye strain after a while," he says. But Mr Dodds acknowledges that, with lower prices and greater level of acceptance among consumers, the 3D format could be more popular in the future. "In three to five years' time, it'll probably be the only way to watch telly," he says.
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2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
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Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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Ashes 2019 schedule
August 1-5: First Test, Edgbaston
August 14-18: Second Test, Lord's
August 22-26: Third Test, Headingley
September 4-8: Fourth Test, Old Trafford
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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.
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
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ENGLAND TEAM
England (15-1)
George Furbank; Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (capt), Elliot Daly; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Courtney Lawes; Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje; Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Joe Marler
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Ollie Devoto, Jonathan Joseph
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
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Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Our family matters legal consultant
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Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Awar Qalb
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Two stars
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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.”
MATCH INFO
Mainz 0
RB Leipzig 5 (Werner 11', 48', 75', Poulsen 23', Sabitzer 36')
Man of the Match: Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)
The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
