Residents of the UAE drink more coffee than people in any other part of the Middle East. That was the conclusion of a report by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) looking into how people in the Emirates consume an average of 3.5kg of coffee per person per year.
The figure is almost double that of other states and comparable to the coffee craze that has swept through Britain since the Seattle-based Starbucks bought the UK chain the Seattle Coffee Company in 1998, rebranded the stores and helped spawn a whole new caffeine culture.
There's nothing new about coffee in this part of the world, of course; for centuries it has played a significant part in Arabian social and cultural life. What is - relatively - new is its function in a modern, consumer lifestyle, something attributed by those who commissioned the report to the influence of non-native workers.
"The coffee consumption is more like the rate seen in western Europe, probably because of the high number of expats and a big move to import western-style brand consumption," said Ric Rhinehart, the SCAA executive director.
For most coffee drinkers, it's the combination of the fresh-brewed flavour coupled with the invigorating "hit" that makes us go back for more. Certainly the profusion of choice these days - lattes, cappuccinos and frappuccinos among many others - has helped coffee climb above tea in many parts of the world as the most popular hot drink.
And as the intake has increased, so has the interest in its side-effects among nutrition scientists, university laboratories and even sports performance analysts. Barely a week goes by without a new study singing its praises or warning of dire coffee consequences.
"Like many foods, there are conflicting health stories attached to coffee," says Elisabeth Weichselbaum, a scientist with the British Nutrition Foundation. "It can be very confusing as to whether coffee is good or bad for you."
For example, in just one month this year researchers from Bristol University, England, found that coffee boosts the performance of women in stressful situations, Sweden's Karolinska Institute reported that coffee drinkers cut their risk of stroke by 25 per cent and a study from Ulleval University Hospital, Norway, concluded that coffee compounds raise the risk of heart disease.
Weichselbaum points out that some of the confusion stems from the reporting of studies. "It's often the case in laboratory conditions that a highly concentrated caffeine is used. These tests aren't directly linked to coffee drinking - the substances used are very different to what people drink - but the reporting fails to highlight this."
Christian Jessen, a UK GP and presenter of the Channel 4 television show Embarrassing Bodies, agrees: "Coffee is one of the most widely researched products in the world and the media tend to, rather unfairly, focus on negative research. All too often, studies looking at a very small patient population or that have been conducted in animals will be taken out of context to form a headline."
In the past, health concerns about coffee consumption were often skewed by other factors associated with it, such as smoking. Today the drink receives much more prominent coverage because of our dependence as a society upon it. Coffee mornings, coffee breaks and the fact that so many of us seemingly struggle to function until we've had that first hit of the day, have helped the brew become popular the world over.
So, how much coffee should we be drinking?
"There's no recommended daily limit as such," says Weichselbaum. "What tends to happen is that as coffee drinkers we find our own 'pace' and tolerance levels. Some people, me included, can't really have more than one caffeinated coffee a day without feeling some ill side-effects." Caffeine sensitivity can trigger sleeplessness, anxiety, nausea or gastroesophageal reflux disease, which features such symptoms as heartburn.
"Others, however, can drink it all day long and feel no serious reactions," says Weichselbaum.
Perhaps not in the short term, but caffeine is an addictive substance and while many people may think it doesn't hurt them to drink it, going without it may trigger withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, headaches and even panic attacks.
From an independent viewpoint, recent research does at least confirm that coffee-drinking contributes to a person's daily fluid intake. In the UK, it is recognised by the Food Standards Agency and the British Dietetic Association (BDA) as a source of fluid in the diet.
Its ability to oil the cogs of social interaction makes coffee a useful workplace tool as well. "Almost 70 per cent of us use coffee as a means to provide a break in our day," says Dr Sarah Schenker, a BDA dietician.
Jessen insists: "The truth is that you don't need to cut out your beloved cups of coffee. There is plenty of evidence that moderate coffee consumption - that's around four or five cups per day - is perfectly safe for the general population and may confer certain health benefits."
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Super 30
Produced: Sajid Nadiadwala and Phantom Productions
Directed: Vikas Bahl
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Srivastav, Mrinal Thakur
Rating: 3.5 /5
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
The Intruder
Director: Deon Taylor
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, Meagan Good
One star
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
The currency conundrum
Russ Mould, investment director at online trading platform AJ Bell, says almost every major currency has challenges right now. “The US has a huge budget deficit, the euro faces political friction and poor growth, sterling is bogged down by Brexit, China’s renminbi is hit by debt fears while slowing Chinese growth is hurting commodity exporters like Australia and Canada.”
Most countries now actively want a weak currency to make their exports more competitive. “China seems happy to let the renminbi drift lower, the Swiss are still running quantitative easing at full tilt and central bankers everywhere are actively talking down their currencies or offering only limited support," says Mr Mould.
This is a race to the bottom, and everybody wants to be a winner.
KINGDOM%20OF%20THE%20PLANET%20OF%20THE%20APES
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THE%20SWIMMERS
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The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
On racial profiling at airports
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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.”
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
INDIA'S%20TOP%20INFLUENCERS
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier
Results
UAE beat Saudi Arabia by 12 runs
Kuwait beat Iran by eight wickets
Oman beat Maldives by 10 wickets
Bahrain beat Qatar by six wickets
Semi-finals
UAE v Qatar
Bahrain v Kuwait
