Controversial comedian Bassem Youssef has told an Abu Dhabi audience his rise to global prominence is an example of how “the circus is more trusted than the senate”.
The Egyptian-American comedian has courted controversy during stand-up routines on subjects such as freedom of speech, anti-Semitism and the Israel-Gaza war.
He said political satire should always have a place in any free-minded society.
“When the revolution in Egypt broke out, I did the one thing that made sense to me – I left medicine and became a comedian,” he said, on the final day of the Bridge Summit in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
“I am in this very peculiar position where I'm a comedian, but my name is associated with wars, revolutions and human tragedy. For some reason, people take my jokes more seriously than they should.”
In a highly charged 2023 interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan, Youssef criticised Israel’s actions in Gaza and the western media, sparking huge online debate.
The interview went viral, while follow-ups attracted an even wider audience and significantly expanded his international fan base, leading to sold-out shows across Europe and the US.
“We live in a world where a TikTok video gets more engagement than a UN resolution, and where a comedian's Instagram post about Gaza gets more traction than a 50-page Amnesty International report,” he said.
“I am invited to political forums, hard talk interviews and serious events, but I don't know if this says more about how seriously people take comedians or how much of a joke serious discourse has become.
“Is it because comedians are brilliant? Absolutely not.
“It's because somewhere along the way, the circus became more trusted than the senate, and jesters became more credible than the journalists.
“People have found more truth in comedy clubs than in the outlets of the free press.”
Pique's goal
The Abu Dhabi media and technology event attracted media personalities and technology experts during three days of discussion and debate.
Among the stars also appearing on the final day was former footballer Gerard Pique, who won the World Cup with Spain in 2010.
He told the summit that, almost three years on from its launch, his King’s League seven-a-side football series was set for a big expansion.
The former Barcelona defender said his modern slant on the beautiful game is to launch in the US in 2026 to coincide with the Fifa World Cup in July.
The football format designed for the YouTube generation, fast on action with plenty of goals, was an example of how industries must adapt to survive, Pique said.
Twelve teams currently compete in 40-minute matches live-streamed on the gaming platform Twitch.
They feature unlimited substitutions, sin bins for yellow or red cards and special bonus golden cards picked before kick-off to offer teams an advantage.
In the first three months after its launch in 2023, the league attracted 92,000 online subscribers and has continued to grow.
Pique said he had the idea of a faster-paced game shortly after retiring in 2022.
“Every day when you wake up, you need to adapt to whatever is happening and you need to read what's happening in the world,” he said.
“It is important to understand how this new generation is consuming because people are saying, 'No, these kids, they don't like football any more, they don't follow sports'. Well, this is not true.
“They follow and they consume sports, but they consume it in another way.”
Top stars
Pique launched the format with Twitch streamer Ibai in a bid to attract a younger audience – and more women – to watch football.
Teams are made up from a mix of gamers and online influencers, and former pros, including Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero, Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas and Mexican striker Javier Hernandez.
Matches never end in a draw, and must be decided by a beat the keeper penalty score similar to ice hockey. They also feature mystery players who wear face masks to hide their identity.
“We do a lot of voting and polls where we listen to the audience,” said Pique, who won the World Cup with Spain in South Africa in 2010.
“If they want to change a rule, change a game day or kick-off time, even the colour of the grass, we ask people what they want.
“The audience needs to be heard, and it's one of the keys to our success.
“Even if they don't have equity in the business or they are not partners, they build with us, the community and the sport itself.”
King’s League matches currently take place in Spain, Mexico, Italy, Brazil, France, Germany and the Middle East and North Africa region.
Pique has high hopes of taking football to a new generation of young fans.
“2026 for us is a very important year because we want to focus on the US – it is a totally different beast,” he said.
“There is a lot of interest from countries like the Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey, Japan and South Korea. Our idea is to start licensing our concept in those countries.”
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
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Oscars in the UAE
The 90th Academy Awards will be aired in the UAE from 3.30am on Monday, March 5 on OSN, with the ceremony starting at 5am
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
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RESULT
Fifth ODI, at Headingley
England 351/9
Pakistan 297
England win by 54 runs (win series 4-0)
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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
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
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
Chelsea 2
Willian (13'), Ross Barkley (64')
Liverpool 0
Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
Scorline
Iraq 1-0 UAE
Iraq Hussein 28’
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
