Inspired by Stan, one of the world’s most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons on display at the opening of Abu Dhabi's Natural History Museum? Then the prime gift for those in the UAE or around the world who have everything might just be their own £5 million ($6.6 million) dinosaur.
Christies is offering just such an opportunity through its London salesroom when Spike, an exceptionally preserved Caenagnathid dinosaur, goes on sale next month. With rising global interest in the fossilised world, it has put a price tag estimate of £3m-£5m on the sale.
For those in London the run-up will see an exhibition of the dinosaur that features a VR experience giving every angle of the specimen that's open to the public from December 6 to December 11.
James Hyslop, Christie's head of department, science and natural history, is the man who sold Stan and is now thrilled to offer Spike to an audience in the British capital that stretches beyond the experts gallery and sales room.
“There will always be people who want to see Spike in person, and we have dedicated space at the warehouse for people between now and the public viewing from the scientific community to come study the bones in person,” he says, pointing out that the artefact is also viewable as part of a Christie's App.
“I think a lot of people get a really good sense of the Spike from the virtual reality experience, and then they can decide if they do need to come see in person or if they can just work from what they've seen.
“You can get right up close to Spike.”
The Caenagnathid Oviraptorosaur was unearthed in the midwestern American state of South Dakota during excavation in the Hell Creek Formation. It dates from the Maastrichtian age, 80 to 66 million years ago.
What is so exciting about Spike is that it's a “remarkably preserved specimen” of a Caenagnathid Oviraptorosaur with representation of all four key skeletal regions, jaws, hands, pelvis, and feet.
The team says there were approximately 100 fossil bone elements recovered, which with additional casts and 3D printed components allows it to be viewed in its natural form.
Mr Hyslop tells The National that the gap between the millions of years since the dinosaurs roamed the earth and far more recent 19th century discoveries is the reason why the prehistoric beasts have “absolutely fascinated” the public and museum curatorial imagination.
“Right now there's definitely renewed interest as there should be because these things are spectacular,” he says, adding there is a quality beyond the purely physical form.
“There is something about being stood face to face with a fossil that is spine-tingling,” he says. “We all grow up as kids fascinated by dinosaurs.
“When you first start thinking about one of these projects, you have a sense of what it's going to be like – personality is a lovely word for it,” he says. “It's that moment you first stand in front of them.
“Maybe we shouldn't call it personality for a dinosaur but there's definitely a presence.
“Suddenly all these possibilities open up.”
That in part explains Christie's push to bring technology into the experience. “I have always wanted to have a digital presence for these dinosaurs, either in the hologram boxes that we have at front of house of our locations or with an App with the pictures,” he adds. “I can now point to it without fear of damaging it.”
With the ability to manipulate the image through 360 degrees comes minor magic powers. Compare that to the challenge of moving a magnificent but fragile and extremely valuable skeleton.
So what then of the art of owning a dinosaur, if one had the resources to compete for Spike. “A real fossil that sends you back in time,” explains Mr Hyslop.
“Certainly the first time it's spine tingling – they are monsters. Spike was real, it was feathered, it had flesh and while it is great reading about these in books, when you stand face to face with the skeletal, fossilised remains, that becomes very real very quickly.
“There is almost something fundamental to human nature about being fascinated by this deep ancient past.”
Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi opened its doors in the Saadiyat Cultural District last week and one of its centrepiece is Stan, a dinosaur found in America and sold through the auction house. The skeleton of Stan stands at 11.7-metre-tall and is recognised as one of the best-preserved and most-studied Tyrannosaurus rex fossils of the late Cretaceous period.
Rare as Spike is in the recovery of fossils, its biography cannot be easily guessed from the bones. What we do know is Spike died you and leaves the rest to the imagination.
“There's no obvious pathology on it because it was a sub-adult specimen as well, so we don't see any broken and healed bones,” says Mr Hyslop. “Alas, one of the things that's been lost to the subsequent 66 million years is that Spike's death will always remain an unsolved case.”
The Groundbreakers: Icons of Our Time auction on December 11 offers a fitting theme for the auction a beast that was seemingly built for speed.
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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The Gandhi Murder
- 71 - Years since the death of MK Gandhi, also christened India's Father of the Nation
- 34 - Nationalities featured in the film The Gandhi Murder
- 7 - million dollars, the film's budget
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
How to become a Boglehead
Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
• Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.
• Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.
• Choose the right level of risk. Don't gamble by investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.
• Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.
• Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you pay to advisers and active fund managers.
• Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.
• Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.
• Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.
ELECTION%20RESULTS
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Company%20Profile
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Blue%20Beetle
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The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
