• Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho shakes hands with his goalkeeper Hugo Lloris after the goalless draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, November 29. Reuters
    Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho shakes hands with his goalkeeper Hugo Lloris after the goalless draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, November 29. Reuters
  • Chelsea's Christian Pulisic tackles Giovani Lo Celso of Tottenham. Getty
    Chelsea's Christian Pulisic tackles Giovani Lo Celso of Tottenham. Getty
  • Tottenham striker Harry Kane under pressure from Chelsea's N'Golo Kante. EPA
    Tottenham striker Harry Kane under pressure from Chelsea's N'Golo Kante. EPA
  • Chelsea's Thiago Silva jumps for the ball with Giovani Lo Celso of Spurs. AP
    Chelsea's Thiago Silva jumps for the ball with Giovani Lo Celso of Spurs. AP
  • Tottenham's Harry Kane. Reuters
    Tottenham's Harry Kane. Reuters
  • Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris makes a save. Reuters
    Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris makes a save. Reuters
  • Chelsea manager Frank Lampard. Reuters
    Chelsea manager Frank Lampard. Reuters
  • Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech under pressure from Sergio Reguilon of Tottenham. Getty
    Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech under pressure from Sergio Reguilon of Tottenham. Getty
  • Chelsea's Timo Werner. EPA
    Chelsea's Timo Werner. EPA
  • Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy clears the ball past Spurs attacker Son Heung-min. AFP
    Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy clears the ball past Spurs attacker Son Heung-min. AFP

Jose Mourinho masterminds Tottenham resurgence with defence at the forefront


Richard Jolly
  • English
  • Arabic

There was a time when Jose Mourinho complained about a Tottenham manager parking the bus, using his addition to the footballing lexicon, in a stalemate at Stamford Bridge. It was not on Sunday.

Mourinho, who was famously scathing about Jacques Santini’s tactics against his Chelsea in 2004, ended this weekend with the mischievous suggestion his side were disappointed they did not win a game when they had a solitary shot on target and a meagre expected goals tally of 0.23.

More pertinently, the lack of drama was telling. Tottenham conceded 14 more goals than Liverpool last season. Now they have the division's best defensive record. Since the 3-3 draw with West Ham, and a spectacular conclusion that seemingly prompted Mourinho to tighten up, they have conceded a solitary goal in five Premier League games

That included clean sheets against Manchester City and Chelsea, and just three in nine in all competitions. Mourinho is likely to field a different defence against LASK Linz in the Europa League on Thursday. In a way, however, differences have already abounded.

Spurs’ frugality feels more of an achievement given the personnel. Serge Aurier had such a reputation for erratic defending that, last season, Mourinho told him that with VAR he was likely to give away a bad penalty – and that is the polite version.

Now the Ivorian has been recast as a paragon of reliability to such an extent that he has displaced the summer signing Matt Doherty at right-back.

Eric Dier can still feel more of a jack of all trades than a master of any, despite his preference for playing centre-back, but Mourinho has made the converted midfielder a cornerstone of his side. “It was a decision I made before the manager arrived,” Dier told Sky about his move back. “I felt the time was right in terms of my age and my career.”

Mourinho’s favoured axis of Dier and Toby Alderweireld are an antidote to the ultra-modern centre-back pairings. Instead of a high defensive line, Spurs have the low block that Mourinho prefers and which suits his slower stoppers, who have less ground to cover in compact shapes.

________________

Chelsea v Tottenham ratings

  • CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy – 7. Saved a long-range drive from Aurier early on. Got into a muddle when sweeping a clearance with Kante, but was otherwise untroubled. Reuters
    CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy – 7. Saved a long-range drive from Aurier early on. Got into a muddle when sweeping a clearance with Kante, but was otherwise untroubled. Reuters
  • Reece James – 8. Typically brilliant cross for Abraham at the start of the second half, but the forward headed wide. Booked for a foul on Reguilon. Good strength to block Kane at a corner. EPA
    Reece James – 8. Typically brilliant cross for Abraham at the start of the second half, but the forward headed wide. Booked for a foul on Reguilon. Good strength to block Kane at a corner. EPA
  • Kurt Zouma – 6. Booked for kicking Ndombele in the shins. Played one spectacular pass to launch an attack late on, but risked it all with a late mistake. AFP
    Kurt Zouma – 6. Booked for kicking Ndombele in the shins. Played one spectacular pass to launch an attack late on, but risked it all with a late mistake. AFP
  • Thiago Silva – 7. Spurs’ vaunted forward line should have been a stern test of the 36-year-old Brazilian’s ageing limbs. But he cruised through the game with his usual elegance and poise. Reuters
    Thiago Silva – 7. Spurs’ vaunted forward line should have been a stern test of the 36-year-old Brazilian’s ageing limbs. But he cruised through the game with his usual elegance and poise. Reuters
  • Ben Chilwell – 6. Rolled his ankle in the process of fouling Aurier, but battled on, having been industrious if not inspirational throughout. AFP
    Ben Chilwell – 6. Rolled his ankle in the process of fouling Aurier, but battled on, having been industrious if not inspirational throughout. AFP
  • Mateo Kovacic – 7. Generally screened his defence well, particularly when Ndombele was breaking in a dangerous position just after the hour. EPA
    Mateo Kovacic – 7. Generally screened his defence well, particularly when Ndombele was breaking in a dangerous position just after the hour. EPA
  • N’Golo Kante – 6. Had his work cut out marshalling his fellow Frenchman Ndombele, so he would have been glad to see him go off just after the hour. Reuters
    N’Golo Kante – 6. Had his work cut out marshalling his fellow Frenchman Ndombele, so he would have been glad to see him go off just after the hour. Reuters
  • Mason Mount – 6. Created two of Chelsea’s best openings for himself, first with a dribble then a shot that drifted over in the first half, then had a similar effort saved by Lloris in the second. Booked for a cynical trip on Lo Celso. Reuters
    Mason Mount – 6. Created two of Chelsea’s best openings for himself, first with a dribble then a shot that drifted over in the first half, then had a similar effort saved by Lloris in the second. Booked for a cynical trip on Lo Celso. Reuters
  • Hakim Ziyech – 6. Booked for clipping Reguilon’s heels as the full-back broke through. Blazed a good chance over on the half volley, and was generally frustrated by a lack of openings. EPA
    Hakim Ziyech – 6. Booked for clipping Reguilon’s heels as the full-back broke through. Blazed a good chance over on the half volley, and was generally frustrated by a lack of openings. EPA
  • Tammy Abraham – 7. Looked a threat with what little of the ball he saw in the first half, and had the better of Dier a number of times. Might have done better with some fine deliveries by James, though. Reuters
    Tammy Abraham – 7. Looked a threat with what little of the ball he saw in the first half, and had the better of Dier a number of times. Might have done better with some fine deliveries by James, though. Reuters
  • Timo Werner – 6. Had a goal chalked off when he was offside. Looked bright enough, but was still replaced by Pulisic with 17 minutes to go. EPA
    Timo Werner – 6. Had a goal chalked off when he was offside. Looked bright enough, but was still replaced by Pulisic with 17 minutes to go. EPA
  • SUB" Christian Pulisic (Werner, 74') – 6. He was unable to create much in his first appearance in over a month after suffering injury on Champions League duty
    SUB" Christian Pulisic (Werner, 74') – 6. He was unable to create much in his first appearance in over a month after suffering injury on Champions League duty
  • SUB: Olivier Giroud – NA. Had a chance to win it when Rodon’s injury-time back pass fell well short of Lloris, but his shot was limp. AFP
    SUB: Olivier Giroud – NA. Had a chance to win it when Rodon’s injury-time back pass fell well short of Lloris, but his shot was limp. AFP
  • SUB: Kai Havertz – NA. Made his mark on Rodon – who suffered a bloodied lip from the German’s elbow – if not the game, in his brief appearance at the end. Reuters
    SUB: Kai Havertz – NA. Made his mark on Rodon – who suffered a bloodied lip from the German’s elbow – if not the game, in his brief appearance at the end. Reuters
  • TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR RATINGS: Hugo Lloris – 7. Coped with the aerial threat well, and made a fine save to deny Mount from distance with 10 minutes to go. EPA
    TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR RATINGS: Hugo Lloris – 7. Coped with the aerial threat well, and made a fine save to deny Mount from distance with 10 minutes to go. EPA
  • Serge Aurier – 7. Made a dynamic start and saw a powerful shot well saved by Mendy, and generally coped admirably with most things that came down his flank. Reuters
    Serge Aurier – 7. Made a dynamic start and saw a powerful shot well saved by Mendy, and generally coped admirably with most things that came down his flank. Reuters
  • Joe Rodon – 6. Made a nervy start, and was spared by an offside flag when Werner had the ball in the net. Later sliced a clearance into the hands of Lloris. Showed up far better as the game went on, though - until his injury-time lapse. AFP
    Joe Rodon – 6. Made a nervy start, and was spared by an offside flag when Werner had the ball in the net. Later sliced a clearance into the hands of Lloris. Showed up far better as the game went on, though - until his injury-time lapse. AFP
  • Eric Dier – 5. Abraham got the better of him once in the first half, and he lost him at one point in the second, too, but got lucky both times. Often negligent in possession, too. EPA
    Eric Dier – 5. Abraham got the better of him once in the first half, and he lost him at one point in the second, too, but got lucky both times. Often negligent in possession, too. EPA
  • Sergio Reguilon – 7. His duel with James was a fine one. He made plenty of raids down the Spurs left flank, but James and Ziyech tested him the other way, too. EPA
    Sergio Reguilon – 7. His duel with James was a fine one. He made plenty of raids down the Spurs left flank, but James and Ziyech tested him the other way, too. EPA
  • Moussa Sissoko – 7. Unnecessary free kick for a foul on Werner put Spurs under pressure, but otherwise helped Aurier deal with the threat of the German. EPA
    Moussa Sissoko – 7. Unnecessary free kick for a foul on Werner put Spurs under pressure, but otherwise helped Aurier deal with the threat of the German. EPA
  • Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 7. Stuck close to Ziyech, which was part of the reason Spurs were able to blunt the Moroccan forward. Reuters
    Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 7. Stuck close to Ziyech, which was part of the reason Spurs were able to blunt the Moroccan forward. Reuters
  • Tanguy Ndombele – 7. Made a number of openings for himself with deft footwork, only for his final ball to go awry. Bruised by a kick from Silva. Taken off for Lo Celso just after the hour, as has become customary. EPA
    Tanguy Ndombele – 7. Made a number of openings for himself with deft footwork, only for his final ball to go awry. Bruised by a kick from Silva. Taken off for Lo Celso just after the hour, as has become customary. EPA
  • Steven Bergwijn – 6. Scooped a ninth-minute shot over after a sharp counter attack. Had his frustration compounded with a cheap booking for a foul on Kovacic. Reuters
    Steven Bergwijn – 6. Scooped a ninth-minute shot over after a sharp counter attack. Had his frustration compounded with a cheap booking for a foul on Kovacic. Reuters
  • Son Heung-min – 6. His influence was severely limited by Chelsea’s backline, but he did work Mendy once, and was his usual diligent self working back toward his goal. EPA
    Son Heung-min – 6. His influence was severely limited by Chelsea’s backline, but he did work Mendy once, and was his usual diligent self working back toward his goal. EPA
  • Harry Kane – 6. His chances were limited to a free kick, which he hit over in the first half, and not much else, although he did go looking for work deeper on the pitch, too. AFP
    Harry Kane – 6. His chances were limited to a free kick, which he hit over in the first half, and not much else, although he did go looking for work deeper on the pitch, too. AFP
  • SUBS: Giovani Lo Celso (Ndombele, 64') – 5. Passed up a great chance with a nothing chip with Spurs’ final opening in injury time. Reuters
    SUBS: Giovani Lo Celso (Ndombele, 64') – 5. Passed up a great chance with a nothing chip with Spurs’ final opening in injury time. Reuters
  • SUB: Ben Davies (Bergwijn, 89') – NA. Brought on right at the end to help the away side keep hold of a point. AFP
    SUB: Ben Davies (Bergwijn, 89') – NA. Brought on right at the end to help the away side keep hold of a point. AFP
  • SUB: Lucas Moura (Son, 90+2') – NA. Managed to get on just long enough to pass the time of day with his bestie, Thiago Silva, on the opposition. Reuters
    SUB: Lucas Moura (Son, 90+2') – NA. Managed to get on just long enough to pass the time of day with his bestie, Thiago Silva, on the opposition. Reuters

________________

Indeed, his quickest centre-back, Davinson Sanchez, has been benched and, with Alderweireld injured, it was Joe Rodon who stood in against Chelsea. One mistake apart, when he permitted Olivier Giroud an injury-time chance, the Welshman excelled on his first Premier League start.

Mourinho drew a playful comparison with Thiago Silva, the established great Chelsea recruited, and the buy from Swansea. Perhaps it illustrated his own efforts. A defence with the rookie Rodon, the rejuvenated Aurier and the reinvented Dier feels a triumph of organisation.

There is another ingredient, and Sergio Reguilon’s surging runs have made him the attacking threat Tottenham have lacked from left-back since Danny Rose declined, while he has also conjured solidity from the Spaniard.

Mourinho apart, the most important component in turning what, man for man, is not the best defence into what, statistically, is lies ostensibly in the midfield. Mourinho has always had one of the shrewder analytical brains in the game and, with Dier retreating into the back four and Victor Wanyama leaving, it was evident there was a vacancy for a defensive midfielder.

Mourinho landed his premier target, in Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and, after an inauspicious debut against Everton, the other club who coveted him, the Dane has excelled.

But he has done so in tandem with the tactically disciplined Moussa Sissoko and if both have underlined the difference a defensive midfielder can make, they have done so with a tweak from Mourinho as they have dropped into the channels to form a back six. The strength has come from the structure. Their efforts are reflected in the record.

David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
  • A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: SimpliFi

Started: August 2021

Founder: Ali Sattar

Based: UAE

Industry: Finance, technology

Investors: 4DX, Rally Cap, Raed, Global Founders, Sukna and individuals

The biog

Name: Samar Frost

Born: Abu Dhabi

Hobbies: Singing, music and socialising with friends

Favourite singer: Adele

THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

Results

4pm: Maiden (Dirt) Dh165,000 1,600m
Winner: Moshaher, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).

4.35pm: Handicap (D) Dh165,000 2,200m
Winner: Heraldic, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

5.10pm: Maiden (Turf) Dh165,000 1,600m
Winner: Rua Augusta, Harry Bentley, Ahmad bin Harmash.

5.45pm: Handicap (D) Dh190,000 1,200m
Winner: Private’s Cove, Mickael Barzalona, Sandeep Jadhav.

6.20pm: Handicap (T) Dh190,000 1,600m
Winner: Azmaam, Jim Crowley, Musabah Al Muhairi.

6.55pm: Handicap (D) Dh190,000 1,400m
Winner: Bochart, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

7.30pm: Handicap (T) Dh190,000 2,000m
Winner: Rio Tigre, Mickael Barzalona, Sandeep Jadhav.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

RESULTS
%3Cp%3E%0D5pm%3A%20Deerfields%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(Turf)%202%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Taajer%2C%20Richard%20Mullen%20(jockey)%2C%20Salem%20Al%20Ketbi%20(trainer)%0D%3Cbr%3E5.30pm%3A%20The%20Galleria%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%0D%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Zafaranah%2C%20Antonio%20Fresu%2C%20Musabah%20Al%20Muhairi%0D%3Cbr%3E6pm%3A%20Wathba%20Stallions%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(T)%201%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Ifahat%20Du%20Loup%2C%20Abdul%20Aziz%20Al%20Balushi%2C%20Sulaiman%20Al%20Ghunaimi%0D%3Cbr%3E6.30pm%3A%20Mazyad%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20AF%20Majalis%2C%20Tadhg%20O%E2%80%99Shea%2C%20Ernst%20Oertel%0D%3Cbr%3E7pm%3A%20Dalma%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Bassam%20Al%20Wathba%2C%20Bernardi%20Pinheiro%2C%20Majed%20Al%20Jahouri%0D%3Cbr%3E7.30pm%3A%20World%20Trade%20Centre%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3EWinner%3A%20Fawaareq%2C%20Dane%20O%E2%80%99Neill%2C%20Doug%20Watson%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

'The worst thing you can eat'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Company Profile

Founders: Tamara Hachem and Yazid Erman
Based: Dubai
Launched: September 2019
Sector: health technology
Stage: seed
Investors: Oman Technology Fund, angel investor and grants from Sharjah's Sheraa and Ma'an Abu Dhabi

At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020

Launched: 2008

Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools

Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)

Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13

 

Impact in numbers

335 million people positively impacted by projects

430,000 jobs created

10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water

50 million homes powered by renewable energy

6.5 billion litres of water saved

26 million school children given solar lighting

ATP WORLD No 1

2004 Roger Federer

2005 Roger Federer

2006 Roger Federer

2007 Roger Federer

2008 Rafael Nadal

2009 Roger Federer

2010 Rafael Nadal

2011 Novak Djokovic

2012 Novak Djokovic

2013 Rafael Nadal

2014 Novak Djokovic

2015 Novak Djokovic

2016 Andy Murray

2017 Rafael Nadal

2018 Novak Djokovic

2019 Rafael Nadal

First-round leaderbaord

-5 C Conners (Can)

-3 B Koepka (US), K Bradley (US), V Hovland (Nor), A Wise (US), S Horsfield (Eng), C Davis (Aus);

-2 C Morikawa (US), M Laird (Sco), C Tringale (US)

Selected others: -1 P Casey (Eng), R Fowler (US), T Hatton (Eng)

Level B DeChambeau (US), J Rose (Eng) 

1 L Westwood (Eng), J Spieth (US)

3 R McIlroy (NI)

4 D Johnson (US)

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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.”

Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

THE NEW BATCH'S FOCUS SECTORS

AiFlux – renewables, oil and gas

DevisionX – manufacturing

Event Gates – security and manufacturing

Farmdar – agriculture

Farmin – smart cities

Greener Crop – agriculture

Ipera.ai – space digitisation

Lune Technologies – fibre-optics

Monak – delivery

NutzenTech – environment

Nybl – machine learning

Occicor – shelf management

Olymon Solutions – smart automation

Pivony – user-generated data

PowerDev – energy big data

Sav – finance

Searover – renewables

Swftbox – delivery

Trade Capital Partners – FinTech

Valorafutbol – sports and entertainment

Workfam – employee engagement

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

The specs

Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: nine-speed

Power: 542bhp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: Dh848,000

On sale: now

Disposing of non-recycleable masks
    Use your ‘black bag’ bin at home Do not put them in a recycling bin Take them home with you if there is no litter bin
  • No need to bag the mask
Company%20profile
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STAR%20WARS%20JEDI%3A%20SURVIVOR
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Defined benefit and defined contribution schemes explained

Defined Benefit Plan (DB)

A defined benefit plan is where the benefit is defined by a formula, typically length of service to and salary at date of leaving.

Defined Contribution Plan (DC) 

A defined contribution plan is where the benefit depends on the amount of money put into the plan for an employee, and how much investment return is earned on those contributions.

'Jurassic%20World%20Dominion'
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Colin%20Trevorrow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Sam%20Neill%2C%20Laura%20Dern%2C%20Jeff%20Goldblum%2C%20Bryce%20Dallas%20Howard%2C%20Chris%20Pratt%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Rashid & Rajab

Director: Mohammed Saeed Harib

Stars: Shadi Alfons,  Marwan Abdullah, Doaa Mostafa Ragab 

Two stars out of five 

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La Mer lowdown

La Mer beach is open from 10am until midnight, daily, and is located in Jumeirah 1, well after Kite Beach. Some restaurants, like Cupagahwa, are open from 8am for breakfast; most others start at noon. At the time of writing, we noticed that signs for Vicolo, an Italian eatery, and Kaftan, a Turkish restaurant, indicated that these two restaurants will be open soon, most likely this month. Parking is available, as well as a Dh100 all-day valet option or a Dh50 valet service if you’re just stopping by for a few hours.
 

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Results

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Rawat Al Reef, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)

5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Noof KB, Richard Mullen, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Seven Skies, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qaiss Aboud

6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Jabalini, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7pm: UAE Arabian Derby – Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Dergham Athbah, Richard Mullen, Mohamed Daggash

7.30pm: Emirates Championship – Group 1 (PA) Dh1,000,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle

8pm: Abu Dhabi Championship – Group 3 (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Irish Freedom, Antonio Fresu, Satish Seemar

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."
What is graphene?

Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.

It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.

It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.

It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.

Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.

The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.

How Alia's experiment will help humans get to Mars

Alia’s winning experiment examined how genes might change under the stresses caused by being in space, such as cosmic radiation and microgravity.

Her samples were placed in a machine on board the International Space Station. called a miniPCR thermal cycler, which can copy DNA multiple times.

After the samples were examined on return to Earth, scientists were able to successfully detect changes caused by being in space in the way DNA transmits instructions through proteins and other molecules in living organisms.

Although Alia’s samples were taken from nematode worms, the results have much bigger long term applications, especially for human space flight and long term missions, such as to Mars.

It also means that the first DNA experiments using human genomes can now be carried out on the ISS.

 

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

RESULTS

Main card

Bantamweight 56.4kg: Mehdi Eljamari (MAR) beat Abrorbek Madiminbekov (UZB), Split points decision

Super heavyweight 94 kg: Adnan Mohammad (IRN) beat Mohammed Ajaraam (MAR), Split points decision

Lightweight 60kg:  Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Faridoon Alik Zai (AFG), RSC round 3

Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Taha Marrouni (MAR) beat Mahmood Amin (EGY), Unanimous points decision

Light welterweight 64.5kg: Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE), Unanimous points decision

Light heavyweight 81.4kg:  Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Haroun Baka (ALG), KO second round

if you go

The flights

Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com

Seeing the games

Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com

 

Staying there

Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com

 

Essentials

The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.

The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

SERIE A FIXTURES

Friday Sassuolo v Benevento (Kick-off 11.45pm)

Saturday Crotone v Spezia (6pm), Torino v Udinese (9pm), Lazio v Verona (11.45pm)

Sunday Cagliari v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Atalanta v Fiorentina (6pm), Napoli v Sampdoria (6pm), Bologna v Roma (6pm), Genoa v Juventus (9pm), AC Milan v Parma (11.45pm)

The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.

How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.