Our Working Wonders of the UAE series takes you to some of the country's most recognisable destinations to uncover the daily duties of the talented employees working there
At least 500,000 people have experienced Thomas Ovesen’s work without necessarily knowing it.
The Dane, one of the region’s most influential and successful music and entertainment promoters, has brought the world’s biggest stars to the UAE.
Mr Ovesen, 53, began staging shows while working in Bahrain when event-management was a nascent business, and ran his first in Dubai in 1999.
He has since held leading roles with Coca-Cola Arena, 117Live, Done Events, AEG Live Middle East, and at Diriyah Gate, Riyadh.
Mr Ovesen, who lives in Jumeirah, is now chief executive of All Things Live, which is staging huge Ed Sheeran shows for 60,000 at Sevens Stadium in January.
How did you get into live events?
I went to Bahrain as an air traffic controller in 1998. I thought it would be exciting to go to an exotic destination.
Once I’d worked two or three nights back-to-back, I would have days off so started helping out in the local British club and rugby club, doing events.
As a young adult in Denmark I had volunteered at one of the biggest festivals, Roskilde, but it was never a career objective or aspiration.
Because my day job was rigid sort of work, I thought doing events must be easy. Obviously, it’s not, but thought that was a great challenge.
How did this lead to Dubai?
After a couple of years doing events in my spare time I got hooked. I worked on a Westlife show in Lebanon, Geri Halliwell, just out of the Spice Girls, in Dubai and Bahrain.
Dubai was just establishing itself as the entertainment hub in the region, and I started doing events as a full-time job.
We mainly saw British artists coming, perhaps in the back-ends of their careers. There weren’t really purpose-built venues, normally we had one ticket category, but we started getting sophisticated when we invented the front [fan] pit.
Have arenas in Abu Dhabi and Dubai made a difference?
Our industry thought correctly that would be the game changer; we could extend the season to 12 months and could deliver quality sound and show experiences for fans instead of what was usually significantly reduced quality and production size.
Pretty much within an arena, you can plug and play. When you build an outdoor venue, you have a significant expense and it’s up front. You build everything from the perimeter fencing to toilet cabins, all planned and paid for in advance.
With Ed Sheeran, we start several weeks before because it’s such a big job. We’re producing the show in the round, which has never been done in the region. I think it’s the biggest show to play the UAE.
Is it a challenge attracting major acts?
In the early days, you had to satisfy artists it would be safe to come. Now it’s not an issue convincing people, it’s sometimes a financial matter; getting someone to expand a tour they hadn’t planned to bring or because of competition between different governments and tourism boards in the region. Sometimes you have to pay premium money to get them to decide to play with you.
Most of the time, money is probably the deciding factor.
Is it a risky business?
Of course.
Radio airplay doesn’t translate to tickets sales necessarily. You have a big consumer segment of young music fans not accustomed to going to live shows; they’re quite happy consuming entertainment and music without necessarily seeing artists live.
People are loyal to artists, not necessarily to going to a live event, so you have to put the right thing on at the right time, and at the right price.
When do negotiations begin?
Because I’ve been in the business a long time, an artist or agent will sometimes reach out. That could be a year or even longer in advance.
Sometimes where a tour is ongoing an agent will reach out and say they have offers in neighbouring countries, what can we do in four months time – and then we make an offer.
There’s another scenario where we think an artist would be great for a venue or the market or time period, and we approach them.
Do the performance fees surprise you?
Yes, and also the money some fans are willing to spend to attend those events. Our business is a matter of supply and demand. Artists will look at that given point in time, what they think they are worth.
Sometimes the most important thing you can do is say, “No, thanks”. I don't have to do an event. If I think it’s too much, I don’t make an offer. I have always treated my stakeholders’ monies as my own.
Then some artists ask for a lot, we do the event, it turns out profitable … so they prove they have that value.
Most of the time, my thoughts would be proven right with regards to how a show performs. But I also get it wrong.
Sometimes, on a positive side, you think an event can sell 8,000 tickets and it sells 12,000. The market is as difficult and challenging to read as ever.
Which artists have you enjoyed working with?
I cannot think of any I wouldn’t like to work with a second time.
I’ve also worked with phenomenal artists who unfortunately are no longer [with us], like Amy Winehouse and Joe Cocker.
I took Beyonce to Africa, the first time she played there, in Lagos, Nigeria. The most memorable show was Addis Ababa, Ethiopia … she was greeted like a princess. And we worked with Prince, a couple of smaller shows in London and Dubai.
Eagles at Sevens Stadium; we had crazy weather early in the day, the venue turned upside down by a sandstorm. We didn’t think we could put on the show, but that night the wind was calm for a magical show.
There are still a good handful I would really like to promote, like Bruce Springsteen. But I will not pursue an artist because I personally want to, only if it’s right business-wise.
Do you meet the artists?
I’ve always felt I should do that. Often that means turning up in the airport when they come in, or meeting them at their hotel and sending them off again, just so they felt we cared.
Any on your Christmas card list?
For sure. Both current and some that have since the left the game.
There’re definitely artists I would say I stay in touch with.
Any strange demands?
We had a very big female artist who wanted a personalised toilet seat.
It was couriered in to be placed on that person’s toilet, which was then locked so only she could use it.
We had a really big pop star who wanted a personal gym with Jacuzzi built near the venue, backstage … despite having those facilities in the hotel. I don’t think he ever used it.
Another wanted the best villa at a deluxe resort with the best view, after which we were told to black out the windows with tape for the duration of his stay.
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
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Meydan race card
6.30pm: Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh125,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh170,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 (D)1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
RESULTS
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: AF Senad, Nathan Crosse (jockey), Kareem Ramadan (trainer)
2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Ashjaan, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel.
3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Amirah, Conner Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Jap Al Yaasoob, Szczepan Mazur, Irfan Ellahi.
4pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jawaal, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri.
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Manhunter, Ryan Curatolo, Mujeeb Rahman.
Honeymoonish
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UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
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
Mobile phone packages comparison
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
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GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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."
Teaching in coronavirus times
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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.”
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Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Brief scoreline
Switzerland 0
England 0
Result: England win 6-5 on penalties
Man of the Match: Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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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.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
