A group of Emirati designers created a space-themed fountain to celebrate the UAE's recent missions.
Five designers and engineers came up with the concept after the launch of the Hope probe in July.
The structure resembles the Japanese rocket that propelled the Emirati-built spacecraft into orbit, launching it on its 200-day journey to the Red Planet.
The team hope to draw the interest of developers and create a cultural landmark somewhere in the Emirates.
The main structure would be 30 metres in height, with water cascading below it as though it were steam from the rocket's engines.
We want to create a national and cultural landmark that celebrates the achievements of our country
“Our concept captures and mimics the moment the Hope probe vehicle launcher took off,” said Salem Al Messabi, 31, creative director at InspireTBB, based in Abu Dhabi's creative freezone TwoFour54.
“We started with the idea of drawing a mural on a wall and bringing out water from the wall, with some sort of mixed art instalment, painting and waterfalls.
“When we started researching and developing the concept of the fountain, we discovered a couple of floating water tap fountains, like the magic tap fountain in Ypres, Belgium. This optical illusion has brought us to think bigger."
Mr Al Messabi and friend Abdulaziz Al Mheiri came up with the space fountain design that incorporated the optical illusion.
“The water movement not only hides the structure inside but it also gives the illusion of the rocket being launched," he said.
“We want to create a national, cultural landmark that celebrates the achievements of our country in an innovative way and becomes iconic, like the Dubai Frame."
Mr Al Mheiri, 34, a plant manager at Shams Power Company in Abu Dhabi, said his role was to help study the fountain design from an engineering perspective.
“Saleh and I have the yin and yang combination, he takes care of the artistic part of it and I take care of the functional and realistic implementation of this project,” he said.
“My current job helps me not only to make this concept doable but also to take it a step further by making sure it follows the sustainability standards that we aspire to achieve.
“We developed a way to create the model from recyclable materials and to run the fountain partially by solar power."
The fountain's 3D model design was created by Muna Al Aidaros, 31, an Emirati interior designer at Minterno Design in Abu Dhabi.
“My role was to develop and design the 3D models of the interior, exterior design and the rocket,” Ms Al Aidaros said.
“The main challenge was time, because designing such heavy models takes a lot of time and we were trying to finish as many concepts as we could in a short time,” she said.
Sadeq Al Katheri, who takes care of the project's business development aspects, said the idea had grabbed the attention of government and private companies in the country.
“Most of the people who are contacting us are really excited and interested in this project.
“We are exploring the opportunities to include a knowledge centre about the space industry."
The team is still exploring rocket styles and whether lighting and music could be added.
On July 20, the Hope probe was blasted out of Earth's atmosphere on a Japanese H-IIA rocket before that was jettisoned and the probe began a solo journey to Mars.
The Hope probe has already covered 284.2 million kilometres of its 493.5 million-kilometre trip. It is currently travelling at a speed of 95,642 kilometres per hour.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
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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RESULTS
5pm: Watha Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Dalil De Carrere, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Mohamed Daggash (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Miracle Maker, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Pharitz Al Denari, Bernardo Pinheiro, Mahmood Hussain
6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Oss, Jesus Rosales, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: ES Nahawand, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: AF Almajhaz, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi
8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: AF Lewaa, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qaiss Aboud.
