They say that in show business, you should save your best tricks for last. Benson Boone clearly missed the memo.
The US singer-songwriter opened the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after-race concert series on Thursday with his trademark flip – one of half a dozen in the fist hour alone – a dazzling burst of agility that landed even more impressively considering what he told fans hours earlier during his visit to Yas Marina Circuit.
Boone had arrived in the UAE capital only the day before, straight from the US, and admitted he was jet-lagged.
Then again, that is what dizzying success on the back of a viral Coachella appearance in April can do for you. It unlocks reserves you did not know you had and on Thursday it powered a Middle East debut that was both fun and sweet.
Backed by a four-piece band and clad in an all-red racing outfit, Boone’s appearance made the younger fans scream like they were witnessing the second coming – albeit the male version – of Taylor Swift.
For the more mature among us, there was some Freddie Mercury in there, too, in the way Boone, 23, stood up straight in front of the mic, one finger directing a thousand-yard smile into the crowd.
And there was also a hint of Killers frontman Brandon Flowers, who headlined the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix on the same stage six years ago, with a marvel of a voice that can be bombastic and tender in the same song.
Beginning with I Wanna be the One you Call, a breezy rock-pop track that wastes no time in displaying Boone’s high register, the soaring chorus was lapped up by fans, who sang along just as earnestly as he did.
Wanted Man was more punchy, with its strutting bassline and panting background vocals undercut by Boone’s crystalline falsetto. By the time Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else arrived, the show had achieved lift-off – a zippy, synth-fuelled track with its giddy melodies.
All this underlines how acutely Boone understands the modern pop concert landscape – a space built on shows that are big, physical, generous, varied and packed with moments. It’s the same environment driving Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, Chris Brown’s Breezy Bowl XX tour and Katy Perry’s The Lifetimes Tour, the latter returning as the Sunday after-race headliner.
There is also an inherent kindness in how he speaks to fans, a softness in the way he frames his stories between songs that cuts through the physicality of the show.
He shifted to the piano for Beautiful Things midway through, and the vocals were on point even after the incessant flips and running across the stage.
What the night also made clear is that some songs on his album, American Heart, work far better live than they do on record. On the album, certain tracks lean too heavily into syncopation and production polish, sometimes sounding a little too in love with their own sheen.
Live, Boone lifts some of these songs almost by sheer force of will. Man In Me, which feels too cloying on record, becomes this startling epic on stage. Mystical Magical, which sounds over-caffeinated on record, turns into something playful and vibrant live.
It leaves you thinking about his potential. If he eventually pairs that physicality and those thrilling vocals with the right producers, someone like Swedish super-producer Max Martin, who helped take Swift’s songs into blockbuster pop territory, the results could be frighteningly good. Boone has the raw ingredients to go much further, and while peers Bruno Mars and Harry Styles can rest easy for now, that comfort may not last for long.
The Abu Dhabi F1 after-race concert series continues with rapper Post Malone and Palestinian-Chilean singer Elyanna co-headlining on Friday, heavy metal behemoths Metallica on Saturday, and concludes on Sunday with pop star Perry.
Access to all concerts is exclusive to Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix ticket holders.
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlexander%20Payne%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Paul%20Giamatti%2C%20Da’Vine%20Joy%20Randolph%2C%20Dominic%20Sessa%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Allardyce’s management career
Clubs (10) – Limerick (1991-1992), Perston North End (1992), Blackpool (1994-1996), Notts County (1997-1999), Bolton Wanderers (1999-2007), Newcastle United (2007-2008), Blackburn Rovers (2008-2010), West Ham United (2011-2015), Sunderland (2016), Crystal Palace (2016-2017)
Countries (1) – England (2016)
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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.”
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
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 England have scored their set-piece goals in Russia
Three Penalties
v Panama, Group Stage (Harry Kane)
v Panama, Group Stage (Kane)
v Colombia, Last 16 (Kane)
Four Corners
v Tunisia, Group Stage (Kane, via John Stones header, from Ashley Young corner)
v Tunisia, Group Stage (Kane, via Harry Maguire header, from Kieran Trippier corner)
v Panama, Group Stage (Stones, header, from Trippier corner)
v Sweden, Quarter-Final (Maguire, header, from Young corner)
One Free-Kick
v Panama, Group Stage (Stones, via Jordan Henderson, Kane header, and Raheem Sterling, from Tripper free-kick)
The Pope’s itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 – Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder’s Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 – Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
