Latest news with #Dh
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Health
- Al Etihad
NMSS, Erth Zayed Philanthropies sign Dh25 million grant agreement to mark "World MS Day"
30 May 2025 18:10 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) has signed a strategic agreement with Erth Zayed Philanthropies to advance its national multiple sclerosis (MS) agenda. As part of this agreement, Erth Zayed Philanthropies will contribute Dh 25 million to support NMSS in delivering its core priorities, including advancing UAE's first National Coalition for MS, a multi-sector platform to improve care, research, and inclusion across the agreement was signed by Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, Vice Chair of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and a representative from Erth Zayed Philanthropies during a formal ceremony in Abu announcement of this strategic agreement coincides with World MS Day, marked this year under the global theme 'My MS Diagnosis: Navigating MS Together,' which highlights the importance of early detection and community year, Erth Zayed Philanthropies joins the National Coalition for MS as a founding partner, marking a pivotal step in the UAE's efforts to advance equitable MS care and inclusion. This strategic partnership reinforces the UAE's commitment to enhancing MS care, accelerating research, and advancing equity, catalyzing broader multi-sector engagement to shape a more inclusive and transformative national response. Coalition members include Sanofi, Axios International, PureHealth and Manzil Healthcare Services, each playing a vital role in advancing care, awareness, and system-wide Fatima Al Kaabi, Vice Chair of NMSS, said: 'The establishment of the National Coalition for MS is a defining step in our mission to drive equitable access to MS care." She added, "This work is inspired by the legacy of our late Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose vision was rooted in dignity, inclusion, and access to quality care for all. It is sustained by the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose commitment continues to shape the future of health and reinforce the UAE's position as a global leader in innovative, people-centred healthcare."She stated: 'On World MS Day, we are proud to join the international community, not only in raising awareness, but in taking meaningful, coordinated action that has the potential to transform outcomes for people living with MS. Today, we are laying the foundations for long-term impact rooted in compassion, powered by collaboration, and guided by a shared responsibility to ensure that every member of our community has the opportunity to live a full and dignified life.'The grant from Erth Zayed Philanthropies aims to directly support NMSS in delivering on its key priorities and enabling the National Coalition for MS to address the most pressing challenges faced by people living with MS in the the National Coalition for MS was convened by NMSS to bring together government entities, healthcare providers, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, and educational institutions under a unified national agenda for MS. The Coalition's priorities for 2025-2026 are focused on improving access to patient support resources, promoting inclusive workplace policies, strengthening the skills of healthcare professionals through specialised training, increasing public understanding of MS to enable earlier diagnosis, and ensuring long-term sustainability through coordinated fundraising and investment in priorities form an action-oriented framework designed to mobilise resources, strengthen inclusion across sectors, and ensure that the UAE is a world leader in MS care. As the Coalition moves into its implementation phase, its priorities will continue to be shaped by the voices and experiences of the MS community, ensuring that their needs, priorities, and aspirations drive every step of the in shared responsibility and measurable impact, the Coalition's members are onboarded to lead or contribute to key initiatives, with defined commitments that span one to two years depending on the scope of Coalition's priorities reflect a commitment to evidence-based solutions. Since its establishment, NMSS has invested Dh 6.5 million in MS research, with the next NMSS research grant cycle set to launch on June 23, 2025. As the Coalition transitions into its implementation phase, NMSS continues to call on stakeholders across sectors, from policymakers and healthcare institutions to academic bodies and donors, to join this pivotal movement. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
How to invest like a rich person amid market volatility
The wealthy are increasingly seeking investment opportunities that offer less correlation to the public equity markets that have long dominated their portfolios. That search has taken on new urgency following renewed market turbulence in the wake of the Trump administration's April 3 tariff announcements. While shifting towards bonds and cash equivalents provides a degree of insulation, it often comes at the expense of meaningful returns. A growing cohort of family offices and sophisticated investors are now reallocating capital towards private assets — a broad universe that includes private equity, private credit, real estate, infrastructure, and venture capital. These markets have expanded dramatically over the past decade. According to the Economist, private assets under management have surged to $24 trillion (Dh88 trillion) from $10 trillion (Dh36 trillion) a decade ago. That trajectory shows no sign of slowing. Bain & Company estimates that private market AUM will rise to between $60 trillion and $65 trillion by 2032. If realised, private assets would represent nearly one-third of global investable capital — more than twice the projected growth rate of public markets. The Rise of Private Credit Among the most striking growth areas is private credit. Once a niche segment of the market, it has grown tenfold since 2009, with AUM approaching $2 trillion by the end of 2023, according to McKinsey. As traditional banks retreat from corporate lending, the wealthy have stepped in to fill the void — drawn by the promise of attractive yields in a persistently low-rate environment. Fewer Public Listings, More Private Opportunity This structural shift is occurring alongside a broader decline in public market participation. The number of publicly listed companies globally fell from 62,959 in 2018 to 61,170 by the close of 2024. The US trend is even more pronounced: listed firms have declined from a 1996 peak of 7,300 to just 4,300 — a drop of more than 40 per cent. A combination of regulatory burden, increased merger activity, and the abundant availability of private capital has made remaining private an increasingly attractive option. Consequently, an estimated $2.6 trillion in 'dry powder' — capital raised but not yet deployed — now sits on the sidelines, ready to be invested. From the Magnificent Seven to Emerging Growth For forward-looking investors, the appeal of private markets lies not only in diversification but also in early access to the next generation of growth. Sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, climate technology, and biotechnology often reach scale long before entering the public arena. Many HNWIs are now looking beyond the overstretched valuations of publicly listed giants — the so-called 'Magnificent Seven' — to back tomorrow's innovators earlier in their life cycle. Market-Leading Private Asset Products Firms such as Blackstone and KKR have emerged as leading providers of private market access for qualified investors. Examples of a selection of key offerings include: Blackstone Private Equity Strategies Fund (BXPE): Launched in 2024, this non-listed evergreen fund offers individual investors access to Blackstone's flagship private equity platform. Sector exposures include digital infrastructure, technology, business services, financials, and aerospace. Blackstone Private Credit Fund (BCRED): Launched in 2021, it is a direct lending vehicle that targets middle-market companies in the US. BCRED provides a scalable entry point into the fast-growing private credit space. Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust (BREIT): A pioneering launch in 2017, this is a non-listed REIT that offers exposure to income-generating, institutional-grade real estate. Blackstone Mortgage Trust (BXMT) : A publicly listed real estate investment trust focused on originating senior loans secured by commercial real estate assets. Similar offerings are available from other global private asset managers, including Apollo, Carlyle, Partners Group, and Brookfield. The SLY Trade-Off: Safety, Liquidity, Yield Investors entering private markets must carefully consider what might be called the 'SLY' triangle — Safety, Liquidity, and Yield. Typically, optimising for one requires trade-offs with the others. The pursuit of high yield, for example, often entails reduced liquidity and higher risk exposure. For investors accustomed to daily liquidity and mark-to-market transparency, the realities of private markets — multi-year lockups, irregular capital calls, limited secondary market access — can be sobering. Fees also tend to be high, with incentive structures that may not always align with investor interests. Valuation presents another risk. Unlike public assets, private investments are typically valued on a quarterly basis — and often by the fund managers themselves. This creates both opacity and potential conflicts of interest that can be unsettling for those new to the asset class. Proceeding with Caution — and Conviction Given these complexities, financial advisors routinely urge the wealthy to approach private markets with caution and purpose. Allocations should reflect each investor's liquidity needs, investment horizon, and risk appetite — and remain a portion of a well-diversified portfolio. For those prepared to navigate the illiquidity, complexity, and longer time horizons, private assets offer more than just higher potential returns. They offer enhanced risk-adjusted returns, particularly in an era of volatile public markets and fading alpha. Private markets are no longer the preserve of institutional behemoths. But accessing their full potential requires the same level of discipline, due diligence, and long-term perspective.
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Indian rupee rises against UAE dirham in early trade on Friday
The Indian rupee rose sharply in early trading on Friday to climb past 84 (Dh 22.88) per US dollar for the first time since October 2024, driven by heavy dollar sales from foreign banks and strength in regional currencies. The rupee climbed to a peak of 83.83 (Dh22.84), up 0.7 per cent from its close at 84.4875 (Dh23.0211) in the previous session. The currency is now up nearly 2 per cent on the week. A pick up in dollar inflows into Indian equities, optimism about a US trade deal and a liquidation of short bets against the currency have all been tail winds for the rupee over recent sessions, traders said. Foreign institutional investors have bought Indian shares for 11 straight sessions, the longest streak of inflows in two years. The rupee's sharp gains over recent sessions has also prompted analysts to adjust their outlooks on the local unit with MUFG expecting the currency to end the year at 84, up from 87 per its earlier forecast. "We now forecast INR to outperform Asian FX with our global team's call for more US Dollar weakness together with better than anticipated tariff outcomes for India in Trump 2.0," MUFG said in a Friday note. On the day, foreign banks were spotted offering dollars, likely on behalf of custodial clients, while bids were relatively scant, helping the rupee climb over the 84 figure, a trader at a state-run bank said.
Khaleej Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Rents on Al Marjan Island increase by 60% in 2 years as demand soars
Rental prices on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah have seen a dramatic surge over the past two years, with the median annual rent climbing from Dh40,000 in April 2023 to Dh64,800 in April 2025 a rise of 62 per cent in just two years, according to data from Property Finder. The most recent figures show a 12 per cent year-on-year increase between April 2024 and April 2025, following a steep 45 per cent jump the previous year. The sharp rise in rental prices is largely concentrated in apartments and duplexes, which dominate the market on Al Marjan Island, making up 97 per cent of all residential rental listings. Currently, the median rental price per square foot on Al Marjan Island stands at Dh 81, with listings typically ranging between Dh50 and Dh120 per sq ft. The median size of a rental property is 773 sq ft. Compared to other sought-after residential areas in Ras Al Khaimah such as Al Hamra Village and Mina Al Arab rents on Al Marjan Island are approximately 20 per cent higher. This premium is driven by the island's growing appeal as a waterfront destination and its proximity to high-profile developments, including the upcoming Wynn Al Marjan, the first integrated resort in the Middle East. Fibha Ahmed, Vice President of Property Sales at Bayut & dubizzle, highlighted the Marjan island's apartment sector as a key driver of the upward momentum. 'We've seen solid growth across the board, but it's the apartment segment in Al Marjan Island that really stands out,' she said. 'Rents jumped by 42 per cent year-on-year from Q1 2023 to Q1 2024, and then climbed another 13 per cent by Q1 2025.' This sharp trajectory underlines the growing appeal of the waterfront destination not just for tenants in search of upscale, well-connected homes, but also for investors eyeing compact units with strong rental yields. According to Fibha, user engagement backs the numbers. 'Our data at Bayut shows Al Marjan Island consistently attracts around 25 per cent of all apartment rental views in Ras Al Khaimah, despite being a smaller community in size. That's a significant concentration of demand, driven by both media attention and actual user interest.' Ankur Aggarwal, Chairman and Founder of BNW Developments stated that 'Based on current momentum and upcoming high-impact developments, BNW Developments anticipates rental prices in Al Marjan Island to increase by approximately 10–15 per cent over the next 12–24 months. This growth will likely be driven by continued demand from international tenants, rising tourism, and the relatively limited availability of premium inventory. As projects like the Wynn Resort near completion and tourism-linked infrastructure scales up, we expect further tightening in supply, pushing rents steadily upward. The island is on course to become one of the UAE's most dynamic investment destinations, with robust returns for both short-term and long-term asset holders.'
Al Etihad
13-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Agthia reports Dh1.3 billion in Q1 net revenue
ABU DHABI (WAM) Agthia Group PJSC today announced its financial results for the three-month period ending 31 March 2025. The Group reported Dh 1.3 billion in revenue for Q1 2025, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 11.4%, with the quarter lapping the one-time wheat trading activity (Dh 120 million), the significant devaluation of the Egyptian currency (EGP) in March 2024, and the carryover of the short-term operational challenges in the dates business. Excluding the impact of EGP devaluation and the wheat trading activity recorded last year, Group revenue would have recorded an increase of 5.2% year-on-year. Group EBITDA declined 20.2% year-on-year to Dh 185.7 million, with a margin of 14.5%, reflecting ongoing pressures in specific categories. Net Profit for the quarter stood at Dh 86.1 million, with a margin of 6.7%. Profitability was also impacted by the implementation of the Pillar II corporate tax in the UAE, which raised the Group's effective tax rate to 19.3%, up from 13.5% in the same period last year. During the quarter, Agthia increased its stake in Abu Auf from 70% to 80%, deepening integration within the Snacking segment and underscoring the Group's strong belief in its long-term growth potential. The move reflects Agthia's continued focus on scaling high-opportunity categories aligned with evolving consumer trends. In parallel, the Group's Board approved the acquisition of Riviere, a leading bottled water HOS player in the UAE, further expanding Agthia's direct-to-consumer footprint and strengthening its leadership in the Water category. Agthia ended the quarter with a Net Debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 2.4x and Dh 321 million in cash and equivalents, maintaining a strong financial position that supports continued investment in strategic priorities and growth opportunities.
