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Dubai
Huw Wynne-Griffith reports on recent work and some wonderful hospitality in Dubai.
As part of the silver anniversary celebrations of Alliance Insurance, the biggest domestic life insurer in the United Arab Emirates, Huw Wynne-Griffith, Ikram Shakir, Isabelle Adam-Martens and Sam Meldrum spent an enjoyable weekend in Dubai (the Arabs work on Saturdays and Sundays!)...
As far as business was concerned, there was also continuing work for the team on the Internet pensions administration project which Barnett Waddingham is developing for Alliance's new Luxembourg-based pension arrangements.
Along with three senior managers from the Banque Generale de Luxembourg, Huw and Ikram spoke on the Saturday at a seminar arranged by Alliance, devoted to the important role of pension schemes in funding gratuity payments for expatriate workers, who account for about 70% of the population. The audience of about 200 people represented a broad cross-section of the financial community, including many of Dubai's major employers.
It had been hoped to have as guests of honour HH Sheikh Ahmed and HRH Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg (who has recently succeeded as Grand Duke). Sadly HRH Prince Guillaume was badly injured in a car crash in Paris. HH Sheikh Ahmed was occupied with official duties, but we were pleased to welcome the Sheikh's assistant Colonel Juma - and a very charming man he was.
All of the team enjoyed their visit to a place where the temperature stays at a very pleasant 80 degrees for most of the year (but it rises to in excess of 100 degrees in the summer - don't stay out too long!) It hasn't rained for three years!
This project and the one in Istanbul emphasises how much the firm has grown from its small beginnings. We look forward to spreading our good name even wider in the coming months (with Huw to speak in Budapest and Adrian to speak in Barcelona).
Huw Wynne-Griffith, November 2000.