The WWE bills WrestleMania as “the grandest stage of them all”. For fans around the Middle East and the world, that platform extends far beyond a stadium in America.
This annual wrestling spectacle – which returns this weekend – is WWE’s most significant yearly event and one that fans in the region eagerly anticipate. Over the past few years, it has grown immensely in both cultural influence and its schedule. This year, a vast array of matches stretch over two days.
Since its inception in 1985, every WrestleMania has been held in North America, predominantly in the US, with the exceptions of WrestleMania VI in 1990 and WrestleMania X8 in 2002, both of which took place in Toronto. However, any notion that the big-time event lacks global appeal due to its US-centric locations might surprise some.
I still vividly remember going to my first WrestleMania in 2019. Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey made history as they headlined the main event in a triple threat match – a first for female wrestlers – in front of a crowd of 82,265 at MetLife Stadium.
And while the event was as grand as it has been made out to be, perhaps the most impressive part was just how many people from around the world came to East Rutherford, New Jersey (population a little more than 10,000), just for it.
During the WrestleMania 35 weekend, I met fans from Kuwait, China, Australia, Finland and Chile to name a few. Despite not speaking the same language, everyone was connected because of this event. Tickets aren't cheap and packages for international travellers can get pricey, but for those who are passionate about professional wrestling, it doesn’t seem to matter.
WWE once seemingly catered to a mostly white, male demographic. However, the modern fan base is more diverse, with a particular fervency here in the Gulf. This is in part thanks to the company’s hiring of wider talent through international trials and scouting. It also makes deliberate moves to increase its regional footprint, with talent that focuses on the Middle East.
In 2017, WWE held a talent search in Dubai and showcased its global reach by drawing participants from 18 countries, including the UAE, Palestine, Nigeria and Brazil.
International scouting continued to Saudi Arabia in 2018, when Mansoor was signed, marking a milestone as the first Saudi wrestler to join WWE (although he has since been released). He was in good company at the time, joining other wrestlers with Arab heritage such as Sami Zayn, of Syrian descent, and Mojo Rawley, with Palestinian and Syrian roots.
Zayn is particularly popular with fans in the Middle East and his connection to the region extends far beyond mere platitudes. For years, he has run the charity Sami for Syria, for which he has teamed up with the Syrian American Medical Society to help provide medical care for those in need in the country.
He has also drawn attention for his stance on the Israel-Gaza war in which he seemingly showed subtle signs of support for Palestine through his actions, such as a cutting promo in the ring where he spoke about “resistance” to “oppressive” regimes.
Any doubt on his stance on the matter can be settled through the public “likes” tab on his X page, which predominantly highlights content that supports peace in Palestine.
However, WWE's diversity extends beyond Arab heritage, with stars like Asuka and Iyo Sky from Japan, Rhea Ripley from Australia, Finn Balor and Lynch from Ireland, Xia Li from China, and Drew McIntyre from Scotland further enhancing the roster.
There are even efforts to feature more diverse storylines and performers aiming to resonate with audiences from different cultural backgrounds. This includes Ghanaian-American Kofi Kingston being crowned WWE champion in 2019 and Indian-Canadian wrestler Jinder Mahal winning the title in 2017.
Another factor contributing to the company’s success in building a strong international fan base is its recent commitment to hosting more international shows, with multiple major premium live events held in the Gulf each year.
This is most evident with WWE’s 10-year partnership with Saudi General Sports Authority (now known as the Ministry of Sport) signed in 2018, which ensures pay-per-view events are held in the kingdom. The year after, the deal was expanded to two “large-scale events” to be held annually.
Since signing the deal, the company has hosted 10 shows in Riyadh and Jeddah in a bid to further grow its appeal in the Middle East.
The WWE has expanded its international reach since 2022, hosting more shows abroad such as Clash at the Castle in Cardiff, Wales; Elimination Chamber in Montreal, Canada; Backlash in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Elimination Chamber: Perth in Burswood, Australia.
While the uninitiated may still struggle to understand the appeal of professional wrestling, there's no denying the company's status as a global powerhouse that unites fans worldwide through sports entertainment.
RACECARD
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'Hocus%20Pocus%202'
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
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SPEC SHEET
Display: 6.8" edge quad-HD dynamic Amoled 2X, Infinity-O, 3088 x 1440, 500ppi, HDR10 , 120Hz
Processor: 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/Exynos 2200, 8-core
Memory: 8/12GB RAM
Storage: 128/256/512GB/1TB
Platform: Android 12
Main camera: quad 12MP ultra-wide f/2.2, 108MP wide f/1.8, 10MP telephoto f/4.9, 10MP telephoto 2.4; Space Zoom up to 100x, auto HDR, expert RAW
Video: 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, full-HD@60fps, HD@30fps, super slo-mo@960fps
Front camera: 40MP f/2.2
Battery: 5000mAh, fast wireless charging 2.0 Wireless PowerShare
Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC
I/O: USB-C
SIM: single nano, or nano and SIM, nano and nano, eSIM/nano and nano
Colours: burgundy, green, phantom black, phantom white, graphite, sky blue, red
Price: Dh4,699 for 128GB, Dh5,099 for 256GB, Dh5,499 for 512GB; 1TB unavailable in the UAE
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From exhibitions to the battlefield
In 2016, the Shaded Dome was awarded with the 'De Vernufteling' people's choice award, an annual prize by the Dutch Association of Consulting Engineers and the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers for the most innovative project by a Dutch engineering firm.
It was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to modify the Shaded Dome to make it suitable for ballistic protection. Royal HaskoningDHV, one of the companies which designed the dome, is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy, leading the way in sustainable development and innovation.
It is driving positive change through innovation and technology, helping use resources more efficiently.
It aims to minimise the impact on the environment by leading by example in its projects in sustainable development and innovation, to become part of the solution to a more sustainable society now and into the future.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
Tributes from the UAE's personal finance community
• Sebastien Aguilar, who heads SimplyFI.org, a non-profit community where people learn to invest Bogleheads’ style
“It is thanks to Jack Bogle’s work that this community exists and thanks to his work that many investors now get the full benefits of long term, buy and hold stock market investing.
Compared to the industry, investing using the common sense approach of a Boglehead saves a lot in costs and guarantees higher returns than the average actively managed fund over the long term.
From a personal perspective, learning how to invest using Bogle’s approach was a turning point in my life. I quickly realised there was no point chasing returns and paying expensive advisers or platforms. Once money is taken care off, you can work on what truly matters, such as family, relationships or other projects. I owe Jack Bogle for that.”
• Sam Instone, director of financial advisory firm AES International
"Thought to have saved investors over a trillion dollars, Jack Bogle’s ideas truly changed the way the world invests. Shaped by his own personal experiences, his philosophy and basic rules for investors challenged the status quo of a self-interested global industry and eventually prevailed. Loathed by many big companies and commission-driven salespeople, he has transformed the way well-informed investors and professional advisers make decisions."
• Demos Kyprianou, a board member of SimplyFI.org
"Jack Bogle for me was a rebel, a revolutionary who changed the industry and gave the little guy like me, a chance. He was also a mentor who inspired me to take the leap and take control of my own finances."
• Steve Cronin, founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com
"Obsessed with reducing fees, Jack Bogle structured Vanguard to be owned by its clients – that way the priority would be fee minimisation for clients rather than profit maximisation for the company.
His real gift to us has been the ability to invest in the stock market (buy and hold for the long term) rather than be forced to speculate (try to make profits in the shorter term) or even worse have others speculate on our behalf.
Bogle has given countless investors the ability to get on with their life while growing their wealth in the background as fast as possible. The Financial Independence movement would barely exist without this."
• Zach Holz, who blogs about financial independence at The Happiest Teacher
"Jack Bogle was one of the greatest forces for wealth democratisation the world has ever seen. He allowed people a way to be free from the parasitical "financial advisers" whose only real concern are the fat fees they get from selling you over-complicated "products" that have caused millions of people all around the world real harm.”
• Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.org
"In an industry that’s synonymous with greed, Jack Bogle was a lone wolf, swimming against the tide. When others were incentivised to enrich themselves, he stood by the ‘fiduciary’ standard – something that is badly needed in the financial industry of the UAE."
India team for Sri Lanka series
Test squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Priyank Panchal, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubhman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wk), KS Bharath (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Sourabh Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.
T20 squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Avesh Khan
The biog
Born: High Wycombe, England
Favourite vehicle: One with solid axels
Favourite camping spot: Anywhere I can get to.
Favourite road trip: My first trip to Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan. The desert they have over there is different and the language made it a bit more challenging.
Favourite spot in the UAE: Al Dhafra. It’s unique, natural, inaccessible, unspoilt.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Torbal Rayeh Wa Jayeh
Starring: Ali El Ghoureir, Khalil El Roumeithy, Mostafa Abo Seria
Stars: 3
Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
