The World Cup 2022 in Qatar is the first world football event to be staged in the Middle East, which means the excitement - and scrutiny - will be greater than ever.
Hosting the tournament will put the focus on not only the culture and population of the region, but also on cutting edge technology and innovation that has been used to build stadiums that will allow matches to take place in a climate-controlled environment.
Air-conditioned vents throughout stadiums, minimal travel between venues and excellent connectivity to neighbouring countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and European destinations are just some of the salient features that will set this World Cup apart.
The World Cup will begin on November 20 with the final scheduled to take place on December 18. In all, eight venues in Qatar will host the tournament.
The 80,000-capacity Lusail Stadium is the crown jewel of the tournament, and will also host the final.
The other venues that will host matches are Stadium 974, Al Thumama Stadium, Al Bayt Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Ahmed bin Ali Stadium (Al Rayyan), Education City Stadium, and the Al Janoub Stadium (Al Wakrah).
As we build up towards a unique World Cup - which is right in the middle of European football's regular seasons - we look at each of the eight venues that will play host to teams and fans from all over the world.
Lusail Stadium
The stadium is the biggest in the country with a capacity of 80,000, which is why it has been earmarked to host the final.
According to the tournament website, the shape and facade of the venue is inspired by the motifs on bowls, vessels and other art pieces found across the Arab and Islamic world.
After the tournament concludes, the Lusail Stadium is set to turned into a community space including schools, shops, sporting facilities and health clinics. Also, most of the stadium's 80,000 seats are set be removed and donated to sporting projects.
World Cup 2022 fixtures at Lusail Stadium
Tuesday, November 22: Group C, Argentina v Saudi Arabia (2pm UAE time)
Thursday, November 24: Group G, Brazil v Serbia (11pm)
Saturday, November 26: Group C, Argentina v Mexico (11pm)
Monday, November 28: Group H, Portugal v Uruguay (11pm)
Wednesday, November 30: Group C, Saudi Arabia v Mexico (11pm)
Friday, December 2: Group G, Cameroon v Brazil (11pm)
Round of 16
Tuesday, December 6: Match 56, Group H winner v Group G runner-up (11pm)
Quarter-finals
Friday, December 9: Match 57, Match 49 winner v Match 50 winner (11pm)
Semi-finals
Tuesday, December 13: Match 61, Match 57 winner v Match 58 winner (11pm)
Final
Sunday, December 18: At Lusail Stadium (7pm)
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
It's up to you to go green
Nils El Accad, chief executive and owner of Organic Foods and Café, says going green is about “lifestyle and attitude” rather than a “money change”; people need to plan ahead to fill water bottles in advance and take their own bags to the supermarket, he says.
“People always want someone else to do the work; it doesn’t work like that,” he adds. “The first step: you have to consciously make that decision and change.”
When he gets a takeaway, says Mr El Accad, he takes his own glass jars instead of accepting disposable aluminium containers, paper napkins and plastic tubs, cutlery and bags from restaurants.
He also plants his own crops and herbs at home and at the Sheikh Zayed store, from basil and rosemary to beans, squashes and papayas. “If you’re going to water anything, better it be tomatoes and cucumbers, something edible, than grass,” he says.
“All this throwaway plastic - cups, bottles, forks - has to go first,” says Mr El Accad, who has banned all disposable straws, whether plastic or even paper, from the café chain.
One of the latest changes he has implemented at his stores is to offer refills of liquid laundry detergent, to save plastic. The two brands Organic Foods stocks, Organic Larder and Sonnett, are both “triple-certified - you could eat the product”.
The Organic Larder detergent will soon be delivered in 200-litre metal oil drums before being decanted into 20-litre containers in-store.
Customers can refill their bottles at least 30 times before they start to degrade, he says. Organic Larder costs Dh35.75 for one litre and Dh62 for 2.75 litres and refills will cost 15 to 20 per cent less, Mr El Accad says.
But while there are savings to be had, going green tends to come with upfront costs and extra work and planning. Are we ready to refill bottles rather than throw them away? “You have to change,” says Mr El Accad. “I can only make it available.”
Company%20profile
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Mina Cup winners
Under 12 – Minerva Academy
Under 14 – Unam Pumas
Under 16 – Fursan Hispania
Under 18 – Madenat
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AT%20A%20GLANCE
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
