The Rugby World Cup kicks off on Friday, September 20 in Japan, and we have rounded up some of the top places to catch the action in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, including venues with special fan zones, activities and offers on food and drinks. Action continues until the final on Saturday, November 2.
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Golf Club
Open from 9am, enjoy the action on lots of televisions around the bar, as well as views of the golf course. Enjoy burger and drinks deals from Dh85 as well as offers on beverage buckets from Dh120.
Khalifa City, 02 885 3555, www.facebook.com/abudhabigolfclub
Appaloosa
Enjoy rugby action on the large screens as well as a special themed menu throughout the tournament with special offers on food and beverages, including burgers and steak sandwiches with two drinks from Dh100. There is a garden terrace, billiards and pong tables.
Marriott Al Forsan, Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, 02 201 4000, www.marriottalforsan.com
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Blu Sky Lounge
Fourteen HD screens on the walls all around the venue to enjoy live rugby action, as well as immersive sound. Daily promotions and a grill menu available.
Southern Sun, 02 818 4888, www.facebook.com/BluSkyBarAD
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Heroes
The popular Abu Dhabi institution serves classic pub grub and has plenty of screens for all the action.
Crowne Plaza, Hamdan Street, 02 616 6132, www.facebook.com/HeroesAbuDhabi
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McGettigan’s
Located off the island, near Khalifa City, the popular venue has loads of TV screens, food and drinks specials and attentive staff.
Al Raha Beach Hotel, 02 652 4333, www.facebook.com/McGettigansAUHAlRaha
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Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
Catch the games at Hawksbill Restaurant daily from 9am, with big screens showing all the action. Enjoy beverage bucket deals from Dh120, as well as burgers and drinks from Dh85.
Saadiyat Island, 02 499 8000, www.facebook.com/SaadiyatBeachGolfClub
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The Duck Hook
Head to The Duck Hook and sink into food deals for only Dh99. Options include Glazed Chicken Poppers, Duck Fat Roasties or Spicy Calamari.
Dubai Hills Golf Club, 800 666353, facebook.com/theduckhookdxb
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Stars ‘N’ Bars
There’s not a bad seat in the house, with 76 televisions there is a screen everywhere you look, including the terrace and by the bar. Enjoy specials on food and beverages during the games, including combo deals of a beverage along with a burger, wings, or roast from Dh59. They’ll be open for the early matches, too.
Yas Marina, Yas Island, 02 565 0101, www.facebook.com/StarsNBarsAbuDhabi
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Dubai
Barasti
Catch the games on the beach and enjoy special food and drinks deals as well as giveaways through the live rugby action. A dedicated fan zone will also pop-up at the beach club with a face painting station for those that want to support their team and truly put their game face on.
Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina, 04 318 1313, www.facebook.com/barastibeach
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Dhow and Anchor
Throughout the tournament, take part in the Beat the Boss challenge, in which the bar manager, Alex, will declare his choice to win each game, and if he is wrong, everyone in the venue will get a free drink on him. There are seven indoor screens, food and beverage offers, and classic menu items such as fish and chips and chef’s roast.
Jumeirah Beach Hotel, 04 432 3232, www.facebook.com/DhowAndAnchor
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Havana Social Club
Live screenings and special offers on tacos, Cuban-inspired beverages and more during games.
Caesars Bluewaters Dubai, Bluewaters Island, 04 556 6666, www.facebook.com/havanasocialclubdubai
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The Irish Village Dubai
Dubai’s popular Irish venue has cosy indoor and comfortable outdoor seating overlooking the lake and gardens.
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, Al Garhoud; Studio One Hotel, Dubai, 04 282 4750, www.facebook.com/TheIrishVillageDubai
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McGettigan’s
A favourite spot with four locations across the city, plus one at the airport, enjoy watching the games on screens around the rooms, attentive staff, great pub grub and top atmosphere.
Locations in JBR, JLT, DWTC, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, www.mcgettigans.com
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Perry & Blackwelder’s
The southern-US smokehouse has 12 screens and offers promotions throughout all the matches, including the all-day all-American breakfast, the unlimited Band of Glory chicken wings from Dh199, and beverage deals from Dh99.
Souk Madinat Jumeirah, 800 666 353, www.facebook.com/perryandblackwelder
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Urban Bar and Kitchen – UBK
Plenty of screens to watch the action around the terrace, plus a varied menu with dishes including salmon ceviche tacos and truffle and parmesan cauliflower, but the club sandwich is a must-try. The dedicated rugby fan zone for offers drinks specials throughout the tournament.
Movenpick Hotel JLT, Dubai, 04 438 0000, www.facebook.com/ubkdubai
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A meeting of young minds
The 3,494 entries for the 2019 Sharjah Children Biennial come from:
435 – UAE
2,000 – China
808 – United Kingdom
165 – Argentina
38 – Lebanon
16 – Saudi Arabia
16 – Bangladesh
6 – Ireland
3 – Egypt
3 – France
2 – Sudan
1 – Kuwait
1 – Australia
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Grubtech
Founders: Mohamed Al Fayed and Mohammed Hammedi
Launched: October 2019
Employees: 50
Financing stage: Seed round (raised $2 million)
More coverage from the Future Forum
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Friday's schedule in Madrid
Men's quarter-finals
Novak Djokivic (1) v Marin Cilic (9) from 2pm UAE time
Roger Federer (4) v Dominic Thiem (5) from 7pm
Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) v Alexander Zverev (3) from 9.30pm
Stan Wawrinka v Rafael Nadal (2) from 11.30pm
Women's semi-finals
Belinda Bencic v Simona Halep (3) from 4.30pm
Sloane Stephens (8) v Kiki Bertens (7) from 10pm
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
Takreem Awards winners 2021
Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)
Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)
Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)
Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)
Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)
Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)
Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE results
Lost to Oman by eight runs
Beat Namibia by three wickets
Lost to Oman by 12 runs
Beat Namibia by 43 runs
UAE fixtures
Free admission. All fixtures broadcast live on icc.tv
Tuesday March 15, v PNG at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Friday March 18, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Saturday March 19, v PNG at Dubai International Stadium
Monday March 21, v Nepal at Dubai International Stadium
Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
England's Ashes squad
Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
The six points:
1. Ministers should be in the field, instead of always at conferences
2. Foreign diplomacy must be left to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation
3. Emiratisation is a top priority that will have a renewed push behind it
4. The UAE's economy must continue to thrive and grow
5. Complaints from the public must be addressed, not avoided
6. Have hope for the future, what is yet to come is bigger and better than before
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Fringe@Four Line-up
October 1 - Phil Nichol (stand-up comedy)
October 29 - Mandy Knight (stand-up comedy)
November 5 - Sinatra Raw (Fringe theatre)
November 8 - Imah Dumagay & Sundeep Fernandes (stand-up comedy)
November 13 - Gordon Southern (stand-up comedy)
November 22 - In Loyal Company (Fringe theatre)
November 29 - Peter Searles (comedy / theatre)
December 5 - Sinatra’s Christmas Under The Stars (music / dinner show)
TO ALL THE BOYS: ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Directed by: Michael Fimognari
Starring: Lana Condor and Noah Centineo
Two stars
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Five films to watch
Castle in the Sky (1986)
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Only Yesterday (1991)
Pom Poki (1994)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
Last 10 winners of African Footballer of the Year
2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2007: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla and Mali)
2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2010: Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan and Cameroon)
2011: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2012: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2014: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City and Algeria)
SCHEDULE
December 8: UAE v USA (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
December 9: USA v Scotland (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
December 11: UAE v Scotland (Sharjah Cricket Stadium)
December 12: UAE v USA (ICC Academy Oval 1)
December 14: USA v Scotland (ICC Academy Oval 1)
December 15: UAE v Scotland (ICC Academy Oval 1)
All matches start at 10am
