The Aviv Dubai Championship returns for a second year to kick-start a Dubai double for the European Tour in successive weeks at Jumeirah Golf Estates. The tournament action begins on Thursday. Here are the key details.
What is it?
Introduced last December, originally as the Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World, the tournament represents the penultimate stop on the European Tour’s 2021 calendar.
It replaces the cancelled Nedbank Golf Challenge Hosted by Gary Player in South Africa, which will feature again next year for its 40th anniversary. The Aviv Dubai Championship carries a $1.5 million prize fund.
Competing players will have one final opportunity to secure a spot in next week's DP World Tour Championship, which comprises the leading 50 available players on the Race to Dubai.
When is it?
November 11-14.
Where is it?
The event is played on the Fire course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Who is playing?
Race to Dubai winners Tommy Fleetwood and Martin Kaymer headline the field, with European Ryder Cup star Paul Casey another marquee name. European captain Padraig Harrington and Ryder Cup rookie Bernd Wiesberger will also tee it up, together with four-time European Tour winner Matt Wallace.
Past Rolex Series victors Min Woo Lee and Rafa Cabrera Bello, and defending champion Antoine Rozner, also take part. There will be a home hope to cheer for, too, with Emirati Ahmad Skaik given a sponsor’s invite. The UAE’s No 1-ranked golfer, Skaik hit the opening tee shot at last year's event to mark the 49th National Day.
Past champions
Frenchman Rozner triumphed in the inaugural run last year, finishing two shots ahead of compatriot Mike Lorenzo-Vera, Italian Francesco Laporta and English pair Andy Sullivan and Wallace. It was Rozner’s first victory on the European Tour. He added a second earlier this year, triumphing at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
Tickets
Free general admission tickets are available here. To gain entry to the event, all UAE residents and citizens must provide proof at the entrance of a vaccination administered at least 14 days before the event date through the Al Hosn application, or a negative PCR test result within 96 hours of attendance to the first day of entry. Children under 12 do not require proof of vaccination. Gates open at 7am.
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Michael Beckley, Cornell Press
Major matches on Manic Monday
Andy Murray (GBR) v Benoit Paire (FRA)
Grigor Dimitrov (BGR) v Roger Federer (SUI)
Rafael Nadal (ESP) v Gilles Muller (LUX)
Adrian Mannarino (FRA) Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
NBA FINALS SO FAR
(Toronto lead 3-2 in best-of-seven series)
Game 1 Raptors 118 Warriors 109
Game 2 Raptors 104 Warriors 109
Game 3 Warriors 109 Raptors 123
Game 4 Warriors 92 Raptors 105
Game 5 Raptors 105 Warriors 106
Game 6 Thursday, at Oakland
Game 7 Sunday, at Toronto (if needed)
RESULTS - ELITE MEN
1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
4. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:34
5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
