Omar Abdulrahman, the Al Ain playmaker, left, will likely enjoy some respite from the change in schedule. Marwan Naamani / AFP
Omar Abdulrahman, the Al Ain playmaker, left, will likely enjoy some respite from the change in schedule. Marwan Naamani / AFP

Al Ain and Al Shabab see Arabian Gulf League matches moved



The Pro League Committee (PLC) has granted the requests of Al Ain and Al Shabab to have their final Arabian Gulf League fixtures brought forward 24 hours to help them prepare for their commitments in Asia.

Al Ain were to take on Al Wasl at Zabeel Stadium in Dubai on Saturday, with Shabab hosting Baniyas at the Al Maktoum Stadium the same day. Following the approval of the PLC, Wasl and Baniyas, both fixtures will be played on Friday to give Al Ain more time to prepare for their Asian Champions League (ACL) last-16 return leg against Al Jazira and Shabab’s second leg of the Gulf Clubs Championship against Omani outfit Saham.

Both games will be played on Tuesday.

Al Ain (sixth place) and Shabab (third) are chasing a top-four finish in the UAE domestic league, which will carry with it automatic qualification or a play-off place for next season’s ACL.

A win for Shabab on Friday could see them finish second, although they are dependent on other results, while victory for Al Ain could catapult them up to third if Al Jazira and Al Nasr fail to win their final fixtures.

“We are in two finals, this is the scenario for us,” Marcos Paqueta, the Shabab coach, said. “Both games are important but we will take one at a time and just concentrate in the first against Baniyas.”

Shabab’s hopes of reaching the GCC final were dented following a 3-1 defeat to Saham in Oman on Monday. Al Ain’s priorities are in the ACL, where they take Jazira back to Hazza bin Zayed Stadium with the advantage of two away goals after they won in Abu Dhabi 2-1 on Tuesday. They also have the President’s Cup final against Al Ahli on May 18 to prepare for.

“To preserve the advantage in the ACL and the cup final are the priorities, but that doesn’t mean we will go without the intentions of winning the match against Wasl. We have depth and we’ll use the fresh legs for a good result,” coach Zlatko Dalic said.

apassela@thenational.ae

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Arabian Gulf League fixtures:

Friday:

  • Emirates v Hatta, 5.15pm
  • Al Wahda v Al Dhafra, 5.25pm
  • Al Ain v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, 8.15pm

Saturday:

  • Dibba v Ajman, 5.15pm
  • Sharjah v Al Wasl, 5.20pm
  • Al Jazira v Al Nasr, 8.15pm
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Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners

Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
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Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
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Saturday Levante v Getafe (5pm), Sevilla v Real Madrid (7.15pm), Atletico Madrid v Real Valladolid (9.30pm), Cadiz v Barcelona (midnight)

Sunday Granada v Huesca (5pm), Osasuna v Real Betis (7.15pm), Villarreal v Elche (9.30pm), Alaves v Real Sociedad (midnight)

Monday Eibar v Valencia (midnight)

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Favourite film:

Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.

Favourite holiday destination:

Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.

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Favourite pastime:

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Personal motto:

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Ponti

Sharlene Teo, Pan Macmillan

A State of Passion

Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi

Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah

Rating: 4/5

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COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Happy Tenant

Started: January 2019

Co-founders: Joe Moufarrej and Umar Rana

Based: Dubai

Sector: Technology, real-estate

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Total customers: 4,000

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Pakistan v Sri Lanka:
28 Sep-2 Oct, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi
6-10 Oct, 2nd Test (day-night), Dubai
13 Oct, 1st ODI, Dubai
16 Oct, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi
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20 Oct, 4th ODI, Sharjah
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26 Oct, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
27 Oct, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
29 Oct, 3rd T20I, Lahore

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

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Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

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