Al Ain team manager Majid al Owais is determined to end his club's six years of hurt in the AFC Champions League (ACL).
After Al Ain won Champions League in 2003 there were street parties across the United Arab Emirates with football fans celebrating as one.
The club reached the ACL finals again the next season, winning their ninth national league title along the way. Since then though, both Asian and league success have eluded them and they are desperate to end the drought.
"We are hoping to go all the way in Asia," said al Owais.
"That is our top target for next year; the second is to win the Pro League title and qualify for the 2010 Fifa Club World Cup."
Al Ain were in line for the domestic treble last season after winning the Emirates and President's Cups. But a loss to Al Nasr at home in the 16th round of the Pro League virtually ended their hopes of a clean sweep.
Winfried Schaefer's side will get a chance to avenge that defeat when they host Al Nasr in the opening round of the Pro League on September 25, and al Owais is looking forward to that game.
"For the last two or three years, we have lost to Al Nasr quite a few times," he said. "So we want to set the record straight this time. Of course, we will be out for revenge."
Before the Nasr game, Al Ain will take on Pro League champions Al Ahli for the Super Cup on September 22 and they are keen to make a winning start to the season.
"I believe we are stronger than last year," said al Owais. "We had a good camp in Switzerland first and some strong friendly matches against the likes of Valencia and Villarreal in Spain.
"The players are feeling really confident after those games and they have gained a lot in experience.
"So I believe we are ready and focused on winning all the four trophies at home - the Super Cup, the Pro league, the etisalat Emirates Cup and the President's Cup."
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Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
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Bayern: Goretzka (17'), Müller (41'), Lewandowski (46'), Davies (61'), Hinteregger (74' og)
Frankfurt: Hinteregger (52', 55')
The five pillars of Islam
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2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
A cheaper choice
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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
Lexus LX700h specs
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Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
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Five famous companies founded by teens
There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:
- Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate.
- Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc.
- Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway.
- Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
- Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Grubtech
Founders: Mohamed Al Fayed and Mohammed Hammedi
Launched: October 2019
Employees: 50
Financing stage: Seed round (raised $2 million)
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
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