ABU DHABI // They’re calling it Super Thursday – a day when athletes from all over the world push themselves to the limit on the pitch, in the ring and in the pool around the country.
UAE sports fans are spoilt for choice as three major sporting events – the Fifa U17 World Cup, Fina Swimming World Cup and the Dubai Desert Force Mixed Martial Arts – get under way on Thursday.
Billed as one of the largest football events the country has seen, the Fifa U17 World Cup will have 24 elite young national teams competing over three weeks.
The UAE team kick off against Honduras on Thursday night at 8pm at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Matches will be played in the capital, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Al Ain and Ras Al Khaimah throughout the tournament.
Fans can also become involved at the official Fifa Fan Zone, which opens today on Abu Dhabi’s Corniche near the family and public beaches.
The fourth round of the Fina Swimming World Cup begins at the Hamdan bin Mohammed Sports Complex, a venue that Olympic and world champion South African swimmer Chad Le Clos has called the best in the world.
It is the third time Dubai has hosted a leg of the swimming world cup and more than 200 swimmers from 41 countries will hit the pool on Thursday to compete.
Le Clos and Katinka Hosszu of Hungary head the list, which also includes Oussama Mellouli of Tunisia, Yulia Yefimova and Stanislav Donets of Russia, and Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Inge Dekker of the Netherlands.
Finally, the Desert Force Mixed Martial Arts championship begins at the American University in Dubai at 7pm.
Fighters from across the region will slug it out in a series of cage matches. The event was initially scheduled for October 4, but was moved because of scheduling problems for MBC Action TV, which is broadcasting the bouts.
The competitors from across the Middle East will fight in five weight classes, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight and light heavyweight.
The UAE’s representatives include Sultan Ali Alowais who will face Abdulmalek Al Mardhi of Saudi Arabia, and Ahmad Al Darmaki who steps up against Noureldin Isam from Sudan.
Soren Korbo, honorary secretary of the Fina Technical Swimming Committee, said the body was happy to bring the World Cup leg back to Dubai.
“After being here just a matter of weeks ago for the very successful 4th Fina World Junior Championships, we are delighted to be back in Dubai again so soon,” said Soren Korbo, honorary secretary of the Fina Technical Swimming Committee.
“We always enjoy coming here and it is wonderful to see the rapid growth in swimming in Dubai.
“It is important to Fina that we continue to promote the development of swimming around the world and it is wonderful to be part of a great partnership with Dubai and the UAE as we work together to develop the sport here.”
Le Clos, who won the World Cup overall title in 2011, said: “My goal is to win the World Cup this year, then I have the Commonwealth Games next year where I want to do really well. Then of course I want to win Olympic gold again in 2016.”
He will also meet with youngsters participating in this year’s Children’s World Cup, taking place at the same time as the Fina event.
“Now that I have won international competitions I believe I have a responsibility to the next generation to be a good role model and to help them however I can,” said Le Clos.
The Children’s World Cup will feature 25 metre and 50m races and is open to any child who can swim the distance.
ksinclair@thenational.ae
FIGHT CARD
1. Featherweight 66kg
Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)
2. Lightweight 70kg
Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)
3. Welterweight 77kg
Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)
4. Lightweight 70kg
Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)
5. Featherweight 66kg
Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)
6. Catchweight 85kg
Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)
7. Featherweight 66kg
Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)
8. Catchweight 73kg
Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Abdipatta Abdizhali (KGZ)
9. Featherweight 66kg
Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)
10. Catchweight 90kg
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)
THREE
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Starring: Jefferson Hall, Faten Ahmed, Noura Alabed, Saud Alzarooni
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The five pillars of Islam
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Company profile
Company name: Fasset
Started: 2019
Founders: Mohammad Raafi Hossain, Daniel Ahmed
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $2.45 million
Current number of staff: 86
Investment stage: Pre-series B
Investors: Investcorp, Liberty City Ventures, Fatima Gobi Ventures, Primal Capital, Wealthwell Ventures, FHS Capital, VN2 Capital, local family offices
MEDIEVIL (1998)
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Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Console: PlayStation, PlayStation 4 and 5
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Kill
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Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
What is 'Soft Power'?
Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye.
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength.
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force.
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.
Indika
Developer: 11 Bit Studios
Publisher: Odd Meter
Console: PlayStation 5, PC and Xbox series X/S
Rating: 4/5
Napoleon
Director: Ridley Scott
Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glenn Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Almouneer
Started: 2017
Founders: Dr Noha Khater and Rania Kadry
Based: Egypt
Number of staff: 120
Investment: Bootstrapped, with support from Insead and Egyptian government, seed round of
$3.6 million led by Global Ventures
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Fitness problems in men's tennis
Andy Murray - hip
Novak Djokovic - elbow
Roger Federer - back
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Marin Cilic - adductor
The biog
Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
Favourite TV show: That 70s Show
Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home
Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big
RIVER SPIRIT
Author: Leila Aboulela
Publisher: Saqi Books
Pages: 320
Available: Now
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
CABINET OF CURIOSITIES EPISODE 1: LOT 36
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Stars: Tim Blake Nelson, Sebastian Roche, Elpidia Carrillo
Rating: 4/5
