The Saudi Pro League returns this weekend with more tasty encounters following an exciting opening round of fixtures. Expect plenty more goals and perhaps first goals of the new season for the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema when the action begins.
Damac v Al Riyadh (Thursday, 7pm UAE)
Following a narrow 1-0 defeat at Al Tai on the opening matchday, Damac finally dipped into the transfer market, recruiting former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Georges-Kevin Nkoudou and Gambian forward Assan Ceesay from Serie A side Lecce.
In turn, Al Riyadh marked their return to the top-flight with a 1-0 home win over Al Wehda thanks to new signing Knowledge Musona. That triumph will give them confidence, but a first away trip will not be easy.
Prediction: Damac 1-1 Al Riyadh
Al Khaleej v Al Ahli (Thursday, 10pm)
Al Khaleej had a difficult start to the season, falling to a 3-1 away defeat at Al Fayha, but showed some promising signs. Coach Pedro Emanuel will need to get the best out of his new arrivals if his side are to avoid slipping into another relegation battle like last season when they escaped the drop zone by just three points.
After an impressive display and a 3-1 home win against Al Hazem last week, Al Ahli have to do without their hat-trick hero Roberto Firmino, who suffered a muscle injury. Coach Matthias Jaisle still has plenty of firepower in Riyad Mahrez and Allan Saint-Maximin but needs to reconfigure his team in the Brazilian’s absence.
Prediction: Al Khaleej 1-2 Al Ahli
Al Okhdood v Al Fateh (Friday, 7pm)
It was a memorable opener for Al Okkhdood as they led Al Shabab until after the hour mark before settling for a 1-1 draw in Riyadh. Coach Jorge Mendonca will take a lot of positives from the game ahead of his side’s first-ever home Saudi Pro League match.
Just like their opponents, it was a 1-1 draw for Al Fateh last week, but for Slaven Bilic’s side, the home draw against Al Taawoun will have felt more like an opportunity lost. As they make one of the longest away trips in the league to Najran, the team from Al Ahsa will hope they can start picking up wins, starting against their newly-promoted opponents.
Prediction: Al Okhdood 1-1 Al Fateh
Al Nassr v Al Taawoun (Friday, 10pm)
The 120 minutes played in the King Salman Cup final last Saturday took its toll on the Al Nassr players, meaning coach Luis Castro had to field a second string XI against Ettifaq in the league opener, going on to lose 2-1. Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo Brozovic, Alex Telles and others will be back for the home game against Al Taawoun.
Al Taawoun came away with a solid point against Al Fateh last week, but expectations will be low ahead of a second consecutive away journey. Although, coach Pericles Chamusca enjoys being the underdog and will have his eyes on an upset.
Prediction: Al Naasr 3-1 Al Taawoun
Al Wehda v Al Shabab (Friday, 10pm)
It will be an emotional Al Wehda debut for Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo against the team that first brought him to Saudi football. The Nigerian is one of two arrivals to the Mecca-based club since their 1-0 loss to newly-promoted Al Riyadh last week. Defender Jawad El Yamiq, part of the Morocco side that finished fourth in the 2022 World Cup also made the move to cement the Al Wehda defence.
Al Shabab finally ended their search for a striker by landing Habib Diallo from French side Strasbourg. The Senegal international will be tasked with converting some of the chances created by Ever Banega and company as coach Marcel Keizer’s men look to end a poor attacking run that saw them score just two goals from open play in six matches across the King Salman Cup and the league.
Prediction: Al Wehda 1-1 Al Shabab
Al Hazem v Al Ettifaq (Friday, 10pm)
It was a difficult start for the newly-promoted Al Hazem, who found themselves on the receiving end of a 3-1 defeat to star-studded Al Ahli, but they will be pleased with the performances of striker Vina who scored their only goal, lobbing Edouard Mendy from distance, and Portuguese playmaker Toze, on their debuts.
Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq were the standout performers of the opening weekend, rewarding the large crowd that turned out to watch them in Dammam with a 2-1 win over Al Nassr. A first away trip awaits Jordan Henderson and company, but they should have enough in them to see off the challenge of Al Hazem.
Prediction: Al Hazem 1-2 Al Ettifaq
Abha v Al Raed (Saturday, 7pm)
Abha are at home for the second week running, having lost 3-1 to Al Hilal in their first match. Tunisian playmaker Saad Bguir continued to impress and they will once again look for him to provide the inspiration against an Al Raed side that finished just one point above them last season.
Reigning champions Al Ittihad proved too much for Al Raed who were unable to find goals at home in a 3-0 defeat. Another tough challenge awaits, but they should at least be able to break their duck this weekend.
Prediction: Abha 3-2 Al Raed
Al Hilal v Al Fayha (Saturday, 10pm)
After bouncing back from their King Salman Cup final defeat with a 3-1 win at Abha, Al Hilal are back at home for the first time this season and there will be plenty of excitement at King Fahd International Stadium as the club introduce their star signing Neymar. The game might come too early for the Brazilian to feature, but that should not stop Al Hilal from beating their fellow AFC Champions League participants.
Al Fayha had no shortage of goals last week as former Rangers man Fashion Sakala opened his account in a 3-1 win against Al Khaleej, and they will have even more firepower now with Nigerian forward Henry Onyekuru set to make his debut.
Prediction: Al Hilal 4-2 Al Fayha
Al Ittihad v Al Tai (Saturday, 10pm)
Ruthless if not entertaining, was how Nuno Espirito Santo’s side started their title defence, putting three second-half goals past Al Raed. They now return for a first home encounter of the campaign, albeit at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium as their own King Abdullah Sport City Stadium undergoes renovations ahead of hosting the Club World Cup later this year.
Al Tai kept a clean sheet and left it late to win against Damac last time out. Coach Kresimir Rezic will be looking to follow the same approach once more, but stopping Karim Benzema, last season’s top scorer Abderrazak Hamdallah, and Igor Coronado, who bagged a brace in his previous outing, will be a tough challenge.
Prediction: Al Ittihad 4-0 Al Tai
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Match info
Manchester United 1
Fred (18')
Wolves 1
Moutinho (53')
The 10 Questions
- Is there a God?
- How did it all begin?
- What is inside a black hole?
- Can we predict the future?
- Is time travel possible?
- Will we survive on Earth?
- Is there other intelligent life in the universe?
- Should we colonise space?
- Will artificial intelligence outsmart us?
- How do we shape the future?
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Gifts exchanged
- King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla - Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, which can lead to fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis or liver cancer.
There are 5 main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E.
Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This can occur through blood transfusions, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injecting drugs. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common.
People infected with hepatitis C experience few or no symptoms, meaning they can live with the virus for years without being diagnosed. This delay in treatment can increase the risk of significant liver damage.
There are an estimated 170 million carriers of Hepatitis C around the world.
The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
The specs: 2019 Audi A7 Sportback
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 335hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy 5.9L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Bharat
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Brief scores:
Everton 0
Leicester City 1
Vardy 58'
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
The biog
Favourite Quote: “Real victories are those that protect human life, not those that result from its destruction emerge from its ashes,” by The late king Hussain of Jordan.
Favourite Hobby: Writing and cooking
Favourite Book: The Prophet by Gibran Khalil Gibran
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
The biog
Favourite food: Fish and seafood
Favourite hobby: Socialising with friends
Favourite quote: You only get out what you put in!
Favourite country to visit: Italy
Favourite film: Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Family: We all have one!
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Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16 second leg
Paris Saint-Germain (1) v Borussia Dortmund (2)
Kick-off: Midnight, Thursday, March 12
Stadium: Parc des Princes
Live: On beIN Sports HD
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
RESULTS
Bantamweight:
Zia Mashwani (PAK) bt Chris Corton (PHI)
Super lightweight:
Flavio Serafin (BRA) bt Mohammad Al Khatib (JOR)
Super lightweight:
Dwight Brooks (USA) bt Alex Nacfur (BRA)
Bantamweight:
Tariq Ismail (CAN) bt Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Featherweight:
Abdullatip Magomedov (RUS) bt Sulaiman Al Modhyan (KUW)
Middleweight:
Mohammad Fakhreddine (LEB) bt Christofer Silva (BRA)
Middleweight:
Rustam Chsiev (RUS) bt Tarek Suleiman (SYR)
Welterweight:
Khamzat Chimaev (SWE) bt Mzwandile Hlongwa (RSA)
Lightweight:
Alex Martinez (CAN) bt Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Welterweight:
Jarrah Al Selawi (JOR) bt Abdoul Abdouraguimov (FRA)
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Ahmed Raza
UAE cricket captain
Age: 31
Born: Sharjah
Role: Left-arm spinner
One-day internationals: 31 matches, 35 wickets, average 31.4, economy rate 3.95
T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
The specs: McLaren 600LT
Price, base: Dh914,000
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 600hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 620Nm @ 5,500rpm
Fuel economy 12.2.L / 100km
