Neymar arrives at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Friday ahead of his unveiling as an Al Hilal player. Reuters
Neymar arrives at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Friday ahead of his unveiling as an Al Hilal player. Reuters
Al Hilal's new signing Neymar signs autographs upon arrival in Riyadh. Reuters
Al Hilal's new signing Neymar signs autographs upon arrival in Riyadh. Reuters
Neymar arrives in Riyadh after signing for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. Reuters
Neymar arrives in Riyadh after signing for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. Reuters
Brazilian forward Neymar arrives in Riyadh on Friday. The 31-year-old arrives in the kingdom after completing his move from PSG. AFP
Brazilian forward Neymar arrives in Riyadh on Friday. The 31-year-old arrives in the kingdom after completing his move from PSG. AFP
Brazilian forward Neymar arrives in Riyadh. He has joined Al Hilal on a two-year contract. AFP
Brazilian forward Neymar arrives in Riyadh. He has joined Al Hilal on a two-year contract. AFP
Neymar is surrounded by fans after his arrival at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. AP
Neymar is surrounded by fans after his arrival at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. AP
Neymar will be unveiled as an Al Hilal player on Saturday. AFP
Neymar will be unveiled as an Al Hilal player on Saturday. AFP
Neymar on his way to Saudi Arabia. Reuters
Neymar on his way to Saudi Arabia. Reuters

Sport

Football

Neymar receives grand welcome in Saudi ahead of Al Hilal unveiling

Brazil great lands in kingdom to add more star power to Saudi Pro League

The National

August 19, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Brazil star Neymar was greeted with great fanfare as he arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday night ahead of his unveiling as the Saudi Pro League's latest star signing.

The 31-year-old forward will begin a new chapter in his football career as a Al Hilal player on Saturday after six seasons with Ligue 1 heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain. Neymar landed in Riyadh with extra security and a number of well wishers waiting for him.

Neymar was received in the airport lounge by various club officials and press.

Neymar will be greeted by thousands of Al Hilal fans at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on Saturday at the match against Al Fayha (10pm UAE kick-off).

Neymar signed a two-year contract with Al Hilal for a reported transfer fee of €90 million.

After completing the move, Neymar credited Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo for ushering in a new era in Saudi football.

"I believe Cristiano Ronaldo started all of this and everybody called him 'crazy', and this and that. Today you see the league grow more and more," Neymar said in his first interview since joining Hilal.

“It is exciting, meeting top quality players on the other teams thrills you, and motivates you to play even better," he said. "And it is a given when you face Ronaldo, Benzema, Firmino, that the excitement is even greater. So I am happy to join this league, facing them will be wonderful, it will be fantastic.”

Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now

There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:

1. Rising US interest rates

The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.

Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”

At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.

2. Stronger dollar

High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.” 

3. Global trade war

Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”

4. Eurozone uncertainty

Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.

Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”

The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”

On Women's Day
Temple numbers

Expected completion: 2022

Height: 24 meters

Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people

Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people

First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time

First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres  

Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres

Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor 

Comment on Coronavirus
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Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

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On Women's Day
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.

A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.

The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.

When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.

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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood

Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.

Updated: August 19, 2023, 11:42 AM
Saudi Pro League 25/26Neymar