The UAE’s tortuous bid for 2026 World Cup qualification will extend to an additional round after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Uzbekistan in Abu Dhabi.
The point was enough to guarantee the Uzbeks the second automatic qualifying place from this phase of the Asian competition, alongside Iran. It meant the side from central Asia will be heading to the World Cup for the first time in their history.
The wait for a return to the tournament for the first time since 1990 will go on for the UAE – but the dream is not yet dead.
They have one game left in this phase, a dead rubber against Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek on Tuesday. Then they will have to prepare for a three-team round in October, the winners of which will qualify.
The build up to the game had been full of frenzied anticipation. The UAE captain, Khalid Essa, and new coach Cosmin Olaroiu, spoke of players and fans working together as a collective to achieve their goal.
It was a surprise, then, that there were thousands of empty seats in the home sections when the game kicked off.
The contrast was stark: the away section was filled two hours before the game. Hundreds more were outside awaiting entry. A number complained they had valid tickets for the UAE section, but said they were not being admitted.
The appetite for tickets among Uzbeks had been voracious. After all, their side were on the brink of history.
The away section was limited to around 1,000, but it was reported as many as 5,000 had applied to get in.
Some of those waiting outside had done their best to ingratiate themselves. A number were wearing Emirati-style kanduras, while others had UAE scarves around their necks.
Another fan of Uzbek origin had brought along the passports of him and his young son. They are American citizens and had travelled from the United States especially for the game.
The atmosphere long preceded even the teams arriving, as shown in Al Wahda Mall, the shopping centre which is adjacent to the Al Nahyan Stadium.
In the hours leading up to the game, there were more people wearing sky blue Manchester City shirts with “Khusanov” on the back than there were wearing the white UAE replica shirts.
Abdukodir Khusanov was the big name in the visitors’ line up. The speedy Uzbek centre back was playing in the city from where he is employed.
The UAE seats did fill up as the first half went on, and the side of the field opposite the grandstand was mostly filled.
It also had some pre-prepared banners to encourage the teams, with slogans like “Together we can do it”, “Dreams will come true” and “We trust you guys”.
And yet the atmosphere remained flat, and the official attendance topped out at 9,820 – a long way short of the 16,000 capacity.
Amid it all, the UAE players struggled to find a spark. What made matters worse for them was that the quiet meant they could hear their manager’s ever-increasing displeasure.
Not even someone with Olaroiu’s glittering CV could be guaranteed to turn the UAE into world-beaters immediately.
In his first match in charge of the national team, there was no great overhaul of the side he inherited from Paulo Bento.
He did make a couple of notable tweaks, though. Ali Saleh, the Al Wasl winger who only featured sporadically towards the end of the Bento era, was brought straight back into the starting XI. Majed Hassan, Olaroiu’s tried and trusted midfield lieutenant, was also brought in to pin down the centre of the field.
There were clear teething issues, though. The home team struggled for fluency, and that suited an Uzbek side who only required a point to achieve qualification.
While they tried to push ahead, albeit in disjointed fashion, they left gaps at the back. In the 54th minute, Abbosbek Fayzullaev, the Uzbek substitute, crashed a header against the crossbar with the goal at his mercy, after a fast break by the visitors.
Olaroiu’s first major landmark in his new job was to see himself get booked. His side had just come close to breaking the deadlock.
Two Uzbek players went to ground in the aftermath and, as he vented his frustration, Olaroiu was shown a yellow card.
The home team did create some openings thereafter, but nothing that allowed them to strike.
Uzbekistan kept them at a safe enough distance, and when the final whistle blew, the away contingent – in the stands and on the field – were overcome with euphoria.
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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.”
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
Top 10 in the F1 drivers' standings
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 202 points
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 188
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 169
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 117
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 116
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 67
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 56
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 45
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 35
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 26
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
