• Athletic Bilbao celebrate their 3-2 Super Cup win over Barcelona in January 2021. EPA
    Athletic Bilbao celebrate their 3-2 Super Cup win over Barcelona in January 2021. EPA
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messi walks off the pitch after being sent off against Athletic Bilbao at the Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla. Reuters
    Barcelona's Lionel Messi walks off the pitch after being sent off against Athletic Bilbao at the Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla. Reuters
  • Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring his second goal. AFP
    Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring his second goal. AFP
  • Inaki Williams celebrates after scoring Bilbao's third goal. AFP
    Inaki Williams celebrates after scoring Bilbao's third goal. AFP
  • Athletic Bilbao's Unai Nunez in action. Reuters
    Athletic Bilbao's Unai Nunez in action. Reuters
  • Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi prepares to take a free-kick. AFP
    Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi prepares to take a free-kick. AFP
  • Athletic Bilbao's Spanish forward Asier Villalibre plays trumpet as he celebrates with teammates after the match. AFP
    Athletic Bilbao's Spanish forward Asier Villalibre plays trumpet as he celebrates with teammates after the match. AFP
  • Athletic Bilbao players celebrate their victory. AFP
    Athletic Bilbao players celebrate their victory. AFP
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messi looks dejected after Athletic Bilbao's Asier Villalibre scores their second goal. Reuters
    Barcelona's Lionel Messi looks dejected after Athletic Bilbao's Asier Villalibre scores their second goal. Reuters
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messtakes a free kick. AFP
    Barcelona's Lionel Messtakes a free kick. AFP
  • Athletic Bilbao's Raul Garcia scores but the goal is disallowed following a referral to VAR. Reuters
    Athletic Bilbao's Raul Garcia scores but the goal is disallowed following a referral to VAR. Reuters
  • Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Willians with the trophy. EPA
    Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Willians with the trophy. EPA
  • Athletic Bilbao players celebrate a goal that was disallowed by VAR. AFP
    Athletic Bilbao players celebrate a goal that was disallowed by VAR. AFP
  • Athletic Bilbao celebrate their Super Cup win. EPA
    Athletic Bilbao celebrate their Super Cup win. EPA
  • Barcelona's French midfielder Antoine Griezmann shoots. AFP
    Barcelona's French midfielder Antoine Griezmann shoots. AFP
  • Bilbao's Unai Vencedor battles with Pedri Barcelona. Reuters
    Bilbao's Unai Vencedor battles with Pedri Barcelona. Reuters
  • Barcelona defender Sergino Dest under pressure from Athletic Bilbao's Iker Muniain. AFP
    Barcelona defender Sergino Dest under pressure from Athletic Bilbao's Iker Muniain. AFP
  • Barcelona defender Sergino Dest. AFP
    Barcelona defender Sergino Dest. AFP
  • Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets battles for possession with Bilbao's Raul Garcia. AFP
    Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets battles for possession with Bilbao's Raul Garcia. AFP
  • Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Bilbao forward Iker Muniain. AFP
    Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Bilbao forward Iker Muniain. AFP

Football

Misery for Lionel Messi as brittle Barcelona fluff their lines in Super Cup

Barca's talisman loses his head in final defeat while Bilbao savour the moment after lifting their first trophy since 2015

Ian Hawkey
Ian Hawkey
London

January 19, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

The Spanish Super Cup is developing quite a cachet. From a contest that used to be regarded as no more than a glorified pre-season friendly, it has grown into an event that etches itself into history.

When Barcelona failed to make the right impact in its new three-match format a year ago, they sacked their then manager, Ernest Valverde. While they were fluffing their lines in the final on Sunday, they dramatically lost their spiritual leader.

The red card shown to Lionel Messi in extra-time of the pulsating 3-2 defeat to Athletic Bilbao ensures that the 2021 Super Cup will be remembered well beyond the Basque Country, where Athletic supporters, watching on television, cherished the deserved capture of the title via victories over Real Madrid, in the semi-final, and then Barcelona.

Athletic will take no extra pride from the fact that they now also have the distinction of having frustrated the greatest footballer of his generation so much that he was sent-off  for the first time in a club career of more than 750 games. Athletic do not need that landmark to confirm they were the better side on the night.

Nor did Barcelona manager Ronaldo Koeman need to see Messi raise his arm with the intention of hurting Asier Villalibre – the Athletic striker who had scored the second equaliser of the night and proved enough of an irritant to Messi to provoke what the victim later described as a “clear act of aggression” – to know Messi is exasperated. He has spelled it out enough times in the last 12 months.

The red card will bring with it a suspension for Barcelona’s captain, and reduce the number of his remaining matches for the club he has served throughout his professional life. That number looks more and more finite.

Messi wanted to leave Barca six months ago and is actively exploring new horizons for when his contract expires in June.

He will be banned for between one match and four, depending on how successfully Barcelona lobby the Spanish Football Federation to take into account his clean record in terms of club red cards, and their arguments that Villalibre had fouled Messi in the build up to the incident.

_____________________________________________________________________

Barca player ratings in Super Cup final

  • Marc-Andre Ter Stegen – 6. Tipped a 25th minute shot over as the plan of Marcelino, Athletic’s new coach, to press Barca worked. His players were up for it and would put three past the German – none of which were his fault. Getty Images
    Marc-Andre Ter Stegen – 6. Tipped a 25th minute shot over as the plan of Marcelino, Athletic’s new coach, to press Barca worked. His players were up for it and would put three past the German – none of which were his fault. Getty Images
  • Sergino Dest – 6. Back in side and not always easy for him as Athletic pressed the space behind Dembele. Did OK but taken off at half time, probably as the American is just back from injury. AFP
    Sergino Dest – 6. Back in side and not always easy for him as Athletic pressed the space behind Dembele. Did OK but taken off at half time, probably as the American is just back from injury. AFP
  • Ronald Araujo – 7. Superb in dispossessing Williams and stretched towards a Griezmann first half corner but couldn’t connect. Gave ball away in front of his own goal as the Basques pressed for a winner in the second, but he’s a fantastic young central defender. AP
    Ronald Araujo – 7. Superb in dispossessing Williams and stretched towards a Griezmann first half corner but couldn’t connect. Gave ball away in front of his own goal as the Basques pressed for a winner in the second, but he’s a fantastic young central defender. AP
  • Clement Lenglet – 6. Booked. As usual. And led a defence which was undone three times by balls through them and saw a goal against as a result – two of them resulting in goals. AP
    Clement Lenglet – 6. Booked. As usual. And led a defence which was undone three times by balls through them and saw a goal against as a result – two of them resulting in goals. AP
  • Jordi Alba – 7. Combined with Messi as usual to set up Griezmann opener. Searched for an offside for Athletic’s opener after Di Marcos slipped in front of him – but his defence was undone by a superb Williams’ ball. Set up Griezmann with a cross for Barca’s second. Always a threat on the left. Booked for moaning. AP
    Jordi Alba – 7. Combined with Messi as usual to set up Griezmann opener. Searched for an offside for Athletic’s opener after Di Marcos slipped in front of him – but his defence was undone by a superb Williams’ ball. Set up Griezmann with a cross for Barca’s second. Always a threat on the left. Booked for moaning. AP
  • Sergio Busquets – 6. Cut a dispirited figure as he collected the runners up shield after Messi was sent off, but he knew the Basques deserved their victory after taking the game to the Catalans from the start. Getty Images
    Sergio Busquets – 6. Cut a dispirited figure as he collected the runners up shield after Messi was sent off, but he knew the Basques deserved their victory after taking the game to the Catalans from the start. Getty Images
  • Frenkie De Jong – 6. Smashed in extra time in a clash of heads with Raul Garcia which looked like it could be serious. He’ll feel it today, but quickly returned to the pitch – only to be pulled to the ground by the tenacious Basques who’d already knocked Real Madrid out. Moved back to central defender as Barca. AP
    Frenkie De Jong – 6. Smashed in extra time in a clash of heads with Raul Garcia which looked like it could be serious. He’ll feel it today, but quickly returned to the pitch – only to be pulled to the ground by the tenacious Basques who’d already knocked Real Madrid out. Moved back to central defender as Barca. AP
  • Pedri – 6. Superb young midfielder who was man of the match against Athletic in the league last week, but left the field exhausted. Reuters
    Pedri – 6. Superb young midfielder who was man of the match against Athletic in the league last week, but left the field exhausted. Reuters
  • Lionel Messi - 5. In-form and the top scorer in La Liga, the Argentine played through the middle and shot over from distance after 37 minutes as Barca pushed for an opener. Twice involved in the move which led to it, but otherwise quiet and probably not 100 per cent fit, so why did he play 120 minutes? Barca needed their best game changer at the top of his game. What they got was a man sent off for violet conduct in the 120th minute for swinging an arm at an opponent. Reuters
    Lionel Messi - 5. In-form and the top scorer in La Liga, the Argentine played through the middle and shot over from distance after 37 minutes as Barca pushed for an opener. Twice involved in the move which led to it, but otherwise quiet and probably not 100 per cent fit, so why did he play 120 minutes? Barca needed their best game changer at the top of his game. What they got was a man sent off for violet conduct in the 120th minute for swinging an arm at an opponent. Reuters
  • Ousmane Dembele – 7 Whipped a ball into Messi and fantastic ball to Alba to set up Griezmann for second goal. Otherwise looked tired. AFP
    Ousmane Dembele – 7 Whipped a ball into Messi and fantastic ball to Alba to set up Griezmann for second goal. Otherwise looked tired. AFP
  • Antoine Griezmann – 8 Gave ball away after five minutes but began to concentrate and put the ball into the net for the first after 40 minutes and danced in his celebration. Scored the second, steering a ball from Alba at the near post after 76 minutes after Athletic had a Raul Garcia header ruled offside. It was. Just. Smashed a volley wife after 110 minutes as his team chased equaliser. AP
    Antoine Griezmann – 8 Gave ball away after five minutes but began to concentrate and put the ball into the net for the first after 40 minutes and danced in his celebration. Scored the second, steering a ball from Alba at the near post after 76 minutes after Athletic had a Raul Garcia header ruled offside. It was. Just. Smashed a volley wife after 110 minutes as his team chased equaliser. AP
  • Oscar Mingueza - 6. On for Dest at half time. His fresh legs had the measure of Munian. Steady. Getty Images
    Oscar Mingueza - 6. On for Dest at half time. His fresh legs had the measure of Munian. Steady. Getty Images
  • Miralem Pjanic – 5. On for Pedri 88. Brought on to see the game out found himself on a team conceding two goals in three minutes – the second a superb Williams’ curling shot - and chasing a game with exhausted players (no match photo available). Courtesy FC Barcelona
    Miralem Pjanic – 5. On for Pedri 88. Brought on to see the game out found himself on a team conceding two goals in three minutes – the second a superb Williams’ curling shot - and chasing a game with exhausted players (no match photo available). Courtesy FC Barcelona
  • Martin Braithwaite – 4. On for Dembele 88. Came on in the minute the Basques equalised and did little in 32 minutes on the pitch. Reuters
    Martin Braithwaite – 4. On for Dembele 88. Came on in the minute the Basques equalised and did little in 32 minutes on the pitch. Reuters
  • Riqui Puig On for Busquets after 97. The Barça youngster is hugely talented and fans want him to succeed. Barça’s last three coaches have been slightly less enthused (no match photo available). AP
    Riqui Puig On for Busquets after 97. The Barça youngster is hugely talented and fans want him to succeed. Barça’s last three coaches have been slightly less enthused (no match photo available). AP
  • Trincao On for Lenglet after 106 minutes. Getty Images
    Trincao On for Lenglet after 106 minutes. Getty Images

_____________________________________________________________________

What Barcelona can reassure themselves about is Messi’s commitment to their cause for this season at least. His anger that a possible 35th trophy in their colours had slipped from his grasp as the final whistle approached was palpable.

Messi’s fitness to start the final had been touch-and-go, because he was recuperating from a muscle problem through the previous week.

“He knows himself and we spoke before the game,” said Koeman. “He said was in the right condition and he coped very well.” A superb Messi pass led to the opening goal, scored by Antoine Griezmann, who would later put Barcelona 2-1 up with 13 minutes of the 90 remaining.

Villalibre dragged the match into extra-time by meeting a low cross with the referee about to signal the end of normal time.

Bilbao were the more energised team after that, their confidence epitomised by Inaki Williams, who struck the winning goal after neatly stepping away from Griezmann and lofting an angled shot in off the post. “The best goal of my career,” Williams called it.

The goal will be cherished for a long time in the Basque Country, where Williams’s parents, refugees from West Africa, settled in the mid-1990s.

He was born in Bilbao, and grew up attached to Athletic, a club where a sense of belonging is cultivated in a unique way. Athletic only field players with roots, through birth or parentage, in the Basque Country.

That bond with their region defines them. They were in the Super Cup, because they reached the final of last season’s Copa del Rey, a final, against near-neighbours Real Sociedad which is yet to be played because both clubs asked to postpone it.

They want supporters to be able to attend, which has been impossible under the public health conditions in place since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis.

Sunday’s triumph – in an empty stadium in Andalucia – gave Athletic their first trophy since the Super Cup of 2015 and meant the 12th defeat in a final of Messi’s decorated career. The concern for his employers is that it may be the last final he plays in their jersey.

There is still this season’s Copa del Rey, in which Barcelona take on suburban neighbours Cornella in the second round on Thursday, and the Champions League, where they meet Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 next month. But neither Koeman nor Messi would dare think fragile Barcelona are favourites in either competition.

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.”

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.

Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

ARGENTINA SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Franco Armani, Agustin Marchesin, Esteban Andrada
Defenders: Juan Foyth, Nicolas Otamendi, German Pezzella, Nicolas Tagliafico, Ramiro Funes Mori, Renzo Saravia, Marcos Acuna, Milton Casco
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodriguez, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Roberto Pereyra, Rodrigo De Paul, Angel Di Maria
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, Matias Suarez

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

QUALIFYING RESULTS

1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.

Eliminated after second session

11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.

Eliminated after first session

15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.

Name: Peter Dicce

Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics

Favourite sport: soccer

Favourite team: Bayern Munich

Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer

Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates 

 

The specs

Price, base: Dh228,000 / Dh232,000 (est)
Engine: 5.7-litre Hemi V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 552Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.5L / 100km

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

if you go

The flights
Flydubai offers three daily direct flights to Sarajevo and, from June, a daily flight from Thessaloniki from Dubai. A return flight costs from Dhs1,905 including taxes.
The trip 
The Travel Scientists are the organisers of the Balkan Ride and several other rallies around the world. The 2018 running of this particular adventure will take place from August 3-11, once again starting in Sarajevo and ending a week later in Thessaloniki. If you’re driving your own vehicle, then entry start from €880 (Dhs 3,900) per person including all accommodation along the route. Contact the Travel Scientists if you wish to hire one of their vehicles. 

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

While you're here
WHAT%20MACRO%20FACTORS%20ARE%20IMPACTING%20META%20TECH%20MARKETS%3F
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Looming%20global%20slowdown%20and%20recession%20in%20key%20economies%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Russia-Ukraine%20war%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Interest%20rate%20hikes%20and%20the%20rising%20cost%20of%20debt%20servicing%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Oil%20price%20volatility%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Persisting%20inflationary%20pressures%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Exchange%20rate%20fluctuations%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Shortage%20of%20labour%2Fskills%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20A%20resurgence%20of%20Covid%3F%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

'Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World’s Sole Superpower'
Michael Beckley, Cornell Press

The more serious side of specialty coffee

While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.

The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.

Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”

One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.

Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms. 

The biog

Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi

Age: 23

How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them

Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need

Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman

Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs 

Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing

Profile of MoneyFellows

Founder: Ahmed Wadi

Launched: 2016

Employees: 76

Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)

Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund

FIGHT CARD

Fights start from 6pm Friday, January 31

Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) v Ahmed Saeb (IRQ)

Women’s bantamweight
Cornelia Holm (SWE) v Corinne Laframboise (CAN)

Welterweight
Omar Hussein (JOR) v Vitalii Stoian (UKR)

Welterweight
Josh Togo (LEB) v Ali Dyusenov (UZB)

Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) v Delfin Nawen (PHI)

Catchweight 80kg​​​​​​​
Seb Eubank (GBR) v Mohamed El Mokadem (EGY)

Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Ramadan Noaman (EGY)

Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) v Reydon Romero (PHI)

Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Juho Valamaa (FIN)

Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) v Austin Arnett (USA)

Super heavyweight
Roman Wehbe (LEB) v Maciej Sosnowski (POL)

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20myZoi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Syed%20Ali%2C%20Christian%20Buchholz%2C%20Shanawaz%20Rouf%2C%20Arsalan%20Siddiqui%2C%20Nabid%20Hassan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2037%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Initial%20undisclosed%20funding%20from%20SC%20Ventures%3B%20second%20round%20of%20funding%20totalling%20%2414%20million%20from%20a%20consortium%20of%20SBI%2C%20a%20Japanese%20VC%20firm%2C%20and%20SC%20Venture%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
It’ll be summer in the city as car show tries to move with the times

If 2008 was the year that rocked Detroit, 2019 will be when Motor City gives its annual car extravaganza a revamp that aims to move with the times.

A major change is that this week's North American International Auto Show will be the last to be held in January, after which the event will switch to June.

The new date, organisers said, will allow exhibitors to move vehicles and activities outside the Cobo Center's halls and into other city venues, unencumbered by cold January weather, exemplified this week by snow and ice.

In a market in which trends can easily be outpaced beyond one event, the need to do so was probably exacerbated by the decision of Germany's big three carmakers – BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi – to skip the auto show this year.

The show has long allowed car enthusiasts to sit behind the wheel of the latest models at the start of the calendar year but a more fluid car market in an online world has made sales less seasonal.

Similarly, everyday technology seems to be catching up on those whose job it is to get behind microphones and try and tempt the visiting public into making a purchase.

Although sparkly announcers clasp iPads and outline the technical gadgetry hidden beneath bonnets, people's obsession with their own smartphones often appeared to offer a more tempting distraction.

“It's maddening,” said one such worker at Nissan's stand.

The absence of some pizzazz, as well as top marques, was also noted by patrons.

“It looks like there are a few less cars this year,” one annual attendee said of this year's exhibitors.

“I can't help but think it's easier to stay at home than to brave the snow and come here.”

The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)

Results

2-15pm: Commercial Bank Of Dubai – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Al Habash, Patrick Cosgrave (jockey), Bhupat Seemar (trainer)

2.45pm: Al Shafar Investment – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Day Approach, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash

3.15pm: Dubai Real estate Centre – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Celtic Prince, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly

3.45pm: Jebel Ali Sprint by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Khuzaam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

4.15pm: Shadwell – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Tenbury Wells, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

4.45pm: Jebel Ali Stakes by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson

5.15pm: Jebel Ali Racecourse – Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Rougher, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson

While you're here
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

Indian construction workers stranded in Ajman with unpaid dues
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
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