Manchester City head into the 2018/9 Premier League season as defending champions and favourites for the title. Reuters
Manchester City head into the 2018/9 Premier League season as defending champions and favourites for the title. Reuters
Manchester City head into the 2018/9 Premier League season as defending champions and favourites for the title. Reuters
Manchester City head into the 2018/9 Premier League season as defending champions and favourites for the title. Reuters

Premier League 2018/19 predictions: Are Liverpool the biggest threat to Manchester City's title defence?


  • English
  • Arabic

The 2018/19 Premier League starts on Friday, but as usual with less than a week to go to kick off, there is plenty of intrigue as to what is ahead.

Can anyone stop Manchester City? Who is getting relegated? Who will surprise? Who will disappoint?

The National's staff have done their best to answer those, and more, questions as to what to look out for in the new campaign.

These are The National's staff members taking part:

Richard Jolly English Football Correspondent

Graham Caygill Sports Editor

Jon Turner Assistant Sports Editor

Dan Gledhill Deputy Editor

John McAuley Sports Reporter

Ian Hawkey European Football Correspondent

Paul Radley Sports Reporter

Kumar Shyam Sports Production Editor

_____________

Read more:

Premier League 2018/19 preview: Team-by-team guide and predictions

Premier League transfer window: All the new signings for 2018/19 season

Exclusive with Andreas Pereira: On establishing himself at Manchester United

_____________

Who will be the champions?

Richard Manchester City

City do not need to be as good as they were last season. They do not need another 106 goals or 32 wins or a goal difference of +79. Their 19-point winning margin shows the task for the rest. Pep Guardiola’s past shows a record of retaining titles. Plenty of players have sustained their standards under him and others have carried on improving so, while City have not had the most spectacular of summers in the transfer market, they should still be better than the rest.

Graham Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp has improved the side where it needed strengthening and there still should still be plenty of goals coming from Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. Less goals conceded and the same amount or better scored will put them in the hunt for a first title since 1990, especially if City's level in their title defence even drops slightly.

Jon Manchester City

Last season's record-breaking feats will likely not be repeated, but the chasm between City and the rest was so vast that even if the gap is reduced, Guardiola's side are still far and away the league's best team. Back-to-back titles beckon.

Dan Liverpool

Klopp has strengthened in key areas: goalkeeper and midfield. The defence is already feeling the Virgil van Dijk effect. Naby Keita is a potentially thrilling addition. Sadio Mane ended last season like the player he was the year before. It’s just a matter of whether Salah can contribute another 30-plus goals. And whether City will be distracted by a Uefa Champions League run.

John Manchester City

City have no obvious weak areas, while in Guardiola they possess a manager who doesn’t settle for anything less than 100 per cent commitment. Won’t be the 19-point victory it was last season, but City are still too good for the rest.

Ian Manchester City

Nineteen points, the gap between first and second in last season’s final table, is not easily eroded, and though City’s flaws were found out by Liverpool more than once in 2018, Guardiola has command of improved resources this time around, and a set of confident players familiar with their roles and with one another.

Paul Manchester City

It is possible the rest of the field could catch up with City this season. David Silva’s influence might begin to wane. Kevin de Bruyne could be adversely affected by playing all the way to the final weekend of the World Cup, without the kick of actually winning it. Leroy Sane might suddenly start to believe Joachim Low, and forget he is actually really rather brilliant. Or Guardiola could push the holders on to even greater levels of excellence. Which seems more likely.

Kumar Manchester City

No reason for anything other than another season of success for City. What was a worrying sign last season about the uneasy rotation between Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus looks ideal in hindsight now. Riyad Mahrez adding more firepower in a power-packed midfield only increases their strength.

Who finishes in the top four?

Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool look to build on last season's fourth-place finish. Reuters
Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool look to build on last season's fourth-place finish. Reuters

Richard Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea

Graham Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur

Jon Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur

Dan Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United

John Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United

Ian Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea

Paul Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United

Kumar Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea

Surprise package of the season?

The arrivals of Jack Wilshere and Felipe Anderson have raised expectations at West Ham United. Reuters
The arrivals of Jack Wilshere and Felipe Anderson have raised expectations at West Ham United. Reuters

Richard Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolves played a brand of football last season to suggest that they are well suited to the elite. Some players, Ruben Navas in particular, were clearly too good for the Championship. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s recruitment of more of his compatriots, particularly the excellent goalkeeper Rui Patricio and midfielder Joao Moutinho, bodes well.

Graham West Ham United

The London club have underwhelmed the past two seasons but in Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko they have recruited well. Manuel Pellegrini knows how to succeed in the Premier League and West Ham should be fun to watch again this year.

Jon Wolverhampton Wanderers

Billed as one of the best teams to ever be promoted to the Premier League, but this is still the club's first season in the top-flight since 2012. A comfortable mid-table finish will represent an impressive return to the big time.

Dan Newcastle United

Rafa Benitez is the key, a coach with the ability to squeeze the very most out of his players, especially those in defence. If he can get a winning formula at the business end of the pitch to match they may be knocking on the door of Europe.

John Ryan Sessegnon

The Fulham full-back-cum-winger arrives in the Premier League with a weighty reputation already, but he will showcase exactly why the country’s most prominent clubs want him. Sessegnon, 18, does not rely on his physical ability, but instead reads the game like someone much more experienced. A real gem.

Ian West Ham United

Granted, the club have their third different manager within a year, but Pellegrini is a worldly and vastly respected one. And he has been entrusted with a more generous hiring budget than his predecessors. Expect a considerable improvement on the 13th place of 2017-18.

Paul Ryan Sessegnon

Sessegnon’s talent is hardly a secret, evidenced by the fact he was nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award last season, despite still being a Championship player. He has opted to stay with Fulham, having played the central role in their promotion. It is a major boost for Slavisa Jokanovic’s side, as they bid to maintain their place back in the Premier League.

Kumar Brighton and Hove Albion

Chris Hughton has a good core to his side and has a good habit of recruiting well each summer, with Pascal Gross and goalkeeper Matt Ryan the examples last summer. Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Bernardo are this summer's recruits. Brighton have the potential to be the next Burnley and break into the top 10.

Biggest disappointment of the season?

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has cut a frustrated figure throughout pre-season. EPA
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has cut a frustrated figure throughout pre-season. EPA

Richard Claude Puel

After a fine start, Puel is already unpopular with some Leicester City fans. It surprised some that he survived the summer. In a more competitive middle class, with Everton and West Ham likely to improve and Fulham and Wolves ambitious arrivals in the division, he could be a reason why Leicester fail to achieve their goals.

Graham Cardiff City

Neil Warnock has done a great job getting the Welsh side promoted, but there feels like there has been minimal transfer business done so far and the squad feels too weak to get near the minimum 36 points usually needed for safety.

Jon Manchester United

All is not well at Old Trafford, with Jose Mourinho seemingly getting his excuses in early. Underwhelming transfer business and a pre-season filled with negative noise from the manager will ensure a rocky campaign and missing out on the top four.

Dan Wolverhampton Wanderers

A club effectively now run by the super-agent Jorge Mendes, whose transfers will always prioritise his interests above all others, is a worrying development for the game. It will be in football’s best interests that Wolves go straight back down. And with all that player turnover – the opposite of the settled strategy that has served Burnley so well – maybe they will.

John Jose Mourinho

Oh, Mourinho and his dreaded third season. The United manager is favourite to be the first managerial casualty this campaign, which underscores the current malaise enveloping him. And it all seems the Portuguese’s doing. Typically tetchy during pre-season and unhappy with the current state of his squad, it all points to one thing: departure before the season runs its course.

Ian England's Generation Z

Never in the era of the Prem has an England side done as well at a World Cup as the semi-finalists of Russia 2018. But there’s a still a disconnect between the national team and its glamorous league. There is still a chronic lack of opportunities for young English players. English footballers born in the late 1990s - the so-called Generation Z - struggle to graduate from elite club academies to regular first-team places.

Paul Jose Mourinho

There once was a time when the Portuguese manager was one of the most captivating figures in the game, enthralling to listen to, and to watch operate. Now "The Special One" has become "The Droning One", sour-faced, whinging on about all the afflictions he suffers as the poor, put-upon manager of Manchester United. It is hard to believe he can restore United to their former greatness when he appears to loath going in to work so much.

Kumar Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham may have a disjointed start to the season with important players returning from World Cup duty and a move into a new stadium. Son Hyueng-min will have his time divided with international duties, while Harry Kane cannot always single-handedly bear the goals burden. If either Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen have a poor run of form, Tottenham's slide could be a big one.

Who will be relegated?

Will Huddersfield Town and their manager David Wagner suffer second-season syndrome? Reuters
Will Huddersfield Town and their manager David Wagner suffer second-season syndrome? Reuters

Richard Cardiff City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Huddersfield Town

Neil Warnock did magnificently to get Cardiff up. Keeping them up will be a still greater feat and a Championship specialist has tended to find the Premier League a struggle. Brighton secured survival with few alarms last season and have spent heavily again, but may dip if some of their players do not overachieve again. Similarly, Huddersfield  may need players to exceed expectations again simply to dodge the drop.

Graham Cardiff, Watford, Huddersfield Town

Cardiff lack Premier League quality and will go straight back down. Watford have not scored an away goal since January 2 and were on relegation form effectively in the second half of the season and those struggles may be hard to reverse. Huddersfield stayed up thanks to a good start and David Wagner's men will likely fall to second-season syndrome.

Jon Cardiff City, Watford, Brighton and Hove Albion

Cardiff are short of the class required to stay in the Premier League and will head straight back down, Watford were plummeting at the end of last season and have sold arguably their best player, while Brighton will suffer second-season syndrome.

Dan Wolves, Bournemouth, Cardiff

Wolves as discussed above. Bournemouth last season turned things round after a difficult start but the signs are that rivals such as Brighton and Huddersfield have equipped themselves better for the battle ahead. Cardiff simply do not have the strength of squad to be anything other than relegation candidates.

John Watford, Huddersfield, Cardiff

Cardiff’s fighting spirit brought them up last season, but a lack of real quality will force them back down at the first time of asking. Huddersfield have a fine manager and a commendable fortitude, although a lack of goals means they will be sucked into another relegation scrap. Watford’s managerial-merry-go-round model, meanwhile, will finally catch up with them.

Ian Bournemouth; Cardiff City; Huddersfield Town

Bournemouth have thrived on a realistic budget but their faltering spell in the second half of last season - one win in 10 matches - looked ominous. No club has less to spend than Huddersfield do, and that usually shows up in the end. Cardiff will doubtless be rugged at times, but probably not enough times to finish 17th or higher.

Paul Huddersfield Town, Fulham, Brighton & Hove Albion

Fulham might find it tough, but have talented players in Sessegnon, Andre Schurrle and Aleksandar Mitrovic. Huddersfield will need the same fast start as they had at the beginning of their debut Premier League campaign last time if they are to stay out of trouble. Brighton face a similar challenge of the difficult second season.

Kumar Southampton, Cardiff, Huddersfield

Though Southampton stayed up last season their summer transfer business, namely offloading offloaded Dusan Tadic and getting in Mohamed Elyounoussi, is not encouraging. With old school Warnock not much of an inspiring figure, it is difficult to see beyond relegation after one season in the top flight for Cardiff. Huddersfield have done limited work in the transfer market too, and given they had the second worst goal difference last season it is hard to be positive about their prospects.

Who will be player of the season?

Kevin De Bruyne narrowly missed out to Mohamed Salah in last season's PFA Player of the Year award. Getty Images
Kevin De Bruyne narrowly missed out to Mohamed Salah in last season's PFA Player of the Year award. Getty Images

Richard Kevin de Bruyne

De Bruyne would have been the player of most seasons last year; thanks to Mohamed Salah, he was not named the best of last year. This time around, building on a brilliant World Cup, he may get belated recognition at the end-of-year ceremonies for his efforts for Manchester City.

Graham Mohamed Salah

Hard to look beyond the Egyptian. Was exceptional for much of the Premier League last season. Even when he is not scoring he is creating chances and he will be key to Liverpool's title challenge.

Jon Leroy Sane

The German winger was frighteningly good last season and at 22 years old is only going to get better. Fully rested after inexplicably missing out on the World Cup, he will hit the ground running while those who did take part in Russia are still finding their way back.

Dan Leroy Sane

Along with Mesut Ozil, probably the most motivated player in the division after his exclusion from Germany’s World Cup squad. There will be pressure for the annual award to go to a member of the City team after Kevin de Bruyne was snubbed last time.

John Kevin de Bruyne

Should have arguably won the award last season, for his stellar contribution to Man City’s runaway title success. The league’s finest playmaker, able to orchestrate from deep in midfield, out wide or further forward. De Bruyne’s influence will increase this season again. A joy to watch.

Ian Kevin de Bruyne

The Belgian was a leading candidate for Player of the Year last season, and he is the main motor for Manchester City’s best football. Expect him to be the creative dynamo for City again, and to enjoy linking up with new City signing Mahrez.

Paul Riyad Mahrez

Despite the club-record £60 million (Dh289m) price-tag, the Algerian is not guaranteed a place in Manchester City’s best XI, given the depth of the squad. But if he does get a run and can reprise his best from Leicester’s title-winning campaign, he and City could be gorgeous to watch.

Kumar Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

If Arsenal are looking at a top-four finish, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be a major reason why. He impressed after joining from Borussia Dortmund in January. World Cup fatigue is also not a factor for the Gabonese and if he carries on his momentum from the end of last season he will be a force to be reckoned with.

Who will be the league's leading scorer?

Harry Kane will be aiming to reclaim the Golden Boot this season. AP Photo
Harry Kane will be aiming to reclaim the Golden Boot this season. AP Photo

Richard Harry Kane

As Kane has scored 105 goals in the last four Premier League campaigns, it is easy to envisage him chalking up another 30 this year, providing he stays fit. Do so, and it will be hard to stop him.

Graham Harry Kane

Liverpool may well share their goals around while Kane will remain Tottenham's constant and should, barring injury, be certain of a third season of 25 goals or more.

Jon Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

After moving to Arsenal mid-season, Aubameyang made an instant impact, scoring 10 goals in just 13 appearances. Another who will be fit and firing having not participated at the World Cup, the Gabon striker is sure to score a load of goals this season.

Dan Mohamed Salah

From one-season wonder to two-season wonder. With the arrival of Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri and the return to form of Sadio Mane, Liverpool will if anything be less reliant on the Egyptian king, which should give him more space to equal or even better last season’s feats.

John Harry Kane

Top scorer in two of the previous three seasons, the Tottenham striker missed out last year because of injury at a crucial period – and Salah’s extraordinary form. Kane will seize back the Golden Boot, though, even if he continues his quirk of never finding the net in August.

Ian Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

The Gabonese sprint-king started 12 Premier League matches for Arsenal after his winter-window transfer in January and adapted quickly. Unai Emery, the new Arsenal coach, will want play to Aubameyang’s counter-attacking strengths.

Paul Harry Kane

The Tottenham striker was lampooned for the lengths he went to to try to win the Golden Boot last season. Because aiming for the top is such a crime. It is clearly an award he covets. And, assuming he is emboldened rather than fatigued by his summer exploits with England, he could well leapfrog Salah and reclaim the top-goalscorer gong this term.

Kumar Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Proved lethal in front of goal in the second half of the season for Arsenal and there is no reason why he cannot carry that form on, as his goals in pre-season have already shown.

HAJJAN
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Abu%20Bakr%20Shawky%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3EStarring%3A%20Omar%20Alatawi%2C%20Tulin%20Essam%2C%20Ibrahim%20Al-Hasawi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

High profile Al Shabab attacks
  • 2010: A restaurant attack in Kampala Uganda kills 74 people watching a Fifa World Cup final football match.
  • 2013: The Westgate shopping mall attack, 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers and four gunmen are killed.
  • 2014: A series of bombings and shootings across Kenya sees scores of civilians killed.
  • 2015: Four gunmen attack Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya and take over 700 students hostage, killing those who identified as Christian; 148 die and 79 more are injured.
  • 2016: An attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde Somalia kills 180 soldiers.
  • 2017: A suicide truck bombing outside the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu kills 587 people and destroys several city blocks, making it the deadliest attack by the group and the worst in Somalia’s history.
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EClara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPatrick%20Rogers%2C%20Lee%20McMahon%2C%20Arthur%20Guest%2C%20Ahmed%20Arif%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELegalTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%244%20million%20of%20seed%20financing%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWamda%20Capital%2C%20Shorooq%20Partners%2C%20Techstars%2C%20500%20Global%2C%20OTF%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Knuru%20Capital%2C%20Plug%20and%20Play%20and%20The%20LegalTech%20Fund%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Brief scoreline

Switzerland 0

England 0

Result: England win 6-5 on penalties

Man of the Match: Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)

Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi

From: Dara

To: Team@

Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT

Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East

Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.

Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.

I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.

This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.

It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.

Uber on,

Dara

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

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)

Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

House-hunting

Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove

  1. Edinburgh, Scotland 
  2. Westminster, London 
  3. Camden, London 
  4. Glasgow, Scotland 
  5. Islington, London 
  6. Kensington and Chelsea, London 
  7. Highlands, Scotland 
  8. Argyll and Bute, Scotland 
  9. Fife, Scotland 
  10. Tower Hamlets, London 

 

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo

Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic

Power: 242bhp

Torque: 370Nm

Price: Dh136,814

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Jebel Ali results

2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,400m

Winner: Shamikh, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard

3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 64,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: One Vision, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe

3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Gabr, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson

4pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 96,000 (D) 1,800m

Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson

4.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner: Torno Subito, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson

5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,950m

Winner: Untold Secret, Jose Santiago, Salem bin Ghadayer

Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica

Best Agent: Jorge Mendes

Best Club : Liverpool   

 Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)  

 Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker

 Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo

 Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP

 Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart

Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)

Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)

Best Women's Player:  Lucy Bronze

Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi

 Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)

 Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)

 Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs

Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

Pros%20and%20cons%20of%20BNPL
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPros%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EEasy%20to%20use%20and%20require%20less%20rigorous%20credit%20checks%20than%20traditional%20credit%20options%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EOffers%20the%20ability%20to%20spread%20the%20cost%20of%20purchases%20over%20time%2C%20often%20interest-free%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EConvenient%20and%20can%20be%20integrated%20directly%20into%20the%20checkout%20process%2C%20useful%20for%20online%20shopping%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHelps%20facilitate%20cash%20flow%20planning%20when%20used%20wisely%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECons%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20ease%20of%20making%20purchases%20can%20lead%20to%20overspending%20and%20accumulation%20of%20debt%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMissing%20payments%20can%20result%20in%20hefty%20fees%20and%2C%20in%20some%20cases%2C%20high%20interest%20rates%20after%20an%20initial%20interest-free%20period%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EFailure%20to%20make%20payments%20can%20impact%20credit%20score%20negatively%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERefunds%20can%20be%20complicated%20and%20delayed%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ECourtesy%3A%20Carol%20Glynn%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets