The UAE's No1 golfer, Ahmad Skaik, said he hopes his participation in the 2022 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship can help inspire the next generation of golfers from the Emirates.
Skaik, 24, will tee it up alongside some of the biggest names in the game at the January 20-23 Rolex Series event, which will be hosted for the first time at Yas Links. Among the players set to compete in Abu Dhabi include world No 2 Collin Morikawa, four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, and world No 6 Victor Hovland.
Former tournament winners Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, and Lee Westwood, as well as defending champion Tyrrell Hatton and former world No 1 Adam Scott, will also be vying for the Falcon Trophy.
Skaik debuted at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in 2020, and he made history last November with an opening round 68 at the Aviv Dubai Championship 2021, the best round by an Emirati at a DP World Tour event.
Skaik also triumphed in the 2020 UAE Presidents Cup, and heads into the tournament relishing the opportunity to play alongside some of the world’s biggest golf stars.
“It is an honour to be invited to play in Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and to compete on the DP World Tour alongside these superstar names," he said. "I’m looking forward to taking on the Yas Links golf course, and I know it will be a different experience for lots of the players. Hopefully, I can use my local knowledge and experience to my advantage.
“I had a fantastic experience in the previous two years, and I hope to make more memories this week. I’m always looking to improve, and I feel in good form, striking the ball well. I’m thankful to the Abu Dhabi Sports Council for this opportunity and I hope I can inspire the next generation of golfers in the UAE.”
Skaik will be joined at the 17th Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship by fellow local amateur Josh Hill, who qualified after winning the Abu Dhabi Amateur Championship in December. It will be the Dubai-based 17-year-old's second appearance at the event.
“We are delighted to welcome back Ahmad to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship for the third year running," Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council said. "He is the shining star of Emirati golf and destined to achieve great things in the future. We look forward to seeing how Ahmad fares alongside some of the greats at this year’s tournament and back him wholeheartedly as our local inspiration.”
After competing in Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship this week, Skaik will also line up alongside stellar fields in both the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic from January 27-30, and the Ras Al Khaimah Championship presented by Phoenix Capital from February 3-6 as part of the DP World Tour Desert Swing 2022.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
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Charlotte Gainsbourg
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(Because Music)
Brief scoreline:
Tottenham 1
Son 78'
Manchester City 0
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Film: Raid
Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
