Every day over three weeks, The National looks back at the 21 greatest moments in UAE sports history
The picture said it all.
It was February 2001, and Tiger Woods was in the midst of the finest golf of his professional career. The big-hitting American had hoarded the game’s three most recent majors, making up a nine-win season across the Atlantic, and had sights on completing the “Tiger Slam” two months later at the Masters.
Woods wasn’t just a golfer; he was a transcendent star, occupying billboards, magazine covers and primetime television slots.
That appeal was evidenced not long before his UAE debut. Such was the hype surrounding his first appearance at the Dubai Desert Classic – only his sixth regular European Tour event and a result of a two-year charm offensive – that organisers posted a “sold out” sign at the entrance to Emirates Golf Club. It remains the only tournament sell-out in UAE golf history.
“There was a buzz, everybody was happy because he was golf at that time,” Mohamed Juma Buamaim, the long-time Desert Classic supremo, told 'The National' years later.
For much of the week, Woods felt the only show in town. At one point, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the future Ruler of Dubai, invited him and close friend Mark O’Meara to his Godolphin stables in Al Quoz. A promising two-year-old colt was promptly renamed “Dubai Tiger”.
Come tournament time, Woods was a willing frontrunner, with playing partner Thomas Bjorn, in his own words, “trying to hang onto his shirttails”. By close of play on Saturday, Woods had carved a single-shot lead, and entered Sunday as the overwhelming favourite, even though he was grouped for the fourth successive day with Bjorn, a Dubai resident.
“The tournament built around us,” the Dane told 'The National' in 2014. “It became a two-man battle for a lot of it.”
However, the unthinkable transpired. On the final hole, with Bjorn having drawn level with birdie on 17, Woods dunked his approach shot in the water that guards the 18th green. It elicited a double-bogey and a closing 72, while Bjorn parred to post a 69. The impenetrable, seemingly impervious Woods had blown a 54-hole lead to lose by two.
“There was the big fear factor of playing with Tiger at that time,” Bjorn said. “He was expected to win every time he teed it up. Tiger never made mistakes then, but he did to hand me the title. That week was pretty special.”
Woods, though, would not be too disheartened. Ten weeks later, he landed a second Masters to hold all four majors at the same time. The “Tiger Slam” was crowned.
As for Dubai, Woods would exact some revenge, triumphing in 2006 and 2008. Two years before his first win, he had cemented his link to the emirate, posing on the Burj Al Arab and launching golf balls into the Arabian Gulf from 210 metres above sea level.
It is estimated that, within 24 hours, the image featured in close to 4,000 publications worldwide. Other stunts have taken place there since. But Woods, much like his golf career, proved the trailblazer.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULT
Bournemouth 0 Southampton 3 (Djenepo (37', Redmond 45' 1, 59')
Man of the match Nathan Redmond (Southampton)
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:
Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')
Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Maxus T60
Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed