Showjumping in the UAE is in for a tremendous boost with the Fatima bint Mubarak Academy International Showjumping Cup celebrating its 10th anniversary in grand style.
The championship will take place at the Al Forsan International Sports Resort from January 26 to 29, with its largest prize fund and biggest line-up yet.
The four-day event has drawn more than 300 riders and 303 horses, vying for a prize purse of Dh800,000 across six competitions, highlighted by the CSIL Two-Star FBMA International Cup, exclusively for women.
The FBMA Cup is the third event of the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Festival and has drawn participants from 34 countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt, Great Britain, the US, India, South Africa and China.
Leading the host team in the FBMA International Cup are the UAE’s top riders Sheikha Latifa Al Maktoum and Nadia Taryam.
“Indeed, 10 years is a milestone and we celebrate the occasion with our biggest edition in terms of the numbers and prize fund for the FBMA Cup,” Mohammed Al Nakhi, vice-president of the Showjumping and Dressage Committee, said at the launch ceremony on Monday.
“I remember, when we had the inaugural FBMA Cup, we had around 14 different nationalities and only a few came from overseas, while most of them were from within the country.
“This edition is made up of five international categories and a national category for amateur female riders. This is for them to get involved in the same event by participating in the same arena as the professionals.”
Dr Omniyat Al Hajeri, vice chairperson of FBMA, said the event has grown tremendously.
“The 10th edition of the event signifies how far the competition has come – which has contributed to the growth of the sport and provided opportunities for females of all ages and nationalities to participate on a global platform and succeed in sport.
“It is truly wonderful to see many women are embracing showjumping and we hope their participation this week will inspire the younger generation to follow in their footsteps so they can strive in sport and become the best individual they can be in life.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
