Hotel's prime viewing spots are in the pool

ABU DHABI // Venues across the emirate are gearing up for the hordes of fans expected to turn up to watch the matches. Some have taken an original approach. Front-row seats in the Sheraton Corniche will be in the pool on inflatable chairs, but if fans prefer their feet on the ground, there will be beanbags to watch the match from on a big screen.

The Shangri-La has erected an air-conditioned tent. "We are expecting it to be busy for the next few weeks. The tent can take 300 to 350 people," said Ahmed Issa, the director of food and beverage at the Shangri-La complex. He said orders for supplies had peaked in anticipation of large crowds. Yacoob Abba Omar, the South African ambassador, will watch today's opening match between South Africa and Mexico at the Millennium Hotel.

Emirates Palace will show the games live in 3D. There will be no charge, but fans will have to reserve their spaces on the golden couches in the 3D Golden Goal Lounge. Sami Nassouri, 28, said he would watch the games in 3D if he got the opportunity. "It would be really interesting to watch the games in 3D and see what all the hype is about." Besides the Golden Goal Lounge, Mr Nassouri will watch some of the games from home and others with friends in cafes around Abu Dhabi. "I have subscribed to the E-Vision package and I am still waiting for it to be installed. If that doesn't come, I'll have to go to a friend's house to watch some of the games."

Sherif Nagy, 32, from Egypt, said he would watch the matches at home with a few friends so that he could concentrate on the football. "I've felt as if I was dreaming for the last week because of the line-up of matches. Nigeria and Argentina play before England and the US. I can't wait," said Mr Nagy. In Al Ain, coffee shops and shisha cafes are preparing for capacity crowds with extra chairs, tables and flat-screen television sets.

The Cabana Cafe, in Al Jimi, has the World Cup schedule prominently displayed on its door. Layali Al Andalus is Hilli Industrial District's most up-market coffee and shisha lounge. Its Egyptian manager, Ahmad Mustafa, 32, expects plenty of people to flock there to view the games on its two 50-inch TV sets. Layali Al Ain restaurant and shisha cafe, on the upper level of Al Jimi Mall, expects to host about 200 people for matches and, each day, will fly the flags of whatever countries are playing.

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