The Emirates Sailing School man is first Arab to compete in his event. Ahmed Rizvi reports
This the first in a series of eight profiles of the UAE Olympians competing in Beijing that The National will publish before the Games open next weekend
Adel Khaled is going to the Olympics for the first time. In fact, he is the first Arab sailor to take part in the greatest sporting show on the planet. But there is no sign of nerves, nor any anxiety. Rather, the instructor from the Emirates Sailing School in Abu Dhabi is excited and over the moon.
"I am feeling very good and confident," says Adel, running his hands through his long hair.
"I have been training and competing in Europe for seven months since January and I feel ready for the Olympics.
"It is the dream of every athlete and sportsperson to compete in the Olympics. So it has been my dream as well.
"Now that I am going to Beijing, I feel proud of myself, I feel proud for my country and I hope to put the UAE on top of the world.
"The competition is going to be tough, but I am okay with it. I know what I am capable of."
Adel has the soul of the sailor, free from all disquiet and without a care of the world.
He bounces around as he talks, answering every query with a hearty laugh, especially when you ask him about his age.
"No, no... please don't ask me about my age," he insists.
"I never talk about my age." He relents a little when you persist. "Okay, you can say I am in my 20s - I am not going to give you anymore than that."
He looks a lot younger though, almost a bubbly teen.
"I know that," he says. "That is why it is best I don't say my age."
In terms of sailing, Adel is a battle-hardened veteran though.
He started competing in 2001 and won the European Championship in 2003.
In 2007, he struck gold at the Pan-Arab Games in Egypt, which virtually booked his ticket to Beijing.
"I didn't go to the Asian Games," he says. "If I had gone there, I would have won the gold for sure."
"I am the first Arab to qualify for the Olympic sailing," he adds. "So I am very proud of this achievement. I am really proud of representing my country.
"When I heard the news (about his Olympic qualification), I was over the moon.
"I went straight to China for a camp. It was a great experience. The winds were light and the conditions were just perfect.
"I hope it stays the same way during the Games.
"I offer my special thanks to Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed al Nahyan for turning my Olympic dream into reality.
"I also would like to thank all my sponsors, my family and friends and all those who supported me right through, including the Olympic Committee and the Emirates Sailing."
Adel's fascination with the sport started much before 2001 though.
"I used to accompany my cousins and uncles on their boats," he reveals.
"I love the sea and I love sailing. It is a great sport. I used to participate in the traditional dhow racing before switching."
Did he ever face opposition from his family as he spent more and more time in the sea, away from home? "No, my parents have always been very supportive," he laughs. "They have always encouraged me and prayed for my success and today they are very happy."
The nation also seems happy for Adel and proud of his achievements.
"This is the first time that the UAE is participating in sailing at the Olympics," says Ibrahim Abdul Malik, the general secretary of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and general secretary of the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare (GAYSW). "I believe it is also the first for someone from the Arab world. So we are really proud of Adel.
"If you take the history of sailing in the UAE, it is very recent. We have been taking part in official sailing tournaments overseas for just the past two years only.
"The first time we participated in an official position was the Pan-Arab Games in Egypt last year. We had three medals and two of themwere gold. So, to take part in the Olympics is a very good result for us.
"Adel is a young boy, very aggressive and very confident. He has won a gold medal at the Arab Games in Cairo and I hope he will do well in Beijing."
Adel, who used to live in Dubai before he moved to the capital after landing the job at the Emirates Sailing School, leaves for Beijing on Wednesday and his men's laser competition starts on August 12 along the Yellow River in Qingdao. He will be competing against over 400 sailors from 61 countries around the world.
"Some of my friends are travelling to China to support me," says Adel. "I am going to try my best and I hope to win a medal. I want to win the gold medal for my beloved President and the country. This is my goal and my dream."
@Email:arizvi@thenational.ae
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Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
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SUNDERLAND 2002-03
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SUNDERLAND 2005-06
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HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
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FULHAM 2018-19
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LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
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UAE group fixtures
Sunday Feb 23, 9.30am, v Iran
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Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa, Alishan Sharafu, Ansh Tandon, Vriitya Aravind, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Karthik Meiyappan, Basil Hameed, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Ayaz, Zahoor Khan, Chirag Suri, Sultan Ahmed
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With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
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Who is Enric Sala?
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What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
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If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
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6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
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8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
