Abu Dhabi is no stranger to high-quality Jiu-jitsu events. It has recently staged a first-ever boxing night and is about to host its second UFC event in April.
But on Friday, Yas Island will stage the first-ever sanctioned Muay Thai fight night in the capital.
At least 16 fighters from around the world will put on a minimum eight-fight card at DU Forum. The event will be headlined by a fight between the Australian Matt “Hard Knox” McTavish and Thai veteran Orono Singchatchawan, who has fought in nearly 150 fights.
“This event will be the best Muay Thai show Abu Dhabi has ever seen,” said promoter Mat Dryden, who also runs the Cobra Fitness Gym. Dryden promoted an event a few years back, which, strictly speaking, was the first Muay Thai event here. But that, as he acknowledged, was “poorly-organised”, with amateur and semi-pro fighters.
The night is under the official sanction of the World Muay Thai Council (WMC), the governing body of the sport based out of Thailand. An official from the Council will be at the event. WMC titles are on the line in the headline bouts, including women’s Middle East title in the fight between Greece’s Milena Martinou and Malihe Mardibabi from Iran.
“Nobody has really seen professional full Thai Muay fights here, with five three-minute rounds, elbows and knees,” Dryden said. “Dubai has had some stuff going but a lot of it is unsanctioned. Everyone is doing their own thing.
“The sport is new in the country but there are a few of us trying to stick together and start a governing body that sanctions Muay Thai and MMA properly on a professional level. We’re moving towards that but that is a process.”
The fight card has been put together with considerable care, to ensure maximum local interest and attendance. Mohammad Ali Bayat, the Dubai-based Iranian boxer, is scheduled to fight as well, against Turkey’s Fati Usuloy. Bayat is well-known and popular on the scene, in part from his feud with the Syrian Abdul Kabbani.
A couple more fights could be added, Dryden said, as several Dubai-based fighters had shown interest in taking part. Though he remains cautious, Dryden is hoping that this could be the first of a series of events.
“We’ve done a fair bit of marketing through our local circles,” he said. “Milena is coming off a fight and has built a fan-base here. Another couple of guys are there that will draw the crowds. We are picking fighters who are going to put on a show, the guys who will sell tickets you get.
“It’s a first of its kind event in Abu Dhabi and we hope to make it a series - I’m not going to make a promise - but we hope to.”
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The Settlers
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Rating: 5/5
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How has net migration to UK changed?
The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.
It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.
The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.
The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
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Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
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Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
