Emirati cyclist wins Outstanding UAE Athlete of 2017 award

UAE Team Emirates’ rider Yousif Mirza has been awarded the Outstanding UAE Athlete of 2017 prize.

Mirza overcame stiff competition from 541 other nominated athletes, across 28 sports associations, to scoop the prestigious prize - adding to an already extraordinary year for the Emirati cyclist.

The award was presented by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, at a ceremony on Monday in recognition of UAE athletes' sporting achievements over the past year.

Commenting on the award, Mirza said: "I'm very honoured to pick up this award. Unfortunately I could not attend the ceremony because I'm training in Europe and preparing for my next World Tour race in California, but it adds extra value to my recent achievements in Asia and the UAE. It's great to know that UAE Team Emirates is increasing the awareness of cycling here in the Emirates and I hope this award will inspire even more young people to cycle.”

It caps an impressive year for Mirza, having joined UAE Team Emirates as the first professional Emirati cyclist. He secured his eighth UAE National Road Race title one month ago, adding to a a glittering season that also saw him secure medals at Asian Track Cycling Championships and the Asian Road Cycling Championship.

_____________

Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)

Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi

Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi

Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai

Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi

Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia

Killing of Qassem Suleimani

National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate

Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead

Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks

Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence

Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground

Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile

While you're here

Aya Iskandarani: Why debates on sovereignty and neutrality are being had in Lebanon and Iraq

Michael Young: Lebanon's sectarian divides are deep, but most in the country want neutrality

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

• Remittance charges will be tackled by blockchain

• UAE's monumental and risky Mars Mission to inspire future generations, says minister

• Could the UAE drive India's economy?

• News has a bright future and the UAE is at the heart of it

• Architecture is over - here's cybertecture

• The National announces Future of News journalism competition

• Round up: Experts share their visions of the world to come

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.

The White Lotus: Season three

Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5