Sheikh Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the chairman of the Ras al Khaimah Department of Customs and Seaports, has purchased 60 per cent of an English Premier League football team, it was announced by WAM last night.
The state news agency did not reveal the name of the club, but speculation was rife in England last night that Sheikh Ahmed may have joined forces with Sulaiman al Fahim, who announced last month that he was acquiring the Portsmouth Football Club.
However, the property tycoon Mr al Fahim, who is buying Portsmouth, told The National today that Portsmouth is not the club in question.
The news means Emiratis may now own three English premier league football clubs.
"It is not Portsmouth," said Mr al Fahim. "I don't know which club it is. I read about the deal in the newspapers today just like everybody else."
Last month Fahim said he had agreed in principle to buy Portsmouth after meeting the club's chief executive Peter Storrie in Rome on the day of the Champions League final.
Last summer, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bought a majority stake in Manchester City football club through the Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), an investment company.
Some Premier League officials have expressed doubts about Mr al Fahim's purchase of Portsmouth because the CEO of Hydra Properties also acted as a broker for ADUG. The same investor is not allowed to have a controlling interest in more than one club, according to the league's rules. But the only party involved in the Portsmouth takeover is Mr al Fahim's company Al Fahim Asia Associates, a spokesman for Mr al Fahim has said.
It was thought the Portsmouth deal had been scuppered when the disgraced former prime minister of Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, was linked to the deal by some English newspapers. Thaksin has completely denied the rumours.
Portsmouth finished 14th in the Premier League last season.
The UAE already has an ownership presence in the league through Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, who owns a majority share in Manchester City.
gcaygill@thenational.ae
with Reuters
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
GIANT REVIEW
Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
Director: Athale
Rating: 4/5
The%20specs
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Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The%20specs
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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
