Marcelo Mendes, the UAE beach football team coach, is upbeat about his team's chances of reaching the knockout stage of the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup following Thursday's draw in Papeete, Tahiti.
The UAE were placed in Group A along with championship hosts Tahiti, USA, and Spain, the European champions.
"It is good draw for us, as I see Spain as the toughest team we meet," the Brazilian said. "We have previously won against Tahiti twice, in the Intercontinental Cup. We are hopeful against the USA.
"So the draw gives us an excellent opportunity to reach the knockout round.
"Group C and D look very, very tough, with some of the strongest teams battling for the top two spots to reach the knockout round. So we are quite fortunate to have a good draw."
The UAE's match against the hosts will open the tournament, set for September 18-28. The team has met Tahiti twice in the Intercontinental Cup.
"We know them quite well as an opponent," Mendes said. "Spain would be the team that we all have to beat in this group."
Russia, the defending champions, were drawn alongside Japan, Paraguay and Ivory Coast in Group D.
Brazil, the four-time champions, have a tougher challenge after being pitted alongside Iran, Senegal and Ukraine in Group C.
"I don't think we will ever have a better opportunity to reach the knockout round," Mendes said.
"Yet, we will have to keep working hard and take one game at a time. The players are ready and they now have a lot of experience. We also have a bigger squad to choose from.
"We started a UAE league this year and have received very good support from the Dubai Sports Council and the federation. We have good schedule in the lead-up for the World Cup. It is a matter of preparing from now."
Mendes's team kick off their preparation with a friendly tournament between the UAE A and B teams, Belarus and Oman, from June 6-13 in Dubai.
They travel to Belarus for an international tournament that includes Turkey, Holland, Ukraine, Iran and the host Belarus.
They then head to China for their Asian Football Confederation Cup defence July 12-14, before participating in a four-team friendly tournament between Ukraine, Iran and the hosts, Hungary, on August 15-21.
"We will travel to Tahiti one week early to play two friendly games before our first match in the competition against the championship host," Mendes said.
The Brazilian is in his sixth year as coach of the national team. The UAE made their debut in the World Cup in Brazil in 2007 and were winless in a group that consisted Argentina, France and Nigeria.
In France in 2008, they beat Cameroon 10-4, but lost their other group games to Argentina and Russia.
The UAE hosted the championship in 2009. They registered a solitary win over the Solomon Islands 7-1, but went down to Portugal 5-7 and Uruguay 0-4. However, 2011 saw the team fail to qualify for the tournament in Rome.
UAE friendly tournament fixtures
at Mamzar Beach Park, Dubai
Saturday
UAE B v Belarus, 5.30pm
UAE v Oman, 6.30pm
Sunday
UAE B v Oman, 5.30pm
Tuesday
UAE v Belarus, 5.30pm
UAE B v Oman, 6.30pm
Wednesday
UAE v Oman, 6.30pm
World Cup information
in Papeete, Tahiti, from September 18 to 28. The top two teams in each group make the quarter-finals.
Group A Tahiti, United Arab Emirates, Spain, USA
Group B Holland, OFC qualifier, Argentina, El Salvador
Group C Brazil, Iran, Senegal, Ukraine
Group D Russia, Japan, Paraguay, Ivory Coast
The remaining qualifier will be the Oceania (OFC) qualifying tournament winner in August.
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
Tips for used car buyers
- Choose cars with GCC specifications
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- Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
- If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell
Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
Soldier F
“I was in complete disgust at the fact that only one person was to be charged for Bloody Sunday.
“Somebody later said to me, 'you just watch - they'll drop the charge against him'. And sure enough, the charges against Soldier F would go on to be dropped.
“It's pretty hard to think that 50 years on, the State is still covering up for what happened on Bloody Sunday.”
Jimmy Duddy, nephew of John Johnson
How to vote
Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner Canvassed, Par Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer)
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Trump v Khan
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2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
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The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan v Juventus
Saturday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Watch the match on BeIN Sports
No_One Ever Really Dies
N*E*R*D
(I Am Other/Columbia)
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6
Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm
Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km
Price: Dh375,000
On sale: now
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
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Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
Results
1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix - 3:45:47
2. David Dekker (NED) Jumbo-Visma - same time
3. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
4. Emils Liepins (LAT) Trek-Segafredo
5. Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis
6. Tadej Pogacar (SLO UAE Team Emirates
7. Anthony Roux (FRA) Groupama-FDJ
8. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:00:03
9. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep
10. Fausto Masnada (ITA) Deceuninck-QuickStep
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
More coverage from the Future Forum
Company profile
Company name: Nestrom
Started: 2017
Co-founders: Yousef Wadi, Kanaan Manasrah and Shadi Shalabi
Based: Jordan
Sector: Technology
Initial investment: Close to $100,000
Investors: Propeller, 500 Startups, Wamda Capital, Agrimatico, Techstars and some angel investors
In Search of Mary Shelley: The Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein
By Fiona Sampson
Profile
The biog
Favourite food: Fish and seafood
Favourite hobby: Socialising with friends
Favourite quote: You only get out what you put in!
Favourite country to visit: Italy
Favourite film: Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Family: We all have one!
TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 258hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.1L/100km
Price: from Dh362,500
On sale: now
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 523hp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh469,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
