In the UAE's 50th year, the country's current crop of footballing stars is embarking on a journey to create a piece of their own history.
The UAE play Australia on Tuesday in a must-win play-off in Doha in the first of what they hope will be two matches to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
If they win against Australia, Peru await next week in Doha for a place at the World Cup that would finally emulate the team of 1990 – the first and only time the UAE have reached the finals.
Abdulrahman Al Haddad, 55, who played at centre-back in that historic side, said it will be down to how the side plays on the day in what is the UAE's most important match in more than two decades.
It is a challenge and we have to reach the next level. It will require tremendous effort and team work
Abdulrahman Al Haddad
“I am optimistic but it all comes down to how well the team performs," he said.
"I know that they are emotionally and mentally prepared but I don’t know how well they will play on the day.”
The UAE secured their place in the play-offs with a 1-0 win against South Korea in March in Dubai, thanks to youngster Harib Abdallah’s second-half strike.
It was only the second game in charge for Rodolfo Arruabarrena, the Argentine coach. Al Haddad said he hopes the team will continue to respond well to the new coach.
“He was only recently appointed and I am not sure if they respond to him in such a short time,” he said.
“It is a challenge and we have to reach the next level. It will require tremendous effort and team work.”
Sense of pride
The UAE’s qualification for the 1990 World Cup in Italy is still considered their greatest footballing achievement, which has been chronicled in the documentary The Lights of Roma [Anwar Roma].
The title of the documentary was inspired by a famous line delivered by Emirati commentator Adnan Hamad, who wept as he said: “I can see the lights of Rome from here” after the UAE secured the required 1-1 draw against South Korea in Singapore, which was enough for them to book their place at Italia 90.
More than 30 years later, the circumstances are a little different in that they have to win two matches to qualify for the tournament in Qatar in November and December but the team in 1990 also had a late change in management.
"I can't describe to you how we felt when we first heard that we qualified," Al Haddad said.
"The overwhelming sense of pride and happiness is nothing I can put in words. We had tried before in '86 and had failed in the last few minutes when we lost the match so when we qualified in 1990, there was so much relief, pride and happiness.
"We had the spirit and the enthusiasm but the circumstances were not in our favour at the time. We went with a management that was hired to temporarily be with the team. I don't think they expected that we would take them to the finals."
Stronger team
Some Emirati fans are similarly cautious in their optimism but the prize of becoming history-makers again is making others believe this is their year.
"There is no doubt that I, as an Emirati, would like to celebrate the UAE national team’s qualification for the World Cup, but the situation says that we have to go beyond the Australian team first and then the Peruvian team, and these tasks are not easy," said Emirati, Sultan Karrani.
“On the other hand, the Australian team is a stubborn rival to the UAE team and the history of matches between the two teams testifies that the difference in goals in the event of winning and losing was not huge, and this makes it difficult for me to predict the final result for tomorrow’s match."
Saeed Al Zubaidi, a mass communication student at Abu Dhabi University, strongly believes that the UAE will win.
“In my opinion, I believe that the team is stronger and can qualify for the finals. We are all rooting for them and to us, they are winners regardless of the results,” he said.
Rakan Alajami, 21, was similarly confident in the team and the new coach.
“This is going to be a decisive match with heavy interventions," he said. "It will be held at 2pm which means it is going to be extremely hot and will require a lot of effort but we are fully confident in our players and their new coach. God willing, they will win.”
Wonka
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Paul%20King%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3ETimothee%20Chalamet%2C%20Olivia%20Colman%2C%20Hugh%20Grant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
NBA Finals results
Game 1: Warriors 124, Cavaliers 114
Game 2: Warriors 122, Cavaliers 103
Game 3: Cavaliers 102, Warriors 110
Game 4: In Cleveland, Sunday (Monday morning UAE)
Company%20profile
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Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
CRICKET%20WORLD%20CUP%20LEAGUE%202
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MATCH INFO
Watford 1 (Deulofeu 80' p)
Chelsea 2 (Abraham 5', Pulisic 55')
BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
Company%20Profile
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Day 2, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Pakistan’s effort in the field had hints of shambles about it. The wheels were officially off when Wahab Riaz lost his run up and aborted the delivery four times in a row. He re-measured his run, jogged in for two practice goes. Then, when he was finally ready to go, he bailed out again. It was a total cringefest.
Stat of the day – 139.5 Yasir Shah has bowled 139.5 overs in three innings so far in this Test series. Judged by his returns, the workload has not withered him. He has 14 wickets so far, and became history’s first spinner to take five-wickets in an innings in five consecutive Tests. Not bad for someone whose fitness was in question before the series.
The verdict Stranger things have happened, but it is going to take something extraordinary for Pakistan to keep their undefeated record in Test series in the UAE in tact from this position. At least Shan Masood and Sami Aslam have made a positive start to the salvage effort.
