ABU DHABI // Ever wondered what your car would look like in pink with yellow stars painted on the side? This week you can find out.
Visitors to the Abu Dhabi International Motorshow, which opened at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) yesterday, have the chance to virtually modify one of 15 cars ranging from the Ferrari F458 to more mainstream 4x4s such as the Nissan Patrol and Lexus LX570.
The demonstration, at Al Hilal Bank stand, has a large touchscreen that allows users to pick any colour they like, and add custom graphics such as flames or stars. A picture of their fantasy vehicle can then be sent to them by e-mail.
Outside in the winter sunshine, the Al Ain Raceway has brought along some of its go-karts, and visitors can race around a 350-metre track for 15 minutes for Dh150. Tomorrow and Friday, the Emirati racing driver Khaled al Qubaisi will attempt to break the world indoor speed record, which stands at just over 132kph.
There is also a Red Bull Pit Stop, which features a genuine Formula One car chassis. Visitors can compete to change a tyre in the fastest time possible.
The motorshow is ready for an expected 50,000 visitors over the next five days, but some of the world's major manufacturers, notably the major German marques, are not present.
Peter McConnell, the show director, said about half of the region's most important car manufacturers had taken stands for the show. He added that the region's most important Japanese brands, including the world's biggest car maker, Toyota, were present.
eharnan@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
Results
2.15pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Hello, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihi (trainer).
2.45pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Right Flank, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,000m
Winner: Leading Spirit, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Jebel Ali Mile Group 3 Dh575,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,400m
Winner: Ode To Autumn, Patrick Cosgrave, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Shadwell Farm Conditions Dh125,000 1,200m
Winner: Last Surprise, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.
5.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,200m
Winner: Daltrey, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihi.
Sinopharm vaccine explained
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
