With the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 so close yet so far for many of us, the UAE is an ideal location to experience the action outside the host country.
For the past week, an array of Dubai venues have been created or transformed in order to conjure up the mass excitement and camaraderie associated with being in a football stadium.
This is not really a surprise, because the UAE events sector is arguably the Maradona of its international peers.
For years, savvy operators have capitalised on global sporting events, from the NFL Super Bowl to Spain’s El Clasico matches, to create immersive viewing parties in a league of their own.
Such consistent form convinced four of my cousins to fly to the UAE from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Australia to watch the opening week’s matches in venues big and small.
We watched 10 matches in three days, in places ranging from the palatial to the intimate.
These three venues, in particular, offer a memorable experience.
For the mass vibes: BudX Fifa Fan Festival Dubai at Dubai Harbour
A fan zone officially associated with World Cup organisers Fifa, this is as close as we will get in the UAE to being in the stadium in terms of atmosphere.
Located on previously deserted gravel land in Dubai Harbour, the space resembles an oceanside music festival with several stages, food trucks, picnic areas and various pavilions.
The main stage at the centre is home to a large 330-square-metre screen with the kind of surround sound fit for an Imax theatre.
From the soft thud of the ball being kicked to the thunderous drumming of the Japanese fans during Wednesday's stunning match against Germany, the sound is clear and powerful.
Various kinds of comfortable seating is on offer, from large bean bags free with general admission tickets (recommended if you want to interact with other football fans) to the elevated and more private booths and couches that come with food and beverage packages.
As the tournament heats up expect the fan zone to increase its programming to include musical performances and appearances by football greats.
Such dynamic offerings make the BudX Fifa Fan Zone top of the league when it comes to a mass viewing experience.
Running until December 18; until 3am; from Dh79; Dubai Harbour; dubai.platinumlist.net
For elegance: The Arena at Palazzo Versace, Dubai
Qatar World Cup meets Dubai Bling in this lavish viewing venue.
Located in an exclusive Dubai creek-side space normally reserved for gala ceremonies and weddings, The Arena resembles a luxurious garden party with football and theatre performances thrown into the mix.
In a break between matches on screen, a series of performers ― from jazz singers to football jugglers ― feature on various stages across the site.
A special a la carte menu is served featuring refined takes of much-loved sports-viewing staples such as hotdogs and chicken wings.
Seating options range from a table of four to couches accommodating six to 10 people.
If you are serious about the game and want fewer distractions, a number of luxurious black leather recliner chairs are on offer near the screen.
Running until December 18. From 2pm until the end of the evening's final match. Entry begins from Dh180 minimum spend during the opening group stages; www.palazzoversace.ae
For the passion: Loca at Dubai Marine Beach Resort and Spa
The UAE’s many ethnically themed restaurants can also provide a stirring football watching experience.
Popular Mexican food spot Loca is an ideal place for watching matches featuring South American and Latin American teams.
Staff get into the spirit with members wearing dark football jerseys with names emblazoned on the back.
Loca was awash with supporters when attending the Mexico versus Poland match on Tuesday.
In addition to raucous chants, laughs and incessant groans from what was a close encounter, extra vibrancy was provided by a special World Cup menu of colourful favourites, including aromatic fajitas, hearty nachos and vegan-friendly quesadillas.
Loca at Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa. Monday to Sunday from 12pm to 2am; www.locauae.com
Where to watch Fifa World Cup 2022 games in fan zones in Dubai — in pictures
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UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
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Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
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Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
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Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
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HOSTS
T20 WORLD CUP
2024: US and West Indies; 2026: India and Sri Lanka; 2028: Australia and New Zealand; 2030: England, Ireland and Scotland
ODI WORLD CUP
2027: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia; 2031: India and
Bangladesh
CHAMPIONS TROPHY
2025: Pakistan; 2029: India
Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.
It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.
They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Porsche Taycan Turbo specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
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Range: 450km
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
