Professional athletes know that strength and endurance are critical to a successful career. If you are also a practising Muslim and fasting during the daylight hours of Ramadan, you will need extra psychological and physical stamina to get through the month.
Despite being one of the largest faith-based groups in the UK, the Muslim community has traditionally struggled for representation in British sports across national teams and lower leagues, but that is changing.
Some of the best players in the football Premier League are Muslim. Mo Salah, Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez, to name a few on the pitch. British Muslim cricketers Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid are near the top of their field.
Rugby has become the latest to embrace the diversity of its teams after the Rugby Football League (RFL) became the first national governing body to sign the Muslim Athlete Charter, a set of principles on how to better support and encourage sportspeople who practise Islam.
It has been welcomed from grass roots to professional level. The manager of the Midlands Hurricanes rugby team told The National he was “very happy and surprised” with the RFL’s endorsement.
“It’s a really positive step forward for rugby and it gets people talking and being more open about their religion,” says Darren Ivor Morson.
A practising Muslim of more than 20 years, the former rugby player from Wales said inclusivity initiatives, such as the charter, helped break stereotypes around what it means to be a Muslim.
Developed with religious scholars, athletes and sports clubs, the charter’s manifesto includes 10 things that teams can do to create a more hospitable environment for Muslim players.
They include provisions like, guaranteeing that Muslim players have proper venues to worship, offering halal meals, and allowing Muslim competitors to fast without judgement or hindrance throughout Ramadan.
Founder of Nujum Sports, the non-profit organisation that created the charter, told The National the RFL’s endorsement was a huge win for the people he was trying to represent.
“With the Rugby League World cup in November we will have players coming from all over the world and it’s important that those arriving come to an environment that welcomes them,” says Ebadur Rahman.
More than 50 clubs across cricket, football and rugby have already adopted the charter, which provides professional bodies with toolkits and advice, including Queens Park Rangers, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Middlesex County Cricket Club and the Football Association of Wales.
Recognising the contribution of Muslim athletes in sports both on and off the field, the RFL said the governing body was “sending a positive message” on the importance of creating a “truly inclusive environment” for everyone.
Since sharing posts about the news on his social media channels, Mr Morson said he had received a lot of positive support from his team after they realised he was fasting.
“It’s hard to talk about religion, especially in a sport like rugby but since I’ve posted online the players have been really supportive and kind, even hiding their food when they realised I’m fasting."
He has also had Muslim rugby players he did not know become closer to him, creating a helpful camaraderie.
“It’s brought players together to start talking and the more of that, the better. By seeing this charter, the conversation gets started and so far it has been all positive reactions.”
After the anti-racist Black Lives Matter movement and the shocking racism scandal that rocked English cricket, clubs and leagues across the UK have been adopting a number of anti-discrimination and inclusivity measures.
Accusations by former spin bowler Azeem Rafiq against Yorkshire for failing to adequately deal with the abuse he suffered while playing for the county side led to the setting up of a committee of MPs to investigate the sport.
The committee’s report was released in January and the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), who gave evidence during the investigation, have been developing an action plan to tackle racism and promote inclusion within the sport.
The RFL said the charter reinforced their commitments under "Tackle It", the game’s own antiracism, anti-discrimination action plan.
For Mr Rahman, the latest signatory to the charter is a “positive movement of solidarity, equality and recognition of the contribution Muslims” in their sports teams.
Launched in 2020, Nujum Sports aims to “support and empower” Muslim athletes and drive their inclusion in sports.
“We work with clubs and sporting organisations to build a mutual and positive understanding of Muslim athletes and Islam,” he says.
“Fasting for 15 hours a day can be a struggle, especially for athletes who are required to stay in peak physical condition.”
The shorter time available to eat means most Muslims change their meal frequency from three to two meals a day.
“For larger clubs, with dedicated nutritionists, designing a plan based on two meals is essential, ensuring players get all the required nutrients in one less meal.”
He advises smaller clubs to be tolerant of a slight dip in performance levels and Mr Rahman’s organisation has been handing out Ramadan packs with advice, sustenance and some comfort.
In a signature black-and-gold box, Nujum Sports sent out supplies that included, nutritional advice, a prayer mat, dates and Zamzam water, to every Muslim cricketer, footballer and rugby league player as “token of support and appreciation”.
“Sometimes athletes, especially footballers, don’t have family here and Ramadan is typically a time to spend with family," Mr Rahman tells The National.
“So many players have told us it’s nice to feel remembered or considered, a lot of these players are often far away from home so getting a box like this is helpful for them, they’re human beings at the end of the day."
Nujum Sports has also been running workshops on how to best support players across sporting arenas including the Middlesex County Cricket Club and the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd, which includes the Football Association, the Premier League and the English Football League.
The knowledge gained during these workshops will be useful for a long time to come given that Ramadan falls during the football season for the next 20 years.
Last year, during Leicester City's match against Crystal Palace, the game was paused to allow Wesley Fofana, Cheikhou Kouyate and Jordan Ayew to break their fast.
It is understood to be the first time a Premier League game has been stopped mid-match to allow Muslim players to do so but Mr Rahman advocates for this to be for all matches taking place at dusk during Ramadan, if there are Muslim players on the pitch.
Holding an iftar for Muslim players is another way clubs can show their support as well as being "an excellent chance for team building and organisational bonding", he says.
Cricket is of course by far the most renowned staples of the sporting prowess within the British Muslim community and the sport’s governing authority has also taken steps to offer support for fasting players.
Ahead of Ramadan the ECB produced content from several high-profile Muslim cricketers with advice on how to sustain their professional and spiritual practises during Ramadan as part of their “Changing the Game” series.
International cricketer Moeen Ali said he got his body ready for the holy month by fasting for a day or two a week in the run-up to Ramadan.
“When I was younger I used to say I couldn’t fast and play but it’s not true, you can. It’s amazing what your body can do and go through,” said Ali, who is an ambassador of the Muslim Athletes Charter.
Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire and England batsman Haseeb Hameed stressed the importance of hydration during non-fasting hours.
“Get inasmuch as you can. It might not always feel comfortable in the sense that you don’t feel like drinking but you have to because you know it’s the right thing to do,” said the right-handed opener.
“It seems like quite a big ask but the special thing about [Ramadan] is you get obviously the massive spirituality, but you are best with a certain level of discipline which allows you to get through.”
Also observing Ramadan this month is Yorkshire and England spinner Rashid, who said commitment to the team remained paramount.
“If the team is training, whether I’m fasting or not, I still have to train with the team but I just keep them aware that I’m fasting to make things a little easier,” said Rashid, who is another ambassador of the charter.
Across county grounds and national stadiums, cricket has been embracing its significant Muslim presence in a manner of ways. After the success of last year’s Ramadan Midnight Cricket League launch, Warwickshire Cricket Board have now developed a new adult tournament to take place during this year’s holy month.
England’s famous Edgbaston Cricket Centre will extend its opening times until midnight during Ramadan this year and, for the second time in its history, play host to outdoor Eid celebrations for up to 3,000 people at the end of April.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
UAE%20medallists%20at%20Asian%20Games%202023
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
UAE%20PREMIERSHIP
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Dubai World Cup draw
1. Gunnevera
2. Capezzano
3. North America
4. Audible
5. Seeking The Soul
6. Pavel
7. Gronkowski
8. Axelrod
9. New Trails
10. Yoshida
11. K T Brave
12. Thunder Snow
13. Dolkong
Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
More on Yemen's civil war
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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Monster Hunter: World
Capcom
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
EA Sports FC 24
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 720hp
Torque: 770Nm
Price: Dh1,100,000
On sale: now
AIDA%20RETURNS
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The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
WWE World Heavyweight Championship AJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho
Singles match John Cena v Triple H
Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v tba
The%20specs
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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
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The bio
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France
Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines
Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.
Favourite Author: My father for sure
Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
AVOID SCAMMERS: TIPS FROM EMIRATES NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
Company%20Profile
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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.”
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
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
The%20specs
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Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
