ABU DHABI // When the Fifa Club World Cup kicks off in the capital tomorrow, Jassim al Ameri will be giving up more than a few hours with his family to be part of it.
The 32-year-old father of two will also sacrifice a big chunk of his annual leave to work as a volunteer area manager in the tournament's accreditation centre.
Taking part in the World Cup will be the champions from six continents, including Italy's Inter Milan and South Korea's Seongnam. Al Wahda will represent the UAE in tomorrow's opening match against Hekari United from Papua New Guinea.
Mr al Ameri has been hard at work since November 26.
"I've had only one day off, which was National Day," he said. "Every other day, we are working 10am to 10pm."
The petroleum engineer is one of 450 Emiratis who will be making sure the event runs smoothly as part of Takatof, the volunteering programme run by the Emirates Foundation.
When fans arrive at the airport, the volunteers will be there to help them get to their hotels. They will be at the stadiums, too, to guide visitors to their seats.
"I love to help my country," said Mr al Ameri. "It gives us a lot of things and we have to pay it back."
Hamad al Mhyas, a 31-year-old forensic geneticist from Abu Dhabi, said he wanted to show the country in a good light.
"Some people have their own impressions of people from here," he said. "They all think we live in big houses and spend all our money. I've lived for many years abroad and some have the wrong impression about us."
He said the 10-day tournament was an exciting time for him. "You get to improve your communications with people and improve your own qualities," he added.
For the duration of the tournament, he will do a full day in his government job, finishing at 2pm but staying on to deal with Fifa-related e-mails. From there, he will head to the tournament headquarters at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, where he will work until 10 each night.
"You constantly meet people from different countries, parts of Abu Dhabi and other emirates here. I see people who really want to do this."
As well as supervising the Football Village on the Corniche, he is also in charge of marketing and rights for the tournament, and of its media centre.
"We have volunteers all over the place and it's my job to look after the volunteers [to] make sure everything runs smoothy."
All that means he will be on his feet for at least six hours each match day.
"We had to wear trainers last year with our kandouras and I'm advising everyone else to do it this year."
During matches he will be on the lookout for any unofficial advertisers. Last year, that job put him in the unenviable position of having to tell some fans that their flags, logos and even company pins were not allowed past the gate.
"Team flags and logos with sponsors that are not official Fifa sponsors are not allowed in. When you talk to people from different nationalities and countries, you have to be very delicate with them and explain it."
Mr al Ameri and Mr al Mhyas have both volunteered before.
Mr al Ameri worked as a marshal at Abu Dhabi's two grands prix. Over the three days of each race weekend, he was stationed at the airport to welcome fans to the country.
"I don't have much time to sleep but I love to volunteer and help my country to make it successful," he said.
Mr al Mhyas has been more focused, volunteering at every international football event in the UAE since the Gulf Cup opening ceremony in 1994.
There is a downside to that focus: volunteers are not necessarily stationed at good vantage points for watching the matches.
Mr al Mhyas is determined to see some of the action, though.
"This year, I hope to see the final and semi," he said.
eharnan@thenational.ae
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
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Based: Dubai, UAE
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
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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
Sri Lanka squad for tri-nation series
Angelo Mathews (c), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Janith Perera, Thisara Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Shehan Madushanka, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan and Wanidu Hasaranga
Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.
Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.
The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.
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Fixtures
Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms
Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles
Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon
Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon
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Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
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West Indies v England ODI series:
West Indies squad: Jason Holder (c), Fabian Allen, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas.
Fixtures:
1st ODI - February 20, Bridgetown
2nd ODI - February 22, Bridgetown
3rd ODI - February 25, St George's
4th ODI - February 27, St George's
5th ODI - March 2, Gros Islet
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Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
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Engine 6.9-litre twin-turbo W12
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
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Fuel economy, combined 14.0L / 100km
ULTRA PROCESSED FOODS
- Carbonated drinks, sweet or savoury packaged snacks, confectionery, mass-produced packaged breads and buns
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CHELSEA'S NEXT FIVE GAMES
Mar 10: Norwich(A)
Mar 13: Newcastle(H)
Mar 16: Lille(A)
Mar 19: Middlesbrough(A)
Apr 2: Brentford(H)