Chloe Kelly hopes a sojourn to the sunshine of Abu Dhabi can rejuvenate Manchester City Women's title tilt ahead of the resumption of the Women's Super League.
Kelly, 26, has been enjoying a winter training camp in the UAE capital along with her teammates while the WSL is in its mid-season break.
City sit second in the table, six points behind Chelsea after 10 games.
England striker Kelly said the warm weather in Abu Dhabi was preferable to conditions back home in Manchester, where temperatures have dropped to below freezing.
“The winter training camp is very important and the warm weather is great for us, better than being in the snow in Manchester,” she said on the sidelines of the team's promotional shoot at Emirates Palace.
“It's great for the team to get together for a long duration and work hard in training in the warm weather, but also off the pitch. It's a lot of bonding time.
“I spent some time in Dubai over Christmas so it was nice to come over here and spend some time in Abu Dhabi. It's a great place and I love it here. It’s my first time here.”
Gareth Taylor, City Women’s first team manager, said the weather and facilities were ideal preparation ahead of a return to domestic action against Ipswich Town in the FA Cup on Sunday.
“I think it's obviously the break in the season for us, so it's kind of really nice to be able to come away and get warm weather training,” he said.
“You guys probably won't know, but today has been a lot of snow in Manchester so it brings with it issues of training. So, to be able to come here to a really good facility, really warm people in the UAE that have really welcomed us, and to also have conditions like this with the weather is amazing for us to try and come back together again and get ready for a busy second half of the season.”
Taylor welcomed the break as an opportunity to rest and recover, before getting ready for the push of the second half of the season. He also lamented that, as the WSL grows, a busier schedule may make it harder to give players time off mid-season.
“So, at this moment in time, I think in the WSL it's a nice feature to have that break but I think over the next few years it's going to change. I think there's going to be more teams, more games, less time off in the summer, so we'll see,” he added.
Kelly has endured a tough time this season so far, having only started once in 10 games while she recovers from concussion.
She is in the last six months of her contract at City, but said she was "not in a position to comment" when asked by The National whether she could move on before the transfer window closes on January 30.
Instead Kelly chose to focus on the club's prospects this season.
“Obviously a great club to be with a lot of great players. We know the success that the club should have and I think there's a lot more that we can do to add some more trophies," she added.
“This season's been a little disappointing for me in terms of game time but I'm working hard to be the best version of myself every day.”
Despite her lack of game time, Kelly hopes to be included in the England squad for their European Championship title defence this summer. Kelly was the heroine of the Lionesses' squad that won the 2022 Euros when she netted the winning goal against Germany in the final.
“The Euro is in the summer so it's very exciting for all English talent and also all European talent across the squad. It's a very exciting summer coming up.”
With Khadija (Bunny) Shaw, the leading scorer with nine goals in the WSL, and Lauren Hemp both injured, Kelly’s return to action could be crucial in City's pursuit of a first WSL title.
“They are two great players that were lost due to injury, but hopefully they'll be back on the pitch and flying soon and I'm excited for their comeback,” Kelly said.
“We are looking forward after the break, going into the next game. I’m ready for opportunities and a chance to get better during this window and we're excited for what's to come.”
City suffered final day heartbreak last season when they lost out on the WSL title to Chelsea on goal difference.
This season City are fighting on four fronts: the WSL, League Cup, FA Cup and the Uefa Women's Champions League. Taylor said playing so many games meant injuries to key players, which has taken its toll.
“We would hope that if we can get through this period and hopefully get some of those players back,” he said.
“The players we are missing, the likes of Bunny Shaw, Alex Greenwood, and Lauren Hemp, they're very big players for us. So, we'll see. It gives us hopefully a little bit of time without them but hopefully they can come back soon.”
As part of their trip to Abu Dhabi, the City Women’s first team took part in a Girls’ Open Day organised by City Football Schools, which is now in its 12th year. More than 300 young players took part in competitive matches and training sessions held at the 321 Sports facility on Al Hudayriyat Island.
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According to Simon Hewitt, head of Football Operations for City Football Middle East, the event was a chance to showcase the development of girls' and women's football in the UAE.
“We have had a phenomenal turnout with something for everyone – exactly how football should be,” he said.
“Everything from our competitive matches to the inclusive training sessions has been held in a fun and encouraging environment with lots of smiles on the faces of those taking part.
“To cap things off with the opportunity see the Manchester City s first team in action has left everyone inspired and keen to get back on the pitch as soon as possible.”
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Company info
Company name: Entrupy
Co-founders: Vidyuth Srinivasan, co-founder/chief executive, Ashlesh Sharma, co-founder/chief technology officer, Lakshmi Subramanian, co-founder/chief scientist
Based: New York, New York
Sector/About: Entrupy is a hardware-enabled SaaS company whose mission is to protect businesses, borders and consumers from transactions involving counterfeit goods.
Initial investment/Investors: Entrupy secured a $2.6m Series A funding round in 2017. The round was led by Tokyo-based Digital Garage and Daiwa Securities Group's jointly established venture arm, DG Lab Fund I Investment Limited Partnership, along with Zach Coelius.
Total customers: Entrupy’s customers include hundreds of secondary resellers, marketplaces and other retail organisations around the world. They are also testing with shipping companies as well as customs agencies to stop fake items from reaching the market in the first place.
The biog
Name: Mohammed Imtiaz
From: Gujranwala, Pakistan
Arrived in the UAE: 1976
Favourite clothes to make: Suit
Cost of a hand-made suit: From Dh550
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
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SPEC%20SHEET
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
SCORES IN BRIEF
Lahore Qalandars 186 for 4 in 19.4 overs
(Sohail 100,Phil Salt 37 not out, Bilal Irshad 30, Josh Poysden 2-26)
bt Yorkshire Vikings 184 for 5 in 20 overs
(Jonathan Tattersall 36, Harry Brook 37, Gary Ballance 33, Adam Lyth 32, Shaheen Afridi 2-36).
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
The five pillars of Islam
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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UAE SQUAD FOR ASIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP
Men’s squad: Faisal Al Ketbi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Kathiri, Thiab Al Nuaimi, Khaled Al Shehhi, Mohamed Ali Al Suwaidi, Farraj Khaled Al Awlaqi, Muhammad Al Ameri, Mahdi Al Awlaqi, Saeed Al Qubaisi, Abdullah Al Qubaisi and Hazaa Farhan
Women's squad: Hamda Al Shekheili, Shouq Al Dhanhani, Balqis Abdullah, Sharifa Al Namani, Asma Al Hosani, Maitha Sultan, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Maha Al Hanaei, Shamma Al Kalbani, Haya Al Jahuri, Mahra Mahfouz, Marwa Al Hosani, Tasneem Al Jahoori and Maryam Al Amri
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
More coverage from the Future Forum
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Australia tour of Pakistan
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
The biog
Name: Sarah Al Senaani
Age: 35
Martial status: Married with three children - aged 8, 6 and 2
Education: Masters of arts in cultural communication and tourism
Favourite movie: Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
Favourite hobbies: Art and horseback ridding
Occupation: Communication specialist at a government agency and the owner of Atelier
Favourite cuisine: Definitely Emirati - harees is my favourite dish
