Saudi Arabia has firmly taken the lead when it comes to big-time boxing and the latest spectacular Riyadh Season card comes from London on Saturday, September 21.
The kingdom has been hosting big fights for several years now but has started to take the Riyadh Season brand on tour, with this UK show following last month's outing in Los Angeles.
This weekend promises to be the most spectacular yet, with the event set to smash records at Wembley Stadium. Last month special dispensation was granted to increase capacity to 96,000 – a figure that will set a new national record for attendance at a boxing event in the UK.
With an all-British heavyweight blockbuster as main event and solid matchmaking all the way down the card, 'Riyadh Season: Wembley Edition' will be one of the best boxing events of the year.
Who is headlining?
Topping the bill is the all-British heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois – a fight that is especially exciting given that both men are in great form.
Joshua, 34, is a former two-time world title holder and will start as the favourite. He is on a four-fight winning streak since successive losses to Oleksandr Usyk and has looked impressive since linking up with new trainer Ben Davison. He outclassed Otto Wallin last year before annihilating Frances Ngannou in March.
Dubois, meanwhile, was also beaten by Usyk, but has bounced back in style with stoppage victories over Jarrell Miller and the previously unbeaten Filip Hrgovic.
Is the world title on the line?
The two men will fight for the IBF's version of the heavyweight title, currently held by Dubois.
Usyk claimed all four major belts (WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF) when beating Tyson Fury in May. However, the IBF stripped Usyk when he signed up for a Fury rematch rather than fight the winner of Dubois/Hrgovic.
Dubois holds the belt but didn't win it in the ring. Victory here would validate his status.
Joshua, meanwhile, is a former two-time unified champion having previously held the WBA, WBO and IBF belts before losing them to Andy Ruiz and reclaiming them in a rematch.
Victory would make him a three-time belt holder alongside Muhammad Ali, Michael Moorer, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield and Vitali Klitschko. Holyfield is the division's only four-time belt holder while Ali stands alone as the sport's only three-time lineal heavyweight champion.
What about the undercard?
The full card consists of six fights, topped by the Joshua/Dubois bout. The undercard is as follows:
Hamzah Sheeraz v Tyler Denny (European middleweight title)
Anthony Cacace v Josh Warrington (IBF super-featherweight title)
Joshua Buatsi v Willy Hutchinson (WBO interim light-heavyweight title)
Ishmael Davis v Josh Kelly (light-middleweight)
Mark Chamberlain v Josh Padley (lightweight)
What about fight week?
As is tradition, the fighters will take part in public workouts on Wednesday, a final press conference on Thursday and then weigh in on Friday, the day before the event.
What time does it start?
The broadcast will begin at 4pm on Saturday in the UK (7pm UAE).
What time are the ring walks for the main event?
Joshua and Dubois are expected to walk to the ring at around 10pm UK time (1am UAE). The fight will start shortly afterwards.
How can you watch?
The event is being shown in the UK on Sky Sports Box Office and TNT Sports Box Office, and worldwide – including the UAE – by streaming service DAZN.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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”
Need to know
When: October 17 until November 10
Cost: Entry is free but some events require prior registration
Where: Various locations including National Theatre (Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Cultural Center, Zayed University Promenade, Beach Rotana (Abu Dhabi), Vox Cinemas at Yas Mall, Sharjah Youth Center
What: The Korea Festival will feature art exhibitions, a B-boy dance show, a mini K-pop concert, traditional dance and music performances, food tastings, a beauty seminar, and more.
For more information: www.koreafestivaluae.com
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham v Ajax, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
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.
