Douglas was swayed by Ronaldo

DUBAI // Douglas Dos Santos, Al Wasl's new playmaker, says his fellow-Brazilian Ronaldo's praise of Dubai convinced him to make the UAE his home for the next four years. Douglas, Ronaldo's teammate at Corinthians last season when they won the Brazilian Cup and the Sao Paulo state championship, has signed an US$8 million (Dh29.4m) deal with the club until 2013. The 27-year-old attacking midfielder arrived in Dubai last week to finalise the deal and was happy he accepted the former Real Madrid and Inter Milan striker's advice.

"Ronaldo is a great player, a phenomenon and playing alongside him is an honour I will never forget," he said. "When Ronaldo heard that I was in talks with a club in Dubai, he urged me to take up the offer, describing the beauty of this country and the quality of life here. "Ronaldo has been to Dubai many times and told me it was a very safe place, good to stay with your family. As soon as I landed here, I realized Ronaldo's advice was on target."

Douglas is Wasl's fourth foreign recruit of the season, with the club determined to avoid the disappointments of the last two season. After winning the league and President's Cup double in 2007, Wasl finished seventh in the next two seasons, going through four coaches in a particularly chaotic campaign last year. They have a new coach at the helm now, Brazil's Alexandre Guimaraes, who has brought in Panamanian international striker Blas Perez after his impressive performances in the 2009 Concacaf Gold Cup.

The services of Brazilian Alexander Oliveira, who has been with the club since 2004, have been retained, but his compatriot Rogerinho has been farmed out to Fortaleza Esporte Clube, Brazil, on loan. "I know this is a big change for me, but I am happy to be here and looking forward to the start of the season," added Douglas. "I have really been heartened by the reception I have received here from the fans. I can assure you this is a lot better than what I got at Corinthians. So my target here will be to make the fans happy, just as they have made me feel so welcome here."

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COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Almnssa

Started: August 2020

Founder: Areej Selmi

Based: Gaza

Sectors: Internet, e-commerce

Investments: Grants/private funding

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: HyperSpace

Started: 2020

Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Entertainment

Number of staff: 210

Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Business Insights

Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs

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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

While you're here

Mohammed Altajir: Why crypto is going mainstream and what it means for the UAE

Antoine Kanaan: Is Iran using Bitcoin to get around US sanctions?

Nick March: The bust is coming sooner than you think

India to propose law banning cryptocurrencies

Moonfall

Director: Rolan Emmerich

Stars: Patrick Wilson, Halle Berry

Rating: 3/5

While you're here

Andrew Wilks: Turkey’s promised reforms could recast US relations under Biden administration

David Lepeska: How two 16th-century pirates inspired Erdogan's foreign policy

Con Coughlin: Grandstanding in Turkey leads to terrorism in France

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.

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Company%20Profile

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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)