ABU DHABI // The Middle East teams took a clean sweep of the major honours at Saturday’s Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) World Games, winning both the men’s and ladies’ events to be crowned the inaugural global champions.
Played under the lights at Zayed Sports City, a keenly contested all-Middle Eastern men’s Gaelic football final finished with Middle East 2 taking the title by seven points, defeating their No 1 team 4-13 to 1-15 to conclude the two-day event in the capital.
With each side comprising players from clubs spread across the region, friendships were put to one side for the showpiece fixture, which culminated in Joe Milea lifting the silverware for Middle East 2.
“I’m a little bit in shock, to be honest,” Milea said seconds after the final whistle. “It was a great game of football, with both teams very evenly matched. It could’ve gone either way right to the last moment – I can barely believe we’ve been fortunate to come out on top.
“I’m trying to get used to the feeling.”
The men’s final marked the conclusion of the first World Games, which featured 28 teams from across the globe, including sides based in North America, Canada, South America, Australasia, Europe and South Africa.
“It’s a great end to a great weekend,” Milea said.
“To win it is definitely one of the better GAA experiences I’ve ever had, that’s for sure.”
There was yet more regional success in the ladies’ World Cup, with Middle East 1 coming from behind to see off Australasia by two points, the “home” side winning 4-7 to 2-11.
Australasia began the match brilliantly and raced two goals up, but Middle East, made up of players from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Qatar, rallied in a stirring second-half display to seal the trophy. “It was such a tight game all the way through, but we’re just delighted to have hung on,” said Una Harkin, the Middle East 1 captain. “Every single person is ecstatic, we’re over the moon. Just can’t believe it – there are tears of joy, everything.
“The target was to get to the final and win it, and we’ve done that. Australasia are a strong team and we knew it’d be one of the hardest games we’ve ever come across, so to win is unbelievable.”
In the men’s Plate final, Canada defeated Europe 6-9 to 2-5, while in the ladies’ section Europe were again the vanquished, losing to New York 4-11 to 2-4.
Earlier, Argentina were crowned champions in the International Cup courtesy of an extra-time victory against Spain’s Galicia with the South Americans triumphing 1-4 to 0-4.
In the ladies’ International Cup final, Canada defeated the Middle East 3-7 to 3-4.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
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Cry Macho
Director: Clint Eastwood
Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam
Rating:**
SPECS
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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
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Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
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Essentials
The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Windhoek, with a combination of Emirates and Air Namibia, cost from US$790 (Dh2,902) via Johannesburg.
The trip
A 10-day self-drive in Namibia staying at a combination of the safari camps mentioned – Okonjima AfriCat, Little Kulala, Desert Rhino/Damaraland, Ongava – costs from $7,000 (Dh25,711) per person, including car hire (Toyota 4x4 or similar), but excluding international flights, with The Luxury Safari Company.
When to go
The cooler winter months, from June to September, are best, especially for game viewing.
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6
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Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
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Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
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Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
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- Golden circle - Dh995
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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
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Landfill in numbers
• Landfill gas is composed of 50 per cent methane
• Methane is 28 times more harmful than Co2 in terms of global warming
• 11 million total tonnes of waste are being generated annually in Abu Dhabi
• 18,000 tonnes per year of hazardous and medical waste is produced in Abu Dhabi emirate per year
• 20,000 litres of cooking oil produced in Abu Dhabi’s cafeterias and restaurants every day is thrown away
• 50 per cent of Abu Dhabi’s waste is from construction and demolition
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
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War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
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Brief scores:
Manchester City 2
Gundogan 27', De Bruyne 85'
Crystal Palace 3
Schlupp 33', Townsend 35', Milivojevic 51' (pen)
Man of the Match: Andros Townsend (Crystal Palace)
In numbers
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800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
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Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
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Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
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Business Insights
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THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
