PARIS // Rafael Nadal sauntered through a hotel lobby in the centre of town, a bounce in his step and a black watch worth more than US$400,000 (Dh1.47million) strapped to his left wrist.
The gait was noteworthy because Nadal's much-scrutinised knees are doing quite well - they "are in a very good moment", is the way he put it. The timepiece, crafted by luxury watchmaker Richard Mille with Nadal's input, is noteworthy because he plans to wear it while playing at the French Open.
Paris in the springtime is usually Nadal's time to shine; he won the title each of the first four years he entered the clay-court event. In 2009, though, a busy schedule and battered knees took their toll and he lost at Roland Garros for the only time in 32 matches there. Now Nadal aims to start a new winning streak at the French Open, which begins tomorrow.
"I wanted a lot to be here, and I [am]. It's a personal satisfaction for me because I worked a lot to win another time," Nadal said on Thursday, shortly after flying to France from his home in Spain.
All the signs indicate that he is ready to do just that. After going 11 months without a tournament title, he has won three in a row.
After dealing with his leg and abdominal injuries last year, he is healthy. He is 15-0 on clay this year, and became the first man to win at Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid in the same season.
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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
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Company%20profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets