ABU DHABI// The flags are flying, the banners are up and the grass is mown for tonight's opening ceremony of the Fifa Club World Cup.
After a dazzling opening ceremony, the UAE champions, Al Wahda football club will take on Papua New Guinea's Hekari United tonight in the capital's Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.
Over 11 days, Abu Dhabi will see some of the world's best players take to the pitch. By December 18, one of the seven teams will be crowned Club World Champions.
It is the second time the tournament has been held in Abu Dhabi. After last year's competition - when the FC Barcelona games were sold out but there were empty seats at every other game - Fifa officials told the local organisers that they needed to do more to get fans into the stadiums.
Having an Abu Dhabi team, rather than Dubai's Al Ahli, who competed last year, should help. "It adds to the local enthusiasm," said Chuck Blazer, a member of the Fifa executive committee.
With a bit of luck Al Wahda might stay in the tournament longer, too. Last year, Al Ahli were knocked out by New Zealand's Auckland City in the first round - and local interest dwindled for all but the Barcelona games.
Yesterday, the local organising committee met Fifa officials to explain the progress that had been made since last year. "It allowed us to put the final pieces of our preparations in place," said Mohammed Khalfan al Rumaithi, the president of the UAE Football Association.
Efforts to raise the profile of the event kicked off as long ago as September, with hundreds of children across the country taking part in football workshops.
The Football Village on the Corniche has drawn more than 200,000 fans since it opened. "It helped our aspiring young talent to hone their skills," he added.
The "village" is now set up outside the two stadiums where matches will be held - Al Jazira's home ground, the Mohammed bin Zayed stadium, and Zayed Sports City.
Also at the grounds, there will be live entertainment, fan shops and food stalls.
To cope with the hoped-for crowds, there will be strict traffic restrictions around the stadiums during the games. Vehicles without a car parking pass will not be allowed near the venues.
Instead, fans are being encouraged to use free "park and ride" services, as well as public bus and taxis. For the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, the park and ride facilities are in Mushrif park. Zayed Stadium's park and ride will be based at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Abu Dhabi Police have promised they will crack down on dangerous driving for the duration of the tournament. Colonel Hussain Ahmed al Harthy, the head of traffic police, called on fans to stay inside their cars and not hang from the windows when celebrating a win.
He said they would face prosecution, as would anyone doing handbrake turns or skids.
Gates will open two hours prior to each match.
As Al Wahda are the local team, they must qualify against Hekari United for a place in the quarter finals against the Asian champions, South Korea's Seongnam Ilhwa FC, on December 11 at Zayed Sports City.
At the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on December 10, the African champions, the Congolese club TP Mazembe, will face Pachuca from Mexico, the North American champions.
If Al Wahda come through two games they will meet the European champions Inter Milan at Zayed Sports City on December 14 in the first semi-final.
The following day, the South American champions, SC Internacional do Porto Alegre from Brazil - a squad brimming with international players - will face TP Mazembe or Pachuca at the same venue.
Tickets prices start from Dh20 for the first three matches, and Dh70 for the final.
No food or alcohol is allowed into the stadiums and neither are vuvuzelas, the buzzing trumpets that blighted this year's World Cup in South Africa. It follows a fatwa earlier this year that decreed the horns haram if they were louder than 100 decibels. Mr Blazer, said: "After sitting though many games with them, I am very happy they are not here."
eharnan@thenational.ae
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: N2 Technology
Founded: 2018
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Startups
Size: 14
Funding: $1.7m from HNIs
Results
6pm: Dubai Trophy – Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner: Silent Speech, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby
(trainer)
6.35pm: Jumeirah Derby Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (T)
1,800m
Winner: Island Falcon, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
7.10pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Dirt)
1,400m
Winner: Rawy, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
7.45pm: Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Desert Fire, Hector Crouch, Saeed bin Suroor
8.20pm: Al Fahidi Fort – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Naval Crown, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.55pm: Dubawi Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Al Tariq, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watsons
9.30pm: Aliyah – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Dubai Icon, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
Fitness problems in men's tennis
Andy Murray - hip
Novak Djokovic - elbow
Roger Federer - back
Stan Wawrinka - knee
Kei Nishikori - wrist
Marin Cilic - adductor
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
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.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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
Company%20Profile
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PSG's line up
GK: Alphonse Areola (youth academy)
Defence - RB: Dani Alves (free transfer); CB: Marquinhos (€31.4 million); CB: Thiago Silva (€42m); LB: Layvin Kurzawa (€23m)
Midfield - Angel di Maria (€47m); Adrien Rabiot (youth academy); Marco Verratti (€12m)
Forwards - Neymar (€222m); Edinson Cavani (€63m); Kylian Mbappe (initial: loan; to buy: €180m)
Total cost: €440.4m (€620.4m if Mbappe makes permanent move)
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
The Limehouse Golem
Director: Juan Carlos Medina
Cast: Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy, Douglas Booth
Three stars
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
