Abu Dhabi// France's 500 person military base in Abu Dhabi is expected to open this May, it was reported today.
President Nicolas Sarkozy will visit the UAE to inaugurate the base, French diplomatic sources were quoted as saying by the Asharaq Al-Awsat newspaper, according to Agence France-Presse.
The agreement between France and the UAE to house the base in Abu Dhabi was signed last year. It will be the first French base in the Gulf region and will host up to 500 army, navy and air force military personnel, facing the Strait of Hormuz.
It has also been reported that 150 navel personnel will be stationed at Abu Dhabi port.
The Saudi paper reported French diplomatic sources as saying that this is part of France's efforts to strengthen relations with countries in the area. The waterway borders Iran, Oman and the UAE and is the only nautical passage to the ocean in the region. It is estimated that 40 per cent of the world's marine transported oil passes through the strait, which narrows to only 54km wide at some points.
The French ambassador, Alain Azouaou, said in December that the region is becoming increasingly important to international security and that the base would provide a way for France to be "present where it should be present."
Military co-operation between France and the UAE was solidified with a mutual defence agreement signed in 1995. It is also one of several nations assisting the UAE with nuclear energy.
This is only the second military base operated by a Western country in the Gulf, excluding the United States.
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CREW
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SQUADS
UAE
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Mohamed Usman (vice-captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Tahir Mughal, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Abdul Shakoor, Sultan Ahmed, CP Rizwan
Nepal
Paras Khadka (captain), Gyanendra Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Pradeep Airee, Binod Bhandari, Avinash Bohara, Sundeep Jora, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Rohit Paudel, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Basant Regmi, Pawan Sarraf, Bhim Sharki, Aarif Sheikh
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
THURSDAY'S FIXTURES
4pm Maratha Arabians v Northern Warriors
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Meydan race card
6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
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7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh 190,000 1,400m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,200m
10pm: Handicap Dh 165,000 1,600m
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