Thousands throng for Abu Dhabi spectacular at Zayed Sports City



ABU DHABI // Although the official National Day ceremony was not scheduled to start until 5pm, thousands of waiting spectators were kept busy from 3pm with endless military and police shows.

People stood in lines before doors even opened at 2pm eager to be one of the first to enter the Zayed Sports City stadium where they were promised an unforgettable night beside all the seven rulers of Emirates.

At 3.30pm the stadium was already half packed. Children sat with their parents waving UAE flags to shows on stage. While boys wore wigs and hats covered in the flag colours, girls wore UAE scarfs and decorated Abayas.

First on stage was a military music orchestra, including males and females, all moving in synchrony. A live police dog show followed with a demonstration of how the dogs have been trained to attack.

Umm Mohamed, who had the UAE flag painted on her cheek, said she stood with her family from 2pm at the door to be let in.

"It was so busy in the morning, we had to go from gate to gate," she said. "I cannot even begin to describe to you the feeling. We have already given our children the background of the events and the union, and they are living the experience with us."

Umm, who is from the Al Reyamli family, arrived with the Al Hamli, and Al Qubaisi families, each originally from different emirate, but who today wanted to sit side by side.

"We are all one family," she said.

osalem@thenational.ae

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The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

Power: 181hp

Torque: 230Nm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Starting price: Dh79,000

On sale: Now

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Company%20Profile
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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
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
The specs

  Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now

SPECS

Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
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Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
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Business Insights
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  • 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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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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