DUBAI // Rao Berenjian, who has been shooting arrows in Dubai for more than 20 years, fondly remembers when 250 archers would regularly compete in competitions in the emirate with equipment that was easily imported from overseas.
The problem these days, he says, is that there is no national archery federation to promote the sport and to create regulations allowing controlled access to equipment, which is now being destroyed or returned to its point of origin by Dubai customs officials.
That situation is likely to be corrected within the next four months as a national archery association is established. The group should be able to set rules for importing what could be deadly equipment, a fact Mr Berenjian acknowledges.
"I don't blame them," said Mr Berenjian, a co-founder of the Dubai Archers Club (DAC), of the customs agents. "The items are dangerous in the wrong hands. They have had some issues with air guns being misused and they have forbidden these items."
A campaign by authorities against dangerous items in recent months has included bows and arrows purchased by club members from international suppliers being confiscated when they reach Dubai. Imports of such items require prior permission from the Ministry of Interior's General Directorate for Criminal Security.
As cinema-goers flock to UAE screenings of the Hollywood movie Robin Hood, local archers are hoping the prowess of its protagonist will inspire imitators to get out of bed on a Friday morning and head to Sharjah Wanderers Golf Club, the DAC's base since the 2007 demolition of the Dubai Country Club. Its membership has shrunk to 70 from 250 since the move.
The DAC have areas for beginners as well as target ranges of between 10 metres and 90 metres set up around the golf course. They also have three-dimensional targets including fake deer, bears and turkeys.
Many archers cite movies such as Robin Hood as their inspiration.
"It had been like a dream for me for a long time," said Jalal Mouris. "I had been watching these films since I was young and then one day, three years ago, I asked myself why I wasn't just giving it a try."
He met up with the DAC and was hooked after the first session
"Some people do yoga - I find it gives similar [mental] benefits," he said.
"If I want the perfect shot then I have to focus. It's an individual sport, it's about you."
Officials are also doing their part to get young people interested in the sport.
A comprehensive archery programme in public and private schools began in 2002, said Ali Jasim, the manager of UAE Schools' Sports Association.
A national under-18 team comprising the best young archers in the country has already begun winning medals in regional competitions, he said.
A Dubai-funded scheme for the emirate's schools was also in the works, said Ahmad Abdul-Rahman, the project manager for the Prince Haya Initiative for the Development of Health, Physical Education and School Sports.
loatway@thenational.ae
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2015%20PRO%20MAX
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'Manmarziyaan' (Colour Yellow Productions, Phantom Films)
Director: Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal
Rating: 3.5/5
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
Pathaan
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The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Result:
1. Cecilie Hatteland (NOR) atop Alex - 31.46 seconds
2. Anna Gorbacheva (RUS) atop Curt 13 - 31.82 seconds
3. Georgia Tame (GBR) atop Cash Up - 32.81 seconds
4. Sheikha Latifa bint Ahmed Al Maktoum (UAE) atop Peanuts de Beaufour - 35.85 seconds
5. Miriam Schneider (GER) atop Benur du Romet - 37.53 seconds
6. Annika Sande (NOR) atop For Cash 2 - 31.42 seconds (4 penalties)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
