Saudi Arabia's Abha airport, pictured after it was attacked by Yemen's Houthi group in 2019. Reuters.
Saudi Arabia's Abha airport, pictured after it was attacked by Yemen's Houthi group in 2019. Reuters.
Saudi Arabia's Abha airport, pictured after it was attacked by Yemen's Houthi group in 2019. Reuters.
Saudi Arabia's Abha airport, pictured after it was attacked by Yemen's Houthi group in 2019. Reuters.

Saudi coalition intercepts more Houthi drones aimed at Abha Airport


Leila Gharagozlou
  • English
  • Arabic

The Saudi-led Coalition on Tuesday intercepted another explosive-laden drone launched in the direction of the kingdom’s Abha airport by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Debris from the drone was scattered across the airport after it was intercepted, a coalition spokesperson said.

The incident caused no casualties,  Al Arabiya TV reported.

The airport is in Saudi Arabia's south-west, around 100km from the Yemen border.

It was hit in another attack last week, which damaged a plane on the tarmac. There have been near-daily attacks by the Yemeni rebels on the kingdom over the last week.

The US, France and others have condemned the attacks on civilian infrastructure and civilians, and Washington said it would look at ways to boost the kingdom's defence capabilities.

The Saudi-led coalition has intercepted more than 345 ballistic missiles and 515 Houthi drones aimed at the country since 2015.

Several Houthi attacks on Abha Airport in June 2019 wounded dozens and killed a Syrian national.

The busy regional commercial airport is popular with tourists visiting the country’s south.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here

'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster

Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.

It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

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if you go

The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.

The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.

 

 

MATCH INFO

World Cup 2022 qualifier

UAE v Indonesia, Thursday, 8pm

Venue: Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai

UAE squad

Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.

UAE tour of Zimbabwe

All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

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Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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yallacompare profile

Date of launch: 2014

Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer

Based: Media City, Dubai 

Sector: Financial services

Size: 120 employees

Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)

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Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000