Stars in supercars tackle 20km hill in Jebel Jais for Gumball 3000

The 23rd Gumball 3000 Rally is the first to be held in the Middle East.

The annual celebrity car race, which was founded in 1999 by British entrepreneur Maximillion Cooper, takes thousands of high-speed motors on a journey around the world.

Its first regional outing began on Saturday with a live concert for "Gumballers" and fans, before the team dropped the flag in Downtown Dubai and started the adventure.

The route took drivers to Oman with stops in Jebel Akhdar, Salalah and Muscat and on Thursday they hit Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah for a 20-kilometre hill climb.

More than 100 supercars, grid cars and celebrity drivers sped through the winding roads as spectators looked on from the Jebel Jais viewing deck.

On Friday, the crew head to Abu Dhabi for a weekend of VIP hospitality at the Yas Marina Circuit, where the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is marking the finale of the 2022 Formula 1 season.

Rally fans will be able to watch the cars cross the finish line at the W Hotel on the practice day of the final race.

The Gumball team will then host parties throughout the weekend and award the Spirit of Gumball Trophy at the Gumball Awards.

The idea for the Gumball Rally, the name for which comes from the 1976 film of the same name, began in May 1999, when Cooper invited some influential friends on a "road trip" across Europe, hosting parties attended by the likes of Kate Moss, Jamiroquai, Kylie Minogue, Tony Hawk and Johnny Knoxville.

It soon became a must-do on the annual calendar among the social elite, according to the society pages at the time. It then evolved into a popular brand and global entertainment company and Gumball 3000 is now a collection of companies that includes an apparel brand and a registered charity.

It's still best known as the annual 3,000-mile (4,828km) international celebrity motor rally, which takes place on public roads all around the world.

Scroll through the gallery below to see F1 drivers arriving in Abu Dhabi for the Grand Prix this weekend

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

Bio

Born in Dubai in 1994
Her father is a retired Emirati police officer and her mother is originally from Kuwait
She Graduated from the American University of Sharjah in 2015 and is currently working on her Masters in Communication from the University of Sharjah.
Her favourite film is Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro

Tuesday's fixtures

Group A

Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm

Iran v Uzbekistan, 8pm

N Korea v UAE, 10.15pm

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India squad for fourth and fifth Tests

Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rahul, Shaw, Pujara, Rahane (vc), Karun, Karthik (wk), Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Pandya, Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Bumrah, Thakur, Vihari

TOURNAMENT INFO

Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier

Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November

UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi

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Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

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Countries offering golden visas

UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.

Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.

Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.

Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.

Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.