Football's Gulf Cup returns to Iraq to much fanfare on Friday, with Iraqis hoping the tournament in Basra can help to spur a national recovery after four troubled decades.
But the event has run into controversy just days ahead of its opening ceremony.
It has been marred by allegations of mishandling ticket sales, unpopular attempts by authorities to cordon off informal settlements and calls by Islamists to ban singing and dancing.
The 25th Gulf Cup is the first major football tournament to be hosted by the war-scarred Iraq in more than 40 years.
It will run from January 6 to 19, with teams from Iraq, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Yemen competing for the cup.
Iraqi fans are excited for the tournament to start. The country last played host in 1979 in Baghdad — when it won one of its three tournament trophies.
Tickets sold at 10 times the price
Late last month, Iraq launched online ticket sales in four categories, with prices ranging from $10 to $30.
Since not all the fans are able to buy tickets online, direct sales through travel agencies in Basra were also launched to cover high demand.
However, many fans say tickets are still out of reach at the official price, with thousands have been channelled to the black market.
Some say prices hit as much as $300 to $400 for VIP seats for the opening ceremony.
Ahmed Al Iraqi has been travelling daily from his hometown Qurna, about 80km northwest of Basra, to buy a ticket, but has yet been unable to buy one.
“We visited several travel agencies but after queuing for several hours they say they run out of tickets,” Mr Al Iraqi, 29, told The National.
“When we get in touch with them on messaging apps or through dealers, they offer tickets at high prices as much as tenfold [the official price].
“If immediate measures are not taken by authorities to tackle this issue, it will definitely ruin Iraq’s reputation.”
Others such as Mustafa Mohammed had no choice only to pay what the dealers asked for.
“I spent hours and hours queuing and got nothing so I bought a ticket for 60,000 Iraqi dinar [about $40], which should have been priced at 15,000 Iraqi dinar [about $10],” Mr Mohammed, 30, added.
But not all fans have had such problems — Mahdi Riyadh said he secured three tickets as soon as online selling started.
"It was easy, like counting from one to ten", Mr Riyadh, 23, told The National. "I was lucky enough to get the tickets for the opening ceremony. It is nice to introduce the online selling for the first time in Iraq."
Iraqi Football Federation spokesman Yousif Faal confirmed that tickets are being sold at the black market.
Mr Faal said the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation granted tickets sale rights to a British company, meaning Iraq cannot control the flow of tickets.
“It’s a new experience for us,” he told The National. “The demand is high and seats are limited and there are people who exploit such situation to make money.”
Iraq's National Security Service warned on Monday it would chase the dealers, announcing the arrest of at least on person in Basra who was selling tickets at eight times the normal price.
Screens to cover settlements
Amid the chaos and lawlessness that engulfed Iraq after the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, sprawling informal settlements sprung up, occupying in government properties and parks.
There are about 3,700 informal settlements across Iraq, according to Iraqi Ministry of Planning.
Baghdad has the largest share of about 1,000 informal settlements followed by Basra with 700 ones, the ministry’s figures show.
Many of these settlements are located in central Basra and can be seen while traveling in the city’s main roads and near stadiums.
Now local authorities are erecting metal screens and wooden panels to ensure the settlements are hidden from Gulf Cup visitors, sparking criticism from citizens.
“Are we a source of shame in this city?” said Hassan Ismael, a dweller in Al Kawthar settlement near Al Minaa Olympic Stadium, one of two avenues where matches will take place.
Mr Ismael, 28, lives in a nearly 125 square meter structure with his 12-member family. A new wall has isolated the settlement, covering his store which rents out construction equipment.
“The shame is that they have not solved this problem untlil now. They should have used that money to help us by giving lots and financial aid to build small houses,” the father-of-two said.
The local government would not divulge the total cost of the walls, but former minister and politician from Basra Wail Abdul Latif put the number at 480 billion Iraqi dinar (about $311 million) during an interview with a local TV station.
Basra Governor Asaad Al Eidani defended the move in an interview with state TV on Monday, calling the move a way of “beatifying the city”.
Organisers have also faced calls from some religious leaders to ban singing and dancing at the tournament.
The strongest comments came from Sheik Hadi Al Shawki who's affiliated to the Sadrist Movement, a political group enjoys the backing in influential Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr.
“Singing is prohibited in Islam and our traditions,” Mr Shawki said to worshippers during Friday sermon. “Since that 97 per cent of the population are Muslims then it is obligatory to respect that identity.”
He suggested to start the ceremony with verses from the holy Quran “since all participating countries are Muslim”.
He also criticised men and women being allowed to mingle inside stadiums.
Ahmed Aqeel disagrees.
"For centuries, Basra is seen as a city of love and coexistence," Mr Aqeel, 54, said. "We know Islam teachings very well and it is not a violation when we want to have a decent ceremony.
"We will celebrate the event the way we love."
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PREMIER LEAGUE STATS
Romelu Lukaku's goalscoring statistics in the Premier League
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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
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- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
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Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
History's medical milestones
1799 - First small pox vaccine administered
1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery
1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases
1895 - Discovery of x-rays
1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time
1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1953 - Structure of DNA discovered
1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place
1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill
1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.
1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out
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Day 3, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Just three balls remained in an exhausting day for Sri Lanka’s bowlers when they were afforded some belated cheer. Nuwan Pradeep, unrewarded in 15 overs to that point, let slip a seemingly innocuous delivery down the legside. Babar Azam feathered it behind, and Niroshan Dickwella dived to make a fine catch.
Stat of the day - 2.56 Shan Masood and Sami Aslam are the 16th opening partnership Pakistan have had in Tests in the past five years. That turnover at the top of the order – a new pair every 2.56 Test matches on average – is by far the fastest rate among the leading Test sides. Masood and Aslam put on 114 in their first alliance in Abu Dhabi.
The verdict Even by the normal standards of Test cricket in the UAE, this has been slow going. Pakistan’s run-rate of 2.38 per over is the lowest they have managed in a Test match in this country. With just 14 wickets having fallen in three days so far, it is difficult to see 26 dropping to bring about a result over the next two.
Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
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RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
September 30
South Africa v Australia
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October 7
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Argentina v Australia
UAE gold medallists:
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Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Last 10 winners of African Footballer of the Year
2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2007: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla and Mali)
2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2010: Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan and Cameroon)
2011: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2012: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2014: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City and Algeria)
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
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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
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Sri Lanka v England
First Test, at Galle
England won by 211
Second Test, at Kandy
England won by 57 runs
Third Test, at Colombo
From Nov 23-27
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'Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World’s Sole Superpower'
Michael Beckley, Cornell Press
